Category: ‘Mascara’

Some women strive for a natural lash look—alas, I will never be one of them. I’m a sucker for the glamorous allure of a full, thick fringe of lashes. Volumizing mascara formulas are great for maximum impact per coat and these three picks really pack a punch. 

1. You’ll never lose Maybelline The Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara ($6) in your makeup case (check out that day-glo yellow) and the formula is pretty incredible, too. Its secret ingredient, collagen, makes your lashes feel soft and springy.  

2. L’Oreal Voluminous ($7.50) is a drugstore classic and builds dramatic volume with just a coat or two. The Carbon Black shade is truly the blackest black you’ll find anywhere.

3. It takes some maneuvering to get the hang of the huge brush, but once you do, Max Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper Mascara ($10) rewards you with that coveted fake-lash look. 

Check out our post on where to shop for beauty at a steep discount.

Yesterday the New York Times published an article about how the makers of Botox will soon release a non-cosmetic (read: medical) product that stimulates the growth of longer and thicker eyelashes. Latisse, as this concoction is called, derives its formula from the company's glaucoma eyedrops, which reduce pressure and swelling in the eyes–and as a side effect tend to send patients' eyelashes into overdrive. However, other, less pleasant side effects include red itchy eyes, darkening of eyelid pigmentation, and permanent change of iris color from light (blue, green, hazel) to brown. And at $120 a month for this creepy alchemy, we'll stick to the mascara, thank you very much.

Lash wands have come a long way, baby (maybe not as far as glaucoma eyedrops or wrinkle-freezing chemicals, but still), and they're among the beauty products that give the most bang for your buck. Here are some of our favorite mascaras:

When Maybelline came out with Define-A-Lash ($8) last year, we wondered if anything could really improve on Great Lash. But we soon fell in love with the spiky brush that makes clumps a thing of the past and reaches even your teeniest lashes to create a clean, long look. I switched to Define-A-Lash last year, and my own mother (a Great Lash user, I might add) actually noticed the difference in lash-length and definition.

Speaking of Maybelline, makeup artist Carmindy from TLC's "What Not to Wear" swears by the company's Lash Stylist Comb ($6), whose extra small brush allows you to get in deep and hit every lash (including those little lower ones) without painting your skin black, too.

If you can wait to blink while it dries, Rimmel Super Lash Mascara ($3.49) is a great everyday product. Its liquid formula allows for unlimited applications that give incomparable length to lashes, and the extra-black color creates an intensity we haven't found with any other product. Plus, did you see that price? I can barely find a Diet Coke for under $3.50 these days.

And check out our latest Lip Balm Guide for more beauty products that will keep you looking your best. 

Walk into any drugstore or department store, and you're likely to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of mascaras. And each one promises the same–longer, thicker, darker eyelashes.

So how's a girl to know which ones are worth it and which ones to skip? Here's our pick of five brands that are SheFinds tried, tested, and approved. 

1. Chanel Inimitable Mascara ($27.50): Quite frankly, we're blown away. This mascara really lives up to its promise to plump individual lashes without clumping. With a few quick swipes, we were able to add serious drama without serious baggage.

2. Benefit Cosmetics BADgal Mascara ($19): One of our writers swears she was hopelessly devoted to another brand before she ran out one morning and had to turn to a back-up tube she had of Banefit's BADgal Mascara. Three coats later, she converted, and she hasn't re-stocked her old favorite since.

3. Smashbox Focal Point Lash Building Mascara ($18): I found myself in a similar situation recently. I'd left the house in a hurry, thought I'd thrown some mascara and blush in bag, then discovered I'd grabbed a pen, not cosmetics. I ran into Sephora and quickly grabbed a tube of Smashbox's Focal Point. I'd never tried it, but I'd heard enough good to give it a go. And thank goodness I did. This might be my favorite for layering, since it really doesn't seem to get too thick. Just one hint–give this one time to dry. For whatever reason, it seems to smear more easily, so take a couple of seconds before adding eyeliner.

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4. Cover Girl Lash Extract ($7): Another SheFinds writer swears she'll never pay for department store brands again after trying Cover Girl Lash Extract. While we wouldn't recommend you give up entirely on the pricer names, we can't resist a great mascara that costs less than our lunch.

5. L'Oreal Feather Lash Softly Sweeping Mascara ($7): Okay, we get it. You've got some bills. So we had to include one more way to get champagne lashes on a beer budget. Enter L'Oreal's Feather Lash, which former SheFinds editor Natasha picked as her personal favorite.  As easy on the wallet as it is on the eyes, this mascara does works wonders on thin or short lashes.

Don't see your favorite brand here? Check out the SheFinds Mascara Guide or post your pick in the comments below!