Needless to say they finally realized along with their gimmicky brushes the formulas needed to improve as well and companies have been dropping all of these new concoctions that promise you the moon and stars! Some even claim to actually make you grow more lashes with continued use.
So here are some of the new mascaras I've been playing around with....just to note they are new to me so that doesn't necessarily mean they are new on the market.
L'oreal Voluminus False Fiber Lashes
I just realized I had accidentally purchased the waterproof version!
I purchased this one quite a while ago. The very first time I opened it and used it I did not like it at all! The formula felt very dry and it seemed like there wasn't enough on the brush. I hate the packaging! Not only is it ugly but it's ginormous! I mean I think I need a separate makeup pouch just to keep it in. It may actually count as one carry on bag for the plane in itself! I don't know why they made it so big and bulky but whatever. I'm not going to ramble on about the packaging but I just thought it was important in this case to let you know how huge this thing is! Anyway like I was saying I was not a big fan of this! It was quite pricey too (like all L'oreal products) especially for a drugstore mascara. Being one who likes to get their money's worth and trying to see the glass as half full I didn't want to completely give up on it. I set it aside and every now and then I'd reach for it and abruptly change me mind! It sat for about a month taking up ridiculous amounts of space until I saw a review or something about it that was actually singing it praises. So I committed myself to giving it a fair chance and surprisingly it actually isn't as bad as I had originally thought! Is it the best mascara out there? No, but it isn't the absolute worst either! It has your basic mascara bristle or spoolie brush but its pretty long and slightly tapered. I was able to get more product on it. I guess the very first time it just didn't have enough, I don't know. It goes on nicely and it is buildable without getting all clumpy or spidery. It comes off very black and stays that way throughout its wear. I don't find it to be dry or flakey but it could remain a bit tacky and since I purchased the waterproof by accident it's a little hard to remove. Because of the fibers, It does a bit more lengthening than it does volumizing, which is quite ironic given the fact it's marketed as a volumizing mascara. It does make the lashes appear a tad bit thicker though but because it doesn't separate them much it doesn't look so voluminous.... I hope that makes sense! My lashes are pretty average overall. They are also pretty straight and without mascara they pretty much have no curl and actually slant downward a little. What I liked about this mascara for my lashes is that it actually helped them retain somewhat of a curl! They actually have some lift to them. If I was rating this on a 5 star system I'd give it a 3 1/2 just because I don't think it lives up to its claims and its not spectacular but it does the job. I'm just not sure if this is something I will always need to have in my collection. I don't think it performs much better than other drugstore fiber mascaras like Maybelline Illegal Lengths (which I like) that are much cheaper.
Here's a pic of the results
L'oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes
Ugh again I really had high hopes for this one but unfortunately it just didn't live up to my dreams. I figured using a primer works amazingly for my eyeshadow and foundation so it should work great on my eyelashes too. We this isn't exactly the case. Again more bulky packaging by L'oreal. One side is the primer and the other, the mascara. I stupidly threw the packaging away before I tried it thinking its mascara I don't need instructions on how to use it. Well apparently this stuff is a bit ore tricky then you'd think. The first time I used it I applied the primer and let it sit for a while before applying the mascara. That was a bad idea. The mascara or tubes part did not go on well. I tried to do a second coat and it made things even worse! It looked like I had 5 cartoon lashes sticking out of my eyelids. It was a big mess so the next time I tried it I applied the primer and then the mascara right away and that actually seemed to help. The second coat (which you don't necessarily need) went on better too but still made the lashes stick together. It does stay pretty black and there was no flaking. The one thing I noticed that I really didn't like was that even though I curled my lashes the "tubes" made them stick straight and didn't hold the curl that great. Removing it is easy and kind of weird. They suggest you just use warm water and it will slide off your lashes and it does, like black stringy boogers! You cannot build up this mascara too much. If you do your lashes will stick together and start looking cartoonish. It's a good mascara but a little tricky to work with. The results are ok but I just don't see the extra step as making a big difference. One thing I really do like about this stuff is that it doesn't flake, crumble or smear AT ALL! Even when you're removing it. You will not end up with a mess of mascara blackness. I think it's ok but I don't think I will purchase it ever again.
E.L.F 3-1 mascara lengthen, volumize, define>
Ok so I have NEVER had luck with cheap Mascaras. I have tried some made by NYC and they were complete doo-doo. So you can believe I was skeptical when purchasing this one made by E.L.F. It's part of their studio line so it comes in the matte black packaging. This one is kind of cheap feeling though whereas I don't think that of the rest of their stuff. Right off the bat when I unscrewed it the top came unglued so I now have to squeeze it very tight to get the cap off. No big deal. Again it was $3 so I'm not expecting much. Anyway it's one of those silicone brush deals only this one has a little ball at the end. I know that this isn't an original idea they ripped it off from Rimmel who i believe ripped it off from a high end mascara I just cannot think of which one. Brain fart! Anyway I have not had luck with these funky type brushes in the past (L'oreal telescopic) so I wasn't expecting much. I would have expected the product to buildup right under the ball tip but surprisingly it does not! The formula is VERY wet. I'm not a big fan of wet Mascaras because they have a tendency to fling and splatter all over the place. Still except for those few things I am actually very surprised by this mascara. It is very black and doesn't flake or make your lashes stiff & crunchy. It doesn't add tons of volume but it does coat the lashes nicely and somewhat lengthens. I don't know if this is a mascara I will "need" to have at all times but I will definitely keep it in my rotation. I liked what it did for my bottom lashes and I think I will use it exclusively for that. For $3 I think it is a decent mascara that beats out a lot if its more expensive competition. I just hope it dries up a bit with some more use.
