Riddle me this: how do lashes go green without actually going green? Answer: by wearing Tarte’s Lash Hugger ($18). Billed as an eco-friendly mascara, Lash Hugger looks like a step in the right direction. Tarte skipped many of the chemicals commonly found in mascaras, like paraben, propylene glycol, and synthetic dyes and fragrances, and, to reduce environmental waste, they used recycled aluminum for the tube. Lash Hugger scores on the environmental front, but how does it perform?
The first thing I noticed about the product was the brush. I hoped the long bristles would give my lashes a nice mix of length, thickness and curl.
Before Lash Hugger
After two coats
Right away, I noticed how smoothly the mascara applied with the brush from root to lash tip. It results in very little clumping. One coat delivers healthy separation and length. The separation was most apparent toward the tips of my lashes. Still, I wanted a bit more thickness than I saw from a single coat, so I applied a second. The difference between one and two coats was subtle, and I got the feeling that even with additional coats, the product wouldn’t completely satisfy my lust for thick lashes.
As the day wore on, Lash Hugger proved to be a pretty good performer. Even after hours of wear, she kept the lash curl and never flaked or smudged — big pluses in my book.
Tarte Lash Hugger Mascara
Price: $18
Use: To lengthen, separate and curl lashes
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B
Lash Hugger may not pump up the volume, but I think it’s still a good performer — and really excellent when you consider its eco-friendly nature. It delivers longer lashes, won’t clump and keeps a curl for hours. If you’re looking for an environmentally responsible mascara, look for its purty purple tube on your next trip to Sephora.
Well, we made it to hump day! Right now I’m trying to decide what to wear on my eyes. Can I get your opinion? What do you think of a combination of Dior Earth Tones and colors from the Iridescent Leather Palettes for some brown/green/shimmer action?
What are you wearing on your eyes today?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Megan says
August 20th, 2008 at 10:29 amI’m wearing some random shades from an estee lauder palette…taupe and cream with a little bronze in the mix. I say just go with the earth tones palette. I love love love that one. I need to go back an reread all the posts I missed…someday soon when I get caught up.
Dao says
August 20th, 2008 at 10:29 amI’m too lazy for these babies 🙂 Sometimes applying an extra layer of mascara from another tube is a hassle. Your lashes look really long, wow!
For the palette, how about some dark olive green on the lid/ chocolate brown to contour/ moss green to highlight. That palette looks really lovely. If you use it, may I request a picture? Please 🙂
Megan says
August 20th, 2008 at 10:30 amOh and BTW thanks for the review on lash hugger…I saw it in my sephora thing and was wondering about it. It actually performs better than I expected…I might have to check it out… but I think there are others I want to scope out first.
Karen B says
August 20th, 2008 at 10:58 amLooks good! Do they have a waterproof version?
Laurie says
August 20th, 2008 at 11:01 amThanks for posting this – I was curious about this as well. I am loving Tarte’s new fall stuff!
Have a happy hump day!
Brittany says
August 20th, 2008 at 12:12 pmHmm..this stuff is just not thrilling me, thought I do like the idea of an eco friendly mascara. I hate to think about the stuff they put into makeup (blah!).
Right now I have on a couple of different grey shadows from a palette. Nothing fancy 😛
Amanda says
August 20th, 2008 at 1:28 pmI think this is kismet Karen…I need a new mascara soon, and I just got an email from sephora with the new mascara they got for fall, and I had just about decided to try the tarte! 🙂 (the new shu and fresh are also calling me, but the tarte is a wee bit cheaper). I love the “green” idea. So thanks for a great review-very helpful and perfect timing.
today I’m wearing pink and brown, 2 shades from a stila palette (light pink wash, soft tannish brown on lid) and stila bronze smudgepot liner. I love the colors in the earth tones palette! so very fallish.
Also just “catching up” on posts/comments….love the Tabs-centric post, he’s such a handsome kitty. So he’s doing good? is he staying in with you all the time now? any yeah, it’s a cat thing….meowing in the middle of the night. Ours does that too when she’s bug hunting. She also “chips”….so cute. And I’ve woken up many times with a cat on my head. Sometimes she likes to chew on my hair. *so weird*. anyway, I guess you just get used to it. 🙂 Good thing they are so cute, LOL!
and I may need that green mac pigment, ASAP. But I’m waiting to see how “green” it is versus “gold green”….I want a brighter kelly green color that I can use for a bold pop just on my lids….
Karen says
August 20th, 2008 at 1:50 pmHi Megan,
I love the Earth Tones palette, too. I am still trying to figure out what to do with the brick red color…
Dunno if I asked you this already, but do you have any Dior palettes? They are wonderful eye shadows!
Karen says
August 20th, 2008 at 1:50 pmHi Dao,
Oh good idea! I ended up using some Shu Uemura (was running late for work), but when I do the Dior eye I will take pics. 🙂
Karen says
August 20th, 2008 at 1:50 pmHi Karen B.,
Nope, unfortunately they don’t… Are Tarte products available in your neck of the woods?
Karen says
August 20th, 2008 at 1:51 pmHi Laurie,
You’re welcome. 🙂 Happy hump day to you, too!
Karen says
August 20th, 2008 at 1:51 pmHi Brittany,
Ah, the all grey eye still is a challenge for me! You’re so lucky that you can rock the color. 🙂
Happy Wednesday!
Joanne says
August 20th, 2008 at 2:40 pmHi Karen!
