save or spend - mascara

hello! it's been a bit longer than usual between posts as today was my first day back at university and i was very busy last week moving into my uni house and getting all organised. my timetable has been quite kind to me for the first few weeks of term so hopefully i'll have lots of time to do more blog posts (probably time i should spend doing uni work but oh well). one downside to being here in my uni flat is that it's probably THE darkest flat in the world and the only suitable place to take photos is on the window ledge in the living room (i've already had a few weird looks from the builders across the road) but i'm going to try and make it work!

i've decided to do a new little series of blogposts where i review and compare products from different price ranges and brands from budget to high end and see if it's worth spending a bit extra or saving your money! as a student i'm always on the look out for products which give high quality but for as low a price as possible. i'm going to start by looking at mascaras, an essential part of any girls make up bag and something i pretty much won't leave the house without (i look so ill and tired without it!).

seventeen superlash mascara 

RRP £6.99 available here

i consider seventeen at boots to be a bit of a 'budget' brand and so in my opinion £6.99 is quite expensive for one of their mascaras but i actually received this as a free gift as part of an offer when it first came out. the packaging is a little bit 'cheap' looking compared to other products in the same price range and as you can see, the brush is quite basic. this mascara is just ok, it coats my lashes and gives a bit of length but it doesn't do anything special. i didn't hate the mascara but i don't think i'd pay £6.99 for it. there are other mascaras by seventeen which i have tried previously and preferred such as the falsifeye mascara and i am a fan of the range as a whole, just not superlash!

would i recommend? no, the price doesn't reflect the quality in my opinion.

maybelline big eyes mascara

RRP £8.99 available here

 i have already done a more extensive review on this mascara which you can see here but basically, i love this mascara. the fact there are two brushes is absolutely perfect for someone like me who has very long lower eyelashes but struggles to apply mascara to them without getting it all over my face. the mascara is very lengthening and coats lashes evenly without leaving them too clumpy. i actually bought this whilst it was on offer and being totally honest i do feel that £8.99 is quite expensive for a brand such as maybelline,especially as the two mascaras below are cheaper but from slightly higher end drug store brands. i would repurchase this as it's a staple part of my make up routine at the moment and i think i'll still use the lower lash mascara even if i switch brands for my top lashes but i would probably wait for it to be part of an offer or in the sale. 

would i recommend? yes, perfect for giving upper and lower lashes length but perhaps look out for it being on offer or as part of a 3 for 2 etc.

bourjois volume glamour ultra care mascara

RRP £7.99 available here

the price of this mascara surprised me slightly as i consider bourjois to be at the more expensive end of drug store bands and usually expect to pay around £10 for one of their mascaras. this is a version of the volume glamour mascara but designed for sensitive eyes, something that intrigued me as i have very sensitive water-y eyes which is sometimes aggravated when i put eye make up on. the consistency of the mascara is quite thick and dry but i like that as it clings to my lashes and gives them a bit more volume. the brush, as you can see, is very rounded and thick, perfect for building up volume and coating every lash but isn't too big and bulky and so will suit even very small eyes. i definitely feel a difference sensitivity wise when i wear this mascara and so if you suffer from sensitive eyes it's perhaps worth a try. for the price the quality is good, i would probably expect to pay more for a bourjois mascara. 

would i recommend? yes, good quality brand and product for a reasonable price and suitable for sensitive eyes.

max factor 2000 calorie mascara

RRP - £7.99 available here

i was also surprised by the price of this mascara as i consider max factor to be at the highest end of drug store brands and have previously owned mascaras such as the false lash effect (which by the way is amazing) but retails for around £11. this mascara is fantastic value for money, the packaging is simple but not tacky and the writing does tend to rub off in your make up bag but that's to be expected. the name '2000 calorie' definitely suits the product, it gives my lashes a lot of volume but also lengthens them and the brush is a good size meaning the mascara is easy to apply. i would probably expect to pay more for a brand such as max factor so if you're looking for a good quality, everyday mascara which can be kept simple or layered for a more dramatic look, this is the mascara for you.

would i recommend? yes, max factor is, in my opinion, a higher end drug store brand and so £7.99 is a really good price for a mascara which is such good quality.

benefit they're real! mascara

RRP - £19.50 available here

this mascara is by far the most expensive at almost £20 and most people will have probably tried it by now as it's a bit of a cult fave in the blogging world. i am however, not a fan. don't get me wrong, the mascara works quite well, it really lengthens my lashes and coats them thoroughly and i love the packaging (as i do with all benefit products) but i just don't think it is worth such a hefty price tag. the brush is plastic-y and almost a bit uncomfortable to use, it definitely isn't a soft bristled mascara brush like most brands. this means it pretty much 'combs' through your lashes, the effect is quite nice but not everyone will be a fan, i think the brush feels quite cheap. the mascara is also a pain to get off, it definitely lasts all day which is a positive but come night time, it's quite waxy in texture and definitely requires more effort than usual to remove (so much so that benefit actually sell a remover designed just for this mascara!)

would i recommend? sadly no, i love benefit but this mascara just isn't worth £19.50. if you want to try it, i'd recommend buying the miniature version which is available in shops such as boots or getting a benefit gift set which includes a miniature 'they're real'. the gift sets are much better value for money than the full size products in my opinion. 

i hope you enjoyed these reviews, let me know which mascaras you love (or hate), i love getting comments! also, i just want to thank all of my followers, i've recently surpassed the 50 followers mark and i am absolutely made up that so many people want to read my posts, it really does mean a lot!