I have several objectives in life, like stalking Christian Bale, watching as much bad reality TV as humanly possible and finding Nemo, but I’d give up all of those to find the perfect mascara, one that transforms my stick-straight eyelashes into dramatic uber-lashes. Here are a few of my recent mascara adventures. Welcome to the land of longer, thicker and more dramatic lashes!
- Get Long, Dramatic Lashes with Shu Uemura’s Precise Volume Mascara
“I’m the type of girl who doesn’t care for drama, but I’ll take dramatic lashes any day! If you crave long, can’t-miss-me lashes like I do, get thee a tube of Shu Uemura’s Precise Volume Mascara ($23), stat!” - 11 Luscious Lash Tips
“For a soft, feathered look with great separation, use two brushes. After applying mascara with a regular mascara brush, run through your lashes again with a MAC 206 while your mascara is still wet.” - MAC Makeup Reviews, Cosmetics – Invisible Set Powder; Natural Flare Loose Beauty Powder; Indianwood and Groundwork Paintpot; Plushlash in Plushblack
“I’m usually a big fan of drugstore (aka cheap!) mascaras and makeup, but MAC Plushlash is actually worth spending your hard earned cash on. And, baby, I know you work hard for that money. Plushlash’s awesomeness begins with the huge brush. It’s all puppies and rainbows from that point on, ladies.” - Clarins Wonder Mint Mascara: Rise of the Teal Terror
“When I got home from work a few hours ago I applied a third coat, and that’s the one that took it from subtle-and-appropriate-for-work to you’re-totally-fired-you-crazy-green-lashed-lady. Stepping back several feet from the mirror, there was no missing the teal. I gotta admit, I liked the bolder color, but I’ll reserve the third coat for nights out dancing.” - Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Mascara Review
“Another issue I have with my lashes is that they’re stick straight (BOO), so I need a mascara that holds the curl I get from my lash curler. Ceramide mascara holds the curl all day (and night) long, giving me a wide-eyed look ’til the wee hours.” - Stila Multi-Effect Mascara: A Brush with Destiny
“I gotta hand it to Stila for the curved brush they packaged with Multi-Effect Mascara. The thing flat-out rocks, helping the product deliver amazing thickness. The arch fits perfectly into the curve of my lashes (and probably yours, too), better than any other curved brush I’ve used before. With it I can really get into the lashes and coat them from root to tip.” - Lancome High Definicils Mascara: What a Difference a Brush Makes
“While the new brush doesn’t save the whales or feed the planet, I have to say it’s a pretty nifty piece of makeup technology. It makes Definicils a far more useful product than it had been.”
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Tiffany says
tee hee, that picture made my morning! also, I ADORE your earrings. so cute!
so which mascara is your fave so far?
Yellow Fever says
beautiful! i’m lovin’ lovin’ lovin’ those earrings!
Yellow Fevers last blog post..Racism Rant
Glosslizard says
G’morning!
I wanna know your fave too! 🙂
And yeah, great earrings!
Dao says
This entry is for me, the mascara-obsessed person! Plushlash doesn’t do anthing for me as well as the rest of them MAC mascaras. I really wanted to try the Mascara X but it was sold out during one of those LE collections. I wish MAC would come up with the plastic brush soon, then I’ll definitely buy.
Love your earrings, so cute!
Karen says
Hi Tiffany,
LOL, thanks! 🙂 I notoriously not loyal when it comes to mascara; I tend to get really obsessed with one type and then in a few weeks/months move on because I’m always looking for the next best thing. A few weeks ago I received a small tube of Chanel Inimitable in Noir with a GWP and I’m LOVING IT! It aint’ cheap though, ugh. My fave drugstore mascara by far is still L’oreal Voluminous Carbon Black.
How about you?
Karen says
Hi Yellow Fever,
Thanks girlie! I got them a few years ago in Hawaii in a drugstore, LOL.
