Mascara // More Than You Wanted to Know

Women often deflect compliments with self-effacing rebuttals. I'm certainly not immune to this habit, but I do have features that I am proud of. My eyes are my most complimented feature, and when they are called "beautiful" or "pretty", I say a hearty thank you. I don't believe this makes me too proud or boastful. I believe that it's in a person's best interest to learn to take a compliment and to find something about themselves that they love.

Part of the reason why I love my eyes so much is because they make me the spitting image of my late father. It's nice to be reminded of him when I look in the mirror and to know that I might remind his friends and family of him. Seeing our features through the lenses of our loved ones gives us perspective.

It was requested that I do a post about my mascara. Eye makeup is my weakness. If I have time only to do the "five minute face", I just do my eyes and let any zits or facial imperfections go. When I do my eyes, I feel like I look more awake and polished. And even if I have zero time, it is rare for me to leave the house without mascara (or some form of it. See: Lash Tint).

I'll let you in on my biggest tip from the get-go: I have amazing eyelashes. Not sorry, I'm going to own that pride. That being said, they are straight and have blonde tips. Thus, I take action to give what I've got going for me a boost. 

Eyelash Curler
Lash curlers look scary, but when you get used to them, it's like riding a bike. I achieve a more wide-eyed look with a lash curler, an indispensable tool in my makeup bag. Since the departure of the Shu Uemura brand from US-based stores, my favorite has become the Sephora eyelash curler. What I like most about this is the rubber grips on the handle. I noticed just how accustomed to the grips I became when I hurriedly used an old eyelash curler without grips...and my fingers slipped. Ouch. The main point is to get an eyelash curler that fits your eyeshape. They all look like they're created equal, but they can have subtle differences in their shape. This linked article hits the nail on the head: you want a lash curler that is flatter and can encompass your entire lash line, rather than one that is too curved. I believe in spending just a bit more to get a quality one. You'll have it for a while, and it's important to get the shape right.

Last Tint

I've been getting my lashes tinted for over 2 years. You can see my previous post on last tints and their great results HERE. This semi-permanent dye darkens the ends of my lashes and renders mascara optional. When I've no time to do my face, I'm grateful to have had my lashes tinted so as to appear more fresh and awake. If I have a fraction of a second, I'll curl my lashes and throw on some clear mascara. While most days I still wear mascara, I like having the option of not doing so. I also like the fact that my lashes will stand out 24/7. I'm not so vanity obsessed that I sleep in my makeup (gross) but it's a nice bonus when I'm brushing my teeth at night to look in the mirror and see defined eyes. That small bonus aside, it's a real time saver for those mornings where I just don't have the time. Also, I find the need to use less product with my lashes already so dark. It's nice not to need heavy layers of products. Because my bill is lumped together with eyebrow wax and tint, I do not remember the exact price of this particular service. I had it done at a high end salon once (which charges $30) before my regular esthetician began offering the service. She charges about the same and the results last about a month and a half.

Eyebrows
I know this is about mascara, but no one's going to be looking at your lashes if you've got Kahlo-brows (God love her). As I write this my esthetician is out of town, which is perfect timing to be taking photos of my eyes and waxing poetic to you all about the importance of decent brows as a frame for the eye. I did my own brows while I lived abroad in college...and it was not good. Therefore, I have revoked my tweezer privileges. I pay somebody to wax and tint these babies, and compliments abound. No need to futz with tweezers or eyebrow pencils. However you do it -tweezers, waxing, threading- just do it.

Eyeliner
Darkening the lash line enhances your lashes. Eyeliner can be a scary prospect. I know it was the thing I feared most when I started with makeup. The good thing is in this day in age, smudgy and smoky is the liner look of our time. Find yourself a dark brown pencil (my recommended color for everyday) with a smudged attached to the other end, work it in as closely to the lash line as possible, and smudge it. No precision required, and your set of lashes will look fuller because of it. If you want to get brave and more subtle, consider learning the art of tightlining. Be warned: it takes practice. 

How to Find the Right Mascara
Now, on to what you're here for.

