Starting Off: Mascara
This post may contain affiliate links where I may make a commission on purchases made through those links. For full details please see disclosure page.
This weeks post is on probably the one item people own, even those who rarely use makeup, it is of course, mascara.
Mascara is important for a few reasons, and if you ask anyone the single most important item in their makeup bag, I would bet nearly every one would say mascara. Mascara can help make your lashes look fuller, thicker, longer, more defined, more curled and healthier – depending which one you chose and what you want that particular one to do.
The best way to apply my mascara I have found is to get the brush horizontal and level with the base of your lashes, then wiggle it slightly and blink as you move the brush up through the lashes to coat them all fully and evenly.
These are my four most used mascaras at the moment, all which are different in the end effect they give.
Left to right we have:
- Benefit They’re Real – RRP £19.50
- Smashbox Full Exposure – RRP £18
- Soap and Glory Thick & Fast – RRP £10
- Seventeen Doll’d Up – RRP £6.29
Firstly we have probably my favourite mascara of the moment, They’re Real by Benefit. I Love this mascara because it seems to do pretty much everything I would want a mascara to do, it lengthens, volumises, thickens and defines, all in one go, while also being quick to apply.
I love the fact you can also really build this mascara up. If you want to take the time to really work it onto your lashes and build up a few layers the results are literally amazing, I have never had a mascara like it in that sense. On the other hand if you want to just put a quick coat on before dashing out the door it will still make your lashes look lovely, and it doesn’t seem to smudge or move at all.
The only downside to this mascara, apart from it being a little pricey, is that getting it off without a really good eye makeup remover is an actual nightmare. If you have a good one all you need to do is let it soak on your lashes for a while before wiping away, but this mascara is not for you if you use wipes to take all of your makeup off, or want to wash it away in the shower and miss makeup remover all together, it really won’t be the best mascara for you.
The second mascara I am showcasing in this post is my more recent mascara purchase, Full Exposure by Smashbox. It’s similar in price to the Benefit one I talked about, but is totally different in terms of how it applies and removal. This mascara feels a lot “thinner” on the lashes, so is really fast to apply a coat of it without having to worry about any clumps or spider looking lashes, but it won’t build up to the same level as the They’re Real one.
It’s amazing for defining the lashes and making them look longer, but not so good if you want lots of volume and thickness to your lashes. I don’t find this mascara smudges much at all, but also removes easily with makeup remover, so it is perfect if you want really lengthened defined lashes without much fuss at all.
This next mascara is a little cheaper than the previous two, but I find it still to be a decent mascara, it does lengthen and thicken, plus it defines a little too. It can smudge slightly towards the end of the day, but nothing too extreme.
Brush wise it looks very similar to the Full Exposure by Smashbox, and it is! It’s the formulation of the mascara that is a little different. This one is slightly more prone to clumping than the Smashbox one, but will give you more volume and thickness quicker as it seems to have a slightly thicker consistency. This mascara is a lot better than I was expecting from a brand I always only associated with skin care, and I would recommend it.
The last one is the cheapest of the bunch at just £6.29. It has a completely different brush on it to the other three I mentioned above, and I wouldn’t say this really thickens much at all, but it’s great forgiving your lashes a darkened coat, and helps to define and exaggerate the lashes without much work.
The reason I like the brush on this mascara is that it has different length bristles on different sides of the brush. The longer ones are good for your upper lashes, the shorter ones are good for either the base of the top lashes or the lashes on the lower lash line, and then you have the few bristles at the top which can help separate and define the lashes even more if needs be.
I do find with this mascara that it won’t stay put all day, it will stay put long enough to cover you over a working day, but I would say to take it with you to top up if you were going out after wards.
So that’s it for this weeks post, I hope you found this helpful. If you have tried or want to try any of these mascaras then let me know! I will be putting up a full review of a couple of these mascaras down the line so keep an eye out!
54 Comments
Rebecca Sheen
Hiya,
Great post! I love your in-depth reviews of each mascara. I don’t have the 17 one but really like the other 3 (They’re Real is in my top 2!).
