The Ultimate Mascara Review | I Tried 10!

I have an ultimate mascara review for you today!  I tried 10 different mascaras in search of the best one for me, and I’m sharing my entire journey in this post.

Hey friends!  I’m so excited to be bringing you this ultimate mascara review today!  I’ve been a little absent from the blog lately because I was visiting my daughter in Miami for the past week, and I wanted to unplug for a bit and focus on my time there.  But this post has been a long time in the works, and it took me several days to test all of these mascaras, and today I’m sharing my whole mascara journey with you.

You might be wondering what inspired me to write a post like this, and at first I really hadn’t planned on even writing this post.  I was simply on a journey to find a mascara that worked for me, and it occurred to me that maybe other people might benefit from me sharing it.  So, I decided to document it for the blog.  You see, for years now, I have struggled with mascara problems.  Specifically, the smudging under my eyes that would occur by lunchtime.  I was constantly finding myself checking my eyes in the mirror.  And I would have to reapply my concealer to get rid of the smudges.  Am I the only person who has this problem?  Sometimes, I felt like I was the only person who was experiencing this problem.  At fist, I thought it was because my eyelids were oily and causing my mascara to run.  So I started doing other things to correct that problem.  And I felt like I had fixed that problem, but my mascara continued to smudge.

I complained about this problem numerous times to my daughter, so for Mother’s Day, she bought me this sampler kit of mascaras from the Sephora.  The great thing about this kit is the fact that you get to try all of these popular mascaras in a sample size, and then when you choose a favorite, there is a coupon included that you can take in and get a full size mascara in your favorite brand.  And that is how my journey began.  So I tried all 5 of the mascaras that were included, and then I also decided to try 5 more so that I could write this post.

Lash Bash Mascara Sampler Kit

So, if you have ever experience similar issues with mascara, this is the post for you!  Or, if you are just searching for a new mascara, and you don’t know where to start, I hope you will also find this post helpful.  I have talked to several friends about this, and it seems like a lot of people have experienced the issues I have faced with mascara.  And I’m not sure why that is.  But I do know that I cannot possibly be alone in this.  Let’s get started with my ultimate mascara review!  I applied each one of these mascaras in the morning during my makeup routine, and I took photos of what it looked like at both 7 am and 11:00 am, so that I could share with you how it held up.  For a few of these, I was unable to take the photos at 7:00 am, but I did take the 11 am photos, so you will get the jist of how each of those held up.

The Ultimate Mascara Review

1.  Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

This is a description of the mascara from Sephora’s website:

What it is:
A mascara inspired by hair rollers, this super-curling and lifting mascara gives a sexy, wide-eyed look. Its patent-pending Hook ‘n’ Roll™ brush features tiny custom-designed hooks to catch, lift, and curl even short and straight lashes.

What it does:
Roller Lash not only lifts and super-curls, but this instant curve-setting formula holds for 12 hours, is easy to remove, and contains provitamin B5 and serine, known for their lash-conditioning benefits. 

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

My Take on this mascara:

My favorite thing about this mascara was the wand.  I have medium length lashes that are very straight, and I always use an eyelash curler.  So I did use one before applying all of these mascaras.  This mascara goes on very wet, and takes a long time to dry.  I did not notice this curling my lashes any more than the eyelash curler already had.  I was fairly happy with how it looked once I applied it, but as you can see in the photos below, it smudged under my eyes by 11:00 am.  And for me, that is the deal breaker.  Check this first one off the list.  I wouldn’t purchase it.

2.  Tarte Lights Camera Lashes

This is a description of the mascara from Sephora’s website:

What it is:
A lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning mascara.

What it does:
Tarte lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 mascara could be considered a dramatic makeover for your lashes. This high-performance formula is proven to increase the appearance of lash volume by 330 percent—creating strikingly thick, sexy lashes.

What else you need to know:
This product is vegan.

Tarte Lights Camera Lashes

My Take on this mascara:

Of all of the mascaras in this sampler kit, this one was by far my favorite, and this is the one I plan to use my coupon on for a full size.  I have to say, I was initially turned off by the way it was packaged when I looked at the full size version in Ulta.  But this is proof positive that you should never judge a book by it’s cover.  I love the way this mascara makes my lashes look.  The fact that it is vegan is a huge plus, because I have been slowly trying to acquire safer beauty products.  It makes my lashes full and beautiful.  I’m also able to apply two coats of this mascara and it doesn’t clump.  And the best part about this mascara is that it doesn’t smudge- AT ALL!