I think finding the right mascara for the look you're going for is a delicate job. First of all, unlike a bright lipstick or bold eye color, no one's really going to notice if your lashes look particularly volumized vs. lengthened. Lashes have a hard job. They don't stand out like a bold choice in lip color or winged liner. (Tammy Faye Bakker notwithstanding.) However, skip the mascara and there will be a noticeable "can't put my finger on what's missing" difference. Furthermore, no one's going to notice that you plopped down $25 on Diorshow vs. $10 on Loreal Voluminious. While I'm a pushover at a high end counter, and some of the favorites I call out below are high end, I'll be the first to admit you don't need to spend big bucks to get great lashes. If you have a high end favorite, by all means, but I've gotten as many compliments on my lashes wearing Maybelline mascara as I have wearing Bobbi Brown mascara.

Knowing your lashes is key. We've all got a skintype, but no one ever thinks about their "lash type". It's usually presented as what kind of mascara type you're going for: natural, volumizing or lengthening, or some combination of any of these. My hair is fine and this translates to my lashes: I don't have a lot of volume/thickness, but I have a lot of long lashes. And like my hair, my lashes need help in holding a curl. (Fortunately they can hold one longer than my hair.) As a result, I find that volumizing mascaras are usually too much for me. The way the wrong conditioner can weigh down my hair, a mascara that is too volumizing can weigh down my lashes. Though I've tried a few volumizing formulas I've liked and will wear heavier formulas for certain looks, on most days I'm looking for something in the lengthening category to enhance what I've got, or a hybrid length+volume formula. I think that's key to getting a great mascara: know what looks best on you. It's harder to copy your friend's awesome eyelashes than it is her trendy lip color. By choosing the right formula for your lashes, you'll frame your eyes in your own unique way.

That being said, here are my thoughts on a few mascaras I have in rotation.

Mascaras I Like
In this previous post I waxed poetic about my all-time favorite mascara. Clinique Naturally Glossy has been my stand-by since 1996. (We have an anniversary because we're in a serious, committed relationship.) This is a natural mascara. It won't give you any volume. Its function is merely to darken, slightly lengthen, and separate. I won't carry on, you can read my love letter to this product in my previous post. The point is that this mascara will enhance what you've already got going on. I always have one in my possession. At $16, it's a bit more than drugstore mascaras but considerably less than a high end brand.

Maybelline Full 'N Soft: A washable mascara that removes easily to prevent lash loss, it builds length and (some) volume making it true to its name. This is quickly becoming my drugstore favorite. It's perfect for everyday use and is pretty close to being (dare I say it) the drugstore equivalent to my beloved Clinique mascara.

Maybelline Volum' Express The Rocket: This was the mascara I was wearing in the post that set off the requests for this post. I was discussing Mad Men in this post, so I was going for the full blown 60s lashes, heavy coating be damned. I bought this after hearing a lot of good things about it, but I was skeptical. The proof was in the application: it volumizes well and isn't clumpy thanks in part to its plastic brush.

CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara: Speaking of plastic brushes, the mascaras in the LashBlast line by CoverGirl are the first ones that come to mind. The Clump Crusher is the only one in the line that I've tried, but CG's plastic-brush mascaras are wildly popular. This is another volumizing mascara I enjoy because it lives up to its promises of being clump-free.

Flower Beauty Zoom-In Ultimate Mascara: While it's pretty safe to say that plastic brushes have made volumizing mascaras more user-friendly for me, this one from Flower has a traditional-bristle brush yet still manages to coat my lashes without clumping. Read more about it in this post.

Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes: In glancing at the high end selection of mascaras in Sephora's lineup, I've tried many but few have knocked my socks off. Lancôme mascaras are popular, but this is the only one I've tried that I like. I can attest that the description is true: it lifts, extends, and thickens lashes without weighing them down.

Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara: I don't have any of this on hand currently, but this is one of the blackest mascaras I've tried and is a great option to use as directed: while partying.

Josie Maran Argan Black Oil Mascara: This is my most recent favorite after trying it in deluxe sample form from Sephora. It's another great example of my preferred level of volume: not too much. Blackened with iron mineral pigments, it has the bonus of added argan oil to condition lashes. It doesn't just perform as well as other products in its price bracket, it surpasses them, which is major considering it boasts a 91% natural formula.

Expiration
Expiration dates of cosmetics is a much-debated topic. The experts say to rotate your mascara every 3 months. They also say mascara is a product that is designed to break itself down so as to encourage you to keep your product fresh. Because it is a product that is in close proximity to your eyes, and its packaging can be a dark breeding ground for bacteria, it's a good idea to remember when you opened your tube. I usually have a few in rotation at at time, and since I don't use each one everyday, I sometimes use my product a little longer. You'll know when your mascara is up - it's formula goes flaky and begins to dry up in the tube. I just don't wait longer than 3-6 months. I also never try to extend the life of a dried up mascara that's on its last leg. I'm not willing to risk an eye infection for a few bucks.

