Anyone else mystified by all the different mascara brushes?

[Gracie]

I know this sounds like a frivolous thread but I'm looking around for new mascara and I just can't get my head around all the different styles of brushes.

5X Volume! 9XXL Volume! Definition. Lengthening. Curvy. Combs (which used to be my absolute favorite back when Max Factor made the comb). Rimmel makes a comb - it doesn't even come close to the old Max Factor.

You can spend $6 in CVS or $24 in Sephora. How is any $24 mascara better than a $6 one?

My idea of a good mascara brush is one that separates the lashes, gets mascara on all of them and doesn't clump. That doesn't sound like a tall, $24 order, but I just bought "Stiletto Lash" by Maybelline because I liked the name and thought it defined what I was looking for. I hate the brush. It's very long and super straight and doesn't get in the corners.

Does anyone else even think about this???

What is your favorite mascara and why?

[KristiB]

LOL you're not alone. I buy cheap because I am diligent about tossing mine after a month or two. I once got a nasty eye infection from mascara gone bad.

I like Maybelline Great Lash.

[kwormann]

Originally Posted by Gracie

I know this sounds like a frivolous thread but I'm looking around for new mascara and I just can't get my head around all the different styles of brushes.

5X Volume! 9XXL Volume! Definition. Lengthening. Curvy. Combs (which used to be my absolute favorite back when Max Factor made the comb). Rimmel makes a comb - it doesn't even come close to the old Max Factor.

You can spend $6 in CVS or $24 in Sephora. How is any $24 mascara better than a $6 one?

My idea of a good mascara brush is one that separates the lashes, gets mascara on all of them and doesn't clump. That doesn't sound like a tall, $24 order, but I just bought "Stiletto Lash" by Maybelline because I liked the name and thought it defined what I was looking for. I hate the brush. It's very long and super straight and doesn't get in the corners.

Does anyone else even think about this???

What is your favorite mascara and why?

Uh, ya.... With light, sparse thin lashes, finding a brush that wilol spearate them is nearly impossible. I have used several of the maybelline brushes (not the one you mentioned) and find them better than the old type - I also have one of the brushes that rolls (by battery). I put the mascara on with the maybelline brush then use the rolling one to separate - that is when I wear mascara, maybe 1x a month...

Its hard to be a girl!

[blazedog]

Mascara is generally one of the cosmetic items that one can "save" on versus (for example) foundation where more money might buy something that works better.

More than a few makeup artists rely on Maybelline in the familiar pink and green tube.

Sunday's LA Times had an article on "drugstore" cosmetics which had a top makeup artist "testing" them and recommending specific items. There is a section on mascaras which also discusses what specific "niche" they are good for -- i.e. sparse eyelashes or small eyes.

http://www.latimes.com/features/imag...7.story?page=1

http://www.latimes.com/features/imag...,4415273.story

[ChristyMarie]

Ok, so I have searched in years for the perfect mascara. My perfect combo is:

YSL volume effects on top lashes. Awesome brush! Separates, doesn't clump. I have tiny thin lashes and it really works.

Kiss Me tube mascara on the bottom - will NOT smudge no matter what.

So yes, I use two different mascaras. Crazy but it works.

[misskitty100]

I was recently using Fatale by Lancome. The "brush" was horrible, it was actually more like a comb and really just clumped all the mascara onto my eyelashes.

I just picked up a Bobbi Brown mascara and LOVE it! It applies very lightly (as opposed to the Lancome) but the coverage is excellent and all my lashes are seperated.

[SusanMac]

It may sound frivolous, but it's important! A girl can't have clumpy smudgy eyes, can she?

I recently discovered Loreal Double Extend and really love it. This is the type that basically paints tubes on each lash. That sounded icky to me so I avoided it for a while.

It is the only mascara I've ever used ever that doesn't smudge on me. (even the smudge-free mascaras smudged)

The brush is straight and very full.

Here's another question, based on an above poster.....do you put mascara on your bottom lashes?? I've stopped doing it. I just prefer mascara on top.

[misskitty100]

Originally Posted by SusanMac

Here's another question, based on an above poster.....do you put mascara on your bottom lashes?? I've stopped doing it. I just prefer mascara on top.

I do upper and lower lashes. I have blonde lashes and without mascara it looks like I don't have any lashes.

[Gracie]

Originally Posted by kwormann

I also have one of the brushes that rolls (by battery).

Battery???? in mascara???

Originally Posted by ChristyMarie

My perfect combo is:

YSL volume effects on top lashes. Awesome brush! Separates, doesn't clump. I have tiny thin lashes and it really works.

Kiss Me tube mascara on the bottom - will NOT smudge no matter what.

So yes, I use two different mascaras.

I had not thought of using 2 kinds as an option. That's intriguing! I have not heard of Kiss Me mascara. Your comment about the YSL Volume makes me wonder if I should be trying a "Volume!" mascara instead of a "Defining" mascara.

Originally Posted by misskitty100

I just picked up a Bobbi Brown mascara and LOVE it! .

Which one?

