Avon Anew Power Serum

I've always been skeptical of serums. I see how they could work, providing an extra and/or targeted boost to one's skincare routine, but personally, I haven't had a lot of success with them. Still, I approached Avon's latest serum with an open, and hopeful mind. After all, if it did deliver the results that it claimed it would — hydration, smooth texture, radiance, firmness and finally, lines and wrinkles that looked diminished —  it would be a product that I would happily incorporate into my routine.

Unfortunately, I didn't notice any positive differences while using this product. It anything, my fine lines were a bit more obvious. Since diminishing their appearance would likely be the result of increased hydration levels in my skin, I can only theorize that this product didn't deliver the hydration that it claimed it would.

Avon Mega Effects Mascara

“Maybe I’m applying it incorrectly,” I thought as I swept this mascara on and once again ended up with
messy, clumpy spider lashes.

That sounds like an odd thing to say about a mascara but then this just isn’t any mascara. It’s Avon’s Mega Effects Mascara, a “breakthrough” product that uses a special “Wonderbrush” to provide “lash transformation.” Instead of being your usual round-brush-in-a-tube, the Wonderbrush is more like a row of bristles that fit into a rectangular-shaped container that's filled wit the actual mascara formula. In order to get the brush out of this container, you have to wiggle it from side-to-side.

It’s this wiggling motion that I think I’m doing wrong. According to Avon, this mascara is supposed to be giving me lashes that are “darker, denser and more dramatic” but I’m not quite getting that. While this mascara certainly does make my lashes visibly bigger, its messy nature doesn’t make them prettier.

Avon Plump Pout Lip Gloss

I want to start by saying that this product is $8 (and if you wait for a sale, you can get it for $4). I’m highlighting this right off the bat because while this isn’t an amazing plumping lip gloss, for $8, it’s pretty damn good.
It does actually plump up your lips a bit. It’s nothing dramatic, at least not on me, but my lips did look fuller with this product on then with it off. Like most plumping products, this one did make my lips tingle but unlike some other similar products, it didn’t make them feel like they were on fire, causing me to rush to the bathroom and wash the stuff off (true story).

The actual gloss is a bit of a goopy product though the sponge-tipped applicator allows you to put it on fairly easily. Once on, you feel a bit of stickiness but, like I pointed out before, this stuff cost $8.

What I like about this gloss, besides the fact that it does plump, is that it’s glossy without being too glossy. The colour I use, pink nectar, is also a nice balance between being natural and colourful. In other words, this is a really good day product, since it perks up your lips without making them look too flashy.

I wouldn’t really call this a long-wear lip gloss since it does come off on glass (again, it cost $8) but on the flip side, it doesn’t dry out your lips like some of the long-wear lip products do.

The only other downside is that Plump Pout Lip Gloss comes in a small range of colours that likely won’t work for everyone.  Too bad, because for $8 this is a good, little lip gloss.

Would I buy this again: Yes
Should you buy it: Yes, if there’s a colour that works for you

Mark Mega Volume Next Day Spray

I really, really wanted this product, from Avon’s Mark line, to work. Its claim is that it, “Refreshes hair between shampooing, helps remove buildup and reduce oily appearance to revitalize your style.”

Sadly, it does none at that. At most, this lightly-scented spray might make your hair smell a little fresher but it won’t make it look or feel any less greasy.

I’ve tried applying this stuff in different quantities, thinking maybe that was the problem but nope, no difference. And yes, I did follow the instructions that tell you to spray from six inches away.

So while other people have had luck with this stuff, I have't. Thankfully, there are tons of other versions of this product out there and I will definitely be looking into them because while I know that baby powder does the same trick, it can be kind of messy.

Would I buy this again: No
Should you buy it: No