Following a conversation on Twitter bemoaning the way that the Internet goes dead in August (because people are off doing much more interesting things!), someone suggested a few Top Fives as a way of recycling existing and already tested products. Product launches at this time of the year tend to drop off a little and I still want to provide regular daily updates, so as far as I can see, it’s a win. As you might imagine, I am sent a lot of product, but only keep for myself things that I know I have a use for (the rest is given away to friends, charities and used for fund-raising). In the same way that Mr BBB is completely mystified by my black trouser collection ( of COURSE they’re all different in some tiny, but very important way!) some people will be mystified by the fact that I keep five different mascaras. But these all have small differences that are important (in as much as a beauty product can be) to me. So, I’ll kick off:
My absolute top favourite is the most recent launch and it’s Dior Pump n Volume. The sell is that you can squeeze the middle to get more mascara onto the wand. Other than in testing for review, I have never, ever done this because it’s simply not needed. Plenty comes out on the wand without a squeeze, the brush is defining and separating, my lashes look intensely darker and certainly longer and it lasts. What more can I say? For my purposes, it’s the perfect mascara and no matter how many ‘free’ mascaras come my way, I would and will purchase in heartbeat, even at £22.95 (at Escentual HERE which is discounted from the high street price of £25.50).
Next up is Clinique Chubby Lash, notable for its big brush that doesn’t feel like you’re putting a massive insect up to your eye. It’s not a bushy brush – in fact, the Dior Pump is quite similar – so grabs and defines lashes, coating them with a very deep black shade, making them look longer and ‘fatter’ without clumping. Thinking about it, this mascara has never clumped even when I get to the end of a tube. I loved the Black Honey version (and still have one that I eke out even though they’re no longer available). It’s reliably volumizing without being over the top. Chubby Lash is £18 HERE, and like all Clinique, is fragrance free so a good sensitive eye option. I also noticed that there is a mini version for £7 HERE if you don’t want the commitment of the full size.
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The Dimensions de Chanel Mascara is more of an old school mascara I think I would say. It has a straightforward brush that hasn’t been particularly fancied up with hugeness or ‘grabby’ bits and it coats my lashes really nicely without over coating. It’s a perfect dose delivery but if I’m honest, it dries out more quickly than any of the other mascaras featured here. This one is my coat and run mascara because it doesn’t require any attention or precision and it’s super-black in colour so you get a high impact effect with one coat and zero effort. It’s £25 HERE.
Small brush mascaras are very handy! The MAC Upward Lash Mascara brush has a central reserve that holds mascara so when you brush your lashes with it, you get a good coating of intensely black mascara but because the brush is small, you can be very precise in getting to the lash roots. Combing from the very root and pulling it though and up is what gives lashes an eye-awakening lift. I love it and it’s £19.50 HERE.
The Kevin Aucoin Volume Mascara has a very fine, spindly brush that again, allows for root to tip coverage but also gives lash separation without over-coating. It’s good for a spikey lash look when you want longer lashes but not necessarily all of the drama of ‘fat’ lashes. It’s quite a ‘wet’ formula but doesn’t go dry and crispy on the lashes and the last, and depth of black colour, is excellent. Both MAC and Kevin make coating lower lashes a doddle. It’s £23 HERE.
So there we go! My top five mascaras – any of your favourites in there?
Non Affiliate Links: Kevin Aucoin, MAC, Clinique, Chanel, Dior.
Transparency Disclosure
All products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.
19 comments
Love this Jane! And would love to see your top picks for other categories e.g. Face sun cream, eyeshadow, cleanser etc. Since you see/test/are gifted so much, what makes it into your personal stash is so interesting!
I’m going to do face oils next, I think x
Awesome! My favorites are the Essence Lash Princess Volume Mascara and the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara used together!
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Great post Jane, thank you, so useful when deciding on future purchases. I have a mascara wardrobe too! I am with you on the Clinique Chubby and I would love them to bring out some more gorgeous colours. On the mass market brands L’Oreal’s Volumise Million Couture (the purple one) and Bourjois’s One Seconde Volume are my favourites. Years ago I loved Dior’s Mascara Parfait with cashmere (came in a heap of lovely colours) and Lancome’s Definicils.
