Natural Volume

I don't understand it when people complain that L'Oreal, or any other company, comes out with too many mascaras. It's fun to try out new mascaras in the hopes of finding one that works even better than the last one.
L'Oreal Voluminous Naturale is interesting - it's one that builds on L'Oreal Voluminous' already stellar reputation but adds a new brush. You know the kind: spiky, rubber, bristles that separate lashes and don't add clumps.

The brush for the L'Oreal Voluminous is pretty much the same as the one for Maybelline Define-A-Lash Mascara - it's a bendy brush that many don't like but one that I think is workable. The greatness of course lies in the formula, because this mascara layers like a breeze and the formula is a new one that lets you take the mascara off with just water.

I used to be a Voluminous fan - a huge one, actually, it used to be the only mascara I used for years! I know that I'm not alone either - there are tons of people who only love the Voluminous line, but things have changed. There's new technology from other brands and sometimes you want more than a big brush to layer product on. You want something that's easier to use and I think if you've been bored of Voluminous for those reasons, then you'll definitely need to check out this mascara.

Marcelle Ultimate Lash Mascara

Today's another day for a mascara roundup, and we start with one from a line that I haven't talked much about: Marcelle!

I've been trying Marcelle's Ultimate Lash Mascara and I'm pleased to say that although it doesn't use the newer trendier wands, it's still a great product that really works well.

I found that it was really easy to use and with a couple of sweeps of the wand I could get a pretty fringe of lashes. The great thing about this mascara is that it both lengthened and thickened and my lashes stayed soft not crispy.

Mascara Wow!

Mascara Wow is Lise Watier's newest mascara and the brush has bristles just like the mascaras being released these days - stiff rubber bristles that separate lashes nicely and make it easy to layer the formula.The mascara doesn't smudge or flake and lasts a long time while making your lashes look thick. It does what it says and it does it well!

Victoria Secret Mascara

I have a theory about mascaras - I think that they're best left to big companies to manufacture because that's when the turn out best. Think Lancome and CoverGirl and you know that a hit from both brands will come to mind.

But Victoria Secret's new High Definition Mascara surprised me, and in a good way.

Again, this is another one of those mascaras that has separated rubber bristles that managed to give you full lengthy lashes without going to much trouble. I did find the mascara to be a little smudgy, but only when I was wearing a moisturizer that was a little too greasy. Other than that, it held up well and made my lashes look nice!

You can pick up the mascara at all Victoria Secret and La Senza stores.

Add Colour To Your Eye

I don't know what it is about the Vincent Longo line, but I'm just never drawn to it. I think that it's because the products are so glamorous that I don't think I'll need them for everyday wear, and I'll give the line this much: many of the products are so original and you can't find anything like them anywhere else.

The next time you go by the counter, check out the newest Vincent Longo mascara.
It comes in fun colours like bright blue, green, and yellow and you can easily use the thin wand to use this mascara in place of your regular one or on top of it. I think it would be great to use this on the tips of your lashes if you wanted to add a pop of colour to your outfit.

It's a cool concept and I haven't seen a mascara this vibrant in this many colours anywhere else.

Texas Lash

I know, I know, you're thinking: two mascaras, both by Cargo, and both great? How can that be? Why would Cargo do such a thing?

But you know what? They have.

I'll be honest, I might not have tried the Texas Lash mascara if it weren't named after a food I love, and that is Texas Toast, an extra-thick slice of bread dripping with butter. It warms my heart that a mascara named after one of my favourite breakfast foods really lives up to its name.They could have also called this mascara the "one coat wonder" of course. Seriously, the formula is good enough that you just need one coat of this mascara to give you nicely defined thick lashes. And they really are thick - just like that toast.

I've got to mention the formula too though - it's similar to Clinique's Lash Power, Estee Lauder's Double Wear Mascara, and Lancome's Courbe Virtuose. That means that the mascara comes off easily just by wetting your lashes with water and pulling it off gently with your fingers. It's a cool formula and with this mascara, I'm able to see how thickly it really applies just by noticing how much comes off into my hands at the end of the day.

If you want a thickening mascara that stays put for a long time and then comes off easily at the end of your day, be sure to check out Cargo's Texas Lash - I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I Found the Best Mascara

Some times it can be a little difficult to make yourself even try products when you already have a favourite lying at home that works perfectly well. In this case, I am so glad that I had a little time to kill at Sephora last week and decided to pick up this mascara. I know that I've been a little wary of Cargo's newest collection, but this mascara truly is amazing!

I'm talking about Cargo's Blu_Ray mascara, that is available only at Sephora. I know that the wand looks a little strange, but I promise that it is super-easy to use and actually delivers amazingly thick lashes and even application of mascara.

This is definitely among the best mascaras I've ever tried. It goes on smoothly, layers nicely, and gives me the most amazing lashes I've ever seen.

