What do I look for in a mascara? Volume and colour intensity. I've never been overly fussed about lengthening. I don't have particularly long lashes but I do have hooded eyes which makes super long eyelashes a pain in the bum sometimes as my mascara can transfer. Plus long lashes get in the way when I'm wearing my glasses or sunnies. Before you recommend an eyelash curler - I'm terrified of them!
These are the mascaras I'm currently using. It seems excessive but I do use them all and keep a note of when each one was opened so I know when to throw them out!
Without mascara. I have one eyelash that grows downwards - it's so annoying!
L-R: Rimmel Extra Super Lash, L'Oreal Voluminous, Bourjois Volume Clubbing, Rimmel The Max Volume Flash, Maybelline Great Last, Dior Diorshow Waterproof, CoverGirl LashBlast Volume, Dejavu Fiberwig Paint On False Lashes: Extra Long, Miss Sporty Studio Lash, Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl.
I applied one coat of mascara to the top lashes.
Rimmel Extra Super Lash: Lash Building Mascara in 103 Electric Blue
It's quite clumpy if you're not careful, not exceptionally lengthening and doesn't offer much volume but for a blue mascara which I rarely wear, it's decent. I like to wear this on my bottom lashes or just on the tips over black mascara. The wand is a standard cone shaped mascara wand.
Waterproof: No
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £4.79 at Superdrug
3/10
L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black
One of my favourite mascaras by far; I've repurchased this many times. This offers volume without clumping and is buildable. It's easy to apply and the wand isn't fussy or gimmicky.
10/10
Waterproof: No
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £7.99 at Superdrug (L'Oreal Perfection Voluminous Mascara Carbon Black)
Bourjois Volume Clubbing Mascara in Absolute Black
The wand is awkward. It has bristles down two sides, then a gap on the other two where mascara gathers. This mascara is very prone to clumping if you're not careful. I will say that once you get the hang of using this, it offers wonderful volume from the roots of your lashes. I use it by twisting the wand and pulling out while I apply it. It also takes a long time to dry.
4/10
Waterproof: Yes
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £7.99 at Superdrug
Rimmel The Max Volume Flash in 003 Ultra Black
I love this mascara! The wand is large but doesn't have bristles too close together so it offers great separation and length. Volume is great if you're quick and put a few coats on before it dries. I occasionally have this with various mascaras, but I prefer this when it's had a couple of weeks to dry out slightly. I'm the same way with Rimmel Sexy Curves and Diorshow.
8/10
Waterproof: No (a waterproof version is now available)
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £6.69 at Superdrug
Maybelline Great Lash in Very Black/Ultra Noir
A classic. It's been around for decades and there's a reason for it. This mascara offers a "my lashes but better" look. They look natural yet defined. I find myself going back to this time and time again as it's the perfect mascara to use on a "no makeup" day. The wand is standard and applies the product well. It's also quite small so is perfect for getting the small lashes in the inner corners.
8/10
Dior Diorshow Waterproof in 090 Black
Another mascara I find myself repurchasing. The wand is large and thick but because it is tapered, inner corner lashes aren't missed out. The waterproof forumula is a must for me. I didn't like the original Diorshow. A must for dramatic lashes.
Waterproof: Yes
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £21.50 at Boots
9/10
CoverGirl LashBlast Volume in Very Black
I'd wanted this for months and finally received it in a swap! I pulled the wand out and was unsure about how to use it. It definitely takes some getting used to but now that I've got the hang of it, I love it. With two coats I get thick, evenly separated lashes. It dries quickly and doesn't give me any hassle when I'm wearing sunglasses.
Waterproof: Yes
Easy to remove: Yes(ish)
Price: $6.94 at Target - I'm sure you'll be able to find it on eBay as well
9/10
Dejavu Fiberwig Paint On False Lashes: Extra Long
I've never really had great experiences with curved wands, but this mascara gives me thick, long and glossy lashes with minimal clumping. I'm unsure about whether this mascara is available in the UK as I was given this by a friend in Hong Kong.
Waterproof: No
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £8.80 at sasa.com
10/10
Miss Sporty Studio Lash in 001 Black
For the price, this is a fantastic mascara. It's by no means perfect but if you want a volumising buildable mascara on a budget; Studio Lash is your friend. It doesn't offer much in the way of length but like I said, it is buildable. It has a spiky plastic wand similar to the LashBlast but much, much smaller. Without a tapered end though, it's quite difficult to get to the corner lashes.
Waterproof: No
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £2.99 at Boots
6/10
Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl
This is a mascara I picked up in Hong Kong but only recently opened. It has an hourglass shaped wand which works well for applying the product. It's also quite small so it grabs every lash. The colour isn't very intense, it clumps at the tips and it is impossible to get off without an oil based eye makeup remover. It doesn't offer much volume but it does curl well and the formula holds the curl all day.
Waterproof: Yes (nuclear wipeout proof too)
Easy to remove: No(oooooo)
Price: £7.40 at sasa.com
4/10
So there are some clear winners but everyone's preference is different. These are just my views on how well these mascaras fulfil my dream mascara criteria. Hope this can help someone!
These are the mascaras I'm currently using. It seems excessive but I do use them all and keep a note of when each one was opened so I know when to throw them out!
