I’m a fussy old wotsit when it comes to mascaras. If it’s not waterproof then I can pretty much guarantee you 99.99% that I won’t like it. My lashes are straight and point downwards in an elephant-like fashion and the only thing that gets them to rise up is a bit of coaxing from the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers and good few coats of a waterproof formula (something to do with the high wax content apparently). I used the L’Oreal Telescopic Waterproof Mascara solidly for years until they discontinued it and I still search every L’Oreal counter I come across now to see if there’s a lost and lonely one that’s been left behind and needs a good home. Then I found the Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara and fell in love. It curls and layers in such a way that I can go pretty natural with it or later it on until it looks like I’ve got all fancy with false lashes. It’s amazing, but being the kinda gal who dreams about makeup in her sleep, I’m always happy to divert my attention and see if there’s something out there for bigger, bolder, badass looking lashes…
Enter two new mascara launches that have been causing a few ripples and raves in the community: the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara and Estée Lauder’s Little Black Primer. Both completely different ends of the mascara spectrum, but both claim to be water resistant so I put them to the test.
First up, Benefit’s Roller Lash Mascara. I have seen some before and after pictures with this and the lash transformation is insane. I was never really a fan of They’re Real, so I was crossing my fingers that this one would be a bit more up my street. With promises of separation, lift and a long-lasting curl this sounded right on. I love a good curl. I applied it and liked the length it gave with the rubber-y wand, but one minute later the curl had dropped and my lashes were back to their natural downward pointing position (it’s worn on my left eye above if you want to see it in action). So although it may be water resistant, it’s not waterproof and for a straight-lashed girl like me it failed the ‘can it hold an eyelash curler curl’ test. Boo.
Then there’s the Estée Lauder Little Black Primer (worn on my right eye above). This is an interesting one as it’s marketed as a tint to lightly give some colour and lift to the lashes, a primer to put on before your usual mascara and an setter to put over your mascara to make it waterproof. A 3-in-1 if you will, though I personally prefer it just as a one. Under and over mascara things get a bit messy for me and I haven’t found it to work well with any of my favourites, instead making things look spidery *shudders*. However, on it’s own – I’m into it. It doesn’t deliver major volume or length, it just coats my lashes with a hint of colour, separates them out and (thankfully) – holds a curl. It’s like my weekend mascara, or as I would like to rename it, ‘The No Makeup Mascara‘.
One miss and one hit that will join Fairydrops in my mascara rankings. Estée Lauder LBP? You’re in.
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