eye to eye

i always manage to be the most spectacular failure of a blogger during the summer (the combination of rarely being in hamilton and the teeny number of people on campus proves too much for me), but somehow tanya comes through where i fail... enjoy her choice of best eye make-up products on a budget!

x elizabeth.

l'oréal voluminous waterproof mascara (in black)

this mascara is hands-down the best i have ever used. i have tried a lot of both high-end and drugstore mascaras, but haven't found one that compares to l'oréal voluminous. i find that you don't need to splurge on mascaras, since the shelf life of mascara is only about three months. i've been repurchasing this product for years and it always delivers dense, well-defined lashes that hold their curl for the entire day. it also lengthens lashes quite a bit (i have short lashes but i always get asked if i'm wearing false lashes with this product on). what i love about this mascara is that it does not smudge or flake under the eye, even after a full day. this applicator is small enough to coat even the smallest eyelashes in the inner corner of the eye. to get really thick lashes without getting them clumpy, i like to apply the wand onto my lashes in a zigzag motion to separate the lashes.

(l'oréal voluminous retails for around $7 at most drugstores)


l'oréal carbon black lineur intense

this liquid liner is an amazing product and such a good deal, coming in at under $9. i find that with other pencil, gel and liquid eyeliners that i've tried, the product always ends up smudging or creasing onto my eyelid. this liner, however, always manages to look as if it were still freshly applied at the end of the day. the felt tip allows for easy application, especially if you are new to liquid liner. what i love about this product is that it dries quickly and can be easily removed with water.

(l'oréal carbon black lineur intense retails for around $9 at most drugstores)


neutrogena oil-free eye makeup remover

this eye makeup remover is another amazing drugstore product that removes all my eye makeup quickly, without much effort. this product works especially well on hard-to-remove products, such as waterproof mascaras and eye shadows. it never leaves behind an oily residue, unlike some other eye makeup removers. i find that the best way to use this product is to apply a small amount onto a cotton pad and press for a couple seconds onto the eyelid. by doing this, you don't need to rub the product out, avoiding eye irritation.

(neutrogena oil-free eye makeup remover retails for around $10 at most drugstores)