After watching Natalie Imbruglia, in jaw gaping awe and green envy, bat her seemingly never-ending, eye-framing, thick long lashes in the recent L’Oreal advertisement, I have spent the last month in search of the perfect mascara.
A short survey among close friends and mascara junkies proved that though we girls love the product, we know nothing much about the differences in formulas or which will suit us the best.

To break down the different kinds of mascaras and give you an idea of what to expect the next time you decide to fork out money for your lashes, here are the most commonly used terms to describe the effects and what they mean.

Lengthening Mascaras essentially extend the length of your lashes for a long, soft effect. These are great for ladies who have thick but short lashes.
Volumising Mascaras increase the fullness of your lashes, without lengthening them. Best used for dramatic effects or for those blessed with long lashes which only need the extra plumping.

Glossy Mascaras are high in pigments to keep lashes looking shiny and healthy instead of fragile. They do not lengthen or volumise in an obvious way. For the minimalist girl, this will not make you look too dolled up. Best for the lucky lasses who have long lashes.

Water-proof Mascaras are great for people on the move and particularly for athletes. Given Singapore’s humid and unpredictable weather, water-proof mascaras fit the bill for most local women.

What A Girl Wants
After making a list of the possible contenders for my “Ultimate Mascara” challenge, I set off on my quest for “The One”. T.G. Goh, ]who has done make-up for local fashion magazines and heads a team of make-up artistes in the Artists at Work Gallery, lent me a hand at discovering which mascaras were worth their hype.

According to T.G., Maybelline has the most effective mascaras that deliver what they promise for a fraction of what you would pay for a high-end brand. He said, “Maybelline has the best. I am currently using their Full N Soft mascara, which is very good because it separates well and gives definition.”

Another drugstore brand earning high praise by T.G. is the L’Oreal’s Double Extend mascara. It provides strengthening micro fibres on one end of the double-sided wand and a colour magnifying formula on the other for the longest lashes you can imagine!

If pricier mascaras are what you’re looking for then T.G. suggests Chanel mascaras or M.A.C.’s Pro Lash Mascara which he says, “is one of the best mascaras around.” Though 50% more expensive, high-end mascaras tend to retain the textures of their formulas longer, thus reducing flakiness after frequent use.

Mascara Care
To prolong the shelf-life of your mascara, T.G. suggests, “wiping the wand clean after use and keeping it in a cool place because heat causes clumps.”. You may also want to avoid pumping the wand in and out of the bottle because once air gets trapped in your mascara, it will harden up more quickly and become harder to apply.

The general rule is to discard used mascara after 2 to 3 months of use to avoid nasty eye infections. For those who wear contact lenses, toss out your wands 1 to 2 months after use to lessen discomfort from use.

Evil Twins
For penny-pinchers, here are the budget doubles of high-end brand mascaras. The cheaper counterparts provide just about the same effects.

Save Splurge
Maybelline Lash Discovery Lancome Magicils Length
L'Oreal Lash Intensifique Estee Lauder Magnascopic Maximum Mascara
Maybelline Full N Soft MAC Pro Lash
Fasio Waterproof Mascara Lancome Amplicils Waterproof
L'Oreal Double Extend Prescriptives False Eyelashes Mascara

Achieving The Look
The prep work to ensure great lashes and achieving the eye-batting looks you want, whether subtle or dramatic, is simply lash care. Drugstore brand Vaseline helps keep lashes soft and glossy in between mascara application. Making sure you’re not overzealous with the eyelash curler, which weakens your lashes.

It is also recommended that you use the proper eye make-up remover to clean off mascara after use. If the mascara of your choice is waterproof, than an oil-based remover will effectively remove the product without harming your lashes. Regular mascara washes off with soap cleansers.

Seeing how it is very possible for you to intensify your lashes without burning in a hole in your pocket and learning to preserve the life of your mascaras, I say it’s high time you got out there to bat those pretty lashes!

Side Bar

The First Modern Eye Cosmetic
o Maybelline Cake Mascara, introduced in 1917 became the first modern eye cosmetic for daily use.
o The company founder TL Williams created this from idea his sister Mabel gave him
o Invented an easy-to-use product to darken eyelashes, which could be sold for to a wide market.
o Cake mascara was first promoted and sold solely by mail
o It was so popular that women started asking for it in drug stores.
o Today, one Maybelline’s Great Lash Mascara is sold every 1.5 seconds
o The company has 13 different mascara formulas

For more information on the history of eye make-up, visit Maybelline.