THE Perfect Mascara (Combination)

O.K., so I think I have the solution for the perfect mascara. I applied my favorite Diorshow Iconic for the first and second coat to build the perfection foundation. Then I added a couple of coats of the Fiberwig to just the ends of my lashes to build the perfect length. The results were everything I've been looking for in my Search for the Perfect Mascara.

If you feel that you've found the perfect mascara, please comment on this post. For now, my search has ended, but I'd like to challenge my perfect mascara against yours! If I get any takers, I'll start a new blog...The Perfect Mascara Challenge!

Fiberwig

Cost? $26

Stores? Sephora

Brush? Tapered caterpillar

Definition? Yes

Volume? Yes

Clumping? No

Smudging? No

Lengthens? Yes! It's miraculous!

Curls? A little

Regular or waterproof? A little bit of both

Stay power? Yes!

Easily removable? No

Grade: A-

Comments: This mascara from Japan is like liquid false eyelashes. Truly amazing! The only problem is that I have sensitive eyes and the fibers make my eyes itch all day. Also, it says that it is easily removed with warm water. In truth, the warm water loosens it, but then you need eye makeup remover to finish the job. It is well worth the extra effort, however, to have such long, long, long lashes! Maybe my eyes will get used to the fibers...

Diorshow Extase

Cost? $28

Stores? Dillards, larger Sephora stores

Brush? Wavy

Definition? a little

Volume? a littlw

Clumping? YES!

Smudging? No

Lengthens? Yes

Curls? Yes

Regular or Waterproof? Regular

Stay Power? Yes

Easily removable? Yes

Grade: C-

Comments: When I heard that there was a limited preview of a new Diorshow mascara at Sephora, I made a long trek to the Towne Centre to buy one with my birthday money. The Diorshow Extase is advertised as the best Diorshow mascara yet, and even better, it is good for your lashes. I could hardly wait until the next morning to try it out. Imagine my disappointment when I opened the tube and found a strange wavy brush with gobs of product. I applied it just like Diorshow Iconic, only to find that the wavy brush made it hard to apply, especially in the inside and outside corners. It took effort to comb out the clumps. For the second coat, I wiped off the clumps and tried to build the volume and length. It worked somewhat, but the result was a wet look that I didn't care for. I returned the mascara at a smaller Sephora store hoping to get a new tube of Diorshow Iconic, my very favorite. They don't have Diorshow at smaller stores, so the consultant talked me in to a tube of the Japanese Fiberwig. She said the fibers give incredible length and if I didn't like it I could return it to a bigger Sephora and get the Diorshow Iconic. So....I've read a lot about the Fiberwig and plan to try it and see if it's as good as the hype.

Diorshow Iconic

Cost? $24
Stores? Dillards, larger Sephora stores
Brush? Soft, medium caterpillar
Definition? Very Good
Volume? Very Good
Clumping? No
Smudging? No
Lengthens? Very good
Curls? Yes
Regular or Waterproof? Regular
Stay power? Yes
Easily removable? Yes

Grade: A+
Comments: This is my very favorite mascara. The brush and formula work well together to make application smooth and easy. The first coat is average, but the second and third really build beautiful lashes. The final result is lashes that have good definition, some curl, noticeable volume and impressive length. It's expensive and hard to get your hands on if you live far from malls, but well worth it!

Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara by Maybelline

Cost? $8.99

Stores? Drugstores

Brush? Skinny caterpillar

Definition? Good

Volume? A little

Clumping? No

Smudging? No

Lengthens? Yes

Curls? No

Regular or Waterproof? Waterproof

Stay power? Yes

Easily removable? No

Grade: B+

Comments: I bought this out of curiosity. I had read reviews that were favorable of Lancome's vibrating brush, but didn't want to spend the money to see if the vibration made a difference. So I tried Maybelline's version. It takes a few minutes to get the hang of working the wand. There is a button on the wand that you push to make it vibrate. Pushing it while applying the mascara is a trick for someone like me who can't walk and chew gum at the same time. I'm not sure that the vibration made any difference and I didn't use it enought times to see how many times the vibration would work.

Actually, the mascara went on nicely, giving good definition, volume, and length. It wasn't the best mascara I've ever used, but because it's waterproof, I saved it for tear provoking moments.

Telescopic Explosion

Cost?$7.99

Stores? Drugstores

Brush? Porcupine ball

Definition? Very good

Volume? Good

Clumping? Yes, but fixable

Smudging? No

Lengthens? Very good

Curls? Yes

Regular or Waterproof? Regular

Stay power? Very good

Easily removable? Yes

Grade: A-

Comments: I have a friend who has the most amazing lashes. They bother her because they sometimes brush against her glasses! I asked her what mascara she used and she told me L'Oreal Voluminous. So of course I bought some right away and was pleased, but not amazed, with the results. (I later found out she is also blessed with great lashes.)

I was impressed by L'Oreal and decided after watching countless commercials on TV that I would try the new Telescopic Explosion mascara. When I opened the tube, I was shocked to find a little porcupine ball for a brush. I very carefully applied the first coat and was pleased to find out that the brush was a handy little tool that could reach every little lash, break up clumps (it is a little clumpy), give good definition, and really stretch each lash out to full length.

It not only stayed on well all day, but was easily removable.

Caution! Be very careful with the brush. It has wicked little spikes that could poke your eye if you get careless!