I haven’t visited your blog in awhile. I missed it! I thought your blog about your late night with Tabs was cute and funny. Anyways, I finally bought the max factor 2000 kcal waterproof mascara. And, I love it!!! I’m actually wearing it right now because I was in a rush this morning and felt like my eyes needed some oomph. I also got a free Estee Lauder 10 day sample of the sumptuous mascara from a Lucky magazine, all I did was redeemed the coupon at my local Estee Lauder counter. Oh! I have a question, which eyelash curler would you recommend? I’m using the Shu Uemura eyelash curler, but I heard MAC’s works just as well and is a bit cheaper. I also heard Shiseido and Japonesque’s are great too.
Karen says
August 20th, 2008 at 3:52 pmHi Amanda,
The Fresh one is calling me, too. The packaging gets me every time, I swear. 🙂 I’m glad to have helped in your mascara decision making, yay!
Speaking of Stila palettes, have you seen the one they have for fall? I lurves it, but I can’t get anything until after Cult of Cherry (sigh). One more day…
Tabs is doing great, thanks for asking. We gave him his de-worming meds last week and this week we started him on his anti-flea stuff. Unfortunately we can’t keep him inside all of the time (yet). He comes first thing in the morning at around 6 (which is when we wake up), and then leaves at 10 am. Then he comes back again for round two at 6 pm and stays until he feels like leaving (sometimes it’s 12, others it’s 3 or 4!). Tabs has yet to chew on my hair, LOL. BTW, your kitty is SO CUTE! I wish there was a Cat-Book (like Face Book), so that she and Tabs could be friends.
I can’t wait to see the green pigments, too. It’s amazing how a green fetish can quickly spiral out of control.
Give your kitty and your pups big hugs for me. Have a good night!
Karen says
August 20th, 2008 at 3:54 pmHi Joanne,
Good to “see” ya! 🙂 How has life been on your end? Good, I hope!
Regarding lash curlers, I’ve tried five or six different brands throughout my makeup wearing life and I like Shu’s the best with MAC a close second. Shu’s tension is set tighter than the MAC one, which I like. I feel like with MAC’s I have to press down harder.
Joanne says
August 20th, 2008 at 4:55 pmHi again!
Life has been kinda crazy lately. I just started school a couple days ago and I’m having technical difficulties with my online classes, and I’m trying to figure out which college to transfer to. I plan on moving back to the East bay area. I miss my home, but getting into a nursing/occupational therapy/respiratory therapy program is going to need some researching to do. But I’m taking one step at a time. =)
I hope your life is going good as well. Thanks for your opinion on the eyelash curler. I like my Shu one too and will stick with it, I just wish it was cheaper =/
Janelle says
August 20th, 2008 at 7:45 pmOoh this made your already pretty eyelashes look even better! I might have to check this out when I need a new mascara. And if I have money haha. That’s usually the problem, eh? 😛
Marisol says
August 20th, 2008 at 8:26 pmYou’ve got awesome eye brows.
Marisols last blog post..…And Now You Know
ines says
August 20th, 2008 at 8:37 pmi’m wearing l’oreal rose ballerine (pearlized ballet slipper pink) with a coat of MAC splashproof lash in blacksplash… low key look because i’m lazy today!
Karen says
August 20th, 2008 at 10:08 pmHi Joanne,
I think the one step at a time method is a good one. Get your little goals done, and soon, you’ll have a big one done! Next thing you know you’ll be back in the East Bay, stuck in traffic on 880. 🙂
Life on this end has been good! Busy with work (does it ever end?) but that’s okay as I tend to have workaholic habits. Keeps me out of trubs. 😉
And yay for stickin’ with the Shu curler! It really is the best one out there.
Karen says
August 20th, 2008 at 10:09 pmHi Janelle,
Thanks girlie! It’s a lovely mascara, and will look great on you I’m sure (especially if you’re blessed with thick lashes). What mascara are you using right now?
Karen says
August 20th, 2008 at 10:09 pmHi Marisol,
Thanks! I do them myself. There’s so many things I can’t do (calculus, any sport involving projectiles) but I can sure pluck my brows into submission. Oh, and the MAC 266 and Concrete helps, too, LOL.
Karen says
August 20th, 2008 at 10:09 pmHi Ines,
Oh! Now that’s a MAC mascara I’ve yet to try… how do you like it? Does it have good waterproofing powers?
Janelle says
August 21st, 2008 at 7:19 amHi again Karen!
Right now I’m using L’Oreal Voluminous Original mascara paired with Shiseido The Makeup Mascara base. I love the base, been using that one for a while. The mascara is nice, but it’s not a favorite. Have you tried that?
ines says
August 21st, 2008 at 8:09 amthe mascara is pretty decent, it clumps a bit but if you’re careful that doesn’t happen too much. i don’t know if it’s the larege quanitites of monoi oil i slather on myself but sometimes i get a bit of a raccoon eye by the afternoon (fixed easily with a tissue), but there’s minimal smudging in the pool!
Karen says
August 21st, 2008 at 8:38 amHi Janelle,
I haven’t tried Shiseido’s base yet. I just started using MAC Prep + Prime. It’s pretty good at lengthening and thickening but I wish it would hold the curl more (it tends to straighten out my lashes). How is the curl hold with Shiseido’s?
Karen says
August 21st, 2008 at 8:39 amHi Ines,
I will have to check it out. I use Shu’s waterproof, which is great for lengthening, but not so much for volume. I am getting weirdly obsessed with mascara brushes (really, it’s not natural) so that will be the kicker!