The Best Mascara
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Our Picks For The Top Mascaras
- 1. Essence Lash Princess Cruelty & Gluten-Free Mascara
- 2. L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Clump-Resistant Waterproof Mascara
- 3. COVERGIRL Lash Blast Clean Vegan Paraben-Free Mascara
- 4. Maybelline Lash Sensational 10-Layer Fanning Brush Mascara
- 5. Too Faced Better Than Sex Acacia Senegal Extract Mascara
- 6. Burt’s Bees Nourishing 100% Natural Origin Formula Mascara
This mascara offers dramatic volume and length. It lasts all day without fading or flaking. The mascara helps to define and separate each lash for a bold look.
Dramatic LookThis mascara gives you lots of volume and length.
This bold mascara makes your lashes look four times fuller. It separates every lash and doesn't clump. The mascara is waterproof and won't streak.
Fuller LashesThis mascara offers four times the volume.
This mascara is vegan and made with argan and marula oils. It is cruelty free and never tested on animals. The mascara provides ten times the volume as compared bare lashes.
Vegan FormulaThis mascara is made with argan and marula oils.
This mascara offers a full effect with the fanning brush. It defines your eyes whether you like a dramatic or natural look. The mascara can be removed with Micellar Water.
Full EffectThis mascara offers a sensational look.
Buying Guide
For most makeup lovers, mascara is an essential item they cannot live without. It not only lifts and darkens our eyelashes, but helps to brighten our eyes and make them stand out. If you’re searching for the perfect mascara but aren’t sure what to consider, then you’re in the right place.
One of the most annoying things about low-quality mascara is that it comes on thick and clumpy. This looks unappealing and can also be difficult to remove. A good mascara should stretch and lengthen the lashes with a high-definition formula. Opt for a mascara that contains emollient moisturizer from olives which helps to reduce clumping while offering a smooth glide.
Go for a mascara that sets and dries quickly. If it takes too long, you will have difficult applying multiple coats and it may get smudged when you blink. Mascara that dries quickly helps you get ready faster – and looks more professional as well. In addition, long lasting products are key. Look for mascara that has high-quality ingredients which don’t damage the lashes – but hold color and length all day long.
An important factor you shouldn’t forget about is the brush. The way the brush is shaped will no doubt affect the way your lashes look, regardless of the mascara formula. For instance, if the brush is big and bushy, so too will your lashes be. If the brush is thin and spiky, you lashes will have a separated look. Consider the type of eyelash look you want and get a brush the matches.
What to Look For
- Waterproof mascara was all the rage for a time, but there are other options, such as water-resistant mascara. Waterproof mascara can sometimes leave a ring around your eyes – not to mention it is very difficult to fully remove. Water-resistant mascara prevents streaks and running but uses water-soluble ingredients so it’s easier to take off.
- Did you know there are different types of mascara formulas for different types of looks and lashes? For example, if you want evenly spaced lashes, then you need a light formula. If your lashes are long and straight, you can get a curling mascara which shapes your lashes upward. If you have really short lashes, you can get a lengthening mascara formula. For those who have really sensitive skin and eyes, it’s best to use a wax-based mascara which doesn’t crumble.
- Is all mascara black? For the most part, the answer is yes. However, if you have light blond hair, you may want to consider a brown-black mascara formula, which will work better with your hair and coloring. Some specialty mascaras are available in colors such as blue, purple and green.
- When you come home late at night from a long day, you may be tempted to forego removing your makeup before you go to bed. While it may be more convenient, sleeping with mascara (and any other makeup) can be damaging for your skin and eyes on a long-term basis. Always take the extra few minutes to use makeup remover and wash your face and then moisturize your skin before getting into bed.
More to Explore
The story behind why we’re so obsessed with having long eyelashes
Back To The Beginning
The Ancient Egyptians started it all. As early as 4,000 B.C., they took to emphasizing their eyelashes with kohl and other ointments. This rudimentary eye makeup not only accentuated the eyes, but it also served as extra protection from the sun.
A few thousand years later, Roman women also used kohl — as well as burnt cork — to darken their eyelashes. And why wouldn’t they want to emphasize them? At the time, long, full eyelashes were seen as a sign of chastity. That’s right. It was actually believed that a woman’s eyelashes would fall out if she had too much sex, a belief that perhaps stemmed from the fact that eyelash loss was a symptom of syphilis.
Many years later, around the turn of the 20th century, these primitive precursors led to the first mascara. Eugène Rimmel, who was the perfumer for Queen Victoria, created it using a combination of coal dust and Vaseline jelly. That helped pave the way for Mabel Williams to come up with “Lash-Brow-Ine,” which eventually turned into the now-iconic Maybelline.
Why Long Lashes Are So Hot
Then — and in the years since — full eyelashes have continued to signal health, vitality and beauty. Why? In 1985, researchers posited that eyelashes created the illusion of wide, gazing eyes, which added to the appearance of a “babyface.” The authors of the study wrote that such features seemed to elicit feelings of affection in others.
Later researchers theorized that especially dark eyelashes emphasized both the whites of the eyes and the dark ring that appeared around the iris, an appearance that tends to indicate youthfulness.
Whatever the underlying reason, there was a small blip in our history, during Medieval times, when large foreheads were considered en vogue. As a result, women nixed their eyelashes and eyebrows altogether.
– by Jennifer Neid
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