Eye Prime me up: Kanebo Kate Lash Maximizer Black vs Diorshow Maximizer lash Plumping Serum

Out with the new, in with the newer! 

 That might sum up the review I will bring about on 3 eyelash primers. There's actually an old one too, but it performs similarly as the newer, only in a different colour.

For reviewing sake let me introduce: Kanebo Kate Mascara Base, Kanebo Kate Lash Maximizer Black & Dior Diorshow Lash Plumping Serum.

Starting with 'old': Kanebo Kate Eyelash Base. It has been on the market for more than 6 years. Eyelash primers have only taken a more prominent role on the Western market recently but they have been favourite tools among Asian lash-afficionados for a longer time. I only know it for about 6 years but it has been a miracle tool for keeping my curl and having made-up lashes.

Recently Kate introduced a newer version of the lashbase that I reviewed here. I picked the white version that I used up quite efficiently. Afterwards I went for the rave-reviewed Western Diorshow Lash Maximizer.

Though lovingly moisturizing for my lashes, it did not keep my eyelashcurler-primed lashes into a decent curl.

Thus out with the new...in with the newer:

Comparing the different brushes & colour of the primer:

My oldest version of Kanebo Kate Lash Base comes with a straight but soft-haired brush. The formula is supposed to be totally white, but sometimes I transfer the black of the tightliner into the tube again. I do clean up my brush after priming by removing everything with a tissue, but sometimes a tiny bit of black eyepencil stays on and it turns into a greyish mass. That's also a reason I replace eyeprimers oftenly, for hygienic reason.

As said in the earlier review: I love how it performs. Length & keeps the curl in it's form. The only thing is that you have to coat every lash with mascara afterwards to stop the white base from appearing. 

That's when the newer version Kate Lash Maximizer in Black makes such a fantastic primer: you can either plump up your lashes with extra mascara or keep the coat for as it is.

Kate Lash Maximizer Black has a sparse amount of fibres included. They are fewer than in the white version of the Lash Maximizer's series. That might be a relief for people not liking over-fibre-ish bases.

As for the black colour: it appears rather glossy on the eyelashes. Perhaps not the blackest of black but I do think it appears in the truest colour most mascara brands would market they colour 'black'. Only few brands like Hourglass Film Noir make an inky black glossy version that almost glistens from your eyelashes; the rest somewhat varies in colour and gloss factor.

The brush is a classic, slightly bend one with synthetic but bendable hairs. The formula holds up really long: I'd say it hold like a waterproof version. At least, the base survives a shower whereas the 'topping' mascara on top lovingly merges on my cheeks. So I suggest a good waterproof mascara cleanser for removing every trace.

Which brings me why Diorshow was not really into my alley: I already mentioned the formula not lenghtening my lashes enough, nor keeping my curl in place. Then there's the brush:

Brushes are a matter of taste and perhaps of the type of eyelashes you have. I never really liked the plastic brushes with their short but stiff ends. That is precisely the type of brush on the Diorshow Lash serum.

On the positive side: it removes a lot easier than Kate's formula. I guess that makes it perfect for lashes that are easier to be curled/already curly. 

I cannot say too much about the lash-serum effect. I've used it too sporadically to notice a difference.

Conclusion: I prefer the cheaper & more effective Kanebo Kate and love the new black version of it.

Kanebo Kate lash Maximizer Eyelash Plus base (vs older formula Kate Lash Base)

The Queen is dead: Long live the new Queen!

really?

Let's read on...

Plump & lenght is what I needed: Or,  since I've been in post-eyelash-extension Limbo of really short eyelashes for a couple of weeks. 

Kate Mascara base (old version, shorter name) has been my saviour for the last time I went real-lashes again. Naturally I wanted to try out their newestestestest version too: Kate Lash Maximizer Eyelash Plus.

In the first place it was Tomato/Tomato: what's the difference?

Ahh, Fibers...Like fibers in my bread I actually think they can benefit the health looks of a person. But not all fibers have the same fiber-ness so let's discuss Kate's Eyelash Plus (New) for this.

The key to a good eyelash product with fiber is that they

1. should adher right WITHOUT mid-day flaking
2. should lenghten the lashes in a similar direction (no droopiness, and do not have a dirty mind over this remark)
3. Not too long nor too short (or thick)
4. No irritation from wearing them
5. adher quite coherently to most lashes

And Kanebo Kate also added a version that has a black fiber on a whitish base: Brilliant.

Does it work (or do 1-5 apply?)

First I think the white base in both primers are exactly the same: that's a good think as I really like the formula to keep the curl, add length and thickness too.

