Mascara has to be that most elusive of beauty grails. You're always promised these amazing results, but rarely do the products deliver. We all spend years searching for the Holy One, only to be disappointed time and time again. I'm no different, and I also don't expect what works for me to be everyone elses cup of tea, but that said, what DO I recommend? Read on!
Mac Zoom Lash
This is a really good mascara but you do need a steady hand because it is quite messy. If you put on two or three sparse coats it builds up well and doesn't clump. After a bit of practice you can achieve really dramatic results, with nice fat, long lashes. It's not waterproof though, which could be a disadvantage for some.
Lancome Flex Waterproof
Also nice, goes on easily and builds up well on your lashes. You won't get away with one coat but it does work up well and won't give you spiders legs a la Baby Spice.
Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara
This is absolutely my favourite mascara. It's also the most recent new one I've tried but I was really impressed by it. It just works - and it looks great. Builds well and doesn't clump, and won't flake off after a couple of hours. Excellent stuff.
Also good...
L'Oreal Double Extension. This is one of these two step jobs. The white undercoat is extremely unappealing after a while - it goes a sludgy colour because bits of shadow and powder transfer onto the wand and get mixed in when you put it back into the tube. But it's the best of the 2 step products I've used, and you can also use the white end as an undercoat for coloured mascaras like Mac's Pro Lash Colour range. Putting a white undercoat on under a coloured mascara actually makes it brighter and a bit more noticeable.
Now - how do you go about putting your mascara on, and what's suitable for you? You can spend all the money in the world on great products but if you're not perfecting the application or buying something that will suit you, then you're not going to get the best out of them.
If you're blonde or a pale skinned redhead, try dark browns - black could well be a bit too harsh for you. If you're a brunette you can probably carry black off no problem, but try brown for day for a more subtle look.
Everyone knows the advice about not plunging the mascara wand up and down in the tube because that lets in air and bacteria, so once you've swished the wand round and round and taken it out, aim for the eyes! Get the wand and zig-zag it through your lashes from the roots out. This will distribute the product evenly and ensure good coverage. Let it dry and repeat 2 or 3 times depending on the amount of build you want. Don't forget about the lashes to the extreme edges of your outer eye - you'll be amazed at the difference it makes if you pay proper attention to them - you'll immediately look flirtier and wider-eyed.
Finally, mascaras don't keep that well and you're supposed to ditch them after a few months (I admit, I never do) - and do invest in something good to remove your mascara - Clinique's Take The Day off is great for both regular and waterproof products.
