Mascara Unmasked: Everything you need to know!

What is UP with all the mascara TV and print ads having the little “Styled with lash extensions and edited in post-production for an even lash line” disclaimers?

I mean, I know LEGALLY it protects them if we don’t all come out looking like Kim Kardashian or Eva Longoria. And I know everyone knows the ads are shot with lash extensions.

But how is the consumer supposed to decide which mascara to buy if all the ads are falsified to within an inch of their lives? This got me thinking about all the mascaras I’ve tried in my make-up wearing life. I’ve tried them ALL. At least one from each major brand. I even had a Natural Collection one once – those were dark times. So with that in mind, here is…

The first ever…

ThinkWhatYouLike Awards

I’m starting with mascara. I’ll branch out into other areas of make-up AND beyond, but this is part one anyway.

**Disclaimer: This was judged by people who are not being paid and have no affiliation to any particular make-up brand. We don’t work for The Man, in other words. You can trust us.**

Best on a budget:

Nominees: Maybelline Colossal, Rimmel Glam Eyes, L’Oreal Million Lashes

Winner: Maybelline Colossal

At approximately €11 in most places, Maybelline Colossal was the pick of most of the people I asked about mascara for their best budget option. I haven’t used it myself, but considering the price and the rave reviews, it’ll be my next mascara purchase.

Best Daytime Mascara

Nominees: Max Factor Masterpiece Max, Mabelline Great Lash, No.7 Extreme Length

Winner: Max Factor Masterpiece Max

A simple, clean mascara that gives length, coverage and a nice shape to lashes without being overly dramatic and a bit too ‘nighttime’. It’s only around a tenner in most places, so it doesn’t break the bank – a good thing if you’re wearing it everyday. And it does layer well, so if you’ve an after-work thing on and you need to glam up, it works. It can be tricky to get off after layering, but some baby oil on a make up pad will remove it if your wipes won’t work.

Most Overrated

Nominees: Urban Decay Big Fatty, Max Factor False Lash Effect, Benefit Bad Gal Lash

Winner: Max Factor False Lash Effect

I know we’re all different, mascara-love wise. But I’ve tried this and been seriously underwhelmed. I fell for the advertising hook, line and sinker and bought it thinking it would revolutionise my eye make-up. It barely even make my lashes black. It didn’t curl, it didn’t volumise, it didn’t lengthen particularly.

There are some who swear by it, but I’ve also gotten a fair amount of bad reports. I don’t rate it at all. If anyone wants my barely used bottle, mail me. If I haven’t thrown it out the window by then I’ll send it to you so you can.

Most Underrated

Nominees: Bourjois Coup de Theatre, No.7 Extreme Length, Clinique High Impact.

Winner: No. 7 Extreme Length

I think sometimes we dismiss No. 7 as the make up brand of old ladies – I do anyway – but when I tried a sample size version of this, with it’s cool little rubber green brush, I was pleasantly surprised. I’ve never seen it in any make up bags, which leads me to think it’s underrated. It’s great for separating clumped lashes. It doesn’t cause clumps itself, but if you use multiple mascaras, it’s worth getting for it’s declumping abilities.

Best Dual Coat Mascara

Nominees: L’Oreal Double Extension, Mabelline Intense XXL, Bourjois Coup de Theatre.

Winner: L’Oreal Double Extension

This is my personal fave for when I’m not splurging on YSL. When you apply the white end, it lengthens and strengthens your lashes, as well as giving them something for the black layer to build onto if you’re short of lashes yourself. The black layer then gives volume and a reasonable curl.

I have cried while wearing it, and although it’s not waterproof it pretty much stays where it is. I rarely have any panda eye and it comes off easily with a baby wipe. Great all rounder as well as great dual coat mascara. Highly recommended.

