SS11: Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

So, depending on your perspective, there are a few ways to look at Clinique's forthcoming Bottom Lash Mascara:

a) this is a product that's identified and filled a brand new beauty niche

b) a fool and her money are easily parted

c) why, it will be completely *perfect* for my Halloween 2011 Alex from a Clockwork Orange costume - I like to plan well in advance

And indeed, no kidding - Bottom Lash Mascara is a February launch from Clinique that's designed solely for use on your - you guessed it - bottom lashes. At €14, it apparently lasts for 24 hours (why, I am not sure. Maybe it's so that when you get into the auld ultraviolence and in out in out, you don't have to worry about it coming off?) and it's got a special formulation that contains stretchy polymers and fancy gubbins.

I got one to try ahead of the launch - and all joking and being a sceptical pop culture droppin' mare aside, this is TINY. Jesus, it's miniscule. You only get 2.5ml in the tube compared to the more usual 7-8ml you'd normally get in a regular Clinique mascara.

As a justification, you've got a lot less bottom lashes, ergo you need less product, so it's smaller and cheaper as a result, but it's definitely pricier than the brand's other mascaras on a ml by ml basis - my beloved High Lengths is €19, for example.

I do think this is a bit silly, there are no two ways about it. It does work though - the weeny brush is very good and does get at those fine, small lashes really well, with none of the smudging you'd get from using a bigger wand. The mascara gunk itself is quite dry, which seems to work well also for defining those very delicate hairs on the bottom lashline.

I like the effect but I doubt I'd re-purchase when my sample's used up, to be honest. And unless you're really into defining your bottom lashes - I do it only occasionally - then this probably is going to be a spend too far. Brides will like it though - and I do wonder if this has been developed with them specifically in mind, what with the 24 hour claim. Makeup artists will also easily find a place for this in their kits, but for the rest of us - well, we're probably not going to get the use out of it.

Whaddya reckon - would you like to viddy that on yourself, eh? And most importantly, would you recommend it to one of your droogs?

Phew. All out of Anthony Burgess-speak now.