Mascaras on Trial

I have multiple blushers, eyeshadows, lip products, nail polishes... but when it comes to mascara, normally one is enough for me. Especially when they need replacing every 3 or 4 months! However, recently and unexpectedly, four new ones came into my life all around the same time and I've been rotating them daily to trial and compare. As judge and jury, it's now time to deliver my verdicts.

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara - £10.99

The Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara has a standard shaped wand with small, plastic bristles. It is described as a "full lashes, natural look" mascara and while I agree with the natural look part of this statement, I can't say the same for the full lashes part. For me it is very much a daytime mascara - it lengthens and provides a subtle curl, but it doesn't thicken or volumise. I also find that I need a lot of coats for this effect; I think this is because the short bristles can't hold much product, though on the plus side this means zero clumps.

The Verdict? The Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara is ok - not one I'd replace unfortunately. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara - £19.00

This boldly named mascara is one I have wanted to try for ages and I now have the mini in my life thanks to the You Beauty Discovery Box. The brush is quite big and packed with natural bristles that are longer on the ends of the wand and shorter in the middle. The formula is on the drier side, which occasionally means you find small lumps on the end of the lashes, which if not removed, flake onto your face during the day. However what I love about this mascara is that it picks up every. single. lash. It lifts, thickens and adds volume; if Ardell did a mascara version of their Demi Wispies False Lashes, I imagine this is what it would look like! 

The Verdict? The Too Faced Better Than Sex gets a big thumbs up for me - it gives lashes a real oomph. Especially great to complete an evening eye if you can't deal with false lashes.

Claudia Louch Intense Lash Mascara* - £23.00

The Claudia Louch Intense Lash Mascara is a new mascara that came about as result of feedback from customers on their now discontinued Lashware Mascara. It has a curved brush with densely packed plastic bristles on the top and bottom of the wand. This does mean that excess mascara can build up on the sides of the wand, so I tend to scrape off the excess before applying, as it can transfer onto the lashes. The formula is quite wet, gliding onto the lashes to lengthen and curl, although I find that this curl does drop through the day. Being 94% natural and containing Carnauba Wax and Vitamins A, C and E, this mascara is the most gentle on the lashes out of the four.

The Verdict? The Claudia Louch Intense Lash Mascara is good but I think for naturally curly lashes it would become great, which unfortunately isn't what I'm blessed with.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara - £7.99
The cheapest mascara of the bunch, but I'll put it straight out there and say that it's my overall favourite. Maybelline call the brush the "Layer Reveal Brush", which is curved with lots of plastic bristles to "capture even the tiniest lashes". This is certainly what it does; it lifts, lengthens and volumises every lash, creating on mine an almost fanned effect. The colour is also a really rich, glossy black, which is apparently due to a new liquid formula. The other thing that makes this mascara stand out is that it looks just as good at the end of the day as it did at the beginning; the curl doesn't drop and it doesn't smudge or flake whatsoever. My only (very small) negative is that this another wet formula that requires some excess removing before application to avoid the lashes sticking together.
The Verdict? L-o-v-e. This is one of the best budget mascaras out there in my opinion.

Have you been trying out any new mascaras lately?

Beauty Bird xx

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