Other Things to Consider
Wear contacts? Got watery eyes? Remember to take these things into account. Labels sometimes contain "ophthalmologist tested" or "safe for contact lens wearers" taglines to help your shopping. Personally, I've never had issues with mascara and my contacts, nor do I care if the formula is waterproof. The athletic and watery eyed among you may want to check into waterproof options, but I've never had an opinion one way or another on waterproof formulas.

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A Few of My Favorite Things / Clinique Naturally Glossy / The Holy Grail Mascara

In the beauty blogging world there is a term "holy grail", or those products which you just can't possibly imagine going without. Much like Oprah and Julie Andrews, I prefer to call these a few of my favorite things. (Faaaavorite Thiiiiings! Oprah-style.) To use the term "holy grail" edges too close to Monty Python for me! Can you believe an Anglophile like myself doesn't get into Monty Python? Oprah and Julie are more my speed.

In thinking about sharing my beauty favorites, the product I most wanted to wax poetic about is such a staple for me that it was the chicken before the egg...or the egg before the chicken. It is the reason I know and understand what "holy grail" status is and the reason why I decided to write about my "favorite things" in the first place. If you've held a conversation with me about products, chances are I've forced this one upon you like a pusher. I would shrivel up in a corner and cry if it were to go off the market.

I could not live my life without mascara, specifically Clinique's Naturally Glossy Mascara. It currently holds the distinction of being the only mascara I've ever repurchased. I experiment with different mascaras a lot, and when I do I feel like a cheater. (As I mentioned, trying to reign in this free love/experimental attitude with mascara.) I try other mascaras and some I like. Some are fine. Some I hate. But I always go back to Naturally Glossy with my tail between my legs wondering why I've allowed my wandering eyelashes to forsake a favorite. In the mascara world, it is my first and only love.

I'm willing to bet this is the first mascara I ever purchased. I've used it faithfully since '96 when I saved my babysitting monies to get a Clinique makeover at Younkers. It was my first successful foray into make up, having learned the hard way that things can turn Ooma Loompa very quickly. Thanks for nothing but a lesson learned, Jane powder. Whomever did my make up that day at the Clinique counter was a genius and sold me colors that were appropriate for a teenager and colors that I've been able to stick with for a lifetime.

Little is written about it. Any reviews I've found in recent Google searches yielded pretty old reviews. I think the reason this gets little hype is because we live in a Kardashian-lashed society. Or, to use another phrase from Oprah, young women today seem to go for "Bessie-the-Cow" lashes. (Tori Spelling, Number One Suspect.) I will admit to wanting dramatic lashes sometimes, like when I'm going for a 60s look. But never have I wanted my lashes to wave in the breeze, hanging on by a strip of glue. More often than not, I just want a darkened, natural lash to play up what I have and take me to the office.

Granted, the reviews I have read have copped to the fact that this mascara is for lovers of the natural lash, who probably already love the lashes they were born with and just need a light coat of something simple to darken them. But I think this mascara has a lot to offer lovers of clean, clump-free mascara, too.

Description from Clinique.com:

Gel-based formula defines lashes naturally. Lengthens, glosses, enhances. Lashes stay silky, pliant, clump and flake-free through multiple coats. Ophthalmologist tested.

Formula

This is a gel-based formula, which is not something I see often. I think this formula is the reason why it's never, ever flaked on me or given me raccoon eyes. This mascara is so slick, it doesn't even clump on the brush. (Suck it, DiorShow.) It gives incredible definition. The description on the website is accurate--I can coat and coat and coat and coat my lashes some more, and it never flakes or clumps. It also holds a curl. My hair and lashes are poker straight, so they definitely put up a fuss when attempting any sort of curl. This mascara will hold it for me! (My hair, I give up!) I don't need much in the way of extra length, but it does give some. 

Packaging

The packaging is beautiful and sleek. It comes in a silver tube. There is a "C" stamped in the top of the wand, and a product details sticker on the bottom. Good things come in simple packaging.

Color Selection

Two colors are available: Jet Brown and Jet Black. I always have both on hand and use whatever I'm in the mood for. The brown gives a slightly softer look than the black.

