A monthly column which features beauty news, product reviews and product of the month.

YSL FALSE LASH EFFECT MASCARA

YSL is famous for its Touche Eclat Concealer (one of those things you would take onto a desert island in lieu of water and food), however there’s another of their products I am just as much in love with. Their false lash effect mascara gives you dramatically full and lengthy va va voom lashes without clumping. As someone who loves the red carpet effect of false eyelashes, this mascara is the closest thing to false eyelashes in a tube, which is a real boon to a false eyelash devotee like myself, who even after all this time, still takes a number of attempts to get the falsies on without ruining my eyeshadow, poking my eyes out with the tweezers or gluing my eyelashes shut.

BOBBI BROWN GEL EYELINER

I have always preferred the look of liquid eyeliner to pencil on my upper eyelid, because it gives such a beautiful definition. But, if there is one thing that annoys me about some liquid eyeliners, it’s when they start to crumble and peel during the day, leaving me looking far less Audrey Hepburn and a whole lot more Amy Winehouse. This eyeliner from Bobbi Brown is a gel, which not only glides on with precision, but also goes the distance throughout the whole day or night without smudging or cracking.

MY PLACE OF YOURS GINA BY BENEFIT

“a poem to describe Gina…

gina lives to seduce,
to tempt & flaunt

and knows you should always
get what you want.

so sinfully sexy
her allure is unjust,

but as they say…
“all’s fair in love & lust.”

I loved the packaging as soon as I saw this bottle, but I wasn’t sure about the fragrance at first. However, after wearing it out I got so many comments and have come to adore it. It’s sweetness is derived from the top notes of pink pepper and bergamot; and middle notes of peony, wild raspberry and white lily. Combined with the woody bottom notes of tonka bean and vanilla, this is a sweet and alluring fragrance, without being sickly sweet. As it is an eau de toilette, it is perfect for something special to wear during the day in the autumn and winter months, without being too overpowering.

WEN HAIRCARE

I’m not sure if it was the sheer number of times I heard the WEN song (I’m convinced that all the songs on infomercials contain subliminal messages that provoke an involuntary out of body response in people that has them reach for the phone and order crap they never use, such as “Snuggies”) but I found myself rather curious about the WEN haircare system. I was dubious and excited in equal parts. I wanted to believe that not shampooing my hair and using the Cleansing Conditioner instead, was going to restore my hair to its virginal state (before I started spraying peroxide into it when I was 13).

The first thing that tested my wanton desire, was the sheer amount of product they instruct you to use each wash – a mere 24 pumps per wash, which means you’ll be going through each bottle quicker than a kid with a bag of lollies. For those who think, oh well, I’d just use less, the brochure scares you into believing that it won’t work without the recommended amount. After using the Cleansing Conditioner for a week, I found my hair quite oily. However, I did give it to a friend who absolutely loves it. As there are three different types of Cleansing Conditioners for different hair types (I used the Almond & Mint), perhaps my hair would be better suited to another of their bottles, but, I’m not convinced enough to order it again.

SEBASTIAN HYDRE RANGE

This range from Sebastian has knocked Kerastase off its perch, when it comes to the best hair shampoo and conditioner I have ever used. The Hydre range is for dry hair and it provides silky soft hydration without weighing down my hair. Once my hair dries, it’s smooth and the frizz from my curls is eliminated. I can’t remember the last time I bought a brand of shampoo and conditioner twice in a row, but I will definitely be buying this range again when it runs out.