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.
More on eye makeup:
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.
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.
The Hottest Mascara Trend of the Moment: Blinc's "Tube" Mascara
Blinc's tube mascara is the hottest thing to hit the mascara counters since oscillating brushes (a waste of money, IMO). I learned about Blinc from a couple of my friends in Seattle who gushed over it and ever since they mentioned, I've noticed more and more chatter about it on blogs and among beauty aficionados.
Here's why everyone's going ga-ga for it: the mascara creates tiny, water-resistant "tubes" around lashes, which makes them appear thicker and longer than lashes painted by common mascaras. My friends are crazy about Blinc and love that when you remove the makeup with water, the tubes slide right off. Now that fascinates me. I can't wait to try it. When I do, I'll report back here.
Best for Super-Thick, Long Lashes: Lancome Hypnose
Lancome sent me this mascara and I must admit, at first I was 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, I 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 Hypnose is my current favorite mascara.
World's Most Popular Mascara: 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. 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.
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.
Best Organic Mascara: Lavera's Volume Mascara
I got an email from a reader named Sue Costello that the mascaras on this list all made her eyes itch. Sue told me she suffers from allergies and has tested many, many mascaras and the one mascara that passed her test was an organic (she's partial to organic, non-chemical products) mascara by Lavera that she got from Target. So I asked Sue to write a review on it and she did. Here it is.
A Great Drugstore Buy: CoverGirl Lash Blast Length
When Eva Chen, the beauty director at Teen Vogue told the amazing blog "Into the Gloss" that this CoverGirl mascara is "the best mascara on the market," I immediately put it on this list. Why? Chen is a product junkie, her bathroom is like a mini Sephora, and she's tried every mascara on the market. Why does she love a $10 mascara the most? "If you want clean, defined, super long lashes, it’s great," she says. Sounds good enough to me.
Best Multi-Talented Mascara: Revlon Luxurious Lengths Mascara
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Allure named this mascara a favorite. 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.
Best Volume Mascara: Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara
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Lucky Magazine named Rimmel Volume Flash Mascara a must-have beauty buy. Why? As an ultra-volumnizer, it makes your eyes look super big.
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).
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. 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.
