Shiseido Ibuki Skincare Review. Collab Post WITH Giveaway!

I'm a big lover of Japanese prestige brand, Shiseido, we know this. Did we also know that they have an entire range of skincare dedicated to Generation Y? In layman's terms, those of us between the ages of 25 and 35. Shiseido Ibuki is for US! *whistles nonchalantly while not making eye contact*. 

Because we're all about fully encompassing reviews here at CherrySue, myself and the fanciest of faces, Lorraine of John, It's Only Makeup! have come up with a collaboration idea to bring you a review from both ends of the Ibuki target market spectrum. I'll be taking on the higher end of the age range and Lorraine the lower (I had to clarify that, it makes me feel better, OK?!)

It really does. 

When it comes to expensive skincare, I love the notion of starter kits. It gives those of us dipping a toe into a brand way more than a sachet or even a deluxe sample to gauge our skins reaction to new ingredients. To truly know if a skincare product suits me I always need at least a fortnight, at least. The Ibuki Starter Kit gives you just that. 

Their initial trial results suggest that 90% of women have said that their skin is in 'the best condition ever' after just these two weeks. While I'd be hesitant to leap blindly into that 90%, this range has to be trialled to be believed. 

Gentle Cleanser 30ml, Softening Concentrate 30ml & Refining Moisturizer 30ml

To the contents: Shiseido are making sure we have all we need to fully test Ibuki with 30ml each of the Gentle Cleanser (€35 full size), Softening Concentrate (€28 full size) & Refining Moisturizer (€50 full size). But what does my visage make of it? 

Shiseido Ibuki Gentle Cleanser

The Ibuki Gentle Cleanser is an extremely soft but unctuous cream that lathers almost instantly with warm water. The smallest amount transforms into a rich cleansing treatment that removes every trace of the day without leaving skin feeling tight or stripped. 

Point to note here, the Gentle Cleanser smells UH-MAZING. As in inhaleitinhaleitagainandoncemoreforluck UH-MAZING. It smells like a luxury treatment should smell. UH-MAZING. 

Shiseido Ibuki Softening Concentrate

The Ibuki Softening Concentrate is designed to work on a deeper level and ready your skin for moisturiser. The operative word here is concentrate, less is definitely more. You only need the smallest amount on a cotton pad swiped across your cleansed face to soften and smooth the skin. This concentrate is everything toners aspire to be, soft, gentle and bloody effective. 

Shiseido Ibuki Refining Moisturizer

Shiseido Ibuki Refining Moisturizer is the moisturiser that taught me to be a little lighter handed with my ablutions. Although it feels light to the touch, the rich cream is intensely hydrating and adds more than a little shine to my skin if I overindulge. Used just right though I've seen my face emerge brighter than it has been in quite a while. I didn't notice any pore reducing or line minimizing effects but the overall tone of my kisser appeared more even each morning and throughout the day, even under makeup. 

The skinny is thus: Shiseido Ibuki has breathed new life into my skincare routine and once I have finished revelling in this Starter Kit (it's my second)(THANKS Shiseido) I will be purchasing the Gentle Cleanser and the Refining Moisturizer with my very own cash dollar, without hesitation. 

The Softening Concentrate is a superb product though it didn't have as much of an impact on my 36 year old skin as it might have were I a smidge younger (I blame the job). I'm hugely interested to see what Lorraine's porcelain visage has made of the lot though, she's naught but a chil' but I can see these suiting her skin perfectly. 

Here's where this post gets a little bit awesome - Lorraine and I have teamed up with Shiseido Ireland to bring 5 of you the chance to bag yourself an Ibuki Starter Kit (unavailable to buy in Ireland as yet) and the chance to experience this luxury skincare in your own home. 

I want you to head on over to Lorraine's review to see what she makes of Ibuki. Was I right about her adoring the entire range? Bet I am. To be in with a chance of winning a Starter Kit, we need you to leave a comment either here or on Lorraine's post to tell us: What does Ibuki mean? (Lorraine's post is more helpful for this one). 

Open to ROI lovelies this time only, winners will be announced on May 1st. Just in time to kickstart your summer time skincare routine. G'wan, what are you waiting for? GO! (Do come back though, I'm dying to hear!)

Max Factor Excess Volume Extreme Impact Mascara - Dual Takes on a Dual Phase Mascara - Collab with MyMakeUpPerspective!

Here at CherrySue we're all about giving you the most bang for your buck when it comes to perusing reviews before you make a purchase. Even when that purchase is the extremely affordable for the quality of product Max Factor Excess Volume Extreme Impact Mascara. 

You might remember Chloe and myself put together a collaboration post about Maybelline's newest lash batter Big Eyes - you can see that review here. Well today I'm teaming up with one of my genuinely favourite Irish Youtubers right now (you'll see why in a mo), Laura from MyMakeUpPerspective to bring you a collab post and with a difference. Summat to watch and summat to read - take it away Laura: 

*Waves up at Laura, Brady Bunch Style* 

Well my hilarious Pal, I'll tell you what I think. I think you covered all bases brilliantly. Including the infuriating opening process for Excess Volume - Why do you hate our nails, Beauty Packaging Designers? WHY?!

Max Factor Excess Volume Extreme Impact Mascara Brush 1 & 2

As Laura as already pointed out - 'The WAND on that!'

Laura is right on the money about the steps being apparently mixed up. With Step One: Extreme Volume, I found the mascara separated and lengthened my lashes rather than gave them any real volume. That's not a bad thing, it's just not what it said on the ginormous tube. 

Step 2: Dark Laquer is where the real magic with this mascara lies for me. Pumping up the volume with a drier formulation than the 'laquer' name implies, this is where you see a real lash transformation. Slightly clumpy but only in a good way, my lashes were boosted and felt as swishy as they would had I applied falsies. 