As you can see in the pic it got all over my eyes!
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes!>
I got this mascara as a sample with my points from my Sephora VIP card. I usually think they really gyp you with sample Mascaras! They are usually dried out and don't give you a ton of product. I had a bad experience with Too Faced Lash Injection. This on the other hand was not all dried up. As with all Tarte products they are "au naturale" and contain not harmful chemicals. I absolutely love, love, love their blushes but I've never tried their Mascaras. Personally I don't think in most cases it's worth buying high end mascaras. I've never tired any that have wowed me so much and blew away my drugstore Mascaras.....until now! I actually went out and used some Sephora store credit i had I am in love with this stuff! It comes with your basic bristle or spoolie type brush that's densely packed with bristles and kind of tapered. This mascara does everything it claims to do. It adds volume, length and what makes it so special in my book it also separates. I find a lot of volumizing Mascaras make your lashes stick together. This one does not! It gives off a soft, natural look and also leaves your lashes feeling soft and flexible! It holds curl too! Essentially for me this mascara does exactly what I want a mascara to do. At $18 it is a little more pricey than I like to spend but you get a very large tube wrapped in a very nice purple snakeskin looking stuff! I just feel like I haven't found anything comparable in the drugstore so I definitely think this stuff is worth the extra $8 than the drugstore brands.
Rimmel Scandaleyes Show off Mascara>
Holy garbage! I purchased this along with Rimmel Pro Primer for the face (for future review) on a buy one get one 50% off sale at Ulta. Thank god, because if I paid full price for this I would be very upset! Firstly like the E.L.F. 3 in 1 it has a silicone brush with a little ball at the end but in this case the brush sucks! It's probably the biggest reason this mascara completely fails in my book! Unlike the E.L.F brush whose soft bristles are densely packed, this one looks more like one of those midevil torture balls wih huge spikes! The brush is too fat and its hard for me to really get down to the roots which is kind of ironic being that the whole point of it is supposed to help you reach those hard to get areas! The formula itself does nothing for me. It basically just gives you black lashes (at least the parts you can reach) and makes them stick together!it doesn't separate, add volume or length. It's supposed to be a "fibre" mascara but I didn't detect any fibers in it whatsoever. It's a shame because the formula is a good consistency. Not too wet, not too dry but just right but unfortunately it just sucks. It just doesn't do anything it claims to do and certainly doesn't make me want to "show off" my lashes. I most definitely will not be purchasing this ever again. It does give a natural look but that it not what I'm looking for when I buy a mascara named Show off!
Too Faced Lashgasm>
Too Faced Lashgasm
I didn't purchase this. It came free with my Bon Bon Palette. Full size too! I was very excited to try a Too Faced mascara. This like many new Mascaras comes with a silicone brush. It's nice and thin which I like. I feel like the fatter brushes are hard to really get in there. This is a nice mascara but LashGASM I don't know! I wouldn't take it that far! Kind of reminds me of those Herbal Essence commercial where the lady if spazzing out in the shower while washing her hair! This is not going to happen when you use this mascara just like it doesn't happen when you use Herbal Essences! It's not a bad Mascara and I will continue to use the tube I have until its finished but there's just nothing sooooo unbelievably special about it that I'd consider spending $18 on it. I feel it operates much in the same manner as the Covergirl LashExact. It's buildable, and leaves lashes soft and separates them but its not unique or special however I do think it is a good mascara and if you wanted to try it I wouldn't tell you not to!
Maybelline Rocket Volum Express
Maybelline Rocket Volum Express
If ca-ca and poo-poo had a love child they'd package it in a blue tube and call it Rocket Volum Express! Ugh this stuff is just terrible all around. It has a Silicone brush that is just ridiculously fat. It is tapered as well and the little spikey bristles get so small that they're almost non existent on the last 1/4" of the brush! Hello product buildup! I don't get the logic behind these fat brushes. Maybe it would work well for someone like Betty Boop who has enormous eyes and can open them really wide but for me they are just too big and hard to work with. That being said I usually reserve these kinds of mascara's for my bottom lashes but in this case since there's no bristles at the end so I can't. (I apply my bottom mascara holding the brush vertically.
