Over the years (i do sound so old) i have bought MANY mascaras, from no names to the highest of the high-end. I've been surprised by some, disappointed by many, and utterly upset by others that i've ended throwing away since nobody else wanted them.
On my current list, and in my makeup kit actually, there are several mascaras i always end up coming back to. I have been repurchasing most of these mascaras for about four years and i couldn't be happier. They deliver what i want, well, what we all want- full, thick, long and curly lashes- without necessarily costing an arm and a leg. I have got my mind set on two or three mascara additions right now- Elizabeth Arden (sheer curiosity), Lancome Hypnose (i've heard only great things about it) and Shiseido Volumizing mascara (owned it in the past and want to repurchase to have a complete collection thereof).
However. These are my present mascaras, they have their own satin pochette and a very very happy life. Plus, i don't know why, but 99% are drugstore mascaras.
1. Max Factor Masterpiece Mascara
There is nothing in this world that separates my lashes like this one does, period. It just coats EACH individual lash, and not in the marketing-babbling way- it really does it. I couldn't start applying anything else without this one as a base (to save my Shiseido mascara base for more special occasions). I love the gummy, cone-shaped bristles that look like little plastic spikes. The brush is rather triangular, medium-sized and it manages to catch all my lashes, from the tiniest to the longest. I will keep repurchasing this until they discontinue it (hopefully they will never do)
2. L'Oreal Lash Architect Mascara
I don't know why most reviews are negative when it comes to this product. To me it's great. Nothing lengthens my lashes like this one. Being a L'Oreal mascara, it works on the same basis- it needs a tiny bit of oxygen exposure so the uber-creamy formulation can 'dry' up a little and not verge on the runnier side. I never experienced clumping or flaking with this mascara. To me it's a fantastic lengthening product, and one coat is enough for both eyes (a coat= one tube scoop with the wand). I like the long, slender brush and the thick, tightly packed bristles. The Masterpiece and this one are my usual daily mascara routine and i'm always out the door with fanned, thick lashes.
3. Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara
Already reviewed so i'll keep it simple. This has a special volumizing brush and a cream formula. I like it for a more dramatic finishing effect.
4. Isadora Extra Volume Buildup Mascara
Another GREAT drugstore find. First, the tube is huge-12 ml v. the usual 8 ml most mascaras are. The brush is rather huge, with thin, long bristles that catch the lashes for a real buildup effect. It doesn't clump, doesn't run dry and doesn't flake either. I initially tried it as a sample (that lasted me more than 4 months) and i fell in love with it. It's a great product, relatively cheap, easy to find. I strongly recommend it.
5. Max Factor False Lash Effect
A recent addition to my mascara collection, after reading a ton of reviews praising it and comparing it to the US version of the Covergirl Lashblast. Since Covergirl isn't available in Europe, and the packaging and formulation are said to be 99% identical, i thought i could give it a try and i was really positively surprised. It can replace my MF Masterpiece as a first mascara coat/base very easily, it doesn't clump, i like the fatty brush and the short bristles and the final effect- really natural lashes. Never worked it for a more dramatic effect, so i don't know if several layers would make it clump, but so far i like it.
6. L'Oreal Voluminous
Poor man's Yves Saint Laurent Faux Cils Effect Mascara. Most YouTube gurus and beauty bloggers agree on this one; i discovered this mascara many years ago, in highschool, and i remember the first time i got asked about it-it was a beauty sales assistant wanting to know what mascara i was using! I have been repurchasing this ever since, for about six-seven years or more. It's a great volumizing product as long as it's used three-four times before- a little bit of oxygen exposure will unleash its maximum volumizing&lengthening capacities.
7. Bourjois Volume Clubbing Mascara
This stuff came as an initial disappointment. I didn't like the 'bald' wand, the fatty (yet glamorous) tube, the runny consistency, the porn-star blueish black. It got better in time, after a serious oxygen exposure- probably a month after opening it. It's very tricky to use, you have to experiment with the brush in order to find the perfect angle to achieve the desired effect, and pay extra attention when you're applying the mascara on the lashes directly with the 'bald' side or the short bristles- it can be messy. It flakes a little but it's extremely resistant. I can easily remove it with my cream-based eye makeup remover (Olay), but many complaints in this department- if you use an oil-based mascara remover it's going to take a while to take it off and perhaps a couple of lashes as well. However, i remember it was a tad pricy, probably in the Lancome-Dior category, which is a bit of an eyebrow raise if you consider Bourjois to be on the less expensive side (not a drugstore brand, but still, it's not a high-end one either). The effect is wonderful- truly black, lusciously long diva lashes than can rival a natural set of falsies. Worth every penny.
8. Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara
Yet another MF favorite. The brush is fantastic, very thick and tightly packed, the formulation is just perfect, not too runny or too thick, it tends to clump a tiny bit if i insist with the brush and several layers but a 30 second break in between is more than enough to prevent it from drying up and making the lashes stick together. I use it as a 'base', a 'filler' but also as a 'finishing' mascara if i'm on the run or just feel like it. It's one of the few mascaras that i can personally use all by itself and be 100% satisfied with the results. It does volumize and lengthen, preserving the curl and giving a very natural look even after several coats. A five stars product.
