In the past, something that was a road block for me when it came to blogging was that often, I wouldn’t want to write a post because I had other post ahead of it on my list that I felt like I “should” share first. For example, I wouldn’t share a particular item I was using for the kids because I wanted to put together a more comprehensive list of favorites. However, it obviously takes longer to put together a more detailed post like that, and so I wouldn’t have the time, and then I’d just not post anything at all. But now that I’m back, I’m determined not to do that! And while I do have some some longer guide-type posts I’m hoping to put together and share in the future, for now I’m just going to try to share the things I love when I can!
Which leads me to what I want to talk about today – MASCARA!
(Ok that was kind of aggressive, but I’m really excited…ha!)
For a long time, my favorite mascara was The Rocket by Maybelline and I’d compare every new mascara I tried to that one. And while I still think it’s an excellent (and very underrated) mascara, two new ones have recently come into my life that I’m totally obsessed with.
L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise mascara | Benefit BADgal BANG! Volumizing mascara
The first is a drugstore mascara, Voluminous Lash Paradise by L’Oreal, and guys, it’s SO GOOD. It’s supposed to be a dupe for the cult favorite, Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara (which by the way is a mascara I can’t stand, and not just because of the dumb name, but because it flaked off on me and I just did not like it at all) and L’Oreal was clearly trying to draw comparisons with that mascara as they went with really similar colored light pink packaging. The Lash Paradise has a very full soft fiber brush, which I’m kind of surprised I like so much because I normally prefer a spiky plastic brush. But this mascara is truly fantastic. It definitely provides impact with one coat, but it’s a very buildable mascara and you can layer to achieve a really full look. It doesn’t make your lashes clumpy, it just gives you this soft but very dramatic look, almost like you’re wearing false lashes. And it’s very black, which I love because some drugstore mascaras tend to not be super pigmented. And additionally, I feel like it has really great staying power and when I look in the mirror at the end of the day, my lashes still look just how they did when I applied it. So if you’re in the market for a new mascara and you’re looking for a drugstore option, definitely check this one out.
My other mascara is one that was just recently launched, you guessed it, it’s the Benefit BADgal BANG! Volumizing mascara. When this mascara came out, Benefit took a bunch of beauty influencers that I follow on social media on these extravagant trips, all with the purpose of promoting this mascara. Because of that, I think I assumed that were probably overcompensating for what was likely just an average mascara, and so I kind of ignored all the posts I kept seeing about it. Plus, I almost never buy non-drugstore mascara because I feel like it’s such a waste. As someone who wears contacts and is prone to eye infections, I try to replace my mascaras pretty regularly and so that’s why I usually get them at Target, not Sephora. But try as I might to deny it, I am a marketer’s dream and I always want to try the latest thing, so I ended up picking up a mini tube of it as an impulse buy when I was checking out at Sephora in NYC earlier this month. And let me just say, this mascara totally holds up to all their marketing claims – it is fantastic. It gives you very, very intense black lashes and they’re definitely more spiky (vs. feathery with the Lash Paradise) so if you’re into a dramatic look, you’ll like this mascara. This one does have a spiky plastic brush, which I like, my only complaint is that the brush itself is very flexible, which can take some getting used to. So while I wish the wand was a little stiffer, it’s definitely something I can live with. What I think is unique about this mascara is the formula; while most mascaras seem kind of a like a thicker paint consistency, this almost seems more gel-like? It’s not a super wet, liquidy mascara like some are, it just has a formula that is unlike other mascaras I’ve tried. It wears well throughout the day and I’ve been thoroughly impressed with it so far.
So there you have it, my two favorite mascaras…for now! Mascara is definitely something I try to stay on top of repurchasing frequently, plus I’m such a sucker when it comes to trying out new launches, so I’m always trying new things when they come out. But don’t see these two mascaras going anywhere anytime soon because, in my opinion, they’re both pretty great. Finally, I am planning on sharing a post with my current makeup favorites in the near future and both of these mascaras will definitely be included!