Mascara: 17 brands put to the test

Apparently, one cosmetic most women can't do without is mascara -- more specifically, their favourite mascara. And finding the perfect mascara is a more complex task than one might think, as we discovered when we tried these formulas. What did we think of them? Read on to find out.

1. Avon SuperFull Mascara, $4.99
Lash description: short and sparse
One coat of mascara is: three strokes of the wand
Verdict: "Goes on smoothly and gives me long and full-looking results. It also wears well, without smears, smudges or flakes. In fact, I prefer it over my usual big-name drugstore brands."
-- Paula Maciel

2. Estée Lauder Illusionist Intense Maximum Curling Mascara, $27.50
Lash description: long, thick and straight
One coat of mascara is: about 12 wand strokes from middle to outer to inner
Verdict: "No clumps at all from this one, but what I can't believe is that it actually curled my stick-straight lashes. I just wish I didn't need eye-makeup remover to get it off. And surprisingly, the nonslip rubber handle on the wand is a plus."
-- Donna Paris

3. The Body Shop Super Volume Mascara, $15
(image at left, courtesy of www.thebodyshop.com)
Lash description: thin, naturally curved
One coat of mascara is: 28 wand strokes
Verdict: "Clumps as it goes on but gives pretty good volume and wears well through the whole day."
-- Annette Waurick

4. Cargo SuperEyes Mascara, $19
Lash description: thick but fine, and curly
One coat of mascara is: 20 wand strokes, with five to eight more as a second coat
Verdict: "Although I think I get more volume from Artistry Definitive Lash Mascara, Cargo SuperEyes glides on so smoothly that my lashes look naturally lush. Also, despite having oily lids, I've experienced no smudging, melting or flaking of any sort, even after a sweaty workout (miraculous!)."
-- Colleen Tully

5. M.A.C Zoom Lash Mascara, $12
Lash description: long but fine
One coat of mascara is: with this mascara, eight to 10 strokes
Verdict: "I usually use a lash-thickening formula with a dense brush, such as L'Oréal Paris Voluminous or Lash Out. M.A.C Zoom Lash made my lashes noticeably longer, but its thinner consistency and less-dense brush don't deliver much volume. I compensated with more wand strokes and smoothed out a bit of clumping with a lash comb."
-- Jennifer Melo

6. Benefit Get Bent Mascara, $25
Lash description: thick lashes, average length
One coat of mascara is: two strokes of the wand (more if going out)
Verdict: The bent wand took a bit of adjusting to, but it was good at getting to all my lashes easily and gave me a great natural, everyday look that needed no touchups.
-- Kate Dowhan

7. Cover Girl Lash Exact, $8.99
(Image at left, courtesy of www.covergirl.com)
Lash description: short, fragile and sparse
One coat of mascara is: 30 or so strokes fairly evenly from outer lashes in and back
Verdict: "I need lots of mascara just to look like I have lashes, so clumping can be a slight issue. With this mascara, however, the tapered, perfectly staggered flexible Lash Exact bristles glide through my lashes and the smooth formula delivers a natural yet defined fringe that doesn't smudge or smear, despite my oil-slick lids."
-- Janine Falcon

8. Giorgio Armani Mascara Maestro, $32
Lash description: sparse, coarse and straight (I always curl them)
One coat of mascara is: 10 quick strokes per eye, from inside to outside
Verdict: "This brush takes getting used to, but it's cool. Shaped like a triangle with three minicombs separated by channels of mascara, it allows me better control over the amount of mascara I apply –- I can make a rolling action with my wrist to put lots on, or I can hold it relatively straight to put on a little."
-- Helen Racanelli

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