Jack & Hill: A Beauty Blog - make-up, cosmetics, perfume, and the substance of style

Maybelline The Colossus Volum' Express Mascara

Maybelline Colossus Volum'Express Mascara
Originally uploaded by dynamist.

What annoys me about this product is the marketing. This model is clearly wearing mega false lashes. Does Maybelline really think women are that dumb?

I didn't see that photo until now, when I was looking for a link to the Maybelline page. I'd heard some good buzz about this mascara, and even Nigella Lawson loves it:

[T]here's a sort of game I play with a girlfriend of mine, and we each try and trump each other with a better mascara. I was very smug about Max Factor Masterpiece, and she countered with Estee Lauder Turbolash. I thought I'd got her with L'Oreal Telescopic but she bounced back and bounced higher with her latest offering: I have to say I have yet to find a better mascara on the market than Maybelline's The Colossal Volum' Express. It delivers what its slightly comical name is driving at, and it doesn't clump.

Indeed, this product nails separation, which is hugely important to me. My lashes are naturally long (which I had no hand in), so lengthening isn't important for me. But this is a very neat formula; the anti-Great Lash, I suppose. I didn't wear it on my lower lashes - I almost always leave them bare, for reasons of neatness - but loved the effect on my upper lashes.

All this for less than $8? I think I'll be a repeat buyer of this one.

L'Oreal Voluminous Naturale Natural-Looking Volume & Definition Mascara

I liked the look of this, which I got in a goodie bag at the Sundance Film Festival. It's not too heavy, not clumpy, and indeed natural-looking without being barely-there. However, a natural-looking mascara should not take so much eye makeup remover to come off. Underwhelmed.

That said, if you're looking for a decent mascara for less than $8, you could do a whole lot worse than this one.

The only good use for Maybelline Great Lash

I have a pathological hatred of that messy, messy stuff. But this, via Demi Moore, is pretty neat:

Lancôme Définicils loyalty

I've used and loved this mascara since I was a teenager, but for some reason I always try other mascaras and think I'm going to find better. It's never really worked out that way.

Recently, I went back to Définicils again after a very underwhelming trial of Dior DiorShow (in fairness, I think my expectations were unrealistic). Happily, I discovered another reason to love this product: It washes off almost completely without any eye makeup remover being used. (I use Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin morning and night.) After washing my face, one cotton ball and a bit of my trusty Target Eye Makeup Remover will get rid of every trace of mascara. With all other mascaras I've used, it takes at least two soaked cotton balls. Doesn't seem like a big difference, but little things like this matter to me.

BeneFit Lash Lovies

Guest contributor Helena Handbasket continues her series: The Mascara Trials of Helena Handbasket...

BeneFit Lash Lovies

BRUSH: None.

FORMULA: As creamy as you want it to be.

APPLICATION: Takes some extra time due to the necessity of squeezing product onto a clean wand (where did I leave that darn thing?).

LOOK: BRIGHT! Lash Lovies' raison d'être is wild, out-there colors like green, purple, red and pink.  No black or brown. Thickening and lengthening are probably beside the point.

WEAR: Very very good, thankfully.

PACKAGING/PRICE: Adorable tiny squeeze tube, labeled to match the color of the mascara. If this sort of product intrigues you,  I heartily recommend hunting it down on Ebay.

Imju Fiberwig Mascara

I received this as a PR freebie and wasn't a huge fan of it, but from what I've heard, I am in the minority on this. My pal Michelle Oshen is also a big fan.

Neutrogena Weightless Volume Mascara

Guest contributor Helena Handbasket continues her series: The Mascara Trials of Helena Handbasket...

Neutrogena Weightless Volume

BRUSH: Standard spiral.

FORMULA: Barely there, verging on dry.

APPLICATION: Tedious, if you're looking for anything beyond darkening.

LOOK: The word "volume" should be nowhere near this product. No volume, no length, just darkening effect similar to a lash tinting.

WEAR: Fine.

PACKAGING: Tapered matte navy tube with discreet silver lettering.

L'Oreal Volume Shocking Waterproof Mascara

  *L'Oreal  Eye Lashes VOLUME SHOCKING
  Originally uploaded by DivinaMuerte.

Guest contributor Helena Handbasket continues her series: The Mascara Trials of Helena Handbasket...

L'Oreal Volume Shocking Waterproof

BRUSH--Two sides: a primer with a typical spiral brush, and a comb with two sets of bristles, similar to Lash Stylist.

FORMULA--Very wet, brush needs to be wiped down.

APPLICATION--Tricky. Separate eyelash comb is necessary to prevent clumping, both after primer and mascara steps.

LOOK--Drag-queen dramatic.

WEAR--Dear God, this stuff does not come off at all. Great for swimmers or extreme heat, but will definitely require serious effort to remove.

PACKAGING--Nifty but bulky football-shaped container with the brushes at each corner.

MAC Plush Lash Mascara

  Testing seven new MAC products! 
  Originally uploaded by dynamist.

I've been told that, internally at MAC, no one thinks much of the company's mascaras. I found that surprising, as I quite liked how MAC Mascara X separated my lashes and made them look thicker (though I still needed a coat of Lancome Definicils to lengthen decently).

This week, MAC sent me a shipment of samples which included MAC Plush Lash mascara. Boy, am I taken with this one! It separates, volumizes, and lengthens without a mess. (My only complaint about Lancome's mascaras is that waaaay too much product is left on the brush after pulling the wand out of the tube.) No wiping excess mascara off the brush with Plush Lash.

(Aside: Am I the only one who never, ever wears mascara on her lower lashes? It's just asking for trouble - and beady eyes.)

In the photo above, I'm also wearing MAC Technakohl Liner in Brownborder, MAC Satin eyeshadow in Modest Tone (the pale shade swept up to the brow bone) and MAC Matte eyeshadow in Rich Flesh (the darker shade on the lids). I very rarely play around with different shadows these days, but this combination is a keeper.

Stila Fiber Optic Mascara

  sleep-lash 
  Originally uploaded by dhammza.

Guest contributor Helena Handbasket continues her series: The Mascara Trials of Helena Handbasket...

Stila Fiber Optic Mascara

BRUSH--Fairly large, teddy-bear brush

FORMULA--A bit too creamy, may need wiping. Contains fibers, as the name implies.

APPLICATION--Mostly easy, but beware of eyelid smears.

LOOK--Gaspingly long and thick. Really exquisite.

WEAR--Not too horrible for a fiber mascara. Work fast, though…after three weeks the formula can get thick and gluggy.

PACKAGING--Gray cylindrical tube