I bought the Dior mascara and was so disappointed! Really, really didn’t like it 🙁 It is a nightmare to remove and even once all off, it still manages to leave traces on my pillow and gives panda eyes the next morning :'(
Absolutely love Bobbi Brown’s Smokey Eye Mascara though, it doesn’t bulge, no panda eyes and looks so natural, great for lengthy eyelashes, maybe not for thick ones though… Would be interested to read your thoughts on this one?
Also, maybe another post for quiet August.. Would love to get your top 5 makeup remover wipes 🙂
I have the Black Honey, love the colour.
I prefer brown mascara or burgundy the latter is very hard to find a true burgundy. You ask and get shown purple!
I am always looking for a mascara that will actually curl my lashes, mine just drop 10 minutes later. Benefit Roller Lash is not bad but the best one every was a Shiseido which they discontinued long ago.
I found Chanel dries out very quickly as does Kevyn Aucoin.
Burberry Bold Lash is brilliant.
Guerlain Maxi Lash
Lancome Hypnose
Chantecaille Faux Cils
Clinique High Impact
These are my top five.
Kevyn Aucoin all the way for me, the only mascara I have found that does not transfer leaving me panda eyed by 10am
I have trouble with panda eyes with most mascaras but my face looks wrong without definition of my lower lashes. The best one I’ve found is Lush Bewitched (think it’s only available in Oxford Street store) as it darkens, thickens and lengthens but stays on all day and night (including through Children in Need sobathon and the funeral of one of my best friends) but comes off with biphasic eye make up remover easily.
Jane – I’m using the Dior and I agree it’s a really good one. My face at the moment. I always go back to Dior. I rate it even more than Diorshow.
You left out the best Mally’ mascara , I tried all the ones you mentioned , but in my skimpy lashes Mally is the best.
Lovely picks! I need to try the Clinique mascara!
xx, The Makeup Feed
I became a Chubby Lash convert thanks to the Clinique box you curated, Jane. Gives amazing lashes and stays put forever. Other than that, They’re Real, and for any every day, no fuss, no frills, good old Maybelline Great Lash.
B.Longer.
Does not budge.
I hope they’ve retained the tubing formulation.
Are any of your 5 tubing?
X
No they aren’t .. it’s quite hard to find a tubing mascara now. x
I have terrible poblems with Panda eyes (rubbing off only on the lower part of the skin beneath the eyes) due to oily skin and possibly how my eyes are set. I’m basically only looking for that quality in a mascara (oh, and a smaller brush, as I have hooded lids, and it’s a mess with proper bulgy wands). Blackness, volume, length are not so important for me. Everything is alright in that matter. But staying power, that’s my issue.
I have tried from Essence to Chanel, Lancome etc.
My fave was one from Essence that didn’t budge. Of course long discontinuated and the follow ups didn’t do it for me.
I use Clinique High Impact at the moment as it’s a stable one. Nothing fancy, but solid. Their Lash Power, which SHOULD be everything I looked for doesn’t stay on at all with me, and doesn’t come off lightly. It’s not working for me.
Lancome: every single one I tested, came off in a jiffy.
Chanel: Inimitable (?), very very good, but a bit steep in price.
I have now changed my methods. I don’t care about the mascara any more, but take care to use a fixing powder on the dangerous areas, and voila, it works fairly enough. I made a huge thinking mistake and used mattifying powders for this area for years. Of course this is utterly wrong, as that powder will soak any grease, e.g. coming from the mascara. So it literally accerbates the rubbing off, rather than preventing it.
I didn’t really clog the huge difference between mattifying and fixing powders.
First time in years I am happy with my mascara wearing time.
That’s good that you have found a way to work round it. Clinique has a new mascara coming in September that might suit you. I’ll be blogging it soon. x
My absolute favourite is Lancome hypnose mascara. My daughter loves it as well. We have tried all the variations of Lancome mascaras but still come back to our old favourite!
The best mascara is Essence Lash Princess Volume Mascara. Easily beats any high end mascara (and I’ve tried many!). Only £3.30, such a bargain.
I’m baffled by the idea of a mascara that you can intentionally add more product to the brush. I’ve never in my 44 years found a mascara brush I didn’t need to scrape product OFF before it goes anywhere near my lashes! That said, I’m also baffled at how anyone applies more than a single coat of mascara without looking like a cack-handed 6 year old trowelled it on, so….