Mascara: Wand vs. Formula
Mascara Wars: What makes a great mascara?
While trying so many mascaras, I’ve come across the following situations:
1) I love the wand, but hate the formula. It’s too watery or too thick or doesn’t adhere to my lashes properly.
2) I love the formula, but hate the wand. I wish I had a different wand to apply it properly.
3) Oh my God, the packaging is to die for… And that’s about it.
4) I love everything about it, except it flakes.
5) I love it, but, I don’t feel like spending $30 on it every few months.
6) Why did they discontinue the only mascara that was 100% what I longed for?
Now, we all know that not all mascara wands are the same. You can physically make that judgement when seeing a wand. It is different from the others. Either it’s made of hair or rubber bristles, long or short, straight or curved, pointy or chubby, and the list goes on. Some mascara wands are the ideal shape and size, others are just terrible. Some separate the lashes, wrap around each individual lash, reach the really tiny eyelashes, and some just perform the simple task of evenly distributing product to your lashes.
The formula, however, is another story. It’s like this mystery that no one can solve. Does the formula ACTUALLY have the ability to lengthen, thicken, grow or curl your lashes? I like to think so. Contrary to popular belief, not all formulas are the same, and I’m wondering if maybe the formula plays a bigger role than the wand itself. I think when you have a terrible mascara formula, you know right away. Either it is too runny, doesn’t dry fast enough, makes your eyelashes super stiff with no curl, or it flakes. No magical wand can make a terrible formula work for your lashes. So, I conducted a little test.
I took a tube of mascara that had my favorite formula, and I tried applying it with different types of wands from different mascara tubes. All of these mascaras were my personal ones, of course, not the ones I use in my professional kit. What I found was that they all gave me different results! Some of the wands really failed to adhere the formula to my lashes, other wands worked great, and the rest didn’t fit into the tube I was using. But, at the end of it all, I knew that I loved the formula and the wand it initially came with (which was actually a really simple wand).
Here is something to think about. When I am doing makeup on a client, and it’s time to apply the mascara, I use disposable wands for hygienic purposes. I purchase these from a makeup supply store. They are a generic size and shape. They would be the same shape as a regular “volumizing” mascara wand. Each time I apply mascara on a client, I use one that has a great formula, and I use a generic wand. I always get full, luscious lashes, and it gets the job done. So, could this mean that the formula I’m using is the cause for beautiful lashes, every time?
This topic is extremely debatable, but I wanted to bring it to light because I like knowing what works for everyone. Coming from a product development background, I am extremely intrigued as to what attracts you to a certain product. Do you focus on the wand? Do you read raving reviews about the formula? Or are you just sold on the cute packaging? One thing you have to know is that 70% of what you are paying for when you purchase ANY product is the packaging or componentry. The packaging is the box or plastic it comes in. The componentry is the physical bottle, tube and wand it comes with. The formula is the least expensive piece in the puzzle when a product is produced. Definitely gives you something to think about!
So, what I want to know from you is the following: What mascara, in your opinion, has EVERYTHING? Do you focus more on the wand or the formula? I think this Beauty Vault Showdown might be a tie (even though I’m totally leaning towards formula for the above reasons).
Give me your thoughts on this topic, I’d love to know! All I can say is, once you find “that one”, stick with it!
Until next time, my lovelies.
