mascara maven.

okay it's been 1 week since i embarked on a journey deemed "Which Mascara is the Best in All the Land".
well ladies (and maybe gentlemen...?).....
i have figured it out.
but not without a few bumps along the road.
be advised when you embark on a journey such as the one i have to not use mascara that is 1+ years i-really have-no-idea-how-old.
i ended up with double pink eye.
yes, you read that right.

at any rate, let me type this up with my double pink eyed eyes for all you ladies in waiting.

1st off-- all of the mascara seen here can be purchased at Ulta.  My fave makeup store.  If you don't have one near you, you can find the maybelline mascara's at Walmart or your local drugstore.  Your pick.  You can probably find the other designer (what else would you call them?) mascara's at Sephora, or something.

2nd off-- here's a picture of my eyelashes with each of the mascara's i tried.  i'll review each below.  why?  because while i know the picture of my eyeball with different mascara's looks the same it definitely did not feel the same. (also. wrinkles-under-my-eyes-much? ugh!)

 1.Colossal Volum' Express Mascara 

by Maybelline 

$5.99

Pros:

• Great volume in lashes
• Good volume extensions
• Only need 2 coats for awesome lashes
• Good curling

Cons:

• Flakes off over the course of my work day
• Lashes stuck together (as in top lashes to bottom and lash to lash)

My rank: 3

2. They're Real

by Benefit Cosmetics

$23

Pros:

• Great volume in lashes
• Incredible volume extensions
• Separate's eyelashes 
• Only need 2 coats for awesome lashes
• Excellent curling
• Eyelash wand is the perfect size (easy to use. no accidentally getting it on my brow bones here!)

Cons:

None. 

My rank:1
 

 3. Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara

by bareMinerals

$18 

(sorry about the lack of picture! i accidentally deleted it and had already thrown it away)

Pros:

• Good volume in lashes (after 4! coats)

Cons:

• Flakes off into my eyes and on my cheeks all day
• Lashes stuck together (as in top lashes to bottom and lash to lash)
• Had to use 4 coats of mascara to get the same affect that i could get with 2 in the mascara's shown previously
• Didn't curl my lashes at all
• Huge wand (no and thanks)

My rank: 4

4. Illegal Length Fiber Extensions
by Maybelline
$8.99

 

Pros:
NONE.
(I threw it in the garbage immediately after using it for the first time. don't.buy.it.)
 
Cons:

• Flakes off into my eyes and on my cheeks all day
• Lashes look like spider legs (ew!)
• Didn't curl my lashes at all
• Wands bristles are hard to manage

My rank: negative 1 billion (aka 5)

5. Great Lash Mascara
by Maybelline
$5.49 
(not picture but i've used this tube of mascara since the dawn of my mascara-using days)

Pros:

• Good volume in lashes (after 4 coats)
• Keeps eyelashes seperated
• Curls eyelashes
• Decent Volume

Cons:

• Have to use 4 coats of mascara to get the same affect that i could get with the "They're Real"and "Colossal Volum' Express"

My rank: 2

so as you've seen I've ranked the mascara's 1 (being the greatest) - 5 (being the not so greatest)

1. They're Real by Benefit Cosmetics 

2. Great Lash Mascara by Maybelline

3. Colossal Volum' Express by Maybelline

4. Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara by bareMinerals

5. Illegal Length by Maybelline

i get that not everyone can spend $23 on a tube of mascara (they're real by benefit) but if you have a special event, date, party, family pictures, etc. coming up i would seriously invest in this mascara. it's perfect.  and it's the best i've ever found.

i would invest in the colossal volum' express and the great lash for day to day.  it's just a matter of preference right there (like would you rather have a little bit of flake-age and only use 2 coats of mascara or no flakes and more time applying 4 coats. obvi's up to you).  i have to say sometimes i use them both at the same time.  apply 2 coats of great lash and then 1 coat of colossal volum'.  it seems to do the trick. 

happy mascara-ing!