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Mascara

BrieN

Veteran

I really like wearing mascara, but have trouble keeping it on my lashes. It tends to smudge--a lot and quickly. Not sure if it's because my eyelids are oily or because I wear eye moisturizer or something else.

I have started using a cheap waterproof type from the drugstore which flakes off (rather than smudges) which out of two bad choices is the better for me, but it is SO clumpy.

Suggestions for a nice mascara which isn't clumpy and will stay on my lashes would be wildly appreciated. Bonus points for options at different price points.

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34 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Diana

Veteran

I use this one. As far as I can tell, all the waterproof maybelline mascaras are the same or very similar formulation but the brush matters. The one on this one is very small which helps prevent clumping. It also helps if you replace it often. The maybelline is not the best mascara, to be sure, but it's one of the very few that actually doesn't smudge on me.

Mascara smudges like crazy on me because I have almost no lower lashes to speak of. So I put it on my upper lashes only, but then they touch my face every time I blink because there's no lower lashes to get in the way.

Maybelline New York Maybelline New York Lash Discovery Waterproof Mascara, Very Black 361, 0.16 Fluid Ounce

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Style Fan

Veteran

I tried lots of different mascaras before I found one that didn't leave me with racoon eyes. I don't think I have oily eye lids. The rest of my skin is not oily.
The best mascara for me is Lancome Hypnose. I don't use waterproof mascara.

BrieN

Veteran

Diana - your point about the brush makes perfect sense. I've never thought about that before.

SF: I have heard before that Lancome makes great mascaras. I am glad to know they have one that may not smudge on me.

viva

Veteran

Have you tried tube masacaras? I am a dedicated user of Kevyn Aucoin's mascara. It's not heavy (which I like), it stays completely on (NO smudging), and it comes off with water -- you wet your eyes and then gently pull the tubes off your lashes. It comes off COMPLETELY cleanly with no raccoon eyes EVER. I love this stuff. I've been wearing it for several years now and I cannot use anything else.

Kevyn Aucoin Kevyn Aucoin Curling Mascara, Black, 0.5 Gram

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ClaraT

Veteran

I have longish lashes and for two decades I thought the only solution to underage smudging was hourly wiping! I tried drugstore mascara, high end mascara--they all wore about the same (and I hate removing the waterproof stuff).

Then I figured out that for me, the key is not the mascara itself but rather applying a thin layer of powder right under my eyes.

I use Maybelline Soft and Full mascara (which is perfectly fine but frankly nothing special) and a swipe of NARS light reflecting powder (applied with a small soft brush; $$ but lasts forever) directly under my lower lashes. Voila! No more smears and easy removal with a gentle face soap.

Banoffi

Veteran

My mascara always smudges as I have allergies and my eyes tend to water a lot. I just started using Estee Lauder's Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara and LOVE it. It doesn't give quite the volume of other mascaras I've tried, but it doesn't smudge or flake and is really easy to remove. The downside is that it is expensive.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I LOVE mascara, and am committed to YSL's Babydoll. I wear the blue.

YSL YVES SAINT LAURENT YSLVOLUME EFFET LUXURIOUS BABYDOLL MASCARA~~FETISH BLACK #1

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BrieN

Veteran

viva - I have never heard of tube mascara and am now reallly curious about it. That may be a great solution for me.

ClaraT - I wear powder right under my eyelashes and on top of my under eye concealer. Maybe my concealer is part of the problem...

ClaraT

Veteran

(follow-up comment): I've heard good things about the tube mascara but I haven't tried it.
I find MakeUpAlley another good resource for product reviews (you have probably looked there, but I'm just mentioning it on the off chance that you don't know about it)!

viva

Veteran

BrieN, I don't think all tube mascaras are alike. I tried Blink, which is sold at Sephora, and I had to toss it because it got very wet and clumpy. If anything, Kevyn Aucoin's is on the lighter, drier side, but I like a more natural mascara.

I simply use more liner if I want a more dolled-up look because I have gotten so I can't stand raccoon eyes. I think it's worse as you get older and your eyes get more crinkly. For me, the cleaner, the better.

BrieN

Veteran

Banoffi - I also have allergies... No Wonder all my mascara smudges with the various issues I have going on! I will read up on the Estee Lauder -- how could I not with a name like that!

Viva - I completely agree with you about the raccoon eyes. I am needing to wear a lot of concealer under my eyes because of darkness and I abhor the thought of adding any type of shadowing underneath there. Thank you for the recommendation.

BrieN

Veteran

ClaraT - I have spent a little time on MakeUpAlley but manage to overwhelm myself with information. Maybe now with some targeted searches I will be able to use it to its best advantage.

Angie- I have started wearing mascara every day pretty much since joining YLF. It's one of the first big changes I made. So I am committed as well, to finding the right one. Thank you.

K. Period.

Veteran

I'm with Viva in the tubing mascara camp. They are really amazing! I use the Trish Mcevoy one. They stick until you RUB them vigorously with warm water. So they are waterproof in most circumstances, but wash off very cleanly. (Confession: I love mascaras and have about seven open right now so that I can choose my look for the day.) Lancome's waterproof ones are very good too, plus you can often pick them up with a gift with purchase, which makes it particularly fun!

Scarlet

Veteran

I have had great luck with Lancome mascaras. I have tried a few of them and all were fantastic. The latest I tried seems to be the "tube" kind of mascara that swells and falls off in water (link below). I think Blinc was the originator of that technology, but I never tried it, although I hear it is good.

Also maybe avoid moisturising in the eye area in the morning. That makes a big difference for me.

http://www.lancome.co.uk/_en/_.....6201o.aspx

rachylou

Veteran

Wait, what is tube mascara?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YAY. I'm loving the sound of that, BrieN. Truly, everybody looks better with a good dose of mascara.

