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Is it just me, or has the integrity of affordable makeup vamoosed at an astonishing speed? Perhaps I’m being naïve – after all, some would say it was never there – but my experiences with Essence and Catrice have taught me never to judge a blusher by its cover.
Still, I get a bit miserable when I come across products like these two from Prestige. My Biggest Lashes Big Lash Effect Mascara and Sunflower Illuminating Bronzing Powder are the gruel of my beauty stash; they’re just a bit depressing. The packaging of both is utterly uninspired – designed by a cousin of Constance Caroll, mayhaps? – and the quality does nothing to redeem either product.
First for the bronzer: I appear to be plagued by a plethora of powders treated with overspray, and this is another. The shimmering gold star effect here is misleading as the bronzer itself is quite matte and dark; it also smells like kids’ Halloween facepaint and the prime ingredient is talc. ’Nuf said, methinks.
Being the milk bottle blonde that I am, I tried out the mascara in black/brown. In a pink and black tube, this just bugged me from the get-go. Any mascara that advertises itself as ‘mascara effect’ is just not going to impress me; nor is putting ineffectual (and untrue) French phrases such as ‘cils intenses!’ across the front of the tube. The gigantic brush looked promising, but the formula itself was nothing special. Too subtle for night-time wear, it still gave the night-time look in that it had flaked down my face by mid afternoon.
I’m afraid to say, the only French applicable in this instance is something along the lines of “’Allo, ’allo – er, je suis a bit crap…”
I’m actually getting annoyed even as I write this – oh, Prestige! Know you not how you besmirch the name of budget beauty brands everywhere?!
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Eek, thanks for the heads up on the bronzer.
I have been on a hunt for a shimmering bronzer recently, and bought the large Rimmel Sunshimmer powder last week. Was horribly disappointed to discover, midapplic, that I was the victim of yet another overspray dupe. I now have a full pan of mud brown. Thanks a bunch Rimmel!
Question? I know they are only budget brands, but if a product such as Rimmel bronzer is treated with that overspray effect, are we within our rights to return it, goods should be sold as they actually are like and all??
Something Iv always wondered and its after coming up a bit in the last few weeks… I know they aren’t that expensive to buy in the first place, but it all ads up as if you wanted shimmer you’d realistically have to go buy another to replace the liar that was oversprayed…
Overspray really bugs me too – there should be a warning on packaging to that effect
So many of the cheap brands do it and it’s unfair
Try new york color Orlaando. Was really impressed with this range and everything is under a fiver! Only thing is it’s not in a lot of places at the moment but I managed to find it in Mc Cauleys.
I hate the packaging Prestige use, it looks so cheap and tacky. I think it’s something brands should invest in because on some unconscious level I think “crap package=crap product”…I know it’s really silly but does ugly packaging turn anyone else off a brand/product?
such a shame these disappointed, I’ve been really impressed with the prestige stuff I’ve tried.
Or, what if I packaged up the crap bronzer and sent it back to Rimmel with a strongly worded letter??
They would prob just think I’m mental though!
I have to say I love this mascara, I really do. I find it makes my eyelashes hyoooge! No flakies yet either.
But sure wan man’s meat is another man’s poison, wha?
alchemystee – I am a big fan of a strongly worded letter or email! Great satisfaction outta them I get, try sending a picture though, then at least you still have the crappy bronzer as proof!
For bronzer i LOVE NYC mosaic colour thing! Switched from Chanel, its fab, nice and subtle and under a fiver, although it brakes really easily.
@Kirstie:
Agreed, 3 Prestige products are HG to me. I found their mineral foundation beats the socks off my Laura Mercier and Lily Lolo. Their Total Intensity eyeliners are fabulous. Skin Loving Minerals Sunbaked (in Pure Shimmer) is the best drug store highlighter ever, finely milled with no chunky glitter, just subtle iridescence.
Ooh lolkat forgot about their highlighter-that’s-a-rip-off-of-MAC-MSFs. It’s really lovely. Horribly clunky box though – it’s not very handbag friendly. But gives a lovely champagne glow.
Where do you buy prestige? Nice review won’t be touching either of these products now!
have to say orlando, i swear by this mascara for my nights out, i pop on some smashbox layer lash primer then this on top and it makes my lashes HUGE and long, people always ask me if I’ve falsies on! even without the primer its fab, n i never notice flakes! but different strokes 4 different folks of course!