Hope you’re having a good day. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Glosslizard,
G’morning! Oy, it’s so hard to pick just one. But right now it’s Chanel Inimitable (I know! And after all that trash I talked about it previously… it’s actually pretty darn great) for the high end and L’oreal Voluminous Carbon Black for the low end.
How about you?
Karen says
Hi Dao,
Y’know, I’m getting moved by the plastic brush, too. Before I didn’t like it but now I’m really loving on it.
Have you tried ZoomLash?
Tiffany says
oooh, I have been wanting to try that chanel mascara for a while now. after being loyal to benefit badgal for a long time, I’ve recently switched to one by maybelline, I think it’s called xxl volume or something like that, LOL. it’s one of those 2-sided ones with a primer on one end. it works awesome and is way cheaper than the benefit was!
Elle says
I loves me some Plushlash. 🙂 Love the L’Oreal Voluminous one, too, but then again I usually love a lot of L’Oreal products. I’ve had pretty good luck with their Telescopic mascara…I was put off by the weirdly shaped wand, but the formula is great and doesn’t flake/smudge all over the place. Your MAC review also got me feelin’ more impatient for my next MAC stash to get here with my loose beauty powder… 😉 Hope you’re having a great day!
Roxy says
omg everytime i vist your site i find a million new things! lol i spend forever looking through your blogs. =] i think i’m gonna go out and get me some plushlash too!
Roxys last blog post..newly addicted…
Dao says
Yup, Zoomlash, Plushlash, Fibrelash. Of all the 3, Zoomlash sux the most 🙁 Fibrelash was kinda promising until it flaked like no tomorrow.
vivien says
I’m still trying to find Nemo too, hehe! My fav mascaras are Lancome Fatale, Loreal Telescopic, and Loreal Volume Shocking [its one of those with a primer and mascara in one], these are very good!!!
i♥makeup says
You’re too gorgeous for words Ms. Karen.
i♥makeups last blog post..Make-up Trend: Colored Mascara (Blue)
Marisol says
Karen,
Not only are you gorgeous but you are hilarious! Love the picture and the cameo by your iron.
BTW, Christian Bale is mine. Has been since Swing Kids. 🙂
Glosslizard says
I just recently tried Covergirl Lashblast and I’m really liking it! For high end I still like Tarte, and Chanel Inimitable waterproof (I like the Emeraude)!
Karen says
Hi Tiffany,
That’s cool — gotta love the bargains. Do you notice a difference with the primer? I wonder if it’s any good if you use it with other lines… hmmm!
Regarding the Chanel mascara, I talked so much crap about it for a long time; I used it once and I guess I didn’t use it correctly or I didn’t use enough of it, because the sample I received with my GWP was like WHOA! It’s expensive though, so I’ve been hemming and hawing about getting it. I hope you try it sometime! It’s great for separation, length and thickness, and it doesn’t clump.
Karen says
Hi Elle,
I’ve heard great things about Telescopic. When I replace my mascara arsenal in few months I will probably try that one to see what the hype is all about.
Sweet! Ahhh, think of all the looks you’ll create with your beauty powder. 🙂
My day was pretty good; it was just long and kinda work intensive. I had to do lots of number-related stuff today at my day job that required some thought and it kind of left me mentally exhausted. I’m gonna take a shower (stinky from my run) and will hopefully get to bed soon. How was your day? Anything exciting happen?
Karen says
Hi Roxy,
That’s so good to hear, girlie. 🙂 There’s a big world of makeup for you to discover. I hope I can be of help during your journey.
Karen says
Hi Dao,
Yeah, it’s not one of those slap it on and go mascaras. I guess I’d like it a bit more if I tried harder to make it work. Lemme know if you find anything good during your mascara adventures. I am always looking!
Karen says
Hi Vivien,
LOL, I guess he’s a popular guy (fish?). Ahhh, I have a whole list of L’oreal ones to try now, so that’s for these recommendations. What do you think of Voluminous Carbon Black?