This is the cleanest, slickest mascara I've ever encountered. If you're tired of heavy, volumizing mascaras that make you look like a Kardashian, I highly recommend this product. This is great for lovers of natural and classic looks alike.  

Retail Price $16.00 USD

Mascara Purge / Empties

A theme I quite like reading on beauty blogs/seeing on YouTube channels is the "Empties" series. This entire series justifies my own idiosyncratic ways. For years, I've kept track of how much product I'm bringing into my home vs. how much I'm using and taking out. While this method is touted by many organizational gurus, rest uneasy knowing that I keep track of things used/going out merely as justification for bringing things in. Second, I also get satisfaction in scraping every last bit of product out of my pretty little jars and tubes. I feel immense guilt in throwing things with unmet potential away, so using every last drop of product is a small victory in my world. And finally, is there any greater homage to the materialistic western world than recording our trash? Seeing that this is an entire tag or series unto itself on the big bad web makes me breathe a small sigh of relief knowing that there are others out there like me. But on a practical note, if the word "practical" can ever be used to describe something about me,  I do enjoy the reviews that come along with the empties videos! I like to hear their thoughts on the product, how it played out for them, and if they'll be purchasing the product again in the future.

And also..."empties" videos are later followed up by "haul" videos!

I've got a stash of empties going, but I thought I would focus on the mascaras I threw away. I've been trying to be better about the 3-4 month rule for mascara. Knock on wood, I've only had one eye incident as a result of using spoiled makeup. I was in high school and didn't realize you had to throw mascara away. (yes.) I probably used the same mascara tube for about 2 years, no exaggeration. I was lucky to get away with merely irritated eyes and not a full-blown infection. I was happily chugging along on the same tube, thinking it would run out or dry up, not realizing how quickly mascara needs to be turned around. For the record, I've only ever had one tube of mascara dry up. Perhaps because I have so many going at one time? As I've mentioned before, I keep going back to the same brand of mascara I've used since I started using make up, so I've reigned in the multiple tubes habit from several to just a few.

(Just to blat on a little more, the mascara love of my life is Clinique Naturally Glossy. I'll sing it's praises at a later time, but I can't live without it.)

So, to demonstrate my road to mascara hoarding recovery, the following are my mascara "empties". Which are not empty, but are hitting the trash nonetheless as they are potential pink eye carriers having hit their 3-4 month mark. Accompanied by my thoughts on each, of course.

Clinique High Lengths Mascara

I received this in a gift with purchase. I was intrigued by the wand, which could best be described as a comb, so I was excited to try it out. Unfortunately, I was not impressed. The wand didn't do anything but clump my lashes together. The formula was so-so. It did the job of giving the tips of my lashes some color, but I didn't notice a dramatic increase in length. Perhaps this was because I had to triage my lashes to get them apart after using the "brush"? I am very hit or miss with Clinique mascaras, and this was a big miss for me! I'll stick to my aforementioned old faithful at the Clinique counter.

Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes

The marketing campaign alone, I am all over that! They played the Twiggy-60s-baby doll dress card, and I fell hard. And that feathery-mod-Twiggy lash is hard to come by with just any old mascara--piling it on just gives you spider eyes. I think this did a great job of giving incredible length and wasn't too heavy on the volume. (I don't play well with heavy, volumizing mascaras.)

I am a bit annoyed by Lancôme's rose scent they put in EVERYTHING. (Does mascara need to be scented?) However, that it started to lose this scent was a good indicator that things were going south and it was time to retire the tube.

I love the wand of this mascara. It sits nicely in your hand, and I like the tapered brush. The product isn't clumpy on the brush, hence you get great definition.

I would purchase this mascara again, if only because I am a sucker for its mod campaign! I give it a big fat A.

Source: temptalia.com via MakeupTalk on Pinterest

Cover Girl NatureLux Mousse Mascara

I call this my Taylor Swift mascara, though I am not a fan of hers. Her mug is featured in the ads...I'm a sucker for "natural" mascaras, so I wanted to give this a whirl. You know what's most intriguing about it? The scent. It's made with "a touch of beeswax" and the scent is a reminder of that. It has a honey smell that makes me want to eat it. Probably the first mascara that has made me crave honey like Pooh Bear...maybe Christopher Robin can be Taylor Swift's next boy toy when she's done stealing my Hyannis Port dreams with a Kennedy.

Digressing. We're digressing.

