The Search For the Perfect Mascara
In the past year, I’ve tried a lot of different “drugstore brand” mascaras. I’m always on the look out, the hunt, the search for the Perfect Mascara. My judging criteria includes lengthening ability, non-clump factor, ease in application, and ease of removal. I’m not a fan of mascaras that promise volume, because in my experience that is just another word for “clumpy.”
Rimmel’s Sexy Curves Full Volume & Curve Mascara – This mascara has a sort of waved rubber brush. It worked pretty well at curling my lashes without using an eyelash curler first. I was able to make the most of the brush shape to get into corners and really make those outer lashes look longer. I did find the formula thick and easy to clump. My 17-year-old daughter loves this mascara, but that kid has incredible lashes without mascara.
L’Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara – This mascara was hard to get the hang of – it has a very different kind of brush. It looks like a prickly round-ball made of rubber. The brush works well at getting into the corners. With practice this mascara could work very well, but it was not one of my favorites.
L’Oreal Double Extend- Double Extend is a two-step masacara. You apply a white extender which makes “tubes” that extend the length of each lash, then a mascara is applied over that. It gave me the longest lashes out of all the mascaras and it did not flake. It was very easy to remove, too. You take warm water and sort of roll it through your lashes, which loosens the tubes and mascara. No smeary dark smudges left behind, like you’d find with traditional mascara.
Covergirl Lash Blast – This is similar to the Define-A-Lash, but the brush is a bit thicker. The bristles are longer at the base, shorter at the tip. It was fine. Nothing exciting, although Drew Barrymore is adorable in the commercials.
Covergirl Lash Blast Luxe – I tried this mascara in a burgundy color, I can’t remember exactly what the color was called. It was fun, but I prefer a black mascara. The brush is the same as the regular Lash Blast.
Covergirl Lash Blast Length – The Length version is my favorite of the Blast mascaras. I like the thin, longer brush. I was able to apply it easily and my lashes were longer and not clumpy.
Maybelline Define-A-Lash – This was the first mascara that I used with the rubber brush. It is very gentle on application, slides through, doesn’t pull. I really like this mascara and will purchase it again. It does a good job of making lashes look long and full for every day. The brush has a slight curve to it.
Maybelline Great Lash – A classic. I pick up a couple of these a year. It works fine and is very inexpensive. I sometimes have a problem with clumping on the brush.
Maybelline Lash Stilleto- I was excited to try this one, for some reason. The heel-like container, maybe? It has traditional bristle brush. It is supposed to give you long stilletto-like lashes. I think it’s fine, but I didn’t feel that my lashes were longer than with any other brand and the mascara really clumps up thick on the brush.
My favorite mascara would be the L’Oreal Double Extend. Iit’s as close to perfect as I got this year in terms of volume, length, and non-clump, plus easy removal. It’s followed by the Define-A-Lash, and Lash Blast Length.
Do you have a great mascara recommendation? Let me know and I’ll pass the word on to other readers.
Image credit: Michelle Hamor
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