Having tried and tested a ridiculous number of mascaras, I have my favourites, some I’d use at a push, and some I just hate. So without long-winded intro or fuss, here are my three buckets.
Hate It
- Clinique High Impact – thick, clumpy, basic brush, bristles too short
- Nars Climax – dried quickly in tube, thick, clumpy
- Maybelline Falsies – clumpy mess
- L’Oréal Paris False Lash X Fiber Xtreme – clumpy, fibrous mess, but with added bonus of fibres falling into the eye and blurring vision. Hated it.
- L’Oréal Paris False Lash Bambi – scratchy brush, clumpy mascara, and awkward shaped tube makes it hard to grip comfortably
- L’Oreal Paris Miss Baby Roll – ditto the comments about False Lash Bambi – not sure if I’m confusing the two or if they really are similar. This one was supposed to be along the lines of Benefit’s Roller Lash but it failed miserably on my eyes.
- L’Oreal Paris Voluminous – pretty much like Clinique High Impact in terms of basic brush, bristles too close together to really coat thick lashes. Might work on those with sparse lashes though.
Like It
- L’Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes – a good all rounder, for a fanned out, defined look, but not particularly thickening, not on me anyway
- Maybelline Great Lash – the green & pink classic – good formula, good pigment, basic brush
- Maybelline Lash Sensational – good for thickening, separating and giving a really fanned out lash – I just don’t like the shape of the tube. If it were a straight tube, this would be in my love pile, but it’s not, and I’m petty.
- Maybeline Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof – this has a striahgt tube but not the wand I like – come on guys, just give me Lash Sensational with the fanned wand and straight tube.
- Revlon Ultimate All-In-One – the smaller brush head really does make it easier to use. Not keen on the tube shape though, simple straight tube would be easier to apply, as I like to twist up/ curl up as I zigzag though my lashes.
- Benefit They’re’ Real – this was my go-to mascara for a while, until Benefit’s Roller Lash came out and blew this out of the water. Great for definition and lengthening, but Roller Lash has the curling edge.
Love It
- Dior Show – thick but not clumpy, great definition and carbon black for added drama
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Lash – creamy but fluid formula that coats the lashes beautifully to give thickness and length
- L’Oréal Lash Architect 4D (lengthens, thickens and defines)
- L’Oréal Lash Paradise (super thickness and conditioning)
- L’Oréal Lash Unlimited – the bendy one, great definition and length – just a bit poky in the eye, which I do almost every time
- Benefit Roller Lash – that velcro-like brush really does it for me. Separates, defines and gives good curl, even on my straight lashes
Still to test
- L’Oréal Paris Air Volume Mega Mascara
- Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara
- CYO Volume Mascara – The thick of it
- KVD Go Big Or Go Home mascara
Faves
High End (£15+)
Dior Show mascara is my number one favourite, followed closely by Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir mascara and then Benefit Roller Lash. All are super thickening but with good separation of lashes, without clumping, even on relatively thick lashes like mine.
Mid-range (<£15)
If Dior Show mascara was cheaper, I’d buy nothing else, for sure. But given that I don’t wear mascara daily, I never finish a tube before it expires, so budget-friendly is the way for me. L’Oréal really have that corner of the market well and truly covered.
My favourite L’Oréal mascaras are Lash Architect 4D (lengthens, thickens and defines), Lash Unlimited (the bendy one, great definition and length), and Lash Paradise (super thickness and conditioning).
Budget (<£5)
Collection mascara can’t be beaten for good quality basics. I use them in my pro makeup kit, and switch out the brushes, using disposable spoolies on clients. That way I have a decent basic formula and can use the brush head that I need for the desired look, whether the client wants thickness, length, or definition/ separation. Available in Black, Brown or Clear Gel, and just £1.99.
So do you agree? Disagree? See anything you love that’s missing? Hit me up on the socials.
Twitter: @tasnimmua
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