The search for the best mascara
In late January, makeup influencer Mikayla Nogueira was expected to give an honest review of the “L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift” mascara. But rather than an honest review, she had posted the “results” with false lashes creating an unrealistic outcome. After watching this unfold, I decided to stop relying on paid sponsorships/unreliable content creators and have been searching for the best drugstore mascara.
To determine the best mascara, I considered a few factors: price, length, clumping and wand quality. I applied these individually for a week to give them a fair shot and did not use additional tools or products throughout this process.
First up was the trending “L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara.” The retail price was $15 and the packaging was impressive; its wand was decent; as for the product itself, that’s a different story. This mascara is easily replaceable; the lift provided could be found using a lash curler from the dollar store. The wand had a unique shape that allowed for “lash separation.” I found this strangely convenient, almost as if L’Oréal knew their product would clump by the second coat. The mascara provided a decent length but gave a “spider-like” look so I placed this mascara at the bottom with a 2.5/5.
Next up was “Lash Princess False Lash Mascara” by Essence Cosmetics. I was able to pick the product up from Ulta for a low price of $6. The packaging and wand feel like you only paid $6 for them, but they get the job done. This mascara required three to four coats; there was some slight clumping action but I managed. While this may not provide the best length and volume within the first coat, this mascara earned a solid 4/5.
I will admit I had my doubts when it came to Maybelline’s “Falsie’s Push-up Angel Mascara.” The packaging was disappointing for $12; it felt cheap, as if it belonged in a child’s bag of “play makeup.” The initial swipe shocked me. It gave an even coat that provided the length I was looking for, the product didn’t clump when building up layers and its wand was sturdy, which worked well with the product. The mascara didn’t weigh down my lashes, thus leaving me with the desired length and a bonus curl/lift. While I still would not give this mascara a 5/5, it stood out and won my vote with a 4.5/5.