Now here's the clincher for me. Max Factor Extreme Volume certainly works - you can see on Laura's lashes above and in some of her more recent videos - her lashes are be-a-YOOT-iful. For me? It works just a little too well. 

I have naturally long and curled lashes - I know #firstworldproblem but with this mascara I spent the day blinking several times to separate my lashes as they were just too long. Raising your brows and widening your eyes wildly at everyone passing you in an office corridor is not advisable by the by. 

Here's another little sumthin' I wasn't going to tell - the night I went to Beyoncé last week? I never removed my make up. I know, I know, awful but I have a bandy back and zero flutes to give. I was up at the crack of dawn for work and never once touched my mascara - wanna see 36 hours wear? 

Look. At. That. Perfectly separated, no longer sticking together, no fall out, no spider legs, no lash breakage. Now I'm not for one minute suggesting you do the same but seriously - isn't that something?! It's definitely a tell tale sign of a lasting product if ever there were one. 

All in all, this is a cracker of a mascara. Although too large (Police Man's truncheon large) to be toting about with you, if you're looking for extreme lashes, this is where you'll get them. 

The fact that I have a bajillion and 4 mascaras meant I didn't have to hold onto this one, I can't be doing with Daisy the Cow and/or Asylum Escapee impressions in work but I did regift to a colleague of mine with shorter lashes and she is in the actual love. Compliment total on her lashes at last count? 6 over two days. 

You'll pick up Max Factor Excess Volume at Boots for €12.49, they're on 3 for 2 at the minute. 

Tell us, have you tried this bad boy out yet? Will you? 

Can we have a little love for Laura too? Truly her naturally hilarious and straight to the point reviews are a highlight of Youtube for me these days. Be sure to pop by and show here a lil' subby love - you won't regret it. 

New Maybelline Big Eyes Volum' Express - Two Sides of a Two Sided Brush (Collab Post with Chloe from Very Lovely Stuff )

We've summat a little different today. Maybelline's new Big Eyes Volum' Express is new to shelves here on the Emerald Isle but the the very lovely Chloe from the aptly named Very Lovely Stuff has had her mitts on it for longer, having picked it up in Germany. 

Maybelline Big Eyes Volum' Express: Two Brushes: One Aim = HUGE lashes

When Chloe commented on a post of mine I knew we had to give Maybelline the twice over in the interest of fairness and here's how we got on, respectively: Take it away Chloe: 

After seeing Sue upload a photo of Maybelline's Big EyesVolum Express mascara to Facebook, I had to comment about how it just hadn't worked for me. Sue being the brilliant blogger that she is, quickly had the idea of doing a double post for this double ended mascara! So that's why I'm here today, to explain just why Big Eyes just isn't getting big love over here.

Now, seeing as I picked it up in Germany, I wasn't 100% sure what this mascara was promising me, but all I ever want are big eyes, & big lashes. I'm a girl after volume, & lots of it. But this just did not deliver. I felt it went more for length (which is grand, if that's what you want) & not the 360 degree volume it claims. Basically, it did extend my non existent lashes out a bit, but after about 10 minutes, they drooped & behind my glasses, it just looked like I'd accidentally put eyeliner on my lashes instead of mascara.

The bottom lash mascara however, I did quite like. That was one of the reasons it caught my eye in the first place – I figured €8.99 for a dual mascara was a lot better than forking out for one specifically for bottom lashes. It did the job, & gave much more definition under my eyes, but I wouldn't repurchase just for that alone.

Normally, I don't like to waste. But ever since first trying it, Big Eyes has stayed at the bottom of my stash until I took the photos for this post. Put it this way: If this mascara was my date, it didn't make me want to climb out a window. But it didn't make me snapchat my friends exclaiming “THE ONE!” either. I'm shocked because I usually love Maybelline mascaras, but it's very much a 'meh' response from me & my unvolumised lashes.  

Now for my side of the scéal: 

Very much like Chloe, I'm a big fan of Maybelline mascaras and am a firm believer that they're consistently one of the best high street brands when it comes to lash batters. I spied Big Eyes Volum' Express on Boots shelves before my press sample arrived and picked it up immediately, such is my make up illness. 

It's not often that I like a mascara formulation straight from the tube as with a lot of volumising editions they'll need a day or two to plump up/dry out in tube in my experience. 

I really liked this idea of a two brush approach though with lower lashes specifically catered for with a dinky brush but will readily admit that more often than not, just as I do with USBs, I get it wrong the first time, every time and end up with the brush in my left hand. It's not a big jimmie rustler, just a little niggle. 

While I don't agree with the Maybelline tagline for Big Eyes 'The New Falsies', it's really not, I genuinely like this two step approach with it's separating and volumising formula. I applied just one coat top and bottom in zig zag fashion (results above) and that lasted me the entire day with zero clumping or fall out. That's a win for me. 

The post that started the trouble! 

Granted Big Eyes Volum' Express isn't the most volumising or plumping mascara you can get for its price (€11.99/€8.99 right now) but it is the one I've been reaching for absent mindedly for about two weeks now. For me, that's big. I agree with Chloe with regard to glasses though, I'm lucky enough not to have to wear 'em but if I were heading to a 3D movie, I can see how Big Eyes would give me issues. 

Tell us, have you tried Big Eyes? Which side are you on with your verdict? We'd love to hear. Is there an upcoming product that you'd like to throw in your tuppence on? Well send me on a mail so & we'll see if we can collab. I love to see two sides to each story, 'One Gal's trash' an' all that - it's very helpful to those of us trying to save a few sheckles too. 

Do please take a moment to pop over to Very Lovely Stuff and check out Chloe's work, she's a gorgeous Gal and I don't say that lightly. Thanks again C!