Well, I've never really empathised with that. For me mascara is one part of my beauty arsenal that I could happily dispense with – if I had to. Give me a supersoft eye pencil or a fabulous palette of multi-function colours and I'm a happy bunny. Mascaras have been known to dry up through neglect in my house.
Recently however I have started to feel differently about them. My lashes are as dark as they ever were, but there seems to be less of them! And as I get older the outer corners of my eyes seem to be on a slightly downward path. Surgery seems a little drastic so I now see the point that make-up artists have been making all this time about mascara having the effect of lifting the eyes, as they encourage the lashes to sweep upwards.
It's probably too late to train mine to do this of their own accord, so I've tested a few new high performance mascaras to see if lengthening and thickening will give me the promised wide-awake look.
Clinique's new High Lengths Mascara (£14.50) promises to 'stretch limp, lifeless lashes' with its ultra-slim green comb wand applicator, which has a curved shape to follow the curvature of the lash line. It has just three rows of teeth one one side, which gives just the right amount of the product to comb through. My lashes do look longer and more even and the fine wand makes it easier to do the shorter lower lashes and corners.
Guerlain le 2 de Guerlain Volume (£24) with its long sleek case feels different before you've even opened it – and it is, there are two brushes. At one end is the brush whose hollow fibres allow it to pick up more of the colour. And because of the nature of the ingredients, it's possible to keep layering the mascara until you have the volume you want – without the stiffness. At the other end is a foam applicator that sweeps a glossy top coat over the mascara, giving a more lustrous look and trapping the pigments of the mascara. Clever stuff.
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Waterproof Mascara (£18) has a new formula using ingredients that give extra volume without being weighty and, unlike some waterproof mascaras, wont make your lashes look and feel brittle. It's also oil-proof, coating the lashes with a seal that prevents oil from the skin from penetrating and cusing smudges and flaking. Apart from a sweaty step class, I also gave this mascara the ultimate weep test – an Eddie Izzard DVD – passed without so much as a single Alice Cooper streak!
Christian Dior Diorshow Extase Flash Plumping Mascara (£21.50) has been designed to give a false eyelash look in one coat with its 'couture-designed' brush. Which means that the bristles were inspired by the cut of one of Dior designer John Galliano's tiered dresses. Just as the layers of fabric create volume, so the brush, I assume, traps extra pigment to layer onto the lashes. But it's probably the combined effect of three active (and scientific-sounding) ingredients that do the real plumping work – as well as strengthening and smoothing the lashes.
Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Mascara (£17) does what it says on the tin. The multi-comb brush (which seems to have shorter teeth than others) works to separate, lengthen and curl the lashes and really does give them definition. The neat little wand also makes it easy to get to those sparse lashes in the corners (without stabbing your eye or creating black smudges). The formula of the colour also means that it is flexible, long-wearing and wont flake or smudge. It's also been tested by an ophthalmologist and dermatologist – so safe for contact lens wearers.
Revlon DoubleTwist™ Mascara (£8.99) is rather a bargain with its two-in-one wand the combines an arrangement of bristles and comb – so you get the thickening effect along with precision and definition. The formula also contains spherical polymers which increase the volume as well as giving a smoother look. And the tip of the brush has been tapered to help you get the lower lashes and into corners more easily.
Benefit BADgal Blue (£15.50) like the black and brown lash versions features a big fat brush to make sure that as much of the colour goes onto your lashes. And although this new blue shade looks very blue on the bristles, once on your eyes the effect is much more subtle than its name might suggest. (www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk for stockists) |
