As you know, 2000 Calorie Mascara from Max Factor is my favorite. But on a recent trip, I decided that it was time to try something new. After all, paying $25 for two mascaras and then waiting days for them to arrive in the mail is getting old.
Rimmel ScandalEyes is a name that consistently comes up in the comments when I ask for mascara recommendations, so I decided to start there. Unlike many woman, my lashes don’t need much in the way of lengthening, what they really need is volume. So I decided to try the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Lycra Flex ($7) in the volumizing formula.
At first, the mascara looked promising. Mostly because I was just excited to try something new, because by day two, I began to realize what a mess it was.
The formula itself is a little goopy. The Lycra is supposed to give you buildable coverage, but the more coats I added the harder it became to separate my lashes. The mascara also started clumping on day three.
In addition to the disappointing formulation, the brush is a total nightmare. It’s way too big, way too thick and doesn’t do even a passable job of separating your individual lashes. It’s so large that after a while you feel like you’re trying to apply mascara with a toothbrush.
This mascara was a real let down, which is too bad because I’ve had good luck with other Rimmel products. I love their Kate Moss lipstick and their Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Perhaps I’ll try another formulation and see if I like that one better.
I hate the Max Factor 2000 Calorie mascara (so clumpy and itchy), but I can highly recommend NYX Doll Eyes mascara in the Volume formula. It separates and builds volume well and doesn’t flake. It can get clumpy if you apply too much in one coat (it also dries fairly quickly, so be careful about that), but it really has become my holy grail.
I’m a big fan of Bad Gal Lash by Benefit. I wear it every day for work and it isn’t itchy or clumpy. It’s definitely not night out makeup unless you do a few coats but I like that.
I hate They’re Real by Benefit. It feels like I put plastic coating on my lashes, so if you like that feel, Bad Gal probably isn’t for you.
The Covergirl Bombshell is the only mascara I’ll use anymore. It has two sides (one for volume and one for lengthening) and you apply a coat of each. My lashes are too long as it is (I literally have to trim them … is that safe? Oh well.) but I find the second coat locks everything in place. The only fault I’ve found in my Bombshell mascara is that it is a NIGHTMARE to remove. Nothing I’ve tried has gotten it completely off, but to be honest, it’s worth it.
Like you, I need volume not length. I’ve been very happy with L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara
I’m with you on volume v. length. I got a sample of eyeko mascara in a Birchbox last year, and there has been no turning back since then. The tube comes with this cool eye cover that looks like a guitar pick. You hold it on your lid while applying mascara so you don’t smudge your lids or shadow. Check it out.
Cover Girl Lash Blast – but look up the tutorials on how to build coverage and the “wiggle” apical ion it needs to achieve max volume.
I have a problem with the Rimmel London Scandaleyes eyeliner, so I haven’t tried any of their mascaras. I know it’s touted by countless beauty blogs, but I find that it falls to my bottom lid – even if I only apply it on top – within a few hours.
I swear by the Maybelline lots of lashes and cover girl lash blast in the orange tube. My favorites!
I really like Chanel, but I haven’t found a cheap mascara that I like yet. Why all the love for Cover Girl? Dislike, but obviously everyone has different needs.
For years, I was one of the many devotees of Dior DIORSHOW. The only drug store brand that comes close, in my opinion, is L’Oreal Voluminous. I’ve been using it consistently now for awhile, and it’s been great.
I’m in the same boat on needing volume, not length.
Best of luck in your current mascara search!
I really love the Voluminous Butterfly Mascara from L’Oreal. The brush was a little weird to get used to (it increased “backwards” the way I usually apply to my left eye), but I have gotten great results for volume, not length.
I recently tried Maybelline Volume Express in Mega Plush. It was horrible. It’s somehow too liquidy and also too clumpy at the same time.
I’ve been using CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion with good results. I figured out the way to get buildable coverage is by wiggling the brush back and forth horizontally while you also slowly swipe up.
I LOVED the Trish McEvory tube formula mascara Blue Mercury talked me in to 2 yrs ago- it created volume and length, didn’t smudge, and came off so easily with soap and water, no rubbing. But after my $35 tube was up, I went back to cheap drug store stuff. I recently went back to the Trish a few months ago, and I don’t know what happened, maybe they changed the formula or I got a bad tube, but it is the WORST mascara I have ever used. So clumpy and flaky and does nothing for my lashes. Buyer Beware.
I’m a mascara junkie but lately I’ve been loyal to Rimmel Lash Accelerator. You have to have a light touch and remove excess from the brush with a tissue (otherwise it’s easy to go full Tammy Faye), but it’s got excellent lengthening and really gets every little lash so your lashes look denser.
My new favourite is Loreal Voluminous Extra Volume Collagen Mascara (original. Have not tried the 24 Hr one.) I used to love 2000 Calories mascara too but when Max Factor pulled the distribution in Canada, I tried a bunch of other brands. I love Diorshow but its too expensive for a product that you’re supposed to replace every three minus. I was making do with CG Lashblast (hate every formulation but the original) but got really tired of how harsh the wand brush felt. LVEVC goes on smooth, volumizes and doesn’t flake.
I swear by Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes. Instead of the regluar “wand” it has a little round ball brush, and for me it works better than any other mascara I have ever tried. It lets me put as mucha s I want exactly wehre I want it, with no danger of inadvertently dabbing bits of mascara in the wrong places, or clumps from the end of the brush. I did try their Noir Couture, which has 3 balls in a row, but I didn’t get on with it as well.
I have been using the Lancome Hypnose’ now for almsot 4 years and never have loved anything that much. Its waterproof, stays long, and gives me fantastic coverage. I had tried a few before that before i decided, hypnose’ really was the best out there..
I’ve also tried the ScandalEyes and the Glam Eyes and just … no. Not a fan. I did have reasonable luck with L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess (talk about a mouthful), but my favorite to this point is still BareMinerals Flawless Definition – but it is normally more than I am willing to pay on something supposed to be replaced every three months.
The hunt continues.
I love the Rimmel Extra Super Lash mascara. It is their cheapest one so you wouldn’t think it would be great, but whenever I try to switch to other Rimmel mascaras or even other drug store brands it just doesn’t work out. It is a pretty basic mascara but it has served me well for years.