Glossy Or Just Costly? (Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara)

Member Name: TigerTiger

Product:	Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara
Date:	08/03/02 (1730 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simple but effective, Nice packaging, Hypo-allergenic and suitable for contact lens wearers

Disadvantages: Basic mascara, few extras, Not water proof, just smudge proof, Not cheap

~~Help, my Mascara's gone wrong!~~~

I swore by MaxFactor Mascara, it was an essential item in my make-up bag and I wouldn't go anywhere without it. I had been using it for so many years and I had no intention of swapping to another brand. Once I find something I like I stick with it, I'm not one of these experimental types with make-up, well apart from the odd change of colour. Anyway, my concerns started last year when I bought a new mascara from Max factor to take on holiday. When I got there is just wasn't the same product. it clogged from day one and just wouldn't apply right no matter what I did. I thought maybe I bought a duff one and so on my return to the UK I went in and bought another and it was exactly the same. Still brand loyal I tried another Max Factor mascara, but a different type. This wasn't great either and I was really quite disappointed. So, the search for a new Mascara began and believe me I tried a fair few before I arrived at Clinique's Naturally Glossy Mascara.

~~~The product and it's appearance~~~

Clinique isn't a brand that I have used for very long. It was one of those brands that all my friends raved about and yet it remained a mystery to me. However, I decided to take their advice and went to the clinique concession in Debenhams (you can also find them in Boots and House of Fraser stores). The people on the counter were very helpful and showed me the whole range which was themed in a combination of clear plastics, silvers and avocado green. They told me that their best selling mascara was the Naturally Glossy one which comes in a long silver tube which looks great. I admit I like things that look nice, especially in my make-up bag and this certainly looked classy and modern. The tube was totally straight and there didn't appear to be any gimics such as a wierd shaped applicator wand or the like. It was simple. You can buy the mascara in a number of shades and I opted fo
r the Jet Black version. I handed over my £12 and was off to discover the delights of my new mascara and all its glossiness!

~~~What does it claim to do & does it do it??~~~

My usual Max Factor mascara cost me £7.99 and initially I thought that was quite expensive. I had definitely never spent £12 on a mascara and although it looked nice, it didn't look anything special either. I was hoping when I unleashed the wand it was all singing and dancing! Nope, it was just a normal straight wand. However, I did notice that it smelt nice, which I have to admit I don't usually notice.Not that I am convinced that smell is an essential quality of a mascara.
What does it claim to do though? Well, clinique claim that it does a number of things, that it lengthens lashes, enhances lashes quickly and naturally and that it gives a silky and subtle finish. Also, that it is flake proof and smudge proof.
But, were any of these claims true and was it worth £12?

*Lengthens lashes

The majority of mascaras make this claim as the majority of people pursue long lashes which emphasize our eyes. Long lashes are sought after. The applicator is extremely easy to use and the mascara swept across my lashes very easily. There was no clogging and so my lashes did look very cleanly defined and this in itself made them look longer. All of the lashes were nicely defined and I was very happy. Most products aim to provide longer lashes through the use of a wierd shaped applicator wand. However, Clinique stuck to a usual wand and it still worked. I presume this was because they used a good quality applicator made from good materials.

- Conclusion - Long lashes galore!

*Enhanced lashes

Obviously this is very similar to lashes being lengthened, as you want them well defined and this often comes from the length. Enhanced to me means that they stand out and look good.That people will look at my eye lashes and notice the differenc
e, and not because they are all clogged up and grim!

- Conclusion - Enhanced all the way!

*Natural

Let's face it none of us want to look like we just trowelled our make-up on, well the majority of people I know anyway and it is not attractive to be coated in make-up. For me looking naturally made up is the key. Obviously the ability to look natural all depends on the choice of mascara colour, however, it can also depend on things like whether your lashes are all clogged, whether they are so heavily stuck that they look as if they are being hoisted by up scafolding or the like. The ideal is unclogged with a little lift, but not too much. Moderation basically. This the product achieved and even in time when the mascara was a little older it still seemed to remain clog free.

-Conclusion- Naturally nice

*Silky, subtle finish

I realise now that the £12 price tag definitely reflects the quality of the product. it is poles apart from the £3.50 Maybelline versions that you can by. It swept across my lashes so easily I hardly noticed that I was applying it and also because of this it remained subtle and natural as I previously talked about. The mascara is called glossy and whether it lives up to this depends very much on how you define glossy. I take it to means rich and luxurious with a little shine and it certainly lives up to this one.
-Conclusion -silky and subtle from day one to day 200.

*Flake proof and Smudge proof

It gets confusing when you start thinking about whether mascara's are waterproof, wind proof, water resistant, as they all differ slightly. Smudge proof and flake proof mean that the mascara is not meant for the toughest of situations. It will not stay on if you go swimming, if you are going to cry a great deal (although it may withstand a few tears as I found out on a couple of occasions), basially, the product is intended for everyday use and not extreme circumstances
. Clinique do make other mascaras for more extreme conditions and so if this one suits you the option is there to buy a tougher version. Thiis mascara has got me through many tough situtions though without leaving me with black eyes! I have been rained on numorous times, hailed on, snowed on, I have cried a fair few tears, I have laughed until I cried and I have even slept in it (bad me yes I know!).

There is another bonus to it only being smudgeproof in that when it comes to removing it you don't need turps to get it off.

-Conclusion - No panda eyes in sight, within reason!

~~~Overall thoughts and conclusions~~~~

Did it live up to the price tag I hear you ask. Well, if you have the money to spend then yes. The more years I spent on this planet the more I realise that you do get what you pay for. For years I argued against this, but now I realise it's the subtle things that make the difference, like the texture, the finish and the longevity of a product. Clinique's glossy mascara lives up to its promises. It isn't intended for the most extreme weather conditions, but then it isn't intended to be and never claims otherwise. This mascara lasts and doesn't go dry and flakey in a month like some cheaper mascaras i have tried. It stays nice and silky for many months,well until the last applicator load anyway. I definitely recommend this one. For those of you not convinced I advise you to wait until Clinique hold their "Bonustime" events which happen a few times a year. At this time when you buy any 2 products you get a box of freebies which is always worth having. Just recently, I bought 2 new eyeshadow duos which cost me £25 in total (they last a long time and are very silky!). In addition I got a box with 8 other products in, including a full size lipstick, make-up brush, eye cream and soap and soapdish.

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