Chinese makeup?

I think that we're all a little skeptic about really inexpensive makeup. Or at least we used to, before ELF came along and before brands like Wet n Wild stepped up their game. But still, at least these are well known brands, so we really shouldn't have much to fear. We may waste our money if they don't work out, but it's pretty safe to test out new products. When you bring foreign companies to the table that feeling of security tends to diminish. I'm not talking about products made overseas but sold here in the US, though people do have their reservations about that as well, but products made and sold in other countries that they ship to you after purchase. We don't know what the manufacturing laws are or what kind of FDA type regulations they do or don't have. It can really be a gamble, I think, and a question of whether or not it's worth it to save a few bucks.

I decided to ask the Wizard for courage - I ain't no Cowardly Lion ;) I went for it and ordered a couple of Chinese products from eBay. My hopes were fairly low, but my fear was, too. I really had my fingers crossed that I wouldn't go blind from these items and that they wouldn't be too horrible, but I figured it was worth a shot!

I was in desperate need of mascara and black liquid liner. For the mascara I chose one much like this... The packaging looks the same but I'm not sure of the seller anymore. The mascara isn't perfect by any means, but it's actually pretty good. I'd probably rate it a 6/10. Definitely worth the cost of less than $2 each. I bought 2 of them and I found that I used it up a little bit faster than a drug store mascara and the formula was a tad drier than I prefer, but it was still worth the price.

I also bought this liquid eyeliner. My gripe about this one is that it isn't as dark as it could be. The product is a tad watery so you don't get as opaque of an application as you would with many well known brands. It also doesn't stay in the tip very long - you really have to shake it and hold it downward to get any usable color. But it works okay and while I don't regret buying it, I won't purchase the same one again. I would give it a 3 or 4/10.

I didn't end up with any eye irritations due to these products. That isn't to say that like with any other product out there that what will work for me will also work for you, but I didn't find any cause for concern with these items. The shipping took a while, as does anything I ever order from China, but it wasn't inappropriately long. And really, for the low costs of the products and the free shipping, it was worth the wait.

I don't see myself rebuying either of these items at this point. There are similar mascaras, and perhaps eyeliners, in the same price range that are also from China that I will be trying next. I just hope that I end up having as decent of an experience next time as I did this time. But of course I will update you all either way :)

xoxo
Laura