Fashion Friday: Mascara Mama

I’ve been mulling over what to do with Fashion Friday. 

It seems like everyone is starting to look the same.  You scroll through social media and there’s a kind of style that catches on and then that’s what women look like. 

I’d love this to be a place where, when we talk about fashion or style or cosmetics, we talk about tips and what works, but it’s not talking points on the “one” thing you have to wear to “fit in” – whatever that is. 

So until I’ve settled on what that looks like, I decided to post on a topic where it utterly does not matter if everyone uses the same product: MASCARA. 

That’s right, let’s talk about our lashes.  Now I don’t go and get fake lashes and I just have average lashes. Not short. Not long. Just perfectly fine lashes.  But I love for them to look darker and full. 

If I leave the house with nothing else on, I have cover up and mascara on.  I guess because I’ve always really liked my eyes, I keep them ‘done.’

For the longest time, over a decade, I wore Voluminous by L’Oreal mascara.  It kept them full but it didn’t flake like some mascaras.  And I usually kept Great Lash mascara by Maybelline in my purse in case I needed evening touch ups.  That was it. 

Periodically, I’d get some tester from MAC or Estee Lauder or Mary Kay or something, but I never liked them better than Voluminous. 

Last year, I decided to branch out.  As any good consumer would do, I asked Dr. Google about the best mascaras on the market.  And that led me to research from Elle and Glamour to Business Insider. 

I did not try any of their super pricey nominees, like Chanel, so I can’t compare those products for you. 

Plus, there were a ton of different makes and models from L’Oreal I didn’t try because Voluminous was already my go to.  I did try one called Voluminous Lash Paradise, not to be confused by L’Oreal Paris Voluminous (the original and one I love). I did not like it nearly as much.  Even though the reviews said such good thing.  Just like a movie remake – the original is always better.  (Let me know if you have another L’Oreal mascara you swear by – totally willing to give it a try.)

Then I decided to go a little higher end.  Not Chanel higher end, but in the $20-$30 price range given how long my mascara lasts. 

I narrowed it down to two mascaras: Better than Sex by Too Faced and Urban Decay’s Perversion.  The pros on them were similar and the price was the exact same so it was basically a coin toss when I walked into Ulta to choose.  I went with Perversion. 

I loved it.  My lashes looked better than they ever did with Voluminous.  Very full and rich looking.  BUT.  And this is a big one.  Almost daily I ended up with black under my eyes.  It hadn’t happened before Perversion and didn’t happen when I stopped wearing it, so clearly it was the mascara.  I loved it so much I tried to compensate by powdering under my eyes at lunchtime.  But given that I’m already battling dark circles, I just can’t have it from my mascara too.  So I took a break.  

Which is how I ended up trying Maybelline Snapscara.  I had low expectations after my L’Oreal change.  I don’t love Great Lash to begin with, though all the movie make up artists swear by it, and that had been my only Maybelline experience.  Well, let me tell you, I was in for a pleasant surprise. 

I love this mascara.  It gives me these lovely long looking upper lashes which are very well defined, and not clumpy, but there’s not a bit of smudging or flaking.  No under eye blackening with this number.  And here’s the best part: it is $5.99.  That’s right, department store results on a dime store budget.  This is now my go to mascara. 

I will always keep Voluminous around (the original).  It’s been good to me and will probably become my purse mascara. 

Also, I’m willing to continue the hunt if you have found the greatest mascara since sliced bread.  Comment so we can all try it out!

But if you’re looking for a new one, I definitely give the nod to Maybelline Snapscara.  An affordable home run.