Clinique Lash Power Mascara

Cost? Used a sample from gift pack

Stores? Dillards, Macys, Belk

Brush? Medium sized caterpillar type

Definition? Very good

Volume? Very good

Clumping? No

Smudging? No

Lengthens? Excellent

Curls? Yes

Regular or Waterproof? Waterproof

Stay power? Excellent

Easily Removable? NO!

Grade: A-

Comments: I was amazed when I first tried this mascara. I liked it because it was Clinique and I've never had problems with their products because they are hypoallergenic. It was easy to apply. It had great definition and volume. I was shocked by how my lashes lengthened with each coat I applied (without clumping). Magic! I had finally found the perfect mascara! The false eyelash effect lasted all day.

However, when I went to remove it, I tried everything, but it wouldn't come off. I was so frustrated that I threw out the tube. The next time I went shopping I went to the Clinique counter to talk to a consultant about the problem. She told me to remove the mascara by putting my face under the spray of warm water when I took a shower and use my fingers to wipe the "tubes" off my eyelashes. I did this and it worked, but it was too weird and too much trouble for me on a daily basis. She gave me another sample to experiment with. I kept it and used it when I went to a sad movie or funeral.

It's a great mascara, if you don't mind the extra effort to get it off.

A Little Bit BADGal Lash Mascara by Benefit

Cost? $19
Stores? Sephora
Brush? BIG!
Definition? Yes
Volume? Yes
Clumping? No
Smudging? No
Lengthens? Yes
Curls? A little
Regular or Waterproof? Regular
Stay power? Yes
Easily removable? Yes

Grade: B+
Comments: This is one of my favorite Sephora mascaras. The giant brush coats lashes with plenty of mascara, building length and volume while giving good definition. It also does a great job of reaching all of the lashes. Just be careful or you'll get mascara on your eyebrows! :)

Tarte-4 Day Stay Lash Stain

Cost?$18
Stores?Brush, curved, making it harder to apply
Definition?Yes
Clumping? No
Smudging? No
Regular or Waterproof? Regular, but it is waterproof
Lengthens? No, but it darkens and makes lashes visible.
Curls? No
Easily removable? NO! BEWARE!
Stay Power? Yes. Too much so.

Grade: F
Comments: DO NOT buy this mascara. It does as it says by staining your lashes. And it also stays on your lashes without reapplying for 4 days as advertised. Unfortunately, if you want to remove it before the 4 days are over, too bad, so sad, you are out of luck! I tried using eyemakeup remover pads. Then I tried J&J Baby Shampoo without success. Next, I tried warm water in the shower, which usually works on mascara with "tubes". Nothing worked! Because of my makeup allergies I NEVER leave my eye makeup on over night. The next day, I tried to apply a different mascara over the Tarte mascara, but that didn't work because the Tarte makes your lashes harder than normal. It did in fact take 4 days for the mascara to come off. Grrrr! I just hope some of my lashes didn't come out with it!

Lash Stretcher by Sephora

Cost? $16
Stores? Sephora
Brush? Curved ( I don't like curved brushes.)
Definition? A little
Volume? A little
Clumping? No
Smudging? No
Lengthens? Yes, moderately
Curls? No
Regular or Waterproof? Regular
Stay power? Yes
Easily removable? Yes

Grade: D
Comments: This mascara has fibers added to extend the length of your lashes. It does add the advertised length, but I found the formula to be very irritating to my eyes. I wore it all day, but found myself constantly rubbing my eyes. I only tried it for one day because of this.

Supernova Mascara by Fresh

Cost? $25
Stores? Sephora
Brush? Full, easy to get to all lashes
Definition? Yes
Volume? Yes
Clumping? No
Smudging? No
Lengthens? Yes
Curls? A little
Regular or Waterproof? Regular
Stay power? Yes
Easily Removable? Yes

Grade: B+
Comments: The brush is very manageable. It gives good definition and a little curl. You can apply several coats without clumping to create good volume and length.

Lash DNA Mascara by Smashbox

Cost? $19
Stores? Sephora
Brush? Double helix-very hard to control
Definition? A little
Clumping? No
Smudging? No
Regular or Waterproof? Regular
Lengthens?A little
Curls? No
Stay power? Not very good.
Easily removable? It makes a mess when you go to remove it.

Grade: D
Comments: I didn't like this mascara. To begin with, the wand brush is twirled, which is very aggravating. It makes control difficult. The color is jet black, which makes it stand out, but it also makes it very messy to remove. It has an average overall effect which doesn't last all day.

Korres Mascara

Cost? $20

Stores? Sephora

Brush? Football shape

Definition? Some

Volume? A little

Clumping? No

Smudging? No

Lengthens? A little

Curls? A little

Regular or Waterproof? Regular

Stay power? Yes

Easily removable? Yes

Grade: C

Comments: This mascara has Abyssinia oil to provide dramatic color. The color is good, but not dramatic. It also has provitamin B5 to condition lashes and prevent breakage. It does leave the lashes soft and pliable. The football shaped brush is designed to give an extreme fan effect. It failed to give any extreme effect at all.

Skyscraper Multi-Benefit Mascara by Urban Decay

Cost? $22

Stores? Sephora

Brush? Caterpillar-like, applies well

Definition? Good

Volume? A little

Clumping? No

Smudging? No

Lengthens? A little

Curls?No

Regular or Waterproof? Regular

Stay power? Yes

Easily removable? Yes

Grade: B

Comments: The brush and formula of this mascara make it possible to make several applications without clumping, allowing you to build some volume and length. It leaves your lashes feeling soft throughout the day. It doesn't, however, give you a dramatic effect.