Caroline's Blog

Caroline, a makeup junkie since an early age, loves nothing more than perusing the West End’s beauty halls. A trained makeup artist (she has worked for Lancôme, Chanel & Clinique), she keeps up her skills running a wedding makeup business part-time.

By day, Caroline works in the Clinique online team. Clinique is part of the Estee Lauder group so she’s oozing with insider knowledge on the likes of MAC, Bobbi Brown & Estee Lauder. Her favourite online stores are Clinique.co.uk (of course!), CocoRibbon.com, TheWhiteCompany.com and Asos.com.

Bright Eyes

Published on Tuesday 8th September 2009

I am forever bemused that trends come full circle – and now I’m getting older I’m scarily seeing that happen within my lifetime. I have yet to utter the words ‘In my day we wore it like that’ but I’m sure I’m not far away. I still slightly cringe when I put my leggings on and remember wearing them with the huge slouch socks and stripey oversized t-shirts in the 80s…oh wait, that is totally fashionable now!

Rather embarrassingly I can confess that my 90s makeup must-have was blue mascara. In fact for a good few months I don’t think I left the house without it – and really did believe I was the height of trendy. Until very recently I used to look back on my teenage obsession and cringe at the thought of blue mascara being my beauty favourite. Why would such an unnatural colour for lashes ever look good?

However, I have to now admit to coming full circle on that (um, like the leggings!). Coloured mascara is back…and I assure you it’s a key trend this season. I think it certainly should be used with care - those with very fair lashes should use a brown mascara first and then tip with a coloured mascara as full purple lashes on very fair skin could look like bruising if you’re not careful – but I it’s definitely something you’ll see more and more of as people start altering their makeup look for the Autumn.

I have quite naturally dark lashes and so coloured mascara only shows on the tips of the lashes – which can be a really eye-catching effect (excuse the pun!). I’ve been using the Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara in ‘Garnet’. It’s a deep purple and looks great with a contrasting eyeliner shade like an emerald green or navy blue. I also love the ‘Emerald’ shade which works really well with my green eyes (if I do say so myself). All 5 of the limited edition shades are named after gems – which instantly makes me want to collect them!

And I love that Lauder have produced the range in the Sumptuous mascara as you get the stunning colour effect and great volume too. Whereas my cheap blue mascara in the 90s used to give a hint of colour but end up smudging through the day, this one gives a much richer colour – and lasts all day.

Is it something you would wear all day? I guess it depends on where you’re going. In my office which is full of complete makeup junkies absolutely anything goes with makeup. Especially with the MAC office just upstairs.

Personally I’m quite taken with these new shades and prefer to stick with my normal makeup look in the day and then make a statement with these new colours when I go out. See for yourself I guess, but get them quick as they’re only limited edition!

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