Mascara Mayhem–A Review

As one of my stocking stuffers at Christmas, I received a Macy’s mascara sample kit, including four mascaras, one mascara primer, and an eye makeup remover. I don’t generally wear mascara or makeup in general, but I’ve been testing out these products over the last few months and am finally ready to share my findings with y’all! If you missed my last review, I talked about a set of Elizabeth Arden lip glosses. I will link all the mascaras in today’s post so that you can purchase them as well. 🙂

I should preface by saying, most of these photos are super awkward! I don’t like close-ups… Anyway, I naturally have really long eyelashes, so I can’t guarantee any of these mascaras will add a ton of length. However, I did use an eyelash curler each time before applying. I also have a freckle on the rim of my right eye so that’s what that brown spot is, haha!

Clarins Mascara Supra Volume

It’s hard to choose, but this may have been my favorite mascara from the kit. It went on super easily, and the first time I wore it, my lashes looked and felt amazing (like little feathers!). It didn’t clump at all and each lash looked separated and defined. Of course in these photos, it didn’t quite turn out like that because I was in a rush while applying. It also didn’t smear, although I learned quickly that I don’t like mascara on my bottom lashes (to me, it just looks smudged). This mascara is perfect if you’re looking for an elegant, sophisticated eye look that doesn’t appear overdone or clumpy. You can buy the Clarins Mascara Supra Volume and check out more photos with it in my post about clip-on earrings.

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara

This mascara clumped the most, but with a little bit of patience and a few dirty fingers later, it did wonders for my eyelashes. The tines on the applicator are super tiny so it takes a few layers to build up a good coat. However, once you do, boy do your lashes look good. 😉 One of the downsides is that this product felt a little heavier, and it seemed harder to get off. But other than that, I would use this mascara for bolder eye looks or for going out. You can purchase the Clinique Chubby Lash Flattening Mascara and check out more photos featuring it in my Valentine’s Day outfit post.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara

For having the longest name, this mascara seemed pretty underwhelming. I take it back, it still worked great and made my lashes pretty, but I just don’t have as much to say about this one. It seemed the most natural of all the mascaras I tried, and by that, I mean it was lightweight and felt hardly there. My lashes looked extra long with this product, but they didn’t seem as dark or thick. I would recommend this mascara for a more natural look—perfect for the gals who want length over clumpiness. Don’t get me wrong, this mascara was still great! Just slightly less great compared to the first two. You can purchase the Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara (phew, that’s a mouthful) and check out my Elizabeth Arden lip gloss review or my “What Not to Wear” post for more photos of this mascara in action.

Mac False Lashes Extreme Black

At first, this mascara was by far my least favorite…I hated the way it felt when I put it on. The applicator was scratchy and seemed like it tugged at my lashes, and the mascara itself felt almost…crusty. But then, after wearing it for a while, I really liked how it looked. This mascara also came off really easily. So if you can get past the annoying application, this product would be great for everyday use or going on a date (that’s where I wore it, along with a fancy brunch). You can buy the Mac False Lashes Extreme Black Mascara and check out my post about dressing for confidence for more photos.

Lancome Cils Booster XL

I had heard about eyelash primers before, but being the non-beauty guru that I am, I never tried one. This mascara goes on white as a basecoat before your regular mascara. At first I wasn’t convinced it would make a difference…But after applying the Clarins Mascara Supra Volume on top of the white basecoat, I began to have second thoughts. I think it made my lashes ultra-thick and dark. Interestingly enough, I noticed a difference in my blog photos when wearing this mascara combination. Even in the zoomed out photos, my eyes appeared really dark—the whole eye socket in general as well as my irises. This primer made for a dramatic and bold eye look. You can purchase the Lancome Cils Booster XL and see more photos in Monday’s post about the not so glamorous parts of fashion blogging. The last picture shows a side-by-side comparison with the Clarins mascara (left) and the combination of the Clarins mascara with the Lancome base coat (right). The length in the two photos seems the same, but my lashes appear much thicker and darker in the right photo.

Lancome Bi-Facil

This was the makeup remover that came with the gift set. It’s a fluid that you’re supposed to shake first and then apply with a cotton ball. I don’t have much experience with makeup removers, but I did not think this product worked very well. It seemed to dry up quickly before I could even rub my entire eye. I also woke up with raccoon circles and came out of the shower with black running down my face right after using it. Maybe mascara is just always difficult to remove, but I’ve had better luck with makeup wipes than I had with this fluid. If you’re interested in trying it out for yourself, you can buy the Lancome Bi-Facil makeup remover. It seems that everybody else LOVES this product (I read some of the reviews), so maybe I’m just using it wrong?!

I hope you found this post helpful! I figured, lots of girls wear mascara, so why not test a few out and provide some feedback. 😉 Let me know if you end up trying any of these products or drop a comment below with your current favorite mascara. And of course, if you have any questions at all, feel free to ask!

Have a great Wednesday. 🙂

Miles of smiles,

Grace

Macy’s 6-Piece Sampler Mascara Gift Set //// Clarins Supra Volume Mascara //// Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara //// Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara //// MAC False Lashes Extreme Black Mascara //// Lancome Cils Booster XL Mascara Primer //// Lancome Bi-Facil Makeup Remover