Mascara Round-up #2: Mini Reviews on Recent Empties

It’s been about a year since I last did a mascara round-up, so I figured it was time to sit down again and summarise all the mascaras I have gone through in the past year!

Lancome Hypnose Mascara

An old school mascara that I never tried back in the day. Unfortunately it doesn’t live up to current mascara formulas. It’s a very basic formula that does little more than coat the lashes with black pigment.

Ratings:

• Packaging – 3/5
• Brush applicator – 3/5
• Volume – 2/5
• Separation – 3/5
• Curl – 2/5
• Lift – 2/5
• Smudge-proof – 2.5/5

Personal score: 2/5

Repurchase? No

Lancome Doll Eyes Waterproof Mascara

My favourite Lancome mascara so far – the hypnose doll eyes waterproof version. It’s a foolproof waterproof mascara that gives a very natural fluttery look (nothing much in terms of volume). The wand is really good for getting close to the base of your lashes as well as getting to the little corner lashes. Great everyday/work mascara for me (also worked beautifully on my friend for her wedding day).

Ratings:

• Packaging – 3/5
• Brush applicator – 4/5
• Volume – 2/5
• Separation – 4.5/5
• Curl – 5/5
• Lift – 5/5
• Smudge-proof – 5/5

Personal score: 4.5/5

Repurchase? Already have!

Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara

Similar idea to the Lancome doll eyes waterproof – very long lasting, natural effect for everyday. Has less of that dry waterproof mascara look, if you know what I mean. The wand is small and grabs every last hair as well as coating the very base of the lashes. I occasionally get a tiny bit of smudging after a really long day and it is possible, albeit extremely difficult, to disrupt it if you cry a lot in one looooong session. Maybe avoid wearing it if you know the log lady is going to pass away in the next episode of TP? Otherwise it’s amazing.

Ratings:

• Packaging – 4/5
• Brush applicator – 5/5
• Volume – 3/5
• Separation – 4.5/5
• Curl – 5/5
• Lift – 4.5/5
• Smudge-proof – 4.5/5

Personal score: 4.5/5

Repurchase? Absolutely! Planning on alternating between this and the Lancome Doll Eyes waterproof for my “long work day” mascara until I figure out which one I like more. As of right now they are not exactly the same, but on par.

Burberry Cat Eyes Mascara

I’m not sure if this one is still around, I think at the very least the packaging has changed? It doesn’t matter either way as it’s not a very nice mascara imo. It has quite a thick consistency that weighs the lashes down, and there’s not that much volume to make up for it either. This mascara is weak and won’t survive the winter.

Ratings:

• Packaging – 3/5
• Brush applicator – 3.5/5 – it gets an extra half point because it can bend
• Volume – 3.5/5
• Separation – 3/5
• Curl – 4/5
• Lift – 2.5/5
• Smudge-proof – 2.5/5

Personal score: 2/5

Repurchase? Not for me

Pat McGrath Labs Dark Star Mascara

LOATHE. I know lots of people love this but I hated it so much. I am not exaggerating when I say this flaked and smudged on me within minutes. I tried to just use it for photographing eye looks but ended up with lots of photos where my under-eyes are visibly covered in bits of mascara.

Ratings:

• Packaging – 3/5 – Quite large
• Brush applicator – 3/5 – Too big for me but nice style
• Volume – 4/5
• Separation – 2.5/5
• Curl – 2/5
• Lift – 2/5
• Smudge-proof – 0/5 – Flaked immediately, continued to flake and smudge throughout the day.

Personal score: 1/5

Repurchase? Not if it was the last mascara left on earth.

Dior Pump ‘N’ Volume Mascara

Although volumising mascaras aren’t my go-to, I definitely have a time and place for them and I really like this Dior one! It’s a thick formula but doesn’t feel claggy, just really thickens the look of your lashes without clumping them all together. Above average when it comes to lift and curl and very smudge proof too – not bad for a non-waterproof mascara! I do have to brush through with a clean spoolie after application (I do this with most mascaras anyway), but only a little bit and I have no issues with doing so.

Ratings:

• Packaging – 4/5
• Brush applicator – 4/5
• Volume – 5/5
• Separation – 3/5 – better than most volumising mascaras, potentially due to the spiky wand
• Curl – 3.5/5
• Lift – 3/5
• Smudge-proof – 4/5

Personal score: 4/5

Repurchase? Probably – it’s definitely a contender for my favourite volumising mascara!

Dior Diorshow Maximiser 3D Lash Primer

I don’t understand the point in this product. The only positive thing I have to say is that it didn’t make the job of applying my mascara any more difficult. I’ve tried this under a few mascaras and haven’t noticed any effect – but perhaps I’m not the target audience? I’m not sure who the target audience would be..

Repurchase? No

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lash Multi Effects Mascara

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This was ok. Not sure the dual function wand was anything more than a gimmick. It had a nice balance of volume, length, and separation, but was fairly weak when it came to lifting and holding a curl. Not for me for this reason, but I can imaging other people enjoying it.

Ratings:

• Packaging – 3/5
• Brush applicator – 3/5
• Volume – 3.5/5
• Separation – 4/5
• Curl – 2.5/5
• Lift – 2.5/5
• Smudge-proof – 3/5

Personal score: 3/5

Repurchase? Probably not.

Clinique High Impact Lash Elevating Mascara

Quite difficult to remove if you smudge while applying. It is the next best thing to a waterproof mascara without having to use a waterproof mascara – it holds a curl and lift very well and doesn’t smudge on me, yet doesn’t feel really dry like waterproof formulas. This is my favourite mascara I have tried from Clinique for sure.

Ratings:

• Packaging – 3.5/5
• Brush applicator – 3.5/5
• Volume – 3/5
• Separation – 4/5
• Curl – 4.5/5
• Lift – 4/5
• Smudge-proof – 4.5/5

Personal score: 4/5

Repurchase? Yes!

Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara

I’m struggling to recall many details about this little trial size I used a while back (probably not the best sign). I remember it being ok but not the most long lasting. Maybe a little smudging adds to the smoky eye experience? Who knows. I think I have a friend who likes this though, so maybe my sample wasn’t a great representation of the mascara.

Ratings:

• Packaging – 3/5
• Brush applicator – 3/5
• Volume – 3/5
• Separation – 3/5
• Curl – 2.5/5
• Lift – 2.5/5
• Smudge-proof – 3/5

Personal score: 3/5

Repurchase? No

Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes

I much prefer her legendary lashes (volume 2) to this full fat lashes mascara. I found the full fat lashes to smudge a fair bit, and it was fairly average in all other respects.

Ratings:

• Packaging – 3/5
• Brush applicator – 3/5
• Volume – 3.5/5
• Separation – 3.5/5
• Curl – 2/5
• Lift – 2/5
• Smudge-proof – 2/5

Personal score: 2.5/5

Repurchase? No

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these, and if so, how did they work for you? Any future recommendations are welcome! I have a bunch of unopened mascara tubes to go through, but I’m eyeing the Ilia and Victoria Beckham mascaras among others to try next year.