Rebecca x
http://cloudnineindulgence.blogspot.co.uk/
Kammitted
Thank you so much! I try to be as helpful as I can as that’s what I look for in other peoples reviews 🙂 x
Asha
I like the packaging of that 17 one, but it doesn’t sound like I’d like the formula… Loved your reviews 🙂
Check my mascara post out? The Oxford Owl
Kammitted
The packaging was what caught my eye and made me want to buy it in the first place! It’s not the best mascara, but I use it a lot as a quick one for work. Thank you 🙂 x
Hannah
Wow- this is such a detailed post and the reviews were so good for all of those aspiring beauty gurus! I love your blog & I loved this post! Cannot wait until next week’s post 🙂
Please check out my blog and give me some feedback-
http://hannahsbubbe.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/starting-off-mascara-ubc.html xxxx
Kammitted
Thank you so much, that’s so kind of you to say! Of course I will head on over to your blog now! 🙂 x
Jess
This is such a good post, so detailed and in-depth!
Thick & Fast is my all-time favourite mascara, I love it. I wasn’t a fan of They’re Real! though, it didn’t seem to do much for me :/
xo
Kammitted
Thank you for that lovely comment! I had never thought about getting Soap and Glory makeup before, but I am glad I did! It’s one of my favourite every day ones for work! 🙂
Funny how some mascaras don’t seem to do the same for different people isn’t it! x
Brittany
Great post, thanks for sharing!:)
Hugs, Brittany, xx
http://polkaanddots.blogspot.co.uk/
Kammitted
Thank you for the lovely comment 🙂
Much appreciated! x
Lauren T
I have been hankering to try the Soap and Glory Mascara for a while! I’m tempted now!
xxx
Kammitted
You should! I got mine in the big set Boots do at Christmas time, but it’s a great buy on it’s own too! 🙂 x
katie
great post! They’re real mascaras amazing isn’t it! I love it definitely one of my favourites I was wearing it today hehe x
Kammitted
It really is, I was impressed with it as normally even the “amazing” ones can be a bit pants on me, but I really liked this from first use! 🙂 xx
Fiona
Fab, really want to try the Soap and Glory mascara now as a few people have mentioned it!
Fi xx
girlwithlipstick.blogspot.co.uk
Kammitted
It’s actually a lot better than I was expecting! Do let me know your thoughts if you give it a try! 🙂 x
Dani
Great post! I’ve been toying with buying something from Soap & Glory make up for a while. I may give this a go but it’s nice your favourite is mine as well! I LOVE that mascara! Xxx
Kammitted
Well it’s a good one to try! They also have a peach colour blush which looks amaaaaazing! They’re real is just ridiculously awesome, that’s why I don’t mind paying a bit more for it 🙂 x
Sweet. Sparkly. Serendipity.
Love benefit’s they’re real too! Especially on top of a cheaper basic mascara! Think that makes it easier to remove too! ^^
Love your blog!
Kammitted
Oh now that’s a good idea! I will definitely be trying this the next time I use it! 😀
Thanks for the comment! 🙂
Ebony Jay
I am pretty sure that if I did not have my mascara I would just die (: great post!
Kammitted
Thank you! I love how you always comment such lovely things! 🙂
Maya
I lalalalove They’re Real. I use it anytime and everytime, and I usually layer it with something else. Dying to try the Smashbox one! Great SO post 🙂
http://bigbeautybag.blogspot.com/
Kammitted
It’s amazing isn’t it! The smashbox one is a totally different mascara, but I really love that too! Let me know if you try it! 😀 x
flash-gordonette
I love the Benefit one but you’re right about it being a nightmare to take off!
Have you tried 17’s Va Va Voom mascara? My ultimate favorite on a budget mascara, but not for those who like to keep it natural 🙂
PS, “Kammitted” – I love it! ♥
Kammitted
It really is! I use my Biotherm eye makeup remover and find that if you soak it, it comes off fairly easily, but using a cheapy one would be a nightmare!
No I haven’t tried that one actually, will pick one up if it’s good though! Always on the look out for new cheap mascaras 😀
Thanks! 😀
x
Olivia
Everyone’s complaining about how it’s very difficult to remove Benefit They’re Real Mascara, but it totally depends on the makeup remover as well! Really like the looks and sounds of the 17 Doll’d Up
Kammitted
Yeah exactly, with a decent eye make up remover I find it just glides off 🙂 x
Lianne
Fab post hun!
