So, yeah… I’m a mascara junkie. I’m not afraid to admit it. It’s hands down my favorite product… most likely because without it my eyes are invisible. I have very light and fine lashes, plus small eyes so… mascara is my best friend. I have other friends- lipstick, bronzer, eyeshadow- it’s just that mascara is my best friend, the one I couldn’t see myself living without, the one I go to when I just need a quick fix. It’s like having a large group of friends, all of which you need in your life for different reasons- some you need for fun, some for their cry-worthy shoulders and some who just…get you. My mascara gets me.
I’ve talked before about how I’ve used the same kind since junior high- (
L’Oreal Voluminous, baby!)- but recently discovered a new one that I use in conjunction with it-
L’Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions. (I talked about it on this post
HERE.) I’ve been loyal to those two for quite some time now, they totally
get me. But… It’s very tempting to try the newest one that comes out claiming to give me
fuller and longer lashes! So that’s what I did. And I documented each one so we all can compare them. (Aren’t I the sweetest?)
(And no, I am not being paid by L’Oreal…although I’m not above it.)
The first new L’Oreal mascara that caught my eye was the
Voluminous Butterfly…I liked it right off the bat because it was part of the Voluminous group. This mascara claimed that it would turn my lashes into butterfly wings…and what girl wouldn’t love that?
It was nice. Truly, not bad at all. It did give me some length…a little volume, but I didn’t like the consistency of the mascara itself. It went on a little too wet and left my lashes in need of separating. The fact that I had to pull out the lash comb (which I don’t have to do with my usual mascara) left me feeling a little unsatisfied. So, not as good as my current fav combo, but not bad.
The next one I tried, the most recent L’Oreal release, was the
Miss Manga. It pretty much claimed that it would make my lashes look like those of a Japanese anime character. So, obviously I liked the sound of that- big eyes, long lashes… what’s not to like?
Wah wah. Not so much. My lashes stayed thin and fine, but the mascara did give them a little length, I suppose. The brush is flimsy, which is not my ideal brush style, but the formula did go on thicker, so that part I liked. I had to apply a lot of coats to get it to my liking. Not at all good enough to compete with my go-to.
And here are photos of what my two favorite products do to my lashes, just so you can see why I’m not moving on anytime soon-
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| (Sorry for the picture quality in this one!) |
Thicker, longer lashes that don’t need a comb to separate them. The Original Voluminous thickens them, and then the Shocking Extensions has such a fine bristled brush that it separates and pulls each lash upward to make them as long as they can be. It’s perfect!!!
So even though the lighting is unfortunately different in the photos, you can still see enough of a difference in each mascara. (I had to use a lash comb with the Butterfly, but not on the others.)
Bottom line- it’s fun to play. It’s fun to try new things. But it’s also nice to have a good friend, one who never lets you down, to come home to.
Abbey Wade is a lifestyle blogger from the Charlotte, North Carolina area. On her website, MyEverydayChampagne.com, she shares custom recipes, tips on food and wine pairing, fashion advice and makeup fun... all under an approachable budget and timeline. Stop waiting for a special occasion to feel like you're in one ;-)
5 Comments
Very useful post! I never thought about combining mascara products.
Thanks, Gail! Yeah, it's kinda changed my life…or at the very least, my lashes.
Thank you for this! I was wondering about the Butterfly vs. all the Telescopics they have now vs. L’Oreal’s Lash Paradise.. Omg, I’m so confused with all the choices today! I notice this article was 3.5 years ago. What do you recommend now? I’m trying to find either the best drugstore or natural/healthy brand mascara with goals in this order:
1. curling (and holding curl) w/out having to curl my own lashes throughout the day
2. Lengthening
3. Separation & a little definition
4. Lastly is volume
A tiny bit waterproof is helpful so it doesn’t run and holds a curl better but is not most important.
What would you or any other ladies reading this suggest??
Thanks!
Oh! P.s….. I’m currently using Maybelline’s Colossal Cat Eyes w/the claw/curved brush in Glam Black Waterproof. I think I want to go longer yet still curled, even if I lose a little volume. If you or anyone has used that but found something better and can compare, I’d love to hear about it! That’s been my go-to for evening wear. For an everyday mascara, I’d prefer something that has health benefits such as lash conditioning or growth-promoting stuff, and may come in a brownish black. Any thoughts? 🙂
Hi! Thanks so much for reading! My trick has always been to start with a couple coats of a thickening formula, and then follow up with a lengthening one. I don’t like curling mascaras personally bc I have a natural curl in mine as it is, and those formulas tend to just bend my lashes back into my brow bone 😉 And, I test A LOT of drugstore mascaras and the recent winners for me have been… L’Oreal Lash Paradise… It goes on dry instead of wet, which I really enjoy and gives me a ton of volume with good attention to the little lashes. I like Maybelline falsies pushup angel for length…their lash sensational is nice, as is their colossal big shot. But my combo that I have used for years, that I keep going back to, is always the L’Oreal voluminous and telescopic. It’s just always gonna be good 😉