Mascara is the one beauty product everyone seems to be just a little bit obsessive about. Is it because it’s a relatively simple process to try a new one? Or is it because we’ve all been conditioned to believe that batting some mega-lashes in the object of our affections general direction is enough to make them fall in love with us.
We picked up 91 (NINETY ONE) different types of mascara and tried them all out for you. Obviously this was a PED.TV team effort, so round of applause to all the guys/gals in our office who took one for the team and risked a new mascara a day. Lol, massive sacrifice.
We’ve narrowed it down to the 15 that got the most rave reviews.
TOO FACED BETTER THAN SEX MASCARA
Is it actually better than sex? Uh, yeah. Well, average sex at least. The brush is BIG, it’s bristly, and the formula is waxy enough to stay on, but not so much that it clumps up. It’s also an A+ all-rounder: thickening, lengthening and curling all in one. While it won’t bring you to screaming, joyous climax like a top root might, it will make your lashes look lush. Which is nearly as good, right?
ESSENCE LASH PRINCESS MASCARA
This is one of the most hyped cheap-end mascaras, and there’s good reason why. It’s not the most amazing of all mascaras ever, but it does lengthen and thicken lashes big time – and for a teeny price.
TOM FORD EXTREME MASCARA
Tom Ford does a lot of things very well – and clearly mascara is one of them. lashes look so RIGHT. It glides on really smoothly. The gal who tried it was tired AF and it made her look instantly awake and alert.
L’OREAL PARIS MISS MANGA MASCARA
This promises you doll eyes, and doll eyes you will get. Similar to Better Than Sex, the consistency of the formula is thick enough to volumise those lashes big time, and while it’s a little clumpier, it’s not in a way that leaves your lashes feeling sticky or heavy.
CLINIQUE HIGH IMPACT EXTREME VOLUME MASCARA
The brush is T H I C C. TBut the bristles are really short, which seems like it shouldn’t work – but it really brings it on the volume front. The biggest plus? Unlike some other volumising mascaras, it evenly spreads out your lashes.
CHARLOTTE TILBURY FULL FAT LASHES MASCARA
It’s called ‘Fat Full Lashes’ and that’s exactly what it does. It looks like you’ve finally managed to put on falsies successfully, but no, they’re your actual lashes, just with a single coat of mascara on them. Also, how cool is it that the word ‘fat’ is being used to market anything to women? Heaps cool.
BENEFIT ROLLER LASH
This mascara claims to give lashes enough lift to not need a curler. DUBIOUS? Don’t be. The person who trialled this bebe found her lashes were just as lifted as what they would be with a curler after applying it. It doesn’t clump, and you only need to run it over lashes a couple of times to get perfect coverage.
3INA THE VOLUME MASCARA
The old school brush and formula makes your lashes really plump, thick and super black. If you don’t really need lengthening, this is where it’s at.
DAISO LONG & CURL MASCARA
This $2.80 mascara (!!!) separates and lengthens without giving you daddy long leg lashes. It doesn’t smudge but also isn’t a bitch to take off. And since it’s dirt cheap you can afford to replace it every few months, like you’re supposed to.
BENEFIT THEY’RE REAL MASCARA
Apparently Benefit can do no wrong on the mascara front. This is their lengthening version, and it really does extend the fuck out of your lashes without ever looking chunky or overdone. It feels really light when wearing, even when you have applied a few coats. And it dries quickly.
MAC BOLD & BAD LASH
It is always tough to find a mascara that lengthens and adds volume. This one definitely does both. It can be used two ways – open the bottom section volume, and the top section for length or doing bottom lashes, and the outside crease of the eye to make them seem wider.
YSL VOLUME EFFET FAUX CILS MASCARA
If all you ever want is separated length and volume that looks natural, this is your mascara. It creates amazing length, which is weird because it’s marketed as a volume mascara. But the volume is absolutely there too, and there’s not a clump in sight.
STILA HUGE EXTREME LASH
Hooooo boy, this is volume. Wearing this is like wearing falsies, if you add a few layers. It doesn’t budge, and it never feels dry or sticky – two things volumising mascaras can often do.
KEVYN AUCOIN THE VOLUME
This is a serious mascara. It means business – it won’t budge at all, ever. It adds major volume and length. It even curls, if you hold the super thin, almost bristle-free wand at the base of your lashes and press up. It’s phenomenal, and it’s a must try.
MAYBELLINE NEW YORK COLOSSAL BIG SHOT MASCARA
Maybelline are known to make epic mascaras for a low price, and trialling this one proved the colossal range just keeps getting better. Big Shot isn’t all that different to the original Colossal, but the fatter brush seems to get more product on lashes, giving a thicker-at-the-base effect which really widens the eyes.
