One question I get from women is, "What is the very best (insert beauty product here)." You want to know if you are standing in a drugstore aisle, what mascara to pick. If you are in a fancy department store and you want the very best mascara that will make your lashes appear long, full and lush while never, ever running onto your face, you want to know what counter to head to. Well, I've got your scoop.
1. Best Overall Mascara: Lancome Definicils
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Named the best mascara several years in a row in InStyle magazine's Best Beauty Buys issue, this Lancome Definicils not only lengthens lashes, but won't clump. I use it every day, having tried many mascaras. Keep in mind: Mascara is one beauty product you don't need to spend money on (see other best buys below). However, I happily spend the $20 or so this product costs.
2. Best Volumizing Mascara: Prescriptives 'Lash Envy' Mascara
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Another favorite of makeup artists and beauty experts, Prescriptives 'Lash Envy' Mascara has a Volumatrix Polymer that keeps lashes full and plumped all day.
3. The Celebrity Favorite Mascara: Bobbi Brown 'Everything'
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In the September, 2006, issue of Marie Claire magazine, Serena Williams, a self-avowed 'total beauty junkie' gives a big plug to this mascara.
4. Best Drugstore Buy: Maybelline Great Lash
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Now, we're getting into the budget mascara. The best waterproof mascara on the market is Maybelline Great Lash waterproof mascara.[p] It is a classic and reputed to be the best-selling waterproof mascara ever created. It doesn't clump, lasts a long time and won't come off easily.
5. Best Multi-Talented Mascara: Revlon Luxurious Lengths Mascara
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Allure named this mascara a favorite in their January 2006 issue. At $6.99 you get a lot for your money: A flat side that layers on gel-based color and a curved side that lifts and separates lashes.
6. Best Volume Mascara: Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara
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Lucky Magazine named Rimmel Volume Flash Mascara a must-have beauty buy in it's April 2006 issue. Why? As an ultra-volumnizer, it makes your eyes look super big.
7. Makeup Artist's Favorite Mascara: Maybelline XXL Volume + Length
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This mascara can be found in many a makeup artist's box. Celeb makeup artist Troy Surratt swears by this in Elle Magazine. Surratt piles this stuff on to complete his famous smoky eyes (you may have seen them on Hilary Duff or Maggie Gyllenhaal).
8. Great Overall Budget Mascara: L'Oreal Voluminous
For a great overall budget mascara, consider L'Oreal Voluminous. InStyle Magazine named L'Oreal Voluminous its Best Beauty Buy mascara in the 2005 issue. Enhanced with hair conditioners panthenol and cermide-R, this product is a must-have. Makeup artists love it because, like the other best mascaras, it adds volume without clumping.
9. Best for Super-Thick, Long Lashes: Lancome Hypnose
Lancome sent us this mascara and we must admit, at first we were skeptical. After all, it had an odd shape and we are addicted to Lancome's Definicils. Why mess with a good thing? After trying it, we have to say the odd shape of the brush takes some getting used to, but the color goes on smooth and silky without clumping. Your eyes will never look larger. The effect is much like that of false eyelashes and we have no idea how they did it. Lancome Hynose is our current favorite mascara.
