Is there a truly waterproof mascara out there that really never runs? Maybe its my stick-straight lashes. Maybe it’s my eye cream. Or maybe it’s just my oily skin (yeah, yeah, I’ll be thankful for it later when it supposedly fends off wrinkles better than my blissfully dry-to-normal-skinned counterparts).
But whatever it is, I still haven’t found a waterproof mascara that is truly, well, waterproof.
Some mascaras are, undoubtedly, more water- and smear-proof than others. But what makes a mascara waterproof? Do waterproof mascaras really make your lashes fall out? Are there any tricks that may work to help prevent the late afternoon mascara mud slide? Most importantly, what brand of mascara can truly stand up to a Makeup Moxie challenge?
I’ll be answering these questions and more in an upcoming article for Makeup Moxie.com. In the meantime, please keep on the lookout for updates and individual product reviews here on Makeup Moxie’s Beauty Blog as I bring you, my fellow makeup moxies, along with me on yet another quest for beauty knowledge.
For the sake of disclosure, I should tell you right now that I have some particular favorites that are at the forefront of the mascara race. For starters, there is Maybelline’s Waterproof Lash Stylist mascara($6.49 at almost any drugstore). Besides a virtually unbeatable price tag, its super inky-black formula and comb applicator make for great coverage. Lashes look nice and thick with minimal clumping and the stuff stays in place — for the most part.
Despite this preference, however, I am absolutely open to brand infidelity and I will shamelessly switch to anything that makes my lashes longer, stronger, curlier, lusher or more smearproof. Furthermore, I use an oil-absorbing loose powder under my eyes, which is a trick widely agreed to help minimize running mascara.
But on to our first challenger, DuWop Lash Lacquer. Duwop describes this product as:
“…a buildable conditioning mascara on one end with a water/smudge resistant topcoat on the other, for perfectly defined natural looking lashes. Lashlacquer allows you to customize the length and thickness of your lashes with its buildable formula. For a more dramatic look, simply add more coats of the mascara, which is resin-free and perfect for sensitive eyes. The other end is a topcoat that separates lashes, provides an ultra glossy finish, and is water and smudge resistant.”
I liked this mascara a lot. It comes in three colors - Brown Black, Plum Black and Carbon Black (which is the one I snagged). The mascara did everything it said it would: the formula is buildable, so you can go from a lightly enhanced natural lash look to a more dramatic look (though there are a lot of mascaras out there that can deliver thicker lashes).
The product’s greatest strength is the clear topcoat that you apply over the mascara itself. The clear formula truly works to seal in lash color and kept this mascara from smearing. The mascara on my upper lashes definitely stayed in place and it took about 6 hours (including a 45 minute workout) to make the mascara on my lower lashes start to smear.
This product, however, had one real drawback for me: it uncurled my lashes. Within seconds of applying the mascara, my lashes started to uncurl; after applying the topcoat, the curl was almost completely gone. Nevertheless, the topcoat is still a superior product that I would highly recommend for slicking unruly brows into place without getting that weird, white, web-like substance that results from some clear mascaras. Furthermore, the mascara also appears to be a gentle product that should be friendly to those with sensitive eyes.
To summarize, in terms of its water resistance, lash lacquer was fantastic; but the fact that this mascara won’t let you live happily ever after with lashes that are both waterproof AND curly prevents me from crowning this the queen of mascaras. If you have naturally curly lashes that can withstand this mascara, then I’m totally jealous — and Duwop Lashlacquer should be a real winner for you :)
If you try this mascara and get different results, I’d love to hear about it. Please post a comment here or drop me an email at jazmin@makeupmoxie.com.
If you’d like to learn more about this product or try it out for yourself, you can check it out at Beauty.com.
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3 responses so far ↓
1 Anonymous // Sep 24, 2007 at 12:30 am
I first must say i adore this site. I’m studying to become a beautician and this saves me from stepping blindly into pointless and expensive gimmicks because a student doesn’t have much money to experiment with. i love reading your reviews.
One mascara that has left me in absolute awe is Lash Perfection by MaxFactor (waterproof). I went swimming in this stuff and it was still on after a couple hours in the pool. No raccoon eyes, and no need to reapply… seriously. My only concern was that it does not effortlessly come off with makeup remover, it does come off but not as easily as i’d like, which could also be a reason why they say waterproof is harmful to the health of your lashes. So i restrict my use to the days that i truly need something that stays on and won’t run or smudge, for those hot sweaty days, and late nights out. it truly does last. but I am afraid my lashes could fall out if i continue using it (only because it’s water proof)…. other than that i think it’s great… I’d recommend it if your looking for absolute water proof mascara. does anyone else use it?
2 Jazmin // Sep 24, 2007 at 2:36 am
Hi! Thank you so much for your sweet comments. Glad to be of help!
I agree with you — Lash Perfection is great stuff. I actually really like all of the waterproof versions of MaxFactor mascaras — 2000 Calorie, Stretch-and-Separate, and LashLift are all high-performers that have excellent staying power.
I also agree with you that waterproof mascaras can be rough on your lashes, which is why I’ve been on the search for a really good, non-waterproof mascara that will still come off easily.
So far, my non-waterproof faves include Blinc Kiss Me, Imju Fiberwig, Too Faced Lash Injection, and Rilastil Volumizing Mascara (look for reviews of those soon). All have their strengths and weaknesses, but they’re the best I’ve come upon so far.
Good luck in your studies…please don’t forget me when you’re a big beauty pro and make sure to come back and keep sharing your makeup moxie with us!
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