Mascara Review

Some to Try - Others to Avoid

Jean Ranks Mascara Stash after a Buying Binge

A few weeks ago I told you I have been on a mascara buying binge.

Those little - and sometimes not so little - tubes would call out to me whenever I went to the drugstore or cosmetic counter. I also got a few tubes of mascara as gifts with purchase.

Before I knew it, I had accumulated quite a few (mostly unopened) mascaras to try. I thought it would be a lot of fun to test and rank-order them.

Boy, was I wrong! It was very difficult to do.

In the first place, I had selected most of them for some special feature they advertised, making it difficult to compare them head-to-head.

In the second place, you can’t really judge a makeup product after using it just once. You need to use it for several consecutive days or weeks to judge how easily it applies and comes off, how it wears and whether any problems develop as the product ages a wee bit.

I have my personal faves but would recommend almost any other of these mascaras (exceptions noted) to friends who have different lash fantasies than mine.

I want easy on and off, length, good separation and no clumps.

If you crave volume, longer-lasting (but maybe a bit more difficult to remove) or gimmicks in your mascara design, you’ll find what you’re looking for in my list as well.

What’s your lash fantasy? Think about what you want from a mascara, then consult the list below to find it.

Here is my raw ranking. After the list, you’ll find a brief summary of my observations for each individual product.

• 1. Avon Spectra Lash $9.50
• 2. Rimmel Lash Maxxx $7.50
• 3. Maybelline Pulse Perfection $15.00
• 4. Clinique High Impact $14.00
• 5. Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express $6.00
• 6. Maybelline Lash Stiletto $7.50
• 7. Revlon 3D Extreme $9.00
• 8. Rimmel Eye Magnifier $6.80
• 9. Avon Astonishing Lengths $7.50
• 10. L’Oreal Shocking Volume $13.00
• 11. L’Oreal Telescopic $9.50
• 12. Revlon Beyond Natural $8.00
• 13. Revlon DoubleTwist Mascara $8.00

#1: Avon Spectra Lash

• Ease of Application: Very easy.
• Brush Design: Long soft bristles and unique application
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: Yes
• Clumps: No
• Ease of Removal: Very easy

Comments An Oprah pick. Swivel base allows you to dial up the volume. Richest formula I've yet found. Goes on smoothly and encourages lashes to curl.

#2: Rimmel Lash Maxxx

• Ease of Application: Very easy
• Brush Design: Plastic comb applicator
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: Yes
• Clumps: No
• Ease of Removal: Easy

Comments My #1 pick for those who like plastic bristles. Formula encourages lash curling.

#3: Maybelline Pulse Perfection

• Ease of Application: Easy
• Brush Design: Has battery to oscillate the brush. Brush has longish plastic bristles which I prefer to use without the battery-power - but that’s just me
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: Yes
• Clumps: No
• Ease of Removal: Easy

Comments Kind of fun to use. Good mascara formula.

#4: Clinique High Impact

• Ease of Application: Easy
• Brush Design: Very nice brush with long soft bristles. Excellent "wiping ring" assures just the right amount of product
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: Yes
• Clumps: No
• Ease of Removal: Easy

Comments Would have ranked higher except for higher-than-average price for a simple mascara.

#5: Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express

• Ease of Application: Easy
• Brush Design: Very nice brush with long soft bristles
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: Yes
• Clumps: No
• Ease of Removal: Easy

Comments Colossal tube is probably designed to convey the idea of colossal lashes, but - surprise! - it actually contains a bit more than most mascara tubes and at a low price. Good Value.

#6: Maybelline Lash Stiletto

• Ease of Application: Easy
• Brush Design: Nice long soft bristles
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: No
• Clumps: No
• Ease of Removal: Need oil-based remover

Comments Glossy "patent leather" finish is nice especially for evening.

#7: Revlon 3D Extreme

• Ease of Application: Fair
• Brush Design: Short but nice soft bristles
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: No
• Clumps: Yes
• Ease of Removal: Need oil-based remover

Comments Rich creamy formula.

#8: Rimmel Eye Magnifier

• Ease of Application: Fair
• Brush Design: Very short plastic bristles
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: Yes
• Clumps: No
• Ease of Removal: Need oil-based remover

Comments Dry formula. Hard to get enough product on the short plastic bristles.

#9: Avon Astonishing Lengths

• Ease of Application: Fair
• Brush Design: Too short bristles
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: No
• Clumps: No
• Ease of Removal: Easy

Comments Pretty dry formula. Difficult to get enough product on the brush.

#10: L’Oreal Shocking Volume

• Ease of Application: Easy but the two steps (good for sparse lashes) take a little extra time
• Brush Design: Base brush has long soft bristles; mascara brush has short plastic ones
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: Yes
• Clumps: Yes
• Ease of Removal: Fair

Comments Two-part system builds nice volume for sparse lashes.

#11: L’Oreal Telescopic

Ease of Application: Difficult
• Brush Design: Very short plastic bristles
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: No
• Clumps: Yes
• Ease of Removal: Fair

Comments They should have telescoped the bristles instead of the wand. LOL.

#12: Revlon Beyond Natural

• Ease of Application: Fair
• Brush Design: Awkward - one side has too-short comb-like bristles; the other has longer bristles
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: No
• Clumps: Yes
• Ease of Removal: Fair

Comments Not recommended due brush design and clumping.

#13: Revlon DoubleTwist Mascara

• Ease of Application: Fine the first week; then disaster!
• Brush Design: Clumsy combo of short bristles and longer plastic teeth
• Lengthens: Yes
• Volumizes: Yes
• Clumps: Tremendous!
• Ease of Removal: Fair

Comments Not recommended due obvious problem with the formula (unbelievable clumping after a few days use).