I’ve never tried the S&G one before, but I’m too obsessed with my Benefit & MAC beauties to try anything else haha!
Lianne | TheBrunetteSays…
Kammitted
Haha I know the feeling! Pulling away from brands like MAC and Benefit is so hard! But I like finding cheaper alternatives so I still have good options when I am skint 🙂 x
andy
love the 1 🙂
Kammitted
Which 1? 🙂
Deb
They’re Real is a nightmare to remove, but I love how it makes my lashes look! I’ve never heard of the brand 17–is it only available in the UK?
Kammitted
Yeah I know exactly how you mean!
It’s a Boots own brands, so depends if you have any Boots stores where you are! x
Rob D
=O
Kammitted
I am replying to you as I reply to every comment on my blog…. it’s a good thing I know you or that would look rude! 😛
Rob D
Good! Wouldn’t wanna look rude now =D If I had a blog, I hope you would of followed it!
Kammitted
Of course I would! 🙂
Hanna
Seventeen Mascara`s packaging looks good! After reading your post I feel, like I need Benefit`s mascara in my life. It sounds like it would do everything, I expect mascara to do 🙂
Kammitted
It’s really pretty isn’t it! That’s what drew me to it in the first place 🙂
The Benefit one is amazing, as long as you have a really good eye makeup remover I really would recommend it! x
phoenixbeautyy
I really need to get my hands on Their Real! Great post xx
http://phoenixbeautyy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/giveaway-win-25-of-mua-makeup.html
Kammitted
Really do! As long as you have a decent makeup remover I am sure you will love it! 🙂
Teklalla
I only use Rimmel’s Scandal Eyes mascara, that’s my favourite!
Kammitted
Oh interesting! I have never used that one before actually… may have to give it a go! 🙂
Dolled Up Beauty
Doll’d Up for me currently has to be the best Mascara I’ve used in a long time, it gives me curl, volume, and lasts all day long! Its my go to Mascara! Plus I love the name too! lol
Kammitted
It was a lot better than I was expecting for the price to be honest! I find it great as an every day one, as it does help make my eyes look more awake with little effort! I agree the name is awesome 🙂
coconutjelley
Interesting read 🙂 I know what you mean about the Benefit mascara though, it is tough to get off but I’ve found that using the Skin Therapy 3in1 Facial Wipes form Wilko are great at getting it off. You might need to use 3 or 4 wipes depending on how much mascara you put on but it does get it all off 🙂 x
Kammitted
Oh that’s interesting to know! I never use it when travelling usually due to the pain it can be to remove, so knowing there are wipes out there that will do the job is awesome! Thanks! 😀 xx
Caitlyn
I just bought They’re real! So I am hoping it works for me and that I love it as much as other people!
Also, I happened to see a tweet from you on someone’s twitter and it said you were 5 away from a certain amt of followers so I figured i’d help a fellow blogger out and follow!
If you want to follow back up above is my wordpress. I am also on bloglovin, and I am on twitter and I followed u on twitter 🙂 See you later!
Kammitted
I hope it does, it’s an amazing mascara! Let me know how you get on with it! 😀
Aww thank you!! I am now only 2 away! I shall follow you back too for being so lovely! 🙂
Thank you for the fabulous comment! 😀 xx
Amy Connolly
Helloo, I love 17’s mascaras.. I usually use their ‘ Back Lash’ first and then finish it off with their ‘Falsifeye’! Are Benefit cosmetics worth the money? I’ve never tried them, but continuously add their various things to my wishlist, aha!
xo
aaamylouxo.blogspot.co.uk
Kammitted
Oh I have never used either of those, are they good?
Personally, yes I really do think they are worth it! Not every product they do, but a lot that I have tried I have bought more than once – which is a rarity for me to start with as I am bad at changing products no matter how much I love them lol. Their foundation is AMAZING 🙂 x
LaLa
I love They’re Real too! It’s my fav. I use it with Divaderme brush on lashes so my eyelashes look super long xx
Kammitted
Oh that sounds amazing! Never heard of Divaderme brush on lashes – must google them and see what they are all about! 😀 x