Karen says
Hi Iheartmakeup,
Thank you, sweets! Hope your studying is going well and good luck on your test tomorrow. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Marisol,
Girl, them is fightin’ words! (LOL, I totally ditched school to watch Swing Kids when I was a senior in HS.) Maybe we can work out a C. Bale timeshare or something?!? 🙂
Karen says
Hi Glosslizard,
Really? I have yet to figure mine out. I find the nubs on the brush too short. I’m glad it worked for you though, as it seems to be a holy grail for many women!
Marisol says
I would consider sharing him only if you shared your MU collection. LOL!
Tiffany says
Hi Karen!
Yeah, I like the primer part, it’s good for adding more length and thickness. And then on days when I’m, feeling lazy I skip the primer, and the mascara still works great. I also have a mascara primer by MAC (I think it’s called prep + prime). It does the same thing and then you can use your mascara of choice over it!
You should go for it and get the Chanel, if it’s better than cheaper ones, it’ll be worth the dough! I’m such an enabler, LOL.
Elle says
Hiya Karen!
Nah, nothing too exciting yesterday…ran into the person I have been trying to catch so I could give him a piece of my mind, and did a bit of that. 😉 Haha, this is the public transportation guy I mentioned before! Soooo yeah, other than that (and his apology, which was nice and pretty much almost unprompted, which is why I only gave him a *bit* of my mind…I’m too nice sometimes), not too much. I’m drooling over my new Drizzlegold, though…wore a bit of it over my Stila bonzer today and I’m officially in love! 🙂 Also counting down the days to The Dark Knight…Christian Bale in IMAX may be a bit too much for me to handle 😉 Happy Wednesday!
Karen says
Hi Marisol,
Girl, you drive a tough bargain. We may have to duke this one out! Or perhaps race cars? Dunno, your new ride would probably smoke my ancient 4runner…
Karen says
Hi Tiffany,
LOL, yes you are! When I go to the Chanel counter today to look at the fall stuff I will probably end up getting it.
Thanks for the info on the primer. It sounds like something that might work for me. Ahhh, makeup adventures. Gotta love ’em. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Elle,
I will give you the strength for your C. Bale IMAX movie. Together, we have the power to handle his hotness. 🙂
Yay, your Drizzlegold arrived! Have you tried it on your eyes yet? I bet it’ll be pretty as a simple wash.
Elle says
Ooh, Karen, no, haven’t tried it on my eyes yet! 😉 Thanks for the tip! I have to run off and get more…eeesh…I always freak out about how much time I have left on the limited edition items online. Hopefully they’ll be there for a bit longer!
Karen says
Hi Elle,
You know, I used to do that too. I’m sort of at the point where I have a lot of makeup sitting around though… the only products I’ve hit the pan with were the ones from my very early makeup wearing years (ie, like when Blushbaby was my *only* blush). My point is that I’ve been figuring lately that I probably won’t need backups for things because I have lots of makeup sitting around that I need to wear first, LOL.
Yup, I’m pretty sure that it’s eyesafe — you might want to double check the packaging if you still have it around. I’ve used my beauty powders on my lids before. I really like them layered underneath the MAC Paint Pots. All ya have to do then is curl your lashes, add some mascara and you’re good to go!
HaNNa_HuLLaBaLoo says
I couldnt agree more; MAC PlushLash is THE perfect voluminizing mascara! It’s my favourite. I might try other mascara every now and then, but I’ll always come back to PlushLah. =)
HaNNa_HuLLaBaLoo´s last blog post..Major Lash vs. PlushLash
Camille says
Hello Miss Karen! I’ve working my way to the most recent blog. I have a ways to go! But I’m loving the reading and tips. :o)
I have a love/hate relationship with mascara. I’m currently using the purple Cover Girl Lashblast because it’s water resistant. I have a problem with mascara wandering around my eye area when I get a bit greasy (yuck, I know), so water resistant has helped with that problem. And I really despise waterproof because I am a simple girl who just wants to wash her face in one step; no eye make up remover needed.
My Q is: have you tried any mascaras that are not waterproof formulas, but do not wander when the face gets a bit oily? Thank you!