Best Waterproof:

Nominees: Benefit Bad Gal Lash Waterproof, Rimmel Volume Flash Waterproof, Rimmel Glam Eyes Waterproof

Winner: Rimmel Glam Eyes Waterproof

This is the type of mascara that attracts you when you’ve recently graduated from using the 17 range and you haven’t quite discovered designer brand mascaras yet. I robbed some from my little sister before and I was really impressed.

For a relatively cheap option, only €9, it has a great, stiff brush, making separating easy. Most of all it has great staying power. I’d imagine used in a hot climate it would stay put no matter how sweaty your lids were. And yes, eyelids do sweat.

Worst Mascara on the Planet

Nominees: Maybelline Define-a-Lash, L’Oreal Lash Architect, L’Oreal Telescopic Explosion (the little ball wand)

Winner: L’Oreal Lash Architect

L’Oreal have some excellent mascaras – their million lashes one, their double extension one, both great. But their Telescopic range is terrible. The only thing worse than that range is their Lash Architect mascara. Seriously. It practically straightens lashes instead of curling. It doesn’t build volume, it clumps together, it is a nightmare to take off and yet, still gives you little grey shadows under your eyes.

It’s a mascara conundrum – wont stay on but wont come off either. Lots of people I asked said they’d never buy it again. It speaks for itself that it was discontinued in most places recently. It’s overpriced too, at €15.

Beauty Writer’s Choice

Dawn from Skinni Peach says:

Believe me, I’ve tried an arctic truck full of the best ones out there! But I absolutely love La Roche Posay’s “Respectissime Densifying Mascara”. It gives amazing volume, has a serum to prevent lashes from falling out and becoming weak and lasts ALL day. It’s really buildable too, so great for layering on nights out. I didn’t realise I had sensitive eyes until I started using this – my eyes were always watering before.

Make-Up Artist’s Choice

Sarah Hope from Sarah Hope Make-Up says:

Diorshow Blackout Waterproof. The best volume a mascara has ever given me. And I can’t work with MAC mascaras at all.

Mascara Novice’s Choice

Sarah from The Licentiate says:

I’m a Maybelline girl – you know the pink and green bottles? Been using them since I was fourteen. (She’s obviously on to something – Great Lash has been the best selling mascara in the US for years, with one sold every 1.6 seconds!)

And now, like the Best Actress Oscar, it’s the one you’ve all been waiting for…

Best Mascara EVER

Nominees: Christian Dior Diorshow, Yves Saint Laurent Effet Faux Cils, Lancome Hypnose Drama.

Winner

Yves Saint Laurent Effet Faux Cils

Even though it costs a whopping €30-€40 depending where you buy it, (what recession?) it is so worth it. By far and away the most popular response from everyone I asked, including myself. I have only ever had it three or four times in my mascara wearing life, but if money wasn’t an object I’d buy it every three months to the day.

It gives volume, length, the illusion of thick lashes, and it curls. The formula is thick but manages to glide onto lashes. I also have it on good authority that even in the heat of central Australia, it stays right where it is. Occasional wiping off the very bristly wand might be necessary but overall, you can’t fault it. Worth getting for Christmas this year.

Santa, are you listening?

No one’s perfect…

Even the best mascaras have their faults, which is why I’ve compiled this list of tips and tricks for some of the award winners above.

• Mabelline Great Lash: Invest in a nice Shu Umera Eyelash Curler, it gives great coverage and is turbo cheap, but it’s like a GHD for eyelashes. Makes them straight as pokers. So curl away.

• YSL Effet Faux Cils: This is the ultimate mascara, even though it’s pricey, it’s worth it. It does seem to dry up and become impossible to use immediately after the three month mark (the recommended mascara usage time) so make sure you use it often when you buy it – don’t save for special occasions. You bought it, now enjoy it before it dries up.

• When using L’Oreal Double Extension, make sure not to apply the black directly after the white as the two won’t stick to each other. Leave it about 20-30 seconds before going in for the black layer. Don’t leave it too long though, because if the white dries completely, it won’t take the black layer properly. Oh, and make sure to cover all the white bits.

Comment, comment, comment!