Define Your Eyes

I have wanted to try Gel Eyeliner for so long and had been saving up to buy Bobbi Brown’s award winning Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner; until I saw that Maybelline had also created their own version of this renowned product.

At first, I was extremely sceptical about the Maybelline eyeliner, thinking that it could not possibly live up to the more expensive, legendary Bobbi Brown product. This was until I tried it for myself...

The first thing that attracted me to Maybelline’s Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner 24h was the fact that it came with its own brush; whereas you have to buy the Bobbi Brown brush separately.

The second reason that made me want to buy this product was the price. This Eyeliner and Brush combo costs a minuscule £7.99, compared to a hefty £16.50 for the Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner and £21.00 for the brush.

These were the fundamental reasons for my decision, so when I tried the product at home, I was even more delighted with the decision I had made.

Having never used Gel Eyeliner before, I was a little bit unsure about how the product was going to work. I was comfortable using kohl, liquid or powdered eyeliner to create definition, so really had no idea how a gel would differ.

After trying it out for myself, I can hand on heart say; it’s the easiest product I have ever come across. It simply glides along your eyelid, creating a wonderful, precise, defining black line.

This amazing eyeliner is also smudge and crease free, can be used on sensitive eyes (including contact lens wearers) and will last up to 24 hours.

You only need to use a very little amount at a time, so this product is fantastic value for money and bound to last you for ages!

The brush is also very easy to clean, as all you need to do is use a dry tissue to wipe off any remaining traces.

I truly recommend this product for an easy, cheap and fuss free way to get stunning, striking eyes.

Does Perfume Go Off?

Perfume is one of my favourite beauty products and I love to have a selection of different scents to wear at any given time.

At the moment, I have around 5 different bottles of perfume open, which always causes me to worry that they will go off if I don’t use them up quickly.

Of course I have my favourites, which I use more often than others, but as my collection broadens, it seems as though I’m using hardly any of some.

I know that the perfume I have now will physically last me for years, but my concern is that they will become unusable, before I have the chance to finish them.

After doing research, I found out that perfume CAN go off after a period of time, HOWEVER, there are certain variables which increase and decrease the lifetime of your scents.

In general, perfume is supposed to last around 3-5 years, but it’s thought that if you store and look after them correctly, they are more likely to last longer.

It is best to keep your perfume in its original box, in a cool, dark place, with a consistent temperature. A place where they aren’t exposed to significant amounts of humidity, oxygen, heat or sunlight (bathrooms are a definite no no!); as these are known factors to cause perfume to go bad.

There are certain signs which enable you to tell whether your perfume has gone off or not. Firstly the smell; if there is an acidic, vinegary smell to it and its original, gorgeous scent has diminished somewhat, it has more than likely gone off. Secondly, if the perfume has become darker, with a thicker consistency, again, chances are it has gone off.

On the other hand, in my opinion, it's best to use your own judgement. If after a number of years your perfume still smells and looks great, don’t throw it away just because you think it might have gone bad!

Also, it's worth keeping in mind, that if you look after your perfume in the right manner and under the correct conditions, they can last up to thirty years! That really is amazing value for money!