An ode to Max Factor Masterpiece Mascara

Ok, maybe ode is too strong, but this is the one product I haven't strayed from in about 8 years. Well, actually, I *did* use one other mascara in that time - I tried L'Oreal's Telescopic Mascara when it first came out and it just reaffirmed my love for the Masterpiece mascara.

So why so good I hear you ask? It's only mascara right? First up, this mascara just.does.not.clump. Eyes are a big part of my look; I have been fortunate and blessed with quite long eyelashes, so I like to make a feature of them, which for me means wearing a lot of mascara while avoiding the spider legs look *shudder*

It's extremely forgiving - I can put on a good few layers and my lashes never look clumped. The brush is a great shape and reaches all lashes easily, right up to the corners.

It doesn't really budge (I tried the waterproof and the Max version, but the original truly is perfection) and most of all - it's a great price! at the moment it's just £7.99 on the Boots website, normally it is £9.99 which I still think is perfectly reasonable for such a great product.

People ask me a lot "where do you get your eyelashes done?" and "are your eyelashes natural?" and they are always surprised when I tell them it's just thanks to this humble mascara - and more than a few I recommended it to said they loved it.


The only additional thing I do with my eyelashes sometimes is curl them - curlers really do open up your eyes! I've tried fancy pants heated ones but find a bog standard traditional curler works best, but for gawd's sake make sure you have the little rubber bits on them! A friend sliced her eyelashes off with curlers, and well, it wasn't pretty...

In the photos I have used curlers before putting mascara on and have left my eyes otherwise bare - normally I wear eyeliner or shadow but I really wanted to fully show off the product in this post. If you really want to go wild you can curl them again once you have put a light coat of mascara on,and then top it up with another light coat of mascara (again - this is why this mascara rocks as it will let you do this without giving you scary lashes) Doing this will just give slightly more impact - great for a night out!

I also don't believe in the zig-zag method of putting mascara on that is so commonly recommended. I just apply in upward strokes and even put it on slightly behind the lashes - it really helps get the mascara on right to the tip of the lashes - sometimes I find just applying at the front gets the root of the lashes really well covered but leaves the ends of the lashes looking a little light.

It really is one of the few products I use religiously - I still flirt with different foundations, blushers, and I am currently on the hunt for a great primer that won't break the bank- recommendations welcome! 

But when it comes to mascara I never use anything else. I tend to wait for it to go on offer at Boots (I only really shop there thanks to their loyalty card, I save up my points for perfume; it's always a joy seeing the cashier's face when I ask to pay for a £60 perfume with my points...) But I digress! 

Do you have any make up products that you just can't live without?