Makeup

Wands of Magic

November 22, 2009

When you consider how frequently a new type of mascara comes out, there must be literally hundreds in existence. Along with new shades of gloss or lipstick, mascara is one of those must-have items that is a regular on the research and development carousel.

You would think, by now, we’d have the most amazing, fool proof models of mascara available to mankind. Surely, any product with this many advancements is pretty close to being the absolute best you can get.

But it seems that the heads of R&D are more interested in testing out fangled technology in the form of new wand types than delivering a top-notch product. Rather than perfect something already in existence, they seem to toss it aside like a tissue and move on to the next new thing (except in some cases - Maybelline Great Lash is a good example of this). They clearly don’t abide by the ‘if isn’t broken, don’t fix it’ motto.

Mascara is one of those foolproof makeup items that EVERYONE uses. I was a party on Friday night and met a few women who rarely wear makeup and when they do, it’s always mascara. It’s relatively safe and straightforward. And it works. It makes eyes appear bigger and brighter. And when you flip the awning (ie, curl lashes so they open up), you get an even better effect. It’s the one thing you shouldn’t go without. Unless you’ve got thick, dark natural lashes. Then you are lucky and we all hate you. Just kidding.

So, here’s the latest offerings from various cosmetic giants.

1. Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara, $52

I love the brush - it’s full of bristles that deliver a good coat. The formula doesn’t flake and lasts well throughout the day. If you’re short on time and need to add more before rushing out the door at night, it copes with this double layering beautifully. It doesn’t stick or clump. So it is the ultimate party mascara - feel free to reapply hours later. This is currently in my makeup bag and I’m very happy with it.

2. Maybelline Lash Stiletto, $24.49

The formula is good - it doesn’t flake, lasts and delivers a good coating of colour to lashes but it doesn’t thicken (it doesn’t claim to either), so if you’re after fat lashes, this isn’t the product for you. It doesn’t make quite a cool spikey effect and it’s purpose is to lengthen which it does perfectly. This is a good mascara, not an absolute fave (which pains me to say as I usually LOVE Maybelline). But not bad either.

3. L’Oreal Telescopic Explosion, $33.99

I’m a big fan of L’Oreal Telescopic mascara - the original wand shape and formua had me hooked - and it still rates as one of my all time favourites. I was a bit dubious about this one, the wand is small and squat and I couldn’t see how it would perform to my standards. But it did, and it’s awesome to use on lower lashes for that full spider-like eyes effect.

4. Lancome Hypnose, $59

This, for me, is the holy grail of mascaras - love Lancome Hypnose. Is it the kink in the wand that helps curve curled lashes? Or is it the thickness it gives? I’m not sure, but what it does that always makes my heart sing, is give me flirty, batty lashes in one to two coats. I could rave about this for hours. Worth every penny if you’re keen to splurge.

5. Revlon 3D Extreme, $28

This short stick is perfect to pop in your makeup bag when you’re out and about. I like the bushy brush but I did have to work it over lashes a few times to build up the thickness I was after. Good. Not amazing. But not bad either.

6. Za Wide Eyes Comb Brush, $24.50

The first comb brush mascara that I trialled (years ago when I was at New Idea) was a Maybelline one and I loved it - shaped like a v it was somewhat revolutionary in it’s shape and it delivered product to lashes nicely. I haven’t seen it in awhile so I’m guessing it got dumped and moved on which is a shame - it was good. The comb on this mascara was not quite as clever as the Maybelline one. It’s just a comb… like a hair comb (clearly the V thing was the winning angle). You can’t quite flourish your lashes with this wand, it’s more like a scrape and while it did smear the formula on them… it wasn’t quite what I was after. Maybe I should give it another go? Or maybe I’ll just stick to what I like best. Well meaning, but not quite making me want to switch.

Have you tried any of these mascaras? What are you using at the moment and why do you like it?

Tamsin xo