My Favorite Mascaras
My Favorite Mascaras
If there’s one makeup product I am extra particular about, it’s mascara. I feel like I’ve tried dozens, maybe hundreds, over my years of working as a model, and I’ve become quite particular about what I like. One of the most frequently asked questions when I wear makeup on Instagram Stories is, “what mascara are you wearing?” So today, I thought I’d dig into my favorites that are on constant rotation and why I love them.
As far as lash health and growth goes, I’m a huge fan of RevitaLash serum. I’ve used it on and off since 2016. It enhances and protects against breakage while improving flexibility & shine. From my understanding, it was originally developed for cancer patients, so it helps regrowth for lashes, and they have one for brows as well that my mother-in-law has used. I’ve had to stop using it occasionally because my lashes get too long for sunglasses, such a good problem to have.
In the world of mascara primers, who knew you could have a mascara primer? I love Lancome’s Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Primer. It nurtures lashes and maximizes mascara results for a major lash lift and the appearance of longer, thicker, and more volumized lashes. The key is to wait until it is tacky, not dry, to go ahead then and apply your mascara.
Here are a few of my favorite mascaras, the reasons why I like them are because of the brush, the flake-free formula, and/or the volume that it gives me. I’ll go into more detail below.
ONE
Ilia Mascara, the newest addition to my favorites. I started using it earlier this summer, and it has quickly become a favorite of mine because it feels like a one-stop shop. I can confidently wear it on my upper and lower lashes without flaking or smudging. It also is 99% Naturally-Derived, 25% Organic, and Cruelty-Free and washes off nicely with soap and water, no scrubbing required. The only downside is that it only comes in one color/shade option.
TWO
Covergirl, my tried and true! This was one of the first mascaras I ever used, and it was a dream come true to partner with them a few years ago. This under $10 option has a great brush, which defines the lashes, and is now available in a clean formula for the same price.
THREE
Urban Decay Perversion was one of the first mascaras I loved. It has an ultra-creamy, lengthening, and volumizing formula that delivers feathery, fanned-out lashes. It’s buildable and gives great volume, I typically only wear this one on the top lashes.
FOUR
Lancome Idole, I LOVE the brush on this one, I feel like I can get into the inner and outer corners of my eyes with this one. I prefer to wear this one on my top lashes, but the brush is fine enough for the lower lashes. It’s an antioxidant-rich mascara gel formula that volumizes every lash for an instant lash lift & length that doesn’t flake or smudge.
FIVE
When I want a lot of volume, I love using bareMinerals MAXIMIST mascara. I use mostly on the top of my lashes for ultimate volume. It’s made with Orange Peel Fibers for instant maxed-out volume and infused with fortifying ingredients for visibly thicker lashes over time. It’s Cruelty-Free, Vegan, Paraben-Free, Gluten-Free, Talc-Free, Synthetic Fragrance-Free, SLS-Free, and PEG-Free, and formulated without tree nuts but only one color is available.
SIX
Lancome’s Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Primer (mentioned above). It nurtures lashes and maximizes mascara results for a major lash lift and the appearance of longer, thicker, and more volumized lashes. The key is to wait until it is tacky, not dry, to go ahead then and apply your mascara.
SEVEN
Big Monsieur is another favorite for mega volume. This volumizing and lengthening mascara is smudge-proof and does not flake. The soft brush and wavy fiber bristles deliver high intensity, while the ultra-black pigments coat each lash for clump-free volume. It’s comfortable to wear all day long. It also comes in a waterproof formula, if interested!
EIGHT
This Trish McEvoy Lash Curling mascara is the original creator of tubular mascara. This means it wraps lashes in polymer-based tubes that slide cleanly off with warm water alone. The best way to apply is to start at the base of your lashes and wiggle the wand in a zigzag motion up through the tips. It is my favorite to wear for an everyday look, especially on the bottom lashes, because it will never give you raccoon eyes or smudge. Their amazing formula comes in two brush options, lash curling and high volume, which is great for shorter lashes.
HOW TO REMOVE
PRO TIP: When you accidentally smudge mascara onto your eyelid while applying, wait for it to dry completely before wiping it off. I use a dry mascara spoolie to swipe it right off quickly, I bought a big pack of them, and they’re super convenient to have.
For mascara removal, I love to use a cleansing balm! I alternate between Elemis Cleansing Balm and Colleen Rothchild. Both are amazing and are meant to be applied to a dry, full-makeup face and gently worked into your skin. I like to use these reusable towels and warm water to melt everything off. It always feels like a luxurious spa moment! In a desperate pinch, I like to keep Neutrogena wipes on hand for when I’m in a rush, traveling or after a long night of too many beverages!
I hope this post was helpful, feel free to leave any questions or your favorite mascaras below. Be sure to check out the beauty tab of the blog for more of my makeup favorites. What should I cover next? Thank you so much for reading! xx CMK
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Photos by Ryan Kell