FOR almost two centuries, the House of Guerlain has explored the many facets of beauty in the form of perfume, cosmetics and skincare – all of which are carefully designed to enhance women’s natural beauty. The new Mad Eyes Collection promises to do just that, with the additional benefits of conditioning ingredients that nourish lashes and brows from root to tip.
The five-product-range offers pigmented, long-wear formulas that take the form of sensorial textures to achieve glamorous, dramatic eyes. While an impactful lipstick may have been our go-to beauty product in former times of turmoil, the wearing of face masks during the coronavirus pandemic has forced us to temporarily part with our lip stains and focus instead on making our eyes pop.
Guerlain’s Mad Eyes collection seemed to have a glittering bagful of potential, so we put the products to the test. The luxe-looking rose gold packaging immediately got our seal of approval.
The Mad Eyes Mascara
The Mad Eyes Mascara offers lash-by-lash buildable volume and claims to add +112 per cent volume in an instant. While I cannot vouch for whether this is statistically true, I did however notice that the formula instantly thickened, lengthened, and curled my lashes after just one coat. Designed to increase the density of each lash after every stroke, the soft fibre brush provides spectacular volume and 24-hour, water-resistant wear.
The Mad Eyes Mascara, priced at £28 and available here
And the best bit? The product really does stay put all day long without any smudging or clumping. This is partly due to its beeswax formula, which coats each lash individually for a defined, clump-free result. The mascara’s unique formula also infuses the lashes with skincare properties, which lengthen and thicken lash fibres. The ingredient D-panthenol, for example, hydrates lashes while offering resistance and flexibility, which ultimately makes it easier to tame the stray lashes typically nestled near the outer corner of the eyes.
While my lashes are naturally quite long, they tend to lack the voluminous curl achieved by a mascara. The Mad Eyes Mascara went beyond curling and lengthening, transforming my lashes into what felt like a set of natural-looking falsies. This smudge-proof, volumising mascara has the dramatic effect of a red lipstick while simultaneously boosting the growth of lashes – what more could we possibly want?
The product comes in three shades: 01 Mad Black, 02 Mad Brown, and 03 Mad Blue.
The Mad Eyes Contrast Shadow Duo Cream Stick
The Contrast Shadow Duo cream stick eyeshadow is a simple, fuss-free product that structures eyes within seconds. It has two tips with a choice of either a matte or iridescent finish, which can be used individually or together. Using the Shadow Duo Cream Stick in Night Grey / Ice Grey, I applied the lighter shade over the entire upper eyelid and blended it gently with my finger. The product’s creamy texture makes it incredibly easy to apply as it glides on ever so effortlessly. To add more depth, I then used the darker shade to line the eyes. The product’s versatility is a huge selling-point and can be used from day to night.
The Mad Eyes Contrast Shadow Duo Cream Sticks, priced at £28 each and available here
The product comes in four colourways: Warm Brown / Golden Brown, Red Plum / Copper Plum, Ash Green / Pearly Green, Night Grey / Icy Grey.
The Mad Eyes Precise Liner
Finding a good, smudge-proof liquid liner is indeed a challenge. Formulas are often too wet, making it difficult to create a sharp, cut-crease look. But you can rest assured that Guerlain’s Mad Eyes Precise Liner will be a game changer in your beauty regime. The eyeliner pen has an ultra-precise tip and an intensely matte finish, which facilitates the process of applying a graphic line for a perfectly mastered feline flick. Not only is the product easy to apply but it is also long-lasting and doesn’t bleed over the course of the day. For me, this is incredibly important because time and time again, liquid liners have either smeared or left an imprint on my upper eyelids, which isn’t a good look.
The Mad Eyes Precise Liner, priced at £31 and available here
For an even more dramatic cat-eye look, Guerlain also has the Mad Eyes Intense Liner whose tip was inspired by calligraphy brushes. If you’re a liquid liner novice, however, I would recommend starting off with the Mad Eyes Precise Liner.
The Mad Eyes Brow Framer
To complete your look, apply the Mad Eyes Brow Framer along the brow line to enhance the frame and balance of your face. The comb’s tinted gel formula subtly blends in the eyebrows, adding definition for naturally beautiful and thicker-looking arches. Enriched with beeswax, cotton extract and D-panthenol, the formula infuses the eyebrows with skincare properties just like a serum. As a result, there are long-term benefits to using the product. With each application, brows will become fuller, thicker and stronger.
The Mad Eyes Brow Framer, priced at £31 and available here
The product comes in three shades: 01 Blonde, 02 Brown, 03 Brunette.
The Mad Eyes Collection is indeed impressive, combining makeup with skincare to achieve aesthetic results in both the short and long term. So, as we slowly emerge out of lockdown, make a statement with bright, beautiful eyes. After all, eyes are the windows to the soul, so we may as well make them look good – now more than ever.
by Rhiannon Jenkins
For more information, visit Guerlain.com