I figured that after sharing my budget skincare game changer last week, I was allowed to enable you to purchase an eye-wateringly expensive, yet magical! make-up item this week. Balance and all that.
I’m not into gimmicky cosmetics. Especially not mascaras. I like my wands sturdy yet flexible and my formulations lengthening, thickening, non clumpy and a veritable force against smudges and flakes. Remember that vibrating mascara fad a few years ago? I mean, WTF was that? unsurprisingly you don’t see any of those on the market today.
I’ve never been into these dual ended numbers, they seem like a right faff. I’m well aware that lash “primers” can work wonders for some (I’ve heard the Dior Diorshow Maximiser 3D gives excellent results and limits breakages) but I just can’t justify yet another product to apply during my already time poor morning routine.
That was until I accidentally bought Lash Star “Full Control Lash Sculpting Mascara” from one of my favourite places to browse boutique make-up brands online: Cult Beauty. It was the associated video tutorial that did it.
I apply the “tightline” brush (white end – but black product inside) first to both eyes. I start right at the roots and “push” my inner lashes towards the inner eye, the middle lashes towards my temple and the outer lashes towards my ear – to create a kind of “fan” effect. The tutorial calls this a “sunburst” technique but I’ve always done it – and I actually spend way less time than they appear to. I then apply the “curved silicone brush” in a similar manner to both peepers, I find I can really layer it up to create a “false” lash effect should I choose to. With absolutely no blobs or stuck-togetherness.
It’s as if the first end creates a thickening yet glossy “base” and the second stage lengthens, separates and adds even more volume. The results really are truly amazing. I also use the smaller tightline brush for lower lashes.
I’m still using up my Bobbi Brown “Everything” mascara which I like very much for a soft natural “daytime” look, and I’ve found the curved silicone brush and formulation of the Lash Star can be applied, even hours later, on top of this to create a lengthened/more impressive effect for evening. I don’t understand the science behind the whole thing if I’m honest but I like it. A lot.
Lash Star is super easy to remove – I splash my eyes with a bit of warm water to break it down and it comes away easily with cleanser/eye make-up remover that I apply on a cotton pad.
Full Control Lash Sculpting Mascara will set you back £25. Interestingly this is for 10ml where as my Bobbi Brown is 6ml for £21. So in the long term, my newest find will be more cost effective.
Do you use a dual ended mascara? Do let me know if you are considering giving Lash Star a whirl – consider it a Valentines gift to yourself. And if you fancy winning some really lovely treats on this day of true love and hiking up the price of fresh flowers to Simon Cowell’s trouser proportions, head on over to the Rock My Wedding instagram . There you will find among other alcoholic and sugar-coated things, my favourite Charlotte Tilbury lipstick in “Liv It Up” which could be yours for free.
Wow, just watched the video – that looks like a whole lot of faff but I guess if you’re going out then it could look pretty wow. I’d love to know how easy it is to remove the mascara at the end of the day? That’s the game changer for me – if it proves difficult to remove then I don’t want to know. I bought Benefit’s ‘They’re Real’ mascara 2 years ago and I ended up having to buy a special remover just to get my lashes clean. Needless to say, I don’t use that one very often….
Hi Kate, funnily enough I remembered I hadn’t mentioned this in my post as I woke up this morning (after I thought “I need coffee”) – I will go and edit it. It’s REALLY easy to remove, which is also a deciding factor for me too. The video does make it seem very faffy, it takes me only about 30 seconds longer that applying a few layers of regular mascara to be honest – I’ve got it down to a fine art now! x
Hi Kate, I’ve just started using They’re Real and it comes off with Boots Dry Skin face wipes. I’m so lazy with make up removal so am delighted it comes off with my usual lazy gal ‘routine’! Lx
Good timing – I need a new mascara because I’m a bridesmaid soon and my mascara is very much a daytime affair. Talking of being a bridesmaid, do you have any old post on here or RMW about doing your own bridesmaid make up. I’ve no idea where to start, as since having a baby my make up game is not so strong! Any help gratefully received…
Hi Mel! We certainly have a few tutorials and recommendations – let me have a look and I’ll come back and post the links x
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
CHARlotte!!!! What are you doing to me? I haven’t bought an expensive mascara in years, as after trying them all I realised nothing is actually better than Max Factor False Lash Effect. But now you are tempting me back to the dark side!
Ha ha Tracy! I still rate the MF – I just find this builds volume and length quicker (well, with fewer layers) and is easier to remove. I also find my lashes feel that bit more “flexible” if that makes sense x
I keep going back to Lancome’s Hypnose Mascara. With one application it’s enough to give to fuller, longer lashes. It’s a pricey one and I always think I should be able to find something just like it at the cheaper end of the mascara spectrum. I always end up buying several cheaper ones that are rubbish and end up spending the same amount. So I buy another Hypnose, and the moment I use it, I always wonder why on earth I use anything else. I’ve learnt my lesson!
Vanessa if you’ve find the right product for you honestly, don’t waste your money. I’ve done the same though – thought there must be something “just as good but cheaper” and ended up disappointed and buying the expensive item anyway. x
I’ve tried lots of mascaras, but always find it comes down to the brush and nothing is better than the fat silicon brush of Maybelline Rocket Volum’ for definition. I toyed with Benefit but find the brushes make my eyelashes clump together
It’s both brush and formulation for me Claire, I don’t like a mascara that’s too wet/too much comes out of the tube at once.
Just watched the video… Gah! Going to have to buy it! I’ve been consistently disappointed with mascaras (high end and drugstore) since having my daughter two years ago-for some reason my lashes just don’t seem as they once were. Maybe this is one to bring them back?! X
Louise same same! Mine fell out after Mabel (I wrote a post on it about a month or so ago). And I would say they have only really got back to “normal” these past few weeks – I’m sharing my secrets soon but this mascara is definitely helping! x
My failsafe is YSL Faux Cils. Someone introduced me to it when I was 17 and I’ve literally always come back to it ever since. Like some of the other commenters, I have tried SO many cheaper brands (MaxFactor MasterPiece Max is the only one that has ever come close) and am always always ALWAYS disappointed.
I am very fair and have blonde/transparent eyelashes so mascara is the one product I can’t live without – so at the ripe old age of 31 I’ve finally decided it’s not something I am going to scrimp and save on, I’m just going to splash out a few times a year and feel happy about it every morning when I unscrew that gorgeous gold tube…!