Originally Posted by SusanMac

I recently discovered Loreal Double Extend and really love it. This is the type that basically paints tubes on each lash. That sounded icky to me so I avoided it for a while.

I saw this when I bought the Stiletto. I was wondering how the tubes worked. Do they get in your eye? I wear contacts so that would be a problem if they fell off.

Blaze - thanks for the articles! I'll read them for ideas, too!

[hlao23]

My fave is Big Tease that's sold with Bare Minerals. It's about $15. The brush is long on half of it (never seen brushes on a mascara that are this long) and short on half....length/thickness and then seperates.

[lindrusso]

I am so picky about the brush - some seem to cause my lashes to stick together, others seem goopy, and yet others seem to clump. I hope they never stop making Loreal Voluminous because it's the one that seems to work best with my lashes.

Originally Posted by SusanMac

Here's another question, based on an above poster.....do you put mascara on your bottom lashes?? I've stopped doing it. I just prefer mascara on top.

I do my bottom lashes, but only up close to the lid just to add a little outline along the lower lid - I don't do the whole lash. My lashes are very long and my lower lashes can end up looking a tad clownish if I do the whole lash.

On another note - I have had the same blush brush for years and years and years. It's so soft and I always hate the brushes I try.

I'm also holding on to my eyelash curler. It doesn't seem to work so well anymore but I tried a new one and hated it.

Lots of things to be picky about when it comes to cosmetics!

[misskitty100]

I have the Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Mascara.

[jennyb13]

I always used drug store varieties of mascara and after I bought my first "expensive" mascara I will never go back to the less expensive ones.

I have tried several different ones over the past few years but my absolute favorite is the Makeup Forever mascara which is about $20. I tend to rub my eyes throughout the day and also wear contacts and never have issues of getting little bits of mascara in my eyes.

I do not like the mascaras that have a separate tube of a cream that you apply first to lengthen your lashes. My mascara always smudged with those types.

[LakeMartinGal]

The DDs use the Kiss Me mascara (available at drugstore.com), and swear by it! It looks like a great idea, it's smudgeless and doesn't come off unless you want it to! I got the idea for that here on the BB. I use Just for Redheads mascara, and have liked all the brushes. They have a thickener/conditioner that I put on first, then the mascara, and no clumps, ever! YAY!

[ChristyMarie]

Originally Posted by Gracie

I saw this when I bought the Stiletto. I was wondering how the tubes worked. Do they get in your eye? I wear contacts so that would be a problem if they fell off.

I have contacts as well and the "Kiss Me / Blinc" tube mascara does NOT come off. You need water and a little pressure. But then it comes off very easily. It doesn't flake so it never bothers my contacts.

[Lauren]

Originally Posted by hlao23

My fave is Big Tease that's sold with Bare Minerals. It's about $15. The brush is long on half of it (never seen brushes on a mascara that are this long) and short on half....length/thickness and then seperates.

I like this one, too. The longish part of the brush combs and seperates the top lashes while the shorter side is great for lower lashes.

[LakeMartinGal]

On a related note, clumping can occur because of the way you 'fill' the mascara brush! Instead of pumping it in and out of the tube, roll it inside the tube to fill the brush, and clumping will diminish!

[krhm]

Originally Posted by LakeMartinGal

On a related note, clumping can occur because of the way you 'fill' the mascara brush! Instead of pumping it in and out of the tube, roll it inside the tube to fill the brush, and clumping will diminish!

I've heard that also aerates the mascara, making it easier for bacteria to enter. No idea if that's true!

I use Maybelline Define-a-Lash Volume because the brush is made out of firmer plastic bristles that don't clump together, so I have an easier time. I also find that I have to take the excess mascara off with a tissue before I apply it. I'm a pale redhead, so I have to do bottom and top, and I have to be careful not to make it too dark.

[Blissful_in_TX]

My favorite is Maybelline Full N' Soft, but I also like Maybelline Lash Discovery (especially for those bottom lashes) and Sky High Curves.

If anyone is looking to lengthen your lashes, consider Shiseido Majolica Lash Expander Frame Plus. I think you're supposed to put it on after your regular mascara (and more so towards the ends, not so much at the base) and it literally lengthens them.

I've also started dabbling in fake lashes for special occasions and I'm hooked! I love make-up

[Robyn1007]

Originally Posted by ChristyMarie

Kiss Me tube mascara on the bottom - will NOT smudge no matter what.

Originally Posted by LakeMartinGal

The DDs use the Kiss Me mascara (available at drugstore.com), and swear by it! It looks like a great idea, it's smudgeless and doesn't come off unless you want it to!

Apparently I'm an anomaly because I've tried Kiss me and it smudges just like everything else I've tried. I've given up and except for special occasions when I carry q-tips with me to clean up on every bathroom trip I only use eye shadow. It's just not worth the battle to me on a regular basis.

[Gracie]

DD and I were in Macy's yesterday and we saw the Lancome Oscillating battery-operated mascara.

We just had to try it despite the price - $36 We split the cost so I "only" spent $18.

It's really fun and seemed to work well on my right eye (I am right handed) and the top lashes of my left eye. However I had trouble getting it on the lower lashes of my left eye just because of the angle of my hand/arm.