3.  Urban Decay Troublemaker

This is a description of the mascara from Sephora’s website:

What it is:
A failsafe mascara that delivers a lengthening, perfectly fanned-out look with extreme volume for longer, thicker-looking lashes.

What it is formulated to do:
Troublemaker Mascara’s formula volumizes and lengthens as it separates lashes. It’s infused with a combination of hollow silica and ultra-light fibers to boost volume without the extra weight. Vitamin E and panthenol nourish and condition, and a combination of polymers helps the mascara adhere to your lashes for lasting wear—no flaking, smearing, or smudging.

The custom-designed brush combs and separates lashes to make it look like you have more of them. Tiny precision hooks grab lashes to pull the product through for an instant lash-multiplying effect. The brush actually fans out lashes as it coats them, separating and curling each lash while laying down the perfect amount of mascara. And it’s designed to reach even tiny inner-corner lashes, no matter which way you hold it.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Phthalates 

Urban Decay Troublemaker

My Take on this mascara:

I was not impressed with this mascara at all.  It felt clumpy going on and was very dry.  And of course, the smudging makes it a complete deal breaker for me.  It didn’t smudge as bad as some that I tried, but any smudging at all is unacceptable to me.

4.  Clinique High Impact Mascara

This is a description of the mascara from Sephora’s website:

What it is:
A richly-pigmented, volumizing mascara that instantly lengthens and defines each and every lash.

What it does:
Get instant lash drama with High Impact™ Mascara. Pump up the volume and length of your lashes for a look that appears lusher, plusher, and bolder. This mascara coats your lashes in pure, deep color for an irresistible lash look.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Phthalates

Clinic High Impact Mascara

My Take on this mascara:

I really liked this mascara, and it was my second favorite from the sampler kit. This mascara does not plump your lashes very much, but it does give them a beautiful, fluttery, defined look with great separation. Lashes also remain nice and soft – none of that crustiness that goopy mascaras tend to give you.  And the best part is that there were zero smudge under my eyes.  So I am a fan of this mascara.

5.  Buxom Lash Mascara

This is a description of the mascara from Sephora’s website:

What it is:
An intensely volumizing mascara for bigger, fuller lashes.

What it does:
Transform lashes with this ultra-volumizing mascara. The vitamin-enriched, clump-resistant formula deepens, darkens, and thickens while the curvy, hourglass-shaped brush evenly coats lashes from root to tip.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Phthalates 

Buxom Waterproof Mascara

My Take on this mascara:

This mascara did pass the smudge test.  It didn’t smudge at all.  So that was a win in my book.  But it wasn’t my favorite mascara that I tried.  I was unable to take a photo of this one at 7 am, but you can see below what it looked like by 11:00 am.  This does a good job of separating the lashes and it doesn’t clump.  I also really liked the shape of the wand and it did a good job during application.

6.  Ulta Beauty Amped Lashes

This is a description of the mascara from Ulta’s website:

Ulta’s Amped Lashes Mascara 2-in-1 formula builds volume and lengthens lashes effortlessly, without smudging or flaking. While combing through lashes, the unique brush head is specially designed to separate lashes and keep them clump free.

Benefits:

• Special waxes provide buildable length and volume
• Innovative ingredients enhance volume, condition and nourish lashes, and contribute to a super glossy finish
• Paraben free, TEA free, fragrance free

Ulta Beauty Amped Up Lashes

My Take on this mascara:

I wanted to try a less expensive mascara, and I had received this one from Ulta as a free gift.  So I decided to try it.  And I hate to say I am not a fan.  The one good thing I can say about it is that it didn’t smudge at all.  But it went on very dry.  I almost felt like there was no product on the wand.  I just didn’t feel like it did anything special to my eyelashes at all.  It didn’t lengthen or add volume.  I would not purchase this mascara.  The wand is extremely flimsy, I could barely get it in and out of the tube.  It felt like it was going to break off.

 

7.  Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

This is a description of the mascara from Sephora’s website:

What it is:
An intensely black, volumizing mascara with an hourglass-shaped brush that separates, coats, and curls each lash to voluptuous perfection.

What it does:
Inspired by the curves of a woman’s body, the hourglass-shaped brush was designed with extra stiff bristles to maximize the performance of this carbon black, collagen-fueled formula. One coat and lashes are full and defined. Two coats and lashes are even more luscious, curled, and dramatic. Three coats help you achieve the most intense, black, multidimensional lashes possible.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens

What else you need to know:
Better Than Sex mascara contains a film-forming polymer for smudge-proof, all day wear and unique peptides for the deepest, intense black possible.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

My Take on this mascara:

This is a description of the mascara from Sephora’s website:

This mascara was extremely disappointing!  This one is the mascara that started me on my journey.  When the salesperson told me this mascara was the #1 seller in the US, I decided to try it.  And I have to say I am extremely disappointed.  If you look at the description above, it specifically states that it is smudge proof.  That is sooooo not true.  And as you know, that is a complete deal breaker for me.  I loved the wand, I loved the way my eyelashes looked after applying it, and it was easy to apply two coats.  But the smudging was really bad with this one!  I wasn’t able to get a 7 am shot, but you can see below what my eyes looked like by 11 am.

