MASCARA-MA: Part One

Mirror, mirror on the wall, which mascara conquers all?

The next time you enter any makeup department, try counting every single type of mascara on the shelves. It is absolutely INSANE how many new mascara formulas, applicators, bristles, shades and tubes come out weekly. Lengthen, curl, lengthen again, grow, thicken… The list goes on. If you get confused when trying to choose the right mascara, I am so with you. Seriously. Mascara is the type of product that is really hit or miss. You won’t ever really know if it works until you purchase and try it, and by the time you find “the one”, you could be $6-$40 in the hole. That’s what I’m for! 

I have had a huge demand for my thoughts on mascara, so, I am super, super, SUPER excited for this series of posts! I will be doing a 4 part series, covering all of the different mascaras that I have tried, all at different price points. I’m only going to be mentioning the ones that I have been happy with, of course. Keep in mind, everyone has different results with a product, so something that works for me, may not be what you’re looking for, and vice versa. Mascara is very personal. Once we find “the one”, we fall madly, deeply… No harm in sharing my experiences though. As a disclaimer, I’m sorry if some of my thoughts offend that special mascara in your life. :)

2 Things:

1) I am blonde. I have blonde eyebrows and blonde eyelashes. Because I am blonde, unless I wear very dark mascara, my eyelashes look virtually invisible. I normally recommend very black or black shades of mascara to people who experience the same thing as me. If you prefer lighter shades, I would definitely go for light blacks/browns. It’s all preference.

2) In the above, I have specified Wal Mart as the retailer where you can find these products. This does not mean they are only available at Wal Mart. I’m positive you can find mass brands at basically any drugstore, but, I chose to mention Wal Mart because I normally research these things in advance, and find the lowest prices to share with you. If you do not have a Wal Mart available to you in your area, I would definitely take a look at any other store with a cosmetics section, you will find what you’re looking for. :)

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume: The applicator brush on this mascara is made of rubber. When this first came out, I was all over it. Due to the fact that it has so many tiny, short bristles, it hugs each and every lash. I definitely notice a difference in the volume of my lashes. I have tried the waterproof version, and was not a fan. I don’t know if the bristles are different, but it didn’t give me the same effect. May have been the waterproof formula. Regardless, I would recommend this in a regular, non-waterproof “Very Black”. 

Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume: Okay, I won’t lie, when this first hit the market and I saw the applicator brush and how flimsy it was, I thought “uh, no thank you”. However, after trying it.. Wowowowow. When using it, I don’t even notice that the applicator is rubber, I focus on the fact that the formula is absolutely amazing. As you can see in the image above, the applicator tip has a different shape. It’s kind of thick at the top and the bottom, but more slender in the center. For some reason, this shape really distributes the product flawlessly. No clumps, just sexy volume. I have to say, I did not like the lengthening version in the lime green tube. It hardly distributed any product onto my lashes. I find that the lengthening formula falls way behind the volumizing formula. I would even recommend this one for someone just seeking length in “Very Black”.

Revlon Fabulash: This is currently my favorite mascara, and I have been using it religiously for months. The applicator is made of actual bristles, not rubber, and they are a unique shape. Some bristles are very short, others are longer. Together, they lengthen, volumize and separate the lashes. I am in LOVE with this mascara. The applicator brush reminds me of a mascara that Smashbox used to carry called “That’s A Wrap” (which they discontinued, WHYYYY?), and I have been seeking a similar applicator since. The mascara Gods were definitely on my side with this one – over half the price and works like a dream! I like this one in “Blackest Black”.

Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes: It is a known fact in the makeup industry that Maybelline’s Great Lash has been the #1 mascara in makeup artists’ kits for about 40 years or so. It was just a great formula with a simple applicator, and it worked on everyone. Great to have on set. Lots Of Lashes is a new, improved version of it. I think they have improved the formula, and the applicator is a unique heart shape, also made of rubber. What I like about this one is the applicator. It is chubby on the bottom and thin on the top. The tip helps to reach hard to get areas like in the tear duct, bottom lashes and any other baby lashes you may have. Clump free, does the job. Is it my absolute FAVORITE? No, but, I do like it and I do think that the price is pretty awesome. I would take this travelling over my more expensive mascaras for sure. “Very Black” is my shade.

I would really love to hear your feedback on your favorite mascaras at the moment and your experience with the ones mentioned above. I find it so interesting to discuss this topic because I always hear so many different answers. Everyone has their favorite, tell me who your special someone is!

Thank you for all your emails and stay tuned for part TWO of Mascara-ma!