If I have a complaint it's that my lashes looked so thick that they looked fake but I know that's because I applied 3 coats when 1 would have been sufficient.

If you like voluminous lashes and want to try a new mascara, get this one. It's awesome.

Diorshow Mascara

I've tried the Christian Dior Diorshow mascara many times before, but never written a review about it, so here goes.


Let me start by saying that there's a reason that this mascara ends up on all the Editor's lists but never in the hands or makeup bags of most makeup artists. On top of being one of the more expensive mascaras on the market, it really doesn't deliver anything that a drugstore mascara can't. Add that to the fact that it's a little difficult to use on account of the massive wand.

Want to know how large it really is? Check out the picture of it next to a wand from CoverGirl VolumeExact Mascara.


The wand on the left is the VolumeExact, while the right one is the Diorshow wand. The Diorshow wand is huge which makes it a little difficult to use. It's hard to get mascara on every single lash and not have a little bit smear on your eyelids.

I have to say though, that once I got used to the wand, this was not a terrible mascara. I was able to build volume with two or three coats, and the formula is stellar. I didn't see any flaking but it washed off very easily at the end of the day. I even fell asleep with it on one night and woke up surprised to see it was still there, so it does wear very well.

Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara

I'm glad so many of you concur: mascara reviews are the best!

Recently launched is the Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara. I reviewed the original Maybelline Define-A-Lash already and liked it, so I couldn't wait to try this one.

If you're already complaining about the slightly bendy wand - quit whining! I will admit that it takes a bit of getting used to, but once you learn to have a light hand you'll find that it seems to grab all your lashes and coat them very well.

The mascara itself gives you enough wetness to build your volume and I like it a lot. I do notice that I can get thicker lashes than when I use the original Define-A-Lash. Both mascaras have no clumping at all and hold curl really well too. Overall: great workable mascara!

If you're on a budget, Maybelline often has 2-for-1 deals at drugstores both in Canada and the States, so watch out for them and then grab 2 at a time.

New Products - Backstage at Fashion Week

Last week in New York, I saw a MAC makeup artists with the most amazing lashes. I just had to ask her: were they real? They were, she answered, and all she had done was use MAC mascara that would be coming out in the fall.

I haven't tried it, but the results were positively drool-worthy and I can't wait until it's out on counters. It will give you drama like never before. Wait for it.

There are also some new lip products coming and everyone's favourite Mineralize Skinfinishes in new colours.

Napoleon Perdis Peep Show Mascara

Napoleon Perdis' Peep Show - Madame Fantasia mascara has received some good reviews for a volumizing mascara, but I found it to be too dry. This means that building volume with multiple coats is a little difficult to do.

I will say that this mascara is completely clump-free and does make your lashes look nice, I just don't think that I was able to customize my use of it the way I would have liked to.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Mascara

Estee Lauder Double Wear Mascara is the newest entry into the Double Wear family. The brush on the wand is small, but not as small as this Clinique Mascara. Like the Clinique Mascara however, the Double Wear Mascara really does stay put on lashes and does not budge. When you wash it off with water, the mascara slides off in little clumps and really does come off quite easily.

But what you want to know is whether the mascara is any good.

It is!

This Estee Lauder Mascara is meant for lengthening rather than adding volume, but I found that my lashes did look thicker when I wore it. They also looked super long since the size of the wand let me get to every single lash from root to tip.

This is definitely one of my favourite mascaras these days.

Rimmel London Eye Magnifier Mascara Product Review

Rimmel London Eye Magnifier Mascara is so bad that I actually tossed an almost-empty tube in the bin today. The main problem, I feel, is with the wand. The head is made up of very cheap plastic and the teeth aren't as fine as they should be, which means that you get lashes clumping together instead of being separated.

Clinique Lash Power Mascara

Wow - I mean, I like small wands because they let me get every single lash, but this is something else. The wand for Clinique's new Lash Power Mascara must be the slimmest on the market, and you know what? I really like it. I can really get the little lashes at the ends, and overall my look is pretty dramatic. This mascara works better for length than volume, but the length itself does provide a lot of drama.

The long-wear formula comes off easily with just water, but it stays on the whole day without any flaking at all. Apparently this is a hit mascara in Asia, and I can totally see why. If you find the bigger wands a little unwieldy then this is the better choice to make.

More information coming on the rest of Clinique's spring collection!

L'Oreal Telescopic Clean Definition

L'Oreal Telescopic Clean Definition mascara says that it will give you no clumps and just defined lashes. It certainly delivers on those counts. This is not a mascara to use if you want to add "oomph" to your look but it works well for everyday wear. Your lashes will look longer but still natural.

CoverGirl Lash Blast

Here's a picture of the wand that makes Cover Girl's newest mascara: Lash Blast. It seems to use the same spiky bristles as the newest mascaras but the wand is huge! The small wand you see on the left is the one for Volume Exact. See how much smaller it is?

