Opinion Page: A Mascara for the Ages

Oct 15, 2020

To paraphrase Carrie Bradshaw, every woman is either looking for love, an apartment, or a new mascara at all times.  There’s just something about finding the right mascara that is always such a challenge.

First, the mascara you need depends heavily on your individual lashes.  It’s as subjective as fragrance of skincare.

Second, we’re all searching for a different look.  Some women want falsies in a bottle, others just want a hint of darkness.

My lashes need a little bit of length and a lot of volume to look their best.  So when Charlotte Tilbury launched her Pillow Talk Push Up Mascara, I wanted to give it a fair review.  So a month after purchase, here it is.

This is the promotional image that CT is using for the Pillow Talk mascara.  Usually these images are WILDLY exaggerated.  This one is actually pretty close to accurate, and that rarely happens.

My lashes are darker, longer, fuller and more defined with the CT mascara than with any other mascara I’ve tried since my beloved Max Factor was discontinued (RIP).  But I have two small caveats before I recommend it whole heartedly.

First, application is a bit different with this mascara.  To apply it, clean the excess product from the brush.  Apply using the “mascara wiggle,” getting as close to the lash line as possible.  Then, let the first coat dry completely before going for a second coat.  I usually put on my first coat before my blush, shadow, etc. to give it ample time.

Second, when I first started using this mascara, my eyelids were afflicted with tiny white bumps.  Clearly, I wasn’t getting all of my makeup removed before bed and it was clogging the pores on the rim of my eyelids.  Not good.  But I like the mascara so much, I wanted to try a different eye makeup remover before tossing it out.

I’ve never had good luck with an eye makeup remover.  I’ve found some okay ones, but over time, continued use has always left my eye area dry and irritated.  So I decided to try a “clean” beauty eye makeup remover to see if that did the trick, but I couldn’t find one I liked.

Eventually, the clerk at Sephora recommended Farmacy’s Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm.  It melted the eye makeup right off, in a good way.  And following up with my usual cleanser for a very on trend “double cleanse,” has my eyelids makeup and irritation free.

Bottom Line // I love the Pillow Talk mascara.  It’s really fantastic.  Five-star recommendation, but you need to remove every bit of it every time you wear it.

{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}

Beauty, BPGP

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  1. Aar1 says:

    Hope you’re doing well! And would love to hear a mental health check in.

  2. Monica T says:

    My requirement list for mascara is short — 1. Waterproof 2. Brown. You would be shocked by how few options there are in this space, but I finally found Diorshow Waterproof in Catwalk Brown and I love it. I wish they made it in a mini since wearing mascara has become a special event these days and I know mascara is one of the products you want to toss after a few months – and yes to getting it all off before bed.

  3. Melissa Steel says:

    I use Sisley mascara, comes in black, brown, and blue. Working at Nordstrom allowed me to try all different types and hands down Sisley is the very very best!

  4. Rosanne says:

    I have oily skin and I’ve tried all sorts of designer and drugstore mascaras to achieve the defined, lengthened, lush but NOT spidery lashes of my dreams that don’t melt to raccoon eyes by 3pm. Dior came close but the waterproof version was impossible to remove without serious rubbing. I found my HG on a trip to Europe on a drugstore run for pony tail holders. A French drugstore brand – Bourjois Push-Up Waterproof In Ultra Black. It is sweat proof, flake proof, doesn’t clump or give me spider lashes unless I want them, defines and makes my lashes look enhanced! What makes it exceptional is that it removes with my favorite cleanser: Honest Co baby wash & shampoo. I do have to massage it a little, but it releases gently. I love it and I’m sorry I haven’t been able to travel in 2020 to restock since it’s not sold in the US.

    • Amy says:

      I have heard that one is AMAZING and I am SO mad I can’t get it here. For my short stumpy thin lashes I aim for glossy, black, and not drying – I find the clinique super glossy is a perfect ‘day’ mascara for me. In the before times I used to like Diorshow but I just don’t need that much oommph at home.

      Abra – I strongly suggest you try the Innisfree green apple cleanser – on amazon or from their online store directly. I can (and have) rubbed it into my eyes to get all my makeup off. I find the pump bottle much more user friendly and it is super non-irritating (and much cheaper). If you prefer a balm, the Banila Clean it Zero is also great and not pricey. I refuse to spend more than about $15 for something I wash down the drain.

  5. Laura says:

    Yay, I have been looking foward to this review ever since you mentioned buying the mascara! I have a sample from Nordstrom, so excited to try it!

  6. Jamie says:

    Have you tried micellar water? Bioderma is my favorite. I just hold it on my eye on a cotton pad and it removes makeup with no scrubbing.

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