BrieN

Veteran

Will the tube type of mascara come off with makeup remover or only with water?

K.Period. I can't imagine knowing so much about mascara that you can choose your look. I'd love to see a post about this.

Scarlet - thank you for the link. How did you know this was a tube-type? I don't see it in the explanation. What wording am I looking for?

SandyG

Veteran

Any mascara formulation is going to vary depending on your eyelashes. I have long, fine ones that I curl before applying product, and too many of the mascaras are wet, heavy and drag down the fine lashes, leaving unintended spider-y results instead of a classic 'fanned out' lashes lining the eye.

(after decades of mascara 'research' and a 401K worth of expense) I settled on Diorshow the classic non-waterproof one. Estee Lauder had a teddy bear brush that I liked but the product practically dripped off my eyes. Dior's brush is less plush but the mascara is workable and stays in place for me. I dust my lashes ever-so-lightly with powder before applying to help the mascara dry faster, which keeps the curl.

My dream would be to choose my preferred brush -- and then combine with my preferred mascara. Which would never smudge or migrate!

elpgal

Veteran

Tube mascara - I haven't tried Viva's recos but like Blinc and the Maybelline version.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I adore the Lancome mascaras and they offer a great range -- but I developed an allergy to them. I've always had sensitive skin but my lashes/ eyelids were pretty immune to that for decades. No more.

I also tried (and really liked) some of the Maybelline products before I moved to Lancome -- but, yup, you guessed it. That's how I wound up at the Lancome counter.

Now I am using Clinique Lash Power. http://www.sephora.com/lash-po.....la-P206900

It sounds a lot like the one Viva recommends. It lasts through everything and does not smear or smudge but comes off easily with water -- and, bonus, I am not allergic to it.

The downside is that it does not build volume like some others. My lashes are short and undistinguished and this really only colours them so they are not invisible, vs. "bumping" them up. However, non-smeary, non-irritated eyes are worth it to me. I figure if I ever really need to pull out the stops I could try fake lashes.

deb

Veteran

I have been on the search for the perfect mascara for the past few months. Last month, Nordstrom had a buy two get one free on any brand. I am picky about the wand because if it is too large I end up with mascara on my drooping eyelids. The SA and I found three, a Lacombe, a Clinique, and a Bobbi Brown. I find that if I use the Bobbi brown for the first coat and follow with the Lancome for the second, I get the best results. I sometimes I change out the Bobbi brown with the Clinique but think this combo might be better for cooler weather.

Bobbi Brown 'Intensifying' Long-Wear Mascara

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Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara

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Lancôme 'Hypnôse' Custom Volume Mascara

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Gigi

Veteran

Lots of great suggestions. Maybe you could also try an eyelash primer before applying the mascara. I want to say that when I use primer first, I don't get so much smudging. The primer really adheres well to the mascara. I have been using Jane Iredale last primer and the Jane Iredale Longest Lash mascara. I'm not sure how this primer works with other brands of mascara, however.

Jane

Veteran

I love mascara. I've tried lots. My fav at the moment is Chanel - I just need a couple of coats, it sticks on very well!

Jeanie

Veteran

I have quite a few different mascaras in my collection of makeup but I tend to rub my eyes and find that most of them flake off. My favorite for no flaking or raccoon eyes is Lancome Hypnose Waterproof. It is great for adding volume and doesn't rub off.

lisaflex

Veteran

i like lancome definicils

also loreal telescopic does not smudge at all!!!

Beth

Veteran

I've also been on the search recently. I did not have any luck with:

Dior Iconic Overcurl (clumps on second coat and is spidery)
Maybelline Lash Sensational (little volume, ok length)
Diorshow (little volume, ok length, the rose scent irritates my eyes)

I've had better luck with:

Lancome Definicils
Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume

There are good reviews at makeupalley.com and beautypedia.com. Also, the Sweethome did a nice review of mascaras, including how they're made and what makes a good product:
http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-mascara/

I've found that with age, mascara tends to migrate over the course of the day when this never used to be an issue. Tubing mascaras may be the next on the list to try!

K. Period.

Veteran

BrieN, that would be hilarious, to do a post about my mascara wardrobe. I think mascara is one of the ultimate "your mileage may vary" beauty items, though. Lash shape and density for a starter makes it really hard. I have short short short lashes, very straight with no curl and not a lot of density. I loooooove thick, dense lash looks, but sometimes go for other styles. I might wear something that gives me thinner individually defined lashes if I'm going for a fresh faced minimal makeup look.

With tubing mascaras, I generally find that the water part is essential, although micellar water is sufficient. Regular makeup remover loosens the tubing mascara, but it really doesn't release entirely until you splash it with water, at least in my experience. (BTW, I'm wearing Trish Mcevoy's tubing mascara today because this post made me think of it!)

What has been your favorite mascara for lash look so far? Ignore the smudging issue. If you could choose your favorite and make it unsmudgeable, which one would it be? Also, what type of lashes do you have and what type of lashes do you want?

rabbit

Veteran

I need to try the tube mascaras. I use benefit roller lash mascara, it's not waterproof, but doesn't seem to smudge or flake unless I forget and rub my eyes (which usually happens right before bed). I had very fine/short lower lashes so I didn't try mascara on them until recently, when I discovered that the seemed to be growing a little more substantial when I used the benefit on them. Now I line my inside lower lid with an off-white liner and I use mascara and a tiny bit of brown liner at my lower lash line. It makes my eyes look a lot bigger, but doesn't work without the pale inner liner.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I like L'oreal double extend, it's in a red & white tube. It's their tube mascara.
Works through long shifts at hospital. Remove with warm water

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