I'll let her keep it and bring it to college and amaze her friends. I'll keep looking. I think I've decided I want a curved brush or at least a full brush that's not too long.

I'm thinking about trying Revlon's new double-brush or whatever they call it - it's supposed to have a full regular brush with tiny comb bristles in between. It sounds like the best of both worlds.

[avariell]

There is a drug store ripoff of the battery operated mascara, but i can't remember which brand it is...

I change my mascara all the time... I like Bobbi Brown, BADgal Lash by Benefit, other brands I am not remembering...
Bobbi Brown is my current fave

[SusanMac]

Gracie - I wish they didn't use the 'tube' term b/c I also thought that would be really strange. I had a very bizarre visual about placing tubes on top of each lash, taking 1/2 hour, etc.

It's very much just like normal mascara. You brush it on. Actually, you brush on two coats (not sure exactly why). It looks and feels normal. No, they don't get in your eyes & doesn't smudge.

The only difference I noticed is the removal. Instead of a big black smudge on a cotton ball, the mascara comes off in little pieces. It comes off easily, though. I take a cotton ball, get it wet, press it against my eye for about 5 seconds, then swipe it off. Sometimes, during removal, the little mascara bits get on my skin, but I just wash them off. I've never gotten any in my eyes.

[Joanie B]

Any of ya'll get Paula Begon's newsletters? This rec was in the one from today, if anybody's still looking for that magic mascara.

Paula's Pick (insert smiley face)- $$$ CLARINS Wonder Waterproof Mascara ($23.50). The “wonder” of this mascara is how well it lengthens and separates lashes without clumping or smearing, yet remains waterproof while keeping lashes soft. This is a top department store mascara for those who need a long-wearing formula that isn’t nearly as harsh on lashes as many waterproof formulas. Taking this off requires an oil- or silicone-based makeup remover.

[jtoepfert100]

I've tried many, many mascaras and have found a few over the years that I really like. However, I have determined that mascara is so subjective. I think it all depends on the type of lashes you have, their color and what effect you are seeking. I really do not believe that there is one perfect mascara out there for everyone.

For me, I know that particular types of brushes are going to work before I even try the mascara. I've got blonde eyelashes so I need a brush that allows me to get really close to the lash line and a formula that will allow me to put lots of coats on without clumping. I used to wear Maybelline's Full n Soft but they discontinued the color I wore. My new favorite is Rimmel's Glam Eyes. It has one of the newer type brushes but this is one of the few that actually work for me. One that I like for nighttime and full on almost-fake eyelashes is Victoria Secret's mascara.

[jtoepfert100]

Oh, and the Maybelline Lash Discovery (with the teensy mascara brush) is perfect for bottom lashes and really getting in close to the lash line. It's also great for touch ups at the end of the day. It doesn't lengthen or volumize so I don't use it on its own but it's great for the aforementioned purposes.

[Meganator]

Originally Posted by ChristyMarie

I have contacts as well and the "Kiss Me / Blinc" tube mascara does NOT come off...It doesn't flake so it never bothers my contacts.

I use the Kiss Me/Blinc as the only thing that doesn't irritate my eyes/contacts. I would *like* not to pay $25/each, but I can't find anything else that I can wear. I had high hopes for the Loreal Double Extend, but 1) it irritated my eyes a little at the end of the first day, which I assumed would only get worse; and 2) it had this weird white stuff that is supposed to go on first. I didn't like the brushes very much either. And even though it hasn't been out all that long, the tube I got seemed a little thick, like it was old or something.

For many, many years I used only CoverGirl Marathon Mascara as it was truly waterproof/smudgeproof for me. Fortunately, Kiss Me is similar in that way...

[oceanjasper]

I use L'Oreal Panoramic Curl mascara (waterproof). I love the brush and I don't have to use an eyelash curler anymore. The mascara has something in it that curls my lashes for me.

[Gracie]

Originally Posted by Gracie

I'm thinking about trying Revlon's new double-brush or whatever they call it - it's supposed to have a full regular brush with tiny comb bristles in between. It sounds like the best of both worlds.

OK - I bought this and don't like the brush. It's huge - like Maybelline's Full N Soft and has a very short wand part. So it's going back.

I liked CoverGirl's Eye Lights (or something like that). They have different formulas for different colored eyes and are supposed to reflect light. I never saw any reflection but I was ok with the brush.

I am still looking though. Jen, I didn't know VS even made mascara. I guess I should go in there more often.

I really should just go to KMart and look at the Max Factor offerings. As I said above, MF's comb used to be my favorite of all time, but of course once you find something you love it gets discontinued. The MF website said KMart was the only place around here that sells it. I'd hate to get hooked on something that I have to make a special trip for.

[LakeMartinGal]

Originally Posted by jtoepfert100

I've got blonde eyelashes so I need a brush that allows me to get really close to the lash line and a formula that will allow me to put lots of coats on without clumping.

Are you a redhead? I have blonde eyelashes, too, and use the Studio mascara from Just for Redheads... comes in lots of red-type colors!