What she thought: "The mascara wand is noticeably different, so much softer and fuller on the lashes, thereby avoiding any clumping issues. The mascara went on smoothly and its rich, black color transferred well onto my lashes. The only downfall is, by the end of the day, my lashes reverted to their stick-straight downward trajectory. So if you don't have a problem with your lashes staying curled all day, then this is a great one to try."
Tester: Sarah Carrillo, Senior Associate Editor
Rating: 8
What she thought: "I have stick-straight lashes, and a semi-scary addiction to my lash curler. I've tried a few mascaras that claim to help curl lashes and have never been very impressed. This one though made me re-think my anti-curling mascara stance. I still needed to use my lash curler (although I did get a slight curve when I tried it without), but what really wowed me was the staying power. Normally I'd need to re-curl my lashes if I went out at night, but with this, my curl stayed intact all day and night. That, along with decent length and volume, has made me a convert."
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."
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.
