April 12, 2010

Have you been seeing all the ads and hearing all the buzz about L’Oreal’s Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara?  I have, including a pretty glowing positive recommendation from More Magazine, which I really like.  I’m always on the lookout for a new great mascara, just as I am for miraculous new eye creams and anti-aging skin cream.

This mascara claims that their “instant-impact brush builds breathtaking volume fast.” I was intrigued and picked up a tube recently.  This shot of Eva Longoria-Parker’s lashes from L’Oreal’s ad sets a pretty high expectation for the Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara, don’t you think?

We usually don’t do reviews unless we have something good to say, so let me think.  This mascara is a nice black color, it comes off easily at the end of the day with Lancome BiFacil, it doesn’t smudge at all, and it doesn’t flake much; no more than the L’Oreal mascaras I like.

Did it give me breathtaking volume like Eva?  No.  I had a really hard time maneuvering the ginormous brush without getting it all over my eyelid, and what I ended up with is stubby lashes.  No volume, no length, no curl.  Just stubs.  And “stubs” is not what I’m aiming for when I apply mascara!  I also got some spiky clumps, again not what I was going for.

So it’s back to my usual cocktail of L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara followed by a dash of L’Oreal Lash Out Mascara.  I should have kept my sales receipt and returned L’Oreal’s Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara, but I didn’t so I guess I’ll try to use it up on the weekends.  If you run into me at SuperTarget on a Saturday afternoon, please don’t stare at my clumpy, spiky stubs! 

~BigSis

March 10, 2009

Thanks for the scoop on your favorite mascara, LilSis! I love mascara, and don’t leave the house without it. No mascara means skimpy lashes that don’t show up, but the right mascara means long, thick lashes. It may be the most important part of my morning face, so I’m not willing to compromise on it.

A long time ago, I used Lancome Definicils regularly, but it’s just too darn expensive for me ($24), especially when it seems to dry up fairly quickly. I’ve also used lots of the drugstore brands, and didn’t like any of the Cover Girl, Maybelline, Max Factor or Almay mascaras. The cult favorite in the pink and green tube smears and flakes like crazy on me.  At some point, I heard that the same company owns both Lancome and Loreal, and that many of their products are very similar; they’re just marketed differently under different company names to target a different consumer at a different price point.

I have two favorite mascaras now, both Loreal, and I use both of them every day. This may sound like overkill but let me splain; I’m not a high-maintenance girl but this method has worked for me for many years now. First I use two thin coats of Loreal Voluminous in black or carbon black.  It gives thickness and volume (hence the name) to the lashes. Next, I add a light coat of Loreal Lash Out. Lash Out is a thinner formula that won’t give me the volume I want, but it lengthens (without fibers) and helps preserve the curl I’ve gotten from my Shu Eumura eyelash curler. Without the Lash Out, the Voluminous would let the curl straighten out during the day.  I like both of these mascaras with the straight brush rather than the curved brush.

Loreal Voluminous Mascara

I love both of these formulas. I have oily skin, and neither of these smears, smudges or flakes AT ALL. They make waterproof formulas of both of these, but I only use them if I’m going to be in the water since the regular formulas wear so well. They whisk away cleanly with my favorite makeup remover; Lancome BiFacil.  As I’ve said before, BiFacil is definitely a product worth the higher price point!

If I need to spend extra money for a quality product, I will, but there is no need with mascara, which is great since you replace it so frequently. The Loreal mascaras run around $6 to $8 depending on where you buy them, and there are frequently $1 or $2 coupons in the Sunday paper for them. Unless there’s a new miracle mascara to hit the shelves, I’m pretty happy with my Loreal mascara duo!

~BigSis

March 9, 2009

Let’s talk about mascara, shall we? Aside from moisturizer, it’s probably the most important beauty product that I use.  Since I have blond eyelashes, I absolutely have to wear mascara.  I’m lucky enough to not have to curl my lashes, but without mascara, you can’t even tell that I have eyelashes.

I’ve definitely tried many different brands of mascara, from the cheapest to the priciest. I’ve never really found that the more expensive brands performed any better for me. I’ve been pretty happy with the Cover Girl LashExact for quite a while now. It doesn’t glob, it doesn’t smear, and it stays on all day without smudging. Recently, though, I’ve noticed that it dries up faster and doesn’t last very long at all. (And honestly, it’s starting to piss me off.)

Before I go back to my ole’ faithful Maybelline Great Lash, I’m wondering if anyone has any recommendations? Do you have a mascara that you absolutely love and couldn’t live without? If so, please leave me a comment. I’d love to hear from you.

BigSis, show me your latest favorite mascara!

~LilSis