Without mascara. I have one eyelash that grows downwards - it's so annoying!
L-R: Rimmel Extra Super Lash, L'Oreal Voluminous, Bourjois Volume Clubbing, Rimmel The Max Volume Flash, Maybelline Great Last, Dior Diorshow Waterproof, CoverGirl LashBlast Volume, Dejavu Fiberwig Paint On False Lashes: Extra Long, Miss Sporty Studio Lash, Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl.
I applied one coat of mascara to the top lashes.
Rimmel Extra Super Lash: Lash Building Mascara in 103 Electric Blue
It's quite clumpy if you're not careful, not exceptionally lengthening and doesn't offer much volume but for a blue mascara which I rarely wear, it's decent. I like to wear this on my bottom lashes or just on the tips over black mascara. The wand is a standard cone shaped mascara wand.
Waterproof: No
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £4.79 at Superdrug
3/10
L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black
One of my favourite mascaras by far; I've repurchased this many times. This offers volume without clumping and is buildable. It's easy to apply and the wand isn't fussy or gimmicky.
10/10
Waterproof: No
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £7.99 at Superdrug (L'Oreal Perfection Voluminous Mascara Carbon Black)
Bourjois Volume Clubbing Mascara in Absolute Black
The wand is awkward. It has bristles down two sides, then a gap on the other two where mascara gathers. This mascara is very prone to clumping if you're not careful. I will say that once you get the hang of using this, it offers wonderful volume from the roots of your lashes. I use it by twisting the wand and pulling out while I apply it. It also takes a long time to dry.
4/10
Waterproof: Yes
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £7.99 at Superdrug
Rimmel The Max Volume Flash in 003 Ultra Black
I love this mascara! The wand is large but doesn't have bristles too close together so it offers great separation and length. Volume is great if you're quick and put a few coats on before it dries. I occasionally have this with various mascaras, but I prefer this when it's had a couple of weeks to dry out slightly. I'm the same way with Rimmel Sexy Curves and Diorshow.
8/10
Waterproof: No (a waterproof version is now available)
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £6.69 at Superdrug
Maybelline Great Lash in Very Black/Ultra Noir
A classic. It's been around for decades and there's a reason for it. This mascara offers a "my lashes but better" look. They look natural yet defined. I find myself going back to this time and time again as it's the perfect mascara to use on a "no makeup" day. The wand is standard and applies the product well. It's also quite small so is perfect for getting the small lashes in the inner corners.
8/10
Dior Diorshow Waterproof in 090 Black
Another mascara I find myself repurchasing. The wand is large and thick but because it is tapered, inner corner lashes aren't missed out. The waterproof forumula is a must for me. I didn't like the original Diorshow. A must for dramatic lashes.
Waterproof: Yes
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £21.50 at Boots
9/10
CoverGirl LashBlast Volume in Very Black
I'd wanted this for months and finally received it in a swap! I pulled the wand out and was unsure about how to use it. It definitely takes some getting used to but now that I've got the hang of it, I love it. With two coats I get thick, evenly separated lashes. It dries quickly and doesn't give me any hassle when I'm wearing sunglasses.
Waterproof: Yes
Easy to remove: Yes(ish)
Price: $6.94 at Target - I'm sure you'll be able to find it on eBay as well
9/10
Dejavu Fiberwig Paint On False Lashes: Extra Long
I've never really had great experiences with curved wands, but this mascara gives me thick, long and glossy lashes with minimal clumping. I'm unsure about whether this mascara is available in the UK as I was given this by a friend in Hong Kong.
Waterproof: No
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £8.80 at sasa.com
10/10
Miss Sporty Studio Lash in 001 Black
For the price, this is a fantastic mascara. It's by no means perfect but if you want a volumising buildable mascara on a budget; Studio Lash is your friend. It doesn't offer much in the way of length but like I said, it is buildable. It has a spiky plastic wand similar to the LashBlast but much, much smaller. Without a tapered end though, it's quite difficult to get to the corner lashes.
Waterproof: No
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £2.99 at Boots
6/10
Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl
This is a mascara I picked up in Hong Kong but only recently opened. It has an hourglass shaped wand which works well for applying the product. It's also quite small so it grabs every lash. The colour isn't very intense, it clumps at the tips and it is impossible to get off without an oil based eye makeup remover. It doesn't offer much volume but it does curl well and the formula holds the curl all day.
Waterproof: Yes (nuclear wipeout proof too)
Easy to remove: No(oooooo)
Price: £7.40 at sasa.com
4/10
So there are some clear winners but everyone's preference is different. These are just my views on how well these mascaras fulfil my dream mascara criteria. Hope this can help someone!
That is the most comprehensive mascara review i've ever seen!!! Well done!
ReplyDeleteI don't like mascara much (maybe the ones that I do have now stinks! =S)
ReplyDeletethanks for the detailed reviews! I'm particularly liking the L'oreal Voluminous and Dejavu Fiberwig! =D I have a lash that grows awkwardly and sometimes it tends to poke my eye..so I plucked it off..XD
Thanks for reading!
ReplyDeleteVoluminous has been a staple for years now, it's an excellent mascara. I've tried plucking my odd lash out but it keeps growing back downwards haha. Now I fix it with mascara!