What she thought: "With mascara prices on the rise, this one won't break the bank. At only $3, you get great, natural-looking lashes. While it sells itself as making lashes look up to 80 percent longer, I'd say mine came in at only 40 percent improved. However, the formula didn't clump and it provided a subtle curl that brightened up my eyes. After applying only two coats, I noticed a marked improvement in my lashes. Be sure you remove with makeup remover, because simple soap and water won't make this formula budge, which I like."
What she thought: "If you're looking for volume, this is the mascara for you. The secret lies in the brush -- its unique wand (one side has short bristles while the other has longer ones) works to plump and lengthen your lashes flawlessly. Even after applying two to three coats, my lashes looked full, thick and absolutely clump-free. Which is more than I can ask for my sparse lashes."
Tester: Kristen Giordani, Executive Editor
Rating: 8
What she thought: "I choose the mascara I wear based on the overall look I'm going for, so I reach for this blingy gold tube when creating a natural, everyday look. The 'elastomer' brush perfectly lengthens and separates lashes to make them appear seriously multiplied. And the formula never clumps -- apparently the 'excess wiper' built into the tube is responsible for this. Wondering if it lasts? Sure does. Need proof? I recently got caught in a crazy rainstorm -- my umbrella flipped inside out and my face was completely soaked -- and this mascara didn't budge."
Tester: Sarah Carrillo, Senior Associate Editor
Rating: 8
What she thought: "Admittedly, the cute packaging (with tons of double-entendres) made me want to like this product. However, there's a lot more to it than thinly veiled sexual innuendo. It took about three coats, but this mascara gave me impressive length and volume with plenty of definition too. No one will be mistaking them for false lashes, but this goes definitely above and beyond a "natural" mascara look. I also liked the deep black color and that I could layer it on without any clumping issues."
What she thought: "The purple packaging is what caught my eye (I love purple), and the fact that I always hear great things about CoverGirl mascaras. But, in general, I'm always wary about mascara's big claims, because my biggest issue is my stick-straight lashes that refuse to stay curled. This mascara, however, pleasantly surprised me as it kept my lashes (however sparse) to stay curled and I actually did feel like the mascara lengthened my short, stubby lashes, which is a huge plus for me."
Mascara, for most, is one of those "desert island"-type of eye makeup products -- meaning many women tout it as the one thing they absolutely can't go without. Whether or not you would pack it for your Gilligan adventure, we're sure you'd agree that it's a makeup bag staple. Why? Because it almost effortlessly makes you look more awake and feminine, of course.
We here at Total Beauty like to think of mascara as a magical invention, capable of creating the illusory effect of a full eight hours of sleep, a low-stress day, or even fabulous genetics. Basically, we take mascara seriously. That's why we think it's important to test a vast array of eye makeup brands from the drugstore to the beauty counter and beyond in order to share which are true winners -- the mascaras capable of great lengths, volume and curling capabilities to boot.
Before checking which mascaras we love in this eye makeup roundup, see these quick application tips courtesy of Chuck Hezekiah, national makeup artist for Maybelline New York. He claims there are some common eye makeup application errors most women make that can easily be avoided with these simple tricks and techniques:
• If you have a traditional brush wand, improve lash separation while applying mascara by moving the wand in a swift, zig-zag fashion from lash root to tip as opposed to one sweeping motion.
• We know you're usually in a rush, but take the time to dab the tip of your mascara on a tissue to get rid of the glob that tends to form there. This will keep you from getting uneven, goopy product distribution -- especially on those shorter lashes.
• If you use a lash primer, particularly a white one, wait 10-30 seconds for the primer to dry, then apply your mascara. This keeps the black color of your mascara from turning gray.
