Mascara is a cosmetic generally used to darken, lengthen, volumize, and define the look of your natural lashes. During the 19th century the first mascara cosmetic was invented by Eugene Rimmel. The modernization of mascara occurred in 1913 when a chemist T.L. Williams created a mixture of coal dust and petroleum jelly for his sister Mabel as a way of enhancing her beauty to entice a suitor. The product was a hit for Mabel and became a venture for Williams who began to sell the product through a new company he named ‘Maybelline‘. This new product was sold in a ‘cake’ form where consumers would wet a brush and rub it in the cake pan before applying the mixture to the lash. Eventually, another company called Max Factor would revolutionize mascara by creating the first mascara to be applied from a tube with a wand applicator. Since the wand applicator was invented, mascara has changed ingredients and hosts a variety of colors and formulations (waterproof and non-waterproof), as well as applicators.

My first mascara purchase was Covergirl LashExact, I remember Queen Latifah being on the ads for this mascara in with the purple tube, eventually I would try other brands but I always would go back to this mascara and then when LashBlast came out, it became my tried and true mascara. In fact, if someone told me I could only use Covergirl’s LashBlast in the big and bold orange tube, I would very well be content. So if you’re new to mascara and looking for an inexpensive yet great mascara I recommend Covergirl’s LashBlast. This should come to show you that you don’t have to shell out a lot of money for good makeup products that you can find at drugstores. Although Covergirl is not on my list below, it is dear to my heart, as in a way it was my first training mascara, through the different spinoffs from the LashExact formula I was able to discover what I like and don’t like about mascara.

No mascara is necessarily created equal, sometimes you might find a formulation that you love but the applicator is your enemy which is why I want to explain to my eyelashes. I have fairly long and semi-thick eyelashes, they tend to be shorter at the inner corners of my eye but flair out towards the outer-corner. While I’m not Bambi, I’m one of those gals that sometimes get asked if I’m wearing false eyelashes when I’m not. (See the photo below to get a general idea of my lashes with one-coat of mascara).

With that said I’m going to reveal my favorite mascaras. The photo below are a compilation of my favorite mascaras and discussion will start from Left to Right.

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash $18: Buxom Lash is a very rich black mascara. It adds volume and for those of you who love Covergirl’s LashBlast, you might the familiarity of the wand with an hourglass shape. I go to this mascara usually for daytime looks when I want my lashes to standout a little more than normal or when I’m going for a light or colorful smokey eye where I want to make sure my lashes are intense enough to match the smokey effect without taking away from the color of my eyeshadow. I also love that this mascara doesn’t clump however if you’re one of those people who like to add more mascara on top throughout the day, it will appear ‘chunky’.

Yves Saint Laurent Volume Infini Curl $30: YSL’s high-end volumizing mascara is a luxury for me in more ways than the packaging. I’m pretty good about remembering to curl my eyelashes but when I don’t have time to put on any makeup before I head out the door, I slide this into my bag and feel comfortable leaving my eyelash curler at home. I love the strong color. However, it does dry faster than other mascaras so you have to work a bit faster. I believe the drying helps contract your lashes to help achieve a more curled effect. If you like Diorshow you might enjoy this mascara more than others.

Make Up For Ever Smokey Lash $22: If I am doing a dark smokey eye particularly at night I rely on ‘Smokey Lash’ mascara. This super-pigmented mascara curls, adds volume and length. Initially getting the mascara, I didn’t think I would like the brush but after using it, I found it to be more amazing that my Diorshow Blackout. The bristles on the brush are not too short or too long so I never end up getting mascara on my lids unless I wanted to for a ‘messier’ look.

L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Carbon Black ($5-7): If you like the original of the the Voluminous line but wish it were more intense, then you will love this version with their Carbon Black formulation. It’s dark and quickly become my everyday mascara when I just want to have a little bit of liner and simplify my look but still have a little intensity.

L’Oréal Paris Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara: When I first bought this mascara I had Eva Longoria’s image from the ad campaign in my head. When I first applied this mascara I was appalled and convinced that Longoria’s lashes in the ad were due to ‘lash dramazation’ also known as false eyelashes. However, I put the mascara in my purse for “just in case”, and a week later I found myself having to wash my makeup off and then decided to apply this mascara. My initial dislike for this mascara was my lack of experience with a mascara brush and formula that was super soft. I usually prefer not necessarily hard lashes but, just a firm to keep my lashes curled throughout the day. However, when I found myself being apply to reapply coats of mascara even hours later, I could see how the super soft formula worked well to build up the lash. I would be careful when going for Longoria’s bold lash look to avoid clumping, but I do like the intensity and new venture into soft mascaras.

Honey Hint: When applying mascara, use a business card or a sturdy piece of paper like a tag from clothes behind your lashes to keep product from touching your skin.

Honey Hint: Did a glob of mascara get on your skin? wait for it to dry then pick it off, that way you don’t end up smearing mascara onto your face.

Honey Hint: Do you like to reapply throughout the day? moisten your lashed with a damp paper towel to soften existing product before layering more on to help avoid clumping.

*I was not paid by any of the companies mentioned. This is my honest opinion about my own experience with each of these particular cosmetics.