Can you get great dramatic lashes from drugstore mascaras with drugstore prices? A group of friends in Beverly Hills decided to put several of the hottest brands to the test. So, which brands leave your lashes fab and which leave your lashes flat? Can you be cheap but still chic?
While every brand of cosmetics has its own fan club, a few labels came out on top. (Full disclosure: It was my 20-something-year-old daughter and her friends who wanted to test the cheaper mascaras to see if they could forgo the expensive brands.)
L’Oréal Original Voluminous ($7.29)
One of the testers said, “This is a no frills, basic mascara. It has a classic applicator and it’s quick and easy to apply because there are no bells and whistles. It creates good black lashes and does not smudge. This mascara gives you clean, not clumpy lashes.” The girls gave L'Oréal Original Voluminous a thumbs up.
Unbeknownst to my daughter, the Los Angeles Times and two makeup artists did a similar drugstore test. (See resource.) The professionals agreed that L’Oréal Original Voluminous was a good mascara and they also liked L’Oréal Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara.
Covergirl LashBlast Fusion ($8.99)
There were several complaints about the brush. “The wand on the applicator is very fat and it was difficult to use my first time, however after a couple of tries, I grew accustomed to it. It is very good about coating the lashes separately and not clumping them together.”
LashBlast Fusion did not give as much volume or intensity as some of the other mascaras, but it was the most natural. The girls gave this a second place rating because it is easy to apply, stays on, and doesn’t smudge. The makeup professionals did not include Lashblast Fusion on their list of recommended drugstore cosmetics.
Maybelline Great Lash ($4.99)
One girl said, “I was hoping this would be the best. Like many girls, it was my first mascara. When I see the pink and green, it triggers all the happy memories and emotions of being a tween.” Alas, it fell short of her prepubescent memories. The price is great but the girls reported it to be:
- Messy
- Clumpy
- Difficult to Apply
One girl said that it felt like she was trying to brush on black glue. So, the consensus was that women are better off skipping a latte or to try “finding 300 pennies” to get a better mascara. “No matter what your financial situation, you cannot afford to look less than your best.”
Maybelline Lash Stiletto ($7.99)
Lash Stiletto proved to be “a gem”. It gave the most dramatic results and the girls said it actually rivals department store brands. It gives “long, lush, intense lashes” and it is absolutely perfect with four applications. Lash Stiletto lengthens “at least a quarter inch longer” than the Cover Girl mascara and twice as much as Great Lash. Highlights:
- “It feels like you are looking at your lashes under a magnifying glass.”
- "It stays on all day."
- "It does not smudge."
- "The applicator is curved and it takes some time to get accustomed to this."
What did the professionals think? They liked Maybelline Lash Stiletto and these other Maybelline products that my friends didn’t try:
- Maybelline Pulse Perfection
- Maybelline XXL Extensions
- Maybelline Lash Discovery
Test Results
I have put the two tests together. All three of these mascaras got a lot of positive comments, but Lash Stiletto was the favorite.
- Maybelline Lash Stiletto
- L’Oréal Original Voluminous Mascara
- Covergirl LashBlast Fusion
Still, my daughter would like to add this, “If you need to look great for a life-changing event, scrounge up the extra dough and get YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Luxurious Mascara in black. It’s worth the 30 bucks.”
More Articles:
The Best Mascara for Longer Thicker Eyelashes
Resource:
- "Best drugstore beauty finds: mascara and eyeliner" latimes.com (accessed on November 21, 2010)
Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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