Beauty Tips: Choosing the Right Mascara

Mascara is one of those makeup items that I love, so much that I pretty much hoard them, I always buy the latest one, I use a different one everyday, I have different uses for various ones, etc. I count 30 mascaras in the pic above!!! Some of these are expired and I just keep them cause they look pretty in my drawers! I also have more that I forgot to include, mostly from gift with purchase things from Clinique and Lancome.

The mascara brush itself is a very important thing in a mascara because it determines what effect you will get with it, so you need to find a brush that suits your lashes and style best. Mascara is probably one of most essential and most bought makeup item by women, hence why there are new ones brought out all the time, and new promises of what they will deliver.

So what kind of lashes do you have? I think I have average length lashes, they aren't very full. They've gotten better since using the L'oreal Lash Serum, but like every women, I want longer, fuller lashes.

Generally, mascara brushes come in two types: plastic and fibre bristles. Since the last 5 years or so, we've seen a lot more plastic bristles on the market and less of the traditional fibre variety. I find the fibre type tend to give more volume (but can clump too), and the plastic one gives more of a cleaner, spread out, defined appearance. Next, the fibres can be long or short, longer ones will give more length. Bristles closer together will also give more volume.

Brush shape can also change the effect that you get. Mascaras come in straight or curved brushes. Straight brushes are easier to use, and curved ones will allow you to coat more lashes at once, and curl and lift them. I am a fan of curved brushes, but most of my mascaras are the straight variety.

The mascara formula is important. Waterproof mascaras can generally help your lashes hold a curl longer, and will not make your mascara run if you cry, which is good. The mascara forumla is very important, I find that some mascaras tend to dry very quickly and can make your lashes brittle, which others can be layered easily.

L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black vs Black (click to enlarge)

The colour of the mascara is another factor