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My fickle mascara ways

Anonymous

I've not left the house without mascara since I was 16 (a VERY long time ago!) My lashes are short and fair, and visually don't exist at all unless they get a little help. My relationships with different mascaras have been rocky. I'll try one, we'll be happy together for awhile, then I get mad at it and break up with it. I just broke up with a MAC mascara for being too messy, and I'm now involved with a Clinique waterproof one that I have high hopes for. I just wish I could find the Mr. Right of mascaras. Is there any hope for my fickle ways?

Does anyone have one that they're loyal to and would like to recommend--just in case Clinique gets kicked to the curb?

General

32 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YES.

I LOVE MASCARA. WEAR IT EVERY DAY. Feel naked without it.

I am VERY loyal to YSL mascara. It's the BEST in my book. I don't need waterproof, but they do have that option.

Yves Saint Laurent 'Volume Effet Faux Cils' Mascara

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Yves Saint Laurent 'Volume Effet Faux Cils' Mascara

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

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harmonica

Veteran

Lol I've had a long tern relationship with Sensai 38°C. I broke up for a while and messed around with I-don't-know-how-many, but eventually went back to the reliable Sensai.

Mascara relationships are personal. We were 4-5 friends who fooled around to find the perfect match. It all turned out that one persons favorite was another persons mess. Hope Clinique works for you.

Anonymous

I don't go out of the house without it, but nor am I terribly loyal. I'll try samples from bonus packs at Sephora or GWP's from department stores - and it's rare that I try one that is really horrible. I'm having great luck with 2 different Benefit ones, and a Cover Girl formula that's great too. I don't find I have to buy mascara very often with all the freebies that seem to land in my bags:)

Scarlet

Veteran

I have been loyal to Lancome, and disappointed when I have strayed, but I found they don't sell my favourite one here. I was thinking of trying Blinc, actually, because I like the idea that it comes off with water. Also I only hear good things about it. However, I am tempted by YSL after hearing Angie's strong recommendation.

Having said all that I started to like my eyes without mascara recently, but I feel like I have to wear it under some circumstances.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I've been using Origins for a very long time - probably 15 years or more! I don't use waterproof and I like the brown option of Origins and the fact that it easily washes off in the shower with my glycerin soap.

Anonymous

I like a dry mascara better than a wet mascara. I use MUFE Smoky Lash Mascara. The best mascara I have ever used.

ClaraT

Veteran

Meh--I always wear mascara, but none seem that special or perfect to me.

The thing that has made the biggest difference is using translucent powder (I use Nars) right under my eyes. A light coat prevents mascara from smearing on me--without powder, all mascaras give me panda eyes (likely due to my layer of moisturizer or sunscreen). This trick changed my mascara game.

Right not I'm using the pink tube (Great Lash). It is fine. Benefit's They're Real is slightly better but pricey and not much different than a few coats of the cheap stuff.

Anyone use Blinc?

Susie

Veteran

I use one from DHC, a Japanese company, that is similar to Blinc with how it coats lashes in tubes . It's easy to use and close enough to waterproof for me.

Lately though I am liking colored mascara and using MAC for that because I got them in a small try-all-the-colors size.

Anonymous

I prefer waterproof and use a brand from sephora, tarte

http://www.sephora.com/lights-.....Id=1001775

Anonymous

So, I'm not the only one, er, fooling around out there! Good to know I have company. It is staggering how many flavors of mascara there are, and it's great to home in on the ones you think highly of. Some of these brands I've never heard of, so I'm excited to know about them.

Angie, I'll put YSL on my list of possibilities. If the mascara is as good as their lipstick, it could be Mr. Right.

Sensai sounds great, harmonica. I'll investigate. It's funny how a mascara somebody loves will be the one someone else hates.

Good job scoring all the freebies, lisap! By the way, I have an unused, unopened Clinique one in black (a freebie) that you're welcome to if you want it. I wear dark brown so it's just sitting here.

Your washable picks sound good, Scarlet and Texstyle. It's nice not to have to rub and scrub. I usually don't use waterproof, but got this one for upcoming vacation that involves some beach time.

Danusia, i have never tried dry mascara, and you've got me curious about it. What keeps it from flaking off, I wonder? I'm intrigued.

Thanks for the powder tip, ClaraT. I like to avoid panda eyes at all costs!

Susie, thanks for letting me know about the DHC. I've used some of their other products and like them very much. You'll have to post some pics of you in the multi-colored mascaras!

Thanks, Zolechic, I know tarte has a lot of fans. Good to know the mascara has a fan on here.

Aida

Veteran

Will second Angie's suggestion. That's the mascara I like best by far, though the past two years my allergies have prevented me from wearing it (I dislike waterproof so I'm just going without!). The ink shade is my fave!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

This has been my mascara for quite a while. I've turned a couple of friends onto it. Bonus it's easy to find

https://www.lorealparisusa.com.....hade=Black

Teresa

I agree with Annagybe, that's my favorite too. Stays put but washes off with soap and water.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Lancome hypnose is my favorite, with YSL a close second. I keep hoping to find a not-tested-on-animals mascara that I like, but no luck yet.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

If you're doing a beach vacation, you might want to consider lash tinting. I did it once before a trip and liked it.

Style Fan

Veteran

I have tried lots of mascaras but my favourite is Lancome Hypnose Drama. I only wear black. Brown disappears on me.
I used to get my lashes tinted but haven't since I moved. I need to find someone to do it.