As if the brush wasn't enough to entirely desecrate this product the formula is where it absolutely fails. Volume my ass! More like a quiet whisper or maybe a mute button! Another too wet and flingy formula! Oh but the great part is once it dries your are left with crunchy, brittle feeling lashes that flake all over! It actually reminds me a lot of Rimmels' Sexy Eyes which actually was a good mascara but left your lashes feeling like my bangs in the 80's after a heavy dosing of Rave hairspray! Rocket Volum Express is just garbagy crapola that is sadly sitting in my mascara cup not being used. I should just toss it to make room for something I actually like because the tube is so god dang fat but I will keep it and stare at it for a few more months until I toss it. The color of the packaging is a lovely cobalt blue and that's about all I like this one. Complete dud Maybelline!
Other Maybelline Mascara's that don't suck !
Illegal Lengths
I feel bad bashing Maybelline that much. I'm sorry baby. So I feel like I have to redeem it. I'm Going to group these together because there's quite a few I like from them.
Illegal Lengths is one of them. I didn't have high expectations for this one but I wanted to try one of these fiber mascara's. It has a spoolie type brush and the bristles are somewhat spaced apart. I thought that would be bad but it actually works pretty good. The formula has that "just right consistency" not too wet, not too dry. It's somewhere in between which is why I like it better than the L'oreal fiber mascara mentioned above. This mascara definitely gives you noticeable length.and it also lifts your lashes, making you're eyes appear more open and lively. It's also buildable and adds volume and separates for a more natural look. The one thing I don't like is that I feel like either it dries out quickly or they just don't put enough product in the tube. I repurchase this one quite frequently and I just feel like I use it up much quicker than most other mascara's I own. I really like this one and I hope that they don't discontinue it.
Maybelline Falsies
Maybelline Falsies
The Falsies, is another good mascara. It comes with a spoolie type brush again but this one is different. It has a unique shape. The bristles are long and curved on one side and short on the other. The brush is also bouncy, when you apply it it kind of springs back. Ugh that sounds weird, I don't know how to explain it but whatever it does its cool and seems to help. This one dries a little stiffer but doesn't get all flakey. It definitely lifts, separates and adds volume and a little length. Over all its just a good mascara and definitely one that I repurchase frequently.
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Maybelline Colossal Lash Volum Express Cat Eye version
It's yellow and has leopard print on the tubes cap......sold! The packaging is adorable but its what's on the inside that counts! This one to me is very similar to the falsies. Another good mascara. This one comes with a curved brush and its a spoolie. Again a very buildable, volumizing mascara. I really like this one. I think the brush works really well because of the curve but also because its thin and you can really get to the roots. This mascara gives you a real natural look and doesn't get clumpy at all. I'm all about natural clean looking lashes. Not a big fan of the spidery Tammy Faye Baker look! There one thing that slightly bothers me about this one and that's, that it for some reason, remains a little bit tacky when it dries but its not a big deal. It's not like your eye sticks together or anything. It just makes removal a little harder but not terrible. All in all I think I favor this one over the falsies just because the Falsies can get a bit clumpy.
So that's it folks! These are the Mascara's I've been rocking lately! What's in your makeup box? Any suggestions?
A few quick tips
Some mascara's are like fine wines and they get better with time. I'm not quite sure why this is. Some of the more wet or liquidy ones may need to dry up a bit before I like the way they work. So if you buy a mascara and you aren't happy with it right off the bat, don't write it off and kick it to the curb just yet. Let it sit around and play with it every now and again and see if it works a little different after you open it a few times. I know this sounds crazy but trust me, it's worth a shot. If you don't like it after a few weeks toss it.
One of the biggest mistakes we make with mascara is that when we go into the tube to get more for our other eye, or a second coat, a lot of us think jamming it in there and pumping it up and down really fast is the way to do so. Eeeeeehhhh wrong! All you are doing is pumping more air into the container and its going to dry your mascara out quicker. To extend the life of it just gently slide the brush back in and twist it around on your way back out. I know it's a hard habit to break because its something you don't even think about, you just do it but trust me it does help. Also wipe the opening off every so often with a damp rag or make remover towelette. It will give you a better seal and not let air get into it.
As far as applying it there are some cool tricks I've learned to help you get the best look out of it. Firstly if you have a hand mirror or table top mirror on a swiveling base turn the mirror horizontal and look down into it while your applying your mascara. You will have a better view of what you're doing and you will be able to really get down to the roots. Also gently wiggling the brush left and right while your coating it on will help separate and fully coat each lash. I also find blinking down onto the brush instead of moving your hand works a lot better and lessens the chance of slipping up and poking your eye out or making an ooopsie! If you do get a little on your eyelid or face, don't wipe it! You will just smear it in and make a huge mess! Instead take a Q-Tip and place the tip on to the spot and gently twist it around. This is probably one of the best tricks I've picked up because it comes right off and doesn't effect the eye makeup underneath.
And lastly make sure you laugh at your mascara face daily! Lol you know, the face you make with your mouth wide open looking like a scared clown! We all do it .
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