8.  Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara

This is a description of the mascara from Sephora’s website:

What it is:

A waterproof, intensely black, volumizing mascara with an hourglass-shaped brush that separates, coats, and curls each lash to voluptuous perfection.

What it does:
Now in a waterproof formula, Better Than Sex Waterproof mascara has a volumizing formula with added high-performance and water-resistant polymers for waterproof, sweat-proof, play-proof wear. The hourglass-shaped brush was designed with extra stiff bristles to maximize the performance of this carbon black, collagen-fueled formula. One coat and lashes are full and defined. Two coats and lashes are even more luscious, curled, and dramatic.Three coats and you’ve achieved your most intense, voluminous, waterproof lashes possible.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Phthalates

What else you need to know:
This mascara’s unique peptides swipe on the deepest, intense black color, while the porcelain flower extract moisturizes and conditions lashes. The hourglass-shaped brush unlocks its volumizing formula.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara

My Take on this mascara:

I liked the way this mascara looked so much that I decided to return the no waterproof version and purchase the waterproof version and see if it didn’t smudge.  Nope!  It smudged just as bad if not worse.  Can someone please explain to me how waterproof mascara can smudge like you see below?  And the worst part about this one was when it did smudge, the smudges were impossible to get off, so I had to cake on even more concealer to hide it, and then I just looked like my makeup was caked on.  And I am NOT a an of the caked on makeup look.  So this one got returned as well.

9.  Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara

This is a description of the mascara from Mary Kay’s website:

This extremely volumizing, superthickening, all-in-one formula creates the look of big, bold, separated lashes that last all day.

• Flake-, clump- and smudge-resistant.
• Ophthalmologist-tested; suitable for contact lens wearers.
• Clinically tested for skin irritancy and allergy; suitable for sensitive eyes.
• Fragrance-free.

Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara

My Take on this mascara:

This is the mascara that I have been using for years and years.  The one thing I don’t love is that I have to call a consultant to be able to get it.  I can’t just go into a store and buy it and I can’t just get online and order it.  Don’t get me wrong, I currently have a Mary Key consultant who keeps a fully stocked inventory, and is very good about delivering mascara to me.  But I really want to just be able to pick up my mascara at the mall.  I have tried many, many mascaras over the years for this very reason, but I always go back to this one.  This mascara doesn’t smudge at all.  It goes on easily and I love the wand.  But it doesn’t really look good if I try to apply two coats.  At that point, it starts to clump.  It also doesn’t really lengthen or volumize like I want a mascara to do.  Which is why I started on this journey in the first place.  This mascara is not a safe beauty product, which is what I am leaning towards these days.

10.  Laura Gellar Lash Boss

This is a description of the mascara from the Birchbox website:

Want long lashes one day and curled, voluminous ones the next? This mascara’s dual-bristle brush lets you customize your look to lengthen with its thicker side or curl and volumize with the thinner one. Amp up the intensity to match your mood or the occasion by using both for fuller, defined lashes. And you won’t need to fear any clumping or flaking; the formula’s infused with collagen, peptides, and keratin to strengthen each lash and make them all appear thicker.

Laura Gellar Lash Boss

My Take on this mascara:

I did love the wand on this mascara.  It is like no other wand I have tried before, being long on one side, and short on the other, that was a huge plus.  But as you can see below, it smudged.  And as you know- deal breaker!  If it didn’t smudge, I would have liked this one, but there really is no point in saying anything else, because it did smudge.  End of story.

And that wraps up my ultimate mascara review.  As it turned out, the Tarte Mascara is going to be my new go to mascara, and especially because it just so happens to be a vegan mascara.  It was my favorite by far, and I’m so happy that I finally found a new mascara that I can count on, and another plus is that I can just pick up a new one at the mall anytime I need one.  Have any of you tried this Tarte mascara?  I would love to know what you think of it in the comments below.   And what about the other mascaras that I have reviewed here today?  Do any of you have your own opinions on any of them?  If you have a differing opinion, I welcome you to also share those in the comments below.  Please feel free to join the conversation!

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