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Love it or Leave It: The Best Mascaras and The Worst MascarasBig, bad lashes have been the hallmark of sex appeal since women in the early 1900s began amping up their lashes with homemade concoctions crafted from hot beads of wax. If that sounds dangerous, consider that some women today are opting for Eyelash Transplants. The procedure, which can run upwards of $3,000, is done by harvesting hair from the scalp and implanting it into the lash line. And then there are eyelash extensions, semi-permanent add-ons that cost $150 to $300 and serve up faux, fluttery lashes that can last up to three months… sans the use of mascara. (More on Lash Extensions here.) But for the vast majority of women, mascara is still the quickest and cheapest way to achieve ooh-la-la lashes for day-to-day beauty. So we put mascaras to the test, trying over 100 varieties in our search for the best of the best. Along the way, we found a few that no woman should shell out her hard earned cash for and a few that stood out as stunningly effective, regardless of price.
We raved below about a pricey – but worth it – mascara and primer duo from Kanebo and now we’ve discovered the bargain bin alternative for drugstore divas. Maybelline’s new XXL Pro Volume Mascara, available in washable and waterproof formulas, promises to amp up volume thanks to a dual sided applicator that builds lashes with a primer like product and then adds color with the mascara itself. The microfiber base coat delivers on its promise to increase volume while the topcoat serves up intense color that is oh-so-buildable. Best of all, this affordable mascara actually lasts; grab a tube for $7.29 at Target stores. NEW ADDITION! They say “revolutionary,” we say “ridiculous,” and you’ll say “thank you” when you heed our advice and avoid wasting $29 on this disappointing mascara. The wand, which closely resembles a medieval weapon, is intriguing at first glance. Plus, with a reputable brand like Givenchy in its corner, we thought perhaps there was in fact some genius in the strange looking, purportedly patented apparatus. Not so; the odd wand, round with pointed brushes that appear almost barb like, is in fact unwieldy. It left us with no more than a poke in the eye and clumpy lashes for our troubles. (Not to worry, Givenchy, we still adore your Lip Gloss Interdit.)
We have to admit, we’re sick to death of words such as “fashionista,” “thriftista” and “recessionista," but Glamorista from Set by Napoleon Perdis makes our heart go pitter patter. It wasn’t love at first sight; the hard, skinny brush really isn’t our “type” but we decided to flirt with a mascara outside of our comfort zones. Thanks to a fabulous multi-faced wand that plumps and lengthens as well as working on short lower lashes or long upper lashes, we quickly became committed to Glamorista. The formula is ultra buildable, meaning you can apply coat after coat of the black stuff without sticking or clumping. This relationship could have what it takes to make our lashes go the distance; get it for $15 at Target.com. NEW ADDITION! Clearly we women are confused about our makeup. That is the only thing that explains why we would fall for the old makeup that enhances your eye color trick. True, one of our editors has brown eyes, but so does Kim Kardashian, Gwen Stefani and Janet Jackson. Surely other factors, such as hair color, skin tone, etc., affect which makeup hues would best suit each of these women, right? Not surprisingly, this mascara didn’t deliver on its promise to “brighten” those brown eyes but it did serve up a side of flaking with a touch of glitter that may be mildly irritating to sensitive eyes. Leave this gimmicky mascara at the counter -- or trade it for the CoverGirl Lash Blast below-- and remember what Momma taught you: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
NEW ADDITION!
Turns out the oversized applicator works brilliantly, in fact the CoverGirl calls it a “volumizing brush” designed to amp up lashes thanks to 50% more bristles than the leading blush. Smudge-proof, smear-proof and hypoallergenic, the volumizing mascara is also available in a waterproof formula. Get it for $8.49 at Walgreens. NEW ADDITION! That's right, this dual ended mascara features a blue base coat meant to be "highlighted" by a pink topcoat. We tried several times because, surely, the experts at Max Factor must know something we don't. Turns out, everyone makes mistakes. This products completely misses the mark.
We're the first to admit that this is some pricey mascara. The problem is, we think it's worth every penny. We're obsessed with, Mascara 38˚C Eyelash Base ($28) and Mascara 38˚C ($32) from Sensai by Kanebo. Apply the base coat first followed by the mascara for long and lush lashes that left one friend inquiring where we’d gotten our lash extensions (touch ‘em—they’re real). Order the duo by phone at 866.271.6815. NEW ADDITION! The comb applicator has very short teeth that are meant to keep the mascara from clumping. As a side effect, this mascara is awkward to apply. Yes, with some practice application became a bit easier, but, with a price tag of about $20, we can't afford to waste the time (or money) on this product.
What we discovered post lash extensions is that this mascara works wonders when applied to real lashes, giving our lashes extreme length and thickness that we've yet to duplicate with other products. Retails for $25 at upscale salons and spas or online at Amazon.com. Leave it: Intense I-Color Lengthening Mascara from Almay We’ve tested our fair share of beauty products but we just couldn’t seem to get Almay’s Intense I-Color Lengthening Mascara on without applying color to both our lashes and upper eyelids. The formula is fine but the thick, bulky applicator is awkward, making precision application impossible. This product left us $7.99 poorer and in need of a good eye makeup remover.
Promising movie-star worthy lashes, Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes! came through, delivering long and lush lashes that did not flake. In fact, at our monthly facial the esthetician commented about how fabulous our lashes were. “It’s not our lashes, it’s the mascara,” we replied. Lights, Camera, Lashes! by Tarte Cosmetics; $18 at tartecosmetics.com. Leave it: Volume Couture by Max Factor At about seven bucks, the price is right for Max Factor’s Volume Couture Mascara. Touted as the Official Mascara of Milan Fashion Week, the product is said to serve up “extreme volume without clumping.” At first application, this promise seemed true; our lashes were instantly long, dark and defined. Unfortunately, Max Factor’s Volume Couture Mascara ultimately failed us by flaking off throughout the day, leaving our lower eyelids dusted with black bits of mascara. Unless your style icon is a raccoon, leave this one at the counter.
Available in a variety of formulas from Maximum Volume to Sensitive to Water Proof, we were was impressed with the entire Boots No7 Mascara Collection. Affordably priced at about $7 to $9 and available locally at Target stores and online at Target.com, Boots No7 Mascaras serve up wearability, staying power and ease of use in black, brown or navy hues. Leave it: 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper by Max Factor Max Factor's $11.49 2000 calorie extreme lash plumper is an extremely poor product. From the bulky wand to the mascara that ended up flaking as the day went on; this product truly misses the mark. NEW ADDITION! Epic fail for Revlon with this DoubleTwist Mascara that delivers a double serving of disappointment via a bulky, awkward applicator that's among the worst we've tried. And with a retail price of nearly $9, fairly pricey by drugstore standards, we just saved you some serious dough. Leave it. L'oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara Promising to deliver volume, L'oreal's Extra Volume Collagen delivered a clumpy, gooey mess directly to our lashes, setting a new record for the messiest mascara we've tried. Friends recommended we wipe off the wand before applying but we recommend opting for a mascara that's lower maintenance.
Beauty
Bargains - Spa/Salon
Reviews - For
Him About Face - Hands Down - Feet First - Body Beautiful - Heads Up Advertise - Party Planning
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Love it! CoverGirl’s Lash Blast
Love it: Lights, Camera, Lashes! by Tarte Cosmetics 
Love it: Boots No7 Mascara 