1. Yes, perhaps because of the white base or the mandatory normal mascara on top, but it stays (and I've been having crumbly fiber symptoms with MM Lash Meister, blah)
2. Sorta, I pre-curl my lashes and it follows the upward movement, only with a tiny droop. Now you can say that I'm too perfectionist and nobody else would notice...but then I'm a beautyblogger so I do notice.
3. Yes, quite miniscule that gives about 1 mm extra
4. Irritant-free
5. Somewhat, it misses some lashes and it is not that easy to focus on each lash because they are so miniscule. 

Do I prefer the new formula (with fibers) over the old?

Yes & No

The new formula with fibers does add more lenght than the older formula: For the time being I needed extra lenght to compensate for the eyelash-extension breakage. The lenght that the eyelashes give is not dramatic but just enough to have longer eyelashes. However, seen in step 1-5 I do not think the lashes give the most perfect extension as they are 1. slightly droopy and 2. do not adher to every single lash by themselves: and manipulating them by tweezer is almost impossible. 

Thus when my eyelashes are their original length again I prefer the older formula Kate lash base: The white formula is already quite lenghtening & thickening and keep the curl like no other base I encountered. Minus the possible irregularity of the fibers.

Conclusion:

I will stick to the older formula when my lashes are their original length again, but it still makes a reasonable alternative to lengthen & plump your eyelashes when they are on the shorter side.

Availability:
I bought both on Adambeauty: The new Lash Maximizer formula over here & the older lash base over here

Fluttering Fairies...eh...Fluttering Lashes with Fairy Drops Base Treatment Mascara

A couple of weeks ago I spotted a fairly new base mascara on Adambeauty. I was browsing their mascara section and noticed that Fairy Drops had a whole new range of mascara's.

Well, I was somewhat familiar with the fact that Fairy Drops had launched a couple of new mascaras lately, because I came across some of the reviews in the beauty blog-o-sphere.

With the exeption of one: the Fairy Drops Treatment Base Mascara in shinny Gray.

Yeh, so that was the particular one that I was curious about.

Which is not my only reason. I have a HG base mascara product for a couple of years now. The Kanebo Kate one. I absolutely love this for keeping the curl and thickening/lenghtening the lashes. But you know, I want to know if there are other options, because the Kate one can get quite hard and, let's say...a bit crispy on my lashes.


I have been familiar with Fairy Drops mascara, I believe one of their first versions, and was not too enthousiastic about it. Still, who know this one might work:

So you noticed I bought this one and it came in that cute packaging Fairy Drops is notoriously known for.

I noticed online that the tube is so gorgeously decorated. I love that about Fairy Drops. But I believe the contrast between the white and the perky pink is too adorable! It makes me happy every time I use it!

Typical for Fairy Drops, and part of why they became so big and widely know afteral, is their brush. That is not why I show you the brush beneath, but I would like to show you the colour of the base product.

Indeed, a dark grey instead of the more typical white colour that is often a part of a base product.

For people not familiar with base mascaras: they are not mascaras as the typical ones that give your lashes colour, volume, length etc, but they function as a underlayer for your real mascara.

However, users of base mascaras (such as I am) often find the white colour beneath a bit iffy, because you really have to look carefully to cover all of the white with your real, black mascara. If you don't, you get uneven lashes and perhaps even the remark "oh, do you have white mascara on? how unique?"

The dark grey substance is so much better! If you forget some parts because you are in a hurry, it does not matter so much, because the colour is already close to the other dark colour you will be using for mascara (either black, blue, purple, etc).

Close up of the substance:

This is quite a close up! You can also see some sparkles in the substance. Also, it contains fibers. I prefer fibers in my mascara for that extra bit of length.

Do I like it:

• I actually do! It differs from the Kanebo Kate as my lashes seem to stay soft and bendeable, thus more natural. However, I do not loose my curl I so carefully applied to my lashes! This mascara does not feel so 'present' on my lashes because it is not so stiff. And that is something I like.

• It gives the extra volume, just like it promises. I should compare this one with Kate, that is one eye with Fairy Drops and one eye with Kate Base to see if one lenghtens/thickens a bit more than the other.

• I already mentioned the fact I prefer a darker grey base over the white one

• I cannot say too much about the long term effect on the lashes. It claims to treat them as well with some essence. I can feel it being soft on my lashes, but if it actually improves or nourishes my lashes, I have to see that with long-term useage.

For the people curious about the ingredients, I have them here in English:

Overal, I ventured on something new and found quite an interesting new base mascara in my book.

I purchased it over here on my regular online hangout spot Adambeauty...