I'll flutter my lashes 'til I get some more (Guerlain Le 2 de Guerlain Mascara)

Member Name: Foxy-Lady

Product:	Guerlain Le 2 de Guerlain Mascara
Date:	29/09/08 (894 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Really effective

Disadvantages: Pricey

My face feels almost naked when I'm not wearing mascara. It's one product that I certainly wouldn't want to live without as I feel that mascara frames the eyes, opening them up and instantly making a face appear more feminine.

I've tried many different brands and types of mascara. In fact I virtually try a new one every time I run out as I like to experiment. My current mascara has got to be my favourite so far though...Le 2 de Guerlain.

I received this product as a gift from a family member who knows how much I love mascara! When I first slipped the item out of its slim black box I was surprised by how attractive the tube is. Designed by Helle Damkjaer, the gold casing is long and extremely elegant. It's really tactile too...so shiny, cool to the touch and with a 'twisted' tapering design that almost feels like it's moulded to fit your hand. Although it looks attractive, it's just a bit too long and doesn't easily fit into some small make up bags, but I can live with that as I rarely have to take it out with me.

So what's so special about this mascara? It's got two brushes! The 'Le 2' in the product name refers to the fact that it is a double ended mascara. There is a standard sized brush which is formed from a silicone type material giving it rubbery 'bristles'. This offers flexibility, allowing the brush to "follow the lashes' natural movement, giving a multidimensional effect". Due to the tapered shape of the brush head, it also claims to provide 360º coverage whilst sweeping the upper lashes skywards.

Brush two is much smaller in size (you could call it a mini brush) and is made from more traditional style fibre bristles. It is positioned at a unique 7º angle to assist in catching those harder to reach inner and outer corner lashes, as well as managing the lower lashes in a neater, more precise manner than a large brush.

The mascara formula itself apparently contains innovative polymers (instead of more commonly used wax) to provide volume and length, hold lash curve in place and give intense colour.

Le 2 de Guerlain is perhaps a little more time consuming to apply than a regular mascara because you have to swap brushes for the full effect. On the other hand, only one coat is required so you don't have to wait for your first layer to dry before you can apply a second coat. I don't mind changing brushes though and I think that the little bit of extra effort is worth it as the results are fantastic!

I find that the consistency of the formula is really nice - not too thick yet not too watery. Alongside the 360º technology, this helps it to grab the lashes easily. I don't have to use a zig-zag motion to get good coverage as I would with some other mascaras. Just a few straight sweeps from root to tip is sufficient along the length of the lash line. Voila! Eyelashes are instantly transformed as the mascara lengthens, curls and separates. Dramatic but not tacky. In my experience no unsightly clumping is produced and eyelashes don't look overloaded with mascara. I love the fact that the overall look created is not spidery or false. The characteristics of the individual brushes combine to create perfect lashes. The precise application allows eyelashes to be defined - right down to the finest, tiniest ones.

The achieved look may take a bit of getting used to because you find that you've got mascara on more lashes than you're probably used to. In fact, I find that the brush captures lashes that I didn't even know were there! Personally, I don't need to use curlers with this mascara either. I would usually curl my lashes but the product successfully lifts and curls by itself. Perfect!

The mascara is actually comfortable to apply too. The wands of both brushes have been deliberately shortened making them easier to handle and manipulate during application. I find that it really helps in controlling the brushes, particularly the small brush (which is even shorter than the main brush - see dooyoo piccie) where a careful and steady hand is most needed. The angled design I mentioned earlier is also a great touch and really helps to eliminate mistakes.

And does it wear well? Quite simply, yes! It doesn't feel heavy on the lashes and isn't stiff. My eyelashes still feel flexible and supple rather than rigid. So to me, it's really wearable. The achieved curl holds for as long as you are wearing the mascara which is brilliant. I have never experienced any smudging or flaking whilst wearing Le 2 de Guerlain either. It really stays put and actually lasts all day without causing any irritation (Ingredients are listed at the bottom of the review for anyone who may be interested due to allergies etc). I've even gone to bed with it on (slapped wrist for me) and didn't wake up with panda eyes. It is a little bit stubborn to remove (although not to the extent of a waterproof formulation) but a cleanser or eye make up remover shifts any product with a few swipes.

Le 2 de Guerlain is available in a limited range of four shades - Black, Brown, Blue and Violet. I have the black version and it darkens lashes beautifully. My eyelashes are virtually black anyway but I can see a noticeable difference in colour when I apply this shade so it must be really dark. I can't comment on the other colours but blue and purple aren't really my thing when it comes to mascara!

There's only one thing that I really dislike about this product - the price! An 8ml (0.3fl oz) tube will set you back approximately £20 which seems really expensive and makes me feel like you're paying a premium for the image and brand name - something which usually bugs me. I have used a YSL mascara in the past (which happened to be my favourite until trying Le 2) which also comes with a whopping £20 price tag. Again, I was given the product as a gift so I didn't actually pay for it...I have never spent that much on a mascara in my life! I must admit, I'll be quite tempted to do so in the future though as I absolutely love this stuff. I'll certainly try dropping some Le 2 hints and fluttering my eyelashes around Christmas and Birthday time.

Overall, Le 2 de Guerlain is a highly luxurious and extremely effective mascara that produces fabulous results, accentuating the eyes perfectly. When it's stated like that, I feel that perhaps it is worth that price tag after all!





Ingredients:
Water, Paraffin, Polybutene, Cera alba, Styrene/acrylates/ammonium methacrylate copolymer, bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, C18-36 Acid triglyceride, VP/Eicosene copolymer, Palmitic acid, Stearic acid, Triethanolamine, Acacia Senegal gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene glycol, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Laureth-12 sulfate, Sodium laurylsulfate, Tocopherylacetate, Potassium sorbate, Methylparaben, Propylparab EDTA, BHT.

Summary: A highly luxurious mascara that produces fabulous results