It’s no secret that I’m a makeup fanatic and need to try just about every new product that hits the market with a little buzz. It’s also no secret that I’ve worked as a professional makeup artist for nearly 10 years — creating looks for debutantes, blushing brides, and celebrities alike. Perhaps the question I’m asked most is: What’s the best mascara on the market?
While I’ve extolled the virtues of boosting your lashes, and almost fainted in shock over the price, even I am often stumped by this question. There are so many different types of lashes and face shapes out there, it’s hard to pick just one. However, there are some basic guidelines to finding the right mascara for you:
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
1. Do you still think there’s something else out there that you’d like better?
2. Does the mascara flake or bleed onto your skin?
3. Is it hard to remove and/or does it pull out the lashes when you wash it off?
If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, then honey, it’s time to find a new mascara!
Some of my all-time favorite mascaras that work on virtually everyone are Laura Mercier’s Thickening Mascara, great for “normal” lashes, and Clinique’s Naturally Glossy Mascara, great for more sparse lashes. Both formulas apply smoothly with a buildable formula — so you control how much product you apply. However, I may have found a new favorite.
Enter DiorShow Iconic Mascara. Now, I wasn’t one to jump on the bandwagon when a slew of brands released formulas with “new” plastic bristles a few years ago – in fact, I thought the bristles looked like medieval weapons and was in no rush to try them. However, a recent purchase at Neiman’s left me with a tester that I couldn’t resist trying out.
Initial Reaction: When I first started to apply DiorShow Iconic, I was hesitant. I could feel the plastic bristles as I pushed the product into my lashline and shimmied it at the roots, unlike traditional soft bristles. However, once finished with the application, the overall effect was absolutely stunning! Dark, thick, separated lashes — yes! One of my pet peeves as a makeup artist is mascara that looks clumpy or “fuzzy.” This happens when a formula is too thick or when mascara is old.
Final Review: The DiorShow lasted all day with fabulous effects. I’ve even cried since I’ve started wearing it, and it really stays put. My only complaint comes when it’s time to take it off. It takes both face wash and eye makeup remover. However, the way my face is shaped I am constantly at risk for undereye smudging — so the fact that this mascara doesn’t smudge at all was an easy trade-off for the extra removal step.
Budget Bonus: That same weekend, coincidentally, I had a girlfriend come visit with a new tube of CoverGirl Lash Blast. She generously let me try it — and it really did have the same effect as the DiorShow! Bonus: CoverGirl’s product is about 4x less expensive. While my next purchase will most likely be the DiorShow Iconic, I can easily see myself purchasing the LashBlast toward the end of the month when money’s a little tighter.
Tell me, have you tried any mascaras with the plastic/silicon bristles? What are some of your favorites?