I usually don't like mascaras with fat brushes. I find them to be unwieldy and I inadvertently get mascara on my eyelid as I try to negotiate mascara on every part of my lashes. That said, this mascara is really good and it does give me long full lashes that are slightly curled as well. I would even say that this is one of the best mascaras of the year and if you're looking for a mascara that delivers and you like the fat wand mascaras, then this is your best bet.

This mascara is already available in the U.S. but Canadian readers can expect it to be on shelves sometime in January or February.

Prescriptives Mascara Review

I've been wearing Prescriptives Here to Stay Mascara, said to be so long wearing that you can put it on and leave it on for 24 hours with nary a smudge or flake in sight.

Well after a few trials, I can happily tell you that what they say is true - this mascara really is long-wearing, much in the way that a regular waterproof mascara is, but minus any flakes that one might used to be seeing from a waterproof mascara.

I should mention that the wand of this mascara is new. It's like that of the Chanel Inimitable or the CoverGirl Waterproof. Think a rubber wand with spikes that separate your lashes perfectly and volumize the lashes as well. The mascara is easy to use and difficult to remove so keep your waterproof makeup remover handy (as is the case with all waterproof mascaras).

This mascara is already on Prescriptives counters everywhere.

Courbe Virtuose - Lancome's Latest Mascara

I may have found the next mascara that's "Holy Grail" material. (In case you're unfamiliar with this term, Holy Grail is when you find something that's the best of the best, always works for you, and a product that you would buy again and again. You could have a holy grail foundation, top coat, blush, etc. or you could have something that's "good enough" but still not good enough to stop you for searching for the next best thing, i.e. not your holy grail. See the distinction?)

Introducing Lancome's Courbe Virtuouse. This mascara's wand has a side with long bristles and a side with short bristles. You start with the longer bristles and turn the wand as you work it through your lashes. What happens is that it really grasps on to your lashes and makes sure that mascara is applied all the way through your lashes which makes them look super long and defined. Since it's gripping them and the wand is curved, then your lashes will be slightly curled as well. The simplicity of the design combined with the fact that it really works is pure genius.

Holt Renfrew already has this mascara on its counters and I suspect that other department stores will be getting it really soon. Try it out for yourself and used correctly you will not be disappointed.

Longer Lashes

The new Maybelline mascara - Define-A-Lash - has a wand that resembles that of the most recent CoverGirl and Chanel offerings - it has flexible rubber spikes rather than a comb or bristly brush. The mascara claims to give length without the clumps and it delivers. The formulation is one that's thinner than other mascaras and that means that it does take a bit longer to dry, but the result is worth the wait. Excellent performance aside, we must remember that Maybelline is the maker of Great Lash. I think that mascara works so nicely and is loved by so many makeup artists because of its intense black colour and this mascara delivers that same level of inky intensity. Remember that the bendy wand means that you apply with a light touch to get the best results.

A 35th Anniversary and a FREE MASCARA!

Believe it or not there's a product that's been on the market for ages and keeps selling and selling. In fact, last year was this product's 35th anniversary...it's been on the market for that long! You know what it is and there's a good chance that you've used it yourself!

I'm talking about Maybelline's Great Lash Mascara. The story behind the mascara is a cute one - in 1913 a young chemist named T.L. Williams made a mixture of Vaseline and coal to coat his sister's eyebrows and lashes so that they looked longer and blacker. The formula worked so well that two years later he started selling "cake mascara" and named it Maybelline which was a combination of his sister's name Maybel and the word Vaseline! If only my sister could create beauty products just for me...

In 1932, the mascara was a hit in stores everywhere and was sold for 10 cents a pop. The Great Lash mascara as we know it now, hit the market in 1971 with its pink and green tube that makes it so easily identifiable.

Proof that the mascara is a favourite of many? Maybelline sells the most mascara in Canada and every one and a half minute, somebody somewhere in the world buys a tube of Great Lash Mascara. So someone's bought one now (one one thousand, two) and now (two one thousand, three) and now...

The mascara now comes in a range to suit many needs, including one that's "Blackest Black" and a Clear version. Best of all it's still one of the cheapest options out there, so you can try it for yourself without breaking the bank. Need yet another reason to try it: the first time I wore it someone asked me I had new fake eyelashes. That's good enough for me!

And now for CanadianBeauty.com's first giveaway:

people who tell their own Great Lash story in the comments section will get a FREE 35th Anniversary GREAT LASH MASCARA sent to them. Tell me why you like the mascara or what your favourite thing is about it. Make sure you leave your email address in the comment so I can contact you for your mailing address.

ETA: This contest is STILL OPEN! There are more mascaras to be given away so get your comments in and leave your email address!

ETA 2: This contest is now closed. Many thanks to everyone who shared their story!