Lancôme 'Hypnôse' Custom Volume Mascara

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Aquamarine

Veteran

I'm liking Bobbi Brown right now.

lpr200

Veteran

I'm with Angie-- I love YSL though I also like Chanel. Nordstrom is doing buy 2 get 3rd free on 5/27, I believe. When I've bought cheaper mascaras they are fine but dry out faster, needing to be replaced more often, so I stick up when the sale happens at Nordstrom, and the cost per wear evens out.

tulle

Veteran

I had to laugh reading this. I think I know what you mean: no brand is perfect! Because I don't wear mascara often (irritable eyes, a tendency to smudge, the removal problem) I tend to buy drugstore brands so I can replace them often without wasting too much money. Cover Girl makes one of the tube-type mascaras that remove easily with warm water, and doesn't make my eyes itch; I like it. But I have flirted with the idea of the YSL navy blue. Black is too intense for my coloring. I would love to find a good charcoal mascara.

jennifer

Veteran

I'm pretty sure my fav mascara is the Cover Girl Super Sizer ( normally sold in a turquoise tube with gold lettering ) personally I geeked out over the limited edition Star Wars packaging and am working through backups. From memory a higher end one - MUFE sample size was a bday gift from Sephora a few years back . That stuff was pretty wow! Really full lash look from a big Christmas tree brush.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

I've been planning to try the YSL. In the meantime, I got my lashes dyed. Love it! There is no thickening power (obviously) but it yields appreciable definition to my eyes and frees me from worrying about mascara in all those many situations that make mascara challenging: at the gym, when it's wet out, when it's muggy, during allergy season etc.

anne

Veteran

Listening in, as I'm just using some clumpy cheap brand I bought years ago for my girls' dance concert!

Staysfit

Veteran

I like Jane Iredale. I wear blue or brown mascara. Another I like is Elea Blake.

JuniperGreen

Veteran

My eyes have rebelled against contacts and makeup lately, so dabbling with high-end drug store mascaras is a no-go

But I'm having great luck with Neutrogena Healthy Lengths. Great volume and staying power, and doesn't require a belt sander for removal.

I also find that keeping some clean disposable spoolies on hand is really helpful when I'm struggling with a specific mascara formula. (A couple bucks on amazon or at a beauty supply store.) I wipe the mascara off the wand's bristles with the spoolie's stick, and use the bristles of the spoolie to comb out the wand. And of course a clean spoolie for combing lashes is helpful for neatening out clumps, too.

Anonymous

Thanks, Aida! Good -- another vote for YSL. That one is sounding better all the time.

Annagybe and Teresa, that tube mascara by L'Oreal sounds pretty great, and I like that it comes off easily. And the lash-tinting is something I always mean to try before a vacation that involves water, but somehow always forget. Thanks for the timely reminder!

Ummlila and Stylefan, the Lancome Hypnose has a great reputation, and I am putting on my list of potentials. I know what you mean about the brown disappearing, stylefan. I need a really dark brown for that not to happen. Black is just "too too" for my coloring.

Thanks, aquamarine and lpr200 for your faves, and also for the tip on the Nordstrom upcoming sale.

tulle, yes, I have that black-is-too-intense situation. The navy option is one I need to try. And another vote for the tube-style mascara!

Thanks, Jennifer and EmilyK. It's good to hear from another satisfied lash-tinter. I get a little nervous when I think about someone (other than myself) messing with my lashes, but it sounds like it might be worth it.

Anne, you have to kick that clumpy brand to the curb, LOL! Time for an upgrade, my friend. Aren't you glad you have all this excellent YLF wisdom to draw on?

Staysfit, you have much knowledge, and thanks for sharing these two. My dermatologist sells Jane Iredale products, so I know it's very good.

JuniperGreen, you made me laugh out loud with the belt sander reference. That's what it takes sometimes! And you've got me thinking that maybe what I need to do is rethink the toolkit situation. I might need to refine my technique instead of blaming the product. I'm going to buy some spoolies and get to experimenting.

I was watching a TV show the other night that was set back in the late '60s/early '70s. The main character would put her black mascara on, and then take a pin and separate each lash so she'd have perfect unclumped eyelashes. I don't think I'm willing to go that far. Those were less-hectic times, I guess.

Sal

Veteran

I used to play the mascara field too but I now go steady with Estée Lauder - the curling waterproof one. Black always.

Tinting works well for many people too.

Anonymous

Sal and Estee, sitting in a tree...hee hee!

I'm so glad you found The One, Sal!

K. Period.

Veteran

I'm a fan of tubing mascaras too. I use Trish McEvoy's lash curling mascara, which is a tubing mascara, when I want length. I might try the one Anna recommended soon, just because it is such a great value that it would be worth it to see if it works.

When I want tons of volume but not blobbiness, I wear either MakeUp For Ever's Smoky Lash (already recommended by Danusia!) or my all time fave, DiorShow. I think both of those get better after they've been opened and used for while, fwiw. L'Oreal's Voluminous mascara is a good (but not excellent) drugstore equivalent.

And if you want to feel better about fickle: Even though I have those two favorites that I always return to, I've got a ton of different mascaras that I've bought and tried. I need to do a clean up and throw a lot out because they are never going to work for me. I just find it hard to throw them away when I've only used them a few times.

Anonymous

K. Period, thanks. So you're a mascara Jezebel like me! Excellent. I'm determined to try the tube variety since it's getting a lot of recommendations. I'll probably go for the one Anna recommended because it's readily available and well-priced.

I know what you mean about throwing them out when you haven't used them up. Keeping them for a year after opening is usually the rule, but I am a chronic violator, I'm sorry to say. I should be more germ conscious, but since nobody uses them but me, I rationalize that it's okay. Sometimes they actually develop a bad smell when they go bad, so if I'm in doubt, I give it the sniff test.

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