All in all, this wasn't a bad mascara. I used it on weekends and days I wanted to be casual. This was a standard mascara, no drama, just did it's job and did it pretty well. I liked its newfangled rubber bristle wand. I give it a B+ overall. I probably wouldn't purchase it again simply because I already have a natural-lash favorite (should I tell you once again it's Clinique Naturally Glossy?) but should I crave its honeybee-poo smell again, I might be swayed into picking up a tube.

Just stop me if you catch me stirring the wand in my tea. That would warrant an intervention.

Maybelline Lash Stiletto

Sadly, the only stiletto I'll ever wear. Unless I become bionic. The best part about this mascara? It's grey! Do you know how rare grey mascaras are? It's actually called "soft black", but clearly that's grey, and it looks grey in the tube. You know how navy/dark blue can make your eyes pop in a weird way? Grey has the same effect. My coworker commented on how great my lashes looked with this mascara on.

The packaging was substantial for a drugstore brand, and the wand was pretty nice. Not clumpy, so that works in favor of length and definition!

I haven't heard a lot of great reviews about this in the blogosphere, but I have to say that I really can't fault this mascara. It's a lengthening mascara, and it does that very well. I wasn't crazy that they tried to replicate Lancôme's rose scent, and the formula is also a bit wet to work with, so it will take a few extra seconds of drying time, but I was overall impressed with this drugstore mascara. I might pick it up another time on a whim.

Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara

This is one of the few volumizing mascaras that my lashes can handle. This has to be one of the most jet black mascaras I've seen, and it has a really thick formula. The brush is spaced evenly enough so that clumping isn't an issue. I think the name is appropriate--this is a great mascara for when you want a jazzed up look. I was really impressed with this, and when I'm in need of a more dramatic mascara I will consider this one again. (As a note, in addition to my go-to mascara, I like to have another one on hand that adds more drama for more vampy looks. I've got a couple of those on hand already, so perhaps we'll meet again, Extreme Party Mascara.)

Estée Lauder Lash Primer Plus

I've used a lash primer before, so I wasn't expecting great things from this as lash primers usually create far too much volume than I need. I received a sample in a kit, so with low expectations and a half-assed application, I put it on one day while messing around at my vanity, half expecting to screw up and end up with the crack-whore chic look we all end up doing now and again when playing around with makeup on a Saturday morning. (It happens, don't deny it.) The results surprised me this time--it actually worked like a lash primer should, in my opinion. It gave length and definition and didn't cause the product to later flake off. As with most lash primers, the product is white. This actually did an excellent job of adding just the right amount of length and volume to my lashes. It has a nice brush that gives a clean application. I have a Lancôme lash primer sample in my drawer waiting for use, so I will probably give that one a try before I consider purchasing one. If I were to purchase one, I'd consider the Estée Lauder one, but nice as the product is, I'm not sure I really need a lash primer.

Makeup Forever Smoky Lash Mascara

I'm throwing this one in as an added bonus, as I have already returned it to Sephora, so it will not be in the photograph. Can I just throw in that I so appreciate Sephora's generous return policy? It's ingenuous on their part, really. I'm more apt to purchase things from them when I know I can take it back, no questions asked. (Plus, I tend to do my homework and really give things a go with their testers. I try not to abuse their policy by trying new stock and returning!) This policy is why I was willing to give a Clarisonic brush a go, figuring that if it didn't work out, I could return it. I ended up LOVING it, so they got a big-ticket purchase from me! (And I think I'm giving one away to a family member at Christmas, so bonus!)

Right, our topic today is mascara...

Intrigued by its title (why, it MUST help you achieve a smoky eye!) and backed by a recommendation from a tutorial by the wonderful Pixiwoo girls on Youtube, I splurged on an unnecessary tube of this mascara for my birthday.

Mistake.

This was entirely too much volume for me. I hated the brush. How to describe the brush? It was like running my lashes through the underbrush of the forest. The brush was incredibly dense and a bit clumpy for my tastes. I felt like I was dragging my lashes through it, rather than gliding them through as usual. And for as much volumizing as it did, I felt like it gave me no length whatsoever, despite its claims to do so. As for the "intense pigment" it also claims to give, I felt there was none of that to speak of. (I bought this in brown.)

I am a fan of the MUFE brand, but this just did not do it for me. I think it was more mascara than I could handle. I know plenty of people like this mascara, but it didn't work out for me...so more for you all!

To the trash with you all!

What's your favorite mascara? How well do you abide by the 3-4 month rule? Got pinkeye?