Navies and plums are fairly common as far as mascara colours go, but don't quite hit my garish clown sweet spot; conversely I've been disappointed in the formula of all the brights I've tried from Barry M, LA Splash, Stargazer and even my beloved Kiko (lash-wilting, clumpy, unevenly pigmented messes, all). Enter RMK Separate Curl Mascara N in EX-01 Red -- truly as lash-defining, curl-holding and RED as its name promises:
The shade is a bright, clear, pink-toned red with no muddy brown notes or tiring warm plumminess; the wand a no-fuss straight tapered bristle brush, a little smaller than average; and the formula an excellent Japanese waterproof offering, without fibres! which, if not quite as feathery as Fasio Full Dynamic Volume, still eclipses most at providing separated flutteriness. The formula is wet enough for several passes through my lashes without clumping or glooping, but it still sets to the expected Japanese-apocalypse-proof standards without excessive crunchiness -- it's certainly not so dry that it flakes (as the YSL Singuliere formula tends to, mildly, after a few weeks) which is a very good thing with a colour this vibrant. Pigmentation is great: this is designed for black lashes, after all, and I don't need any kind of primer underneath to get true-to-wand lashes.
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| one coat of RMK Separate Curl Mascara N EX-01 on lashes curled with Chanel curler |
The no-fibres formula means this will work for lower lashes even if, like me, you HATE spindly lower lashes. I chose to keep the reds on the lower lash tips only, as taking it right up to the lower waterline is a bit too unforgivingly rabbity, even for this clown.
Rest of face kept very simple -- if not quite my strictly wanktastic definition of minimal ;D -- a barely-there eye with the white from Suqqu 09 Koju quad as wash/highlight, Rouge Bunny Rouge Sweet Dust Seriema to shade socket and lower lashline, and a little Addiction Lady of the Lake eyeliner smudged into the upper lashline.
Suqqu Creamy Glow 18 Karakurenai on lips (made glossier and warmer with a little RBR Kiss Elixir balm) and a very light application of Dolce&Gabbana Nude blush. I knocked all the redness out of my face with a heavier-than-usual application of Shu Uemura Pink/Purple UV mousse and Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation 001, with Shiseido High Beam White through the centre of the face.
Brows and undereye concealers the usual Suqqu Moss Green, Burberry 01 and Tarte Maracuja Fair.
RMK Separate Curl Mascara N is made in Japan and also comes in three permanent shades of black, brown and blue (EX-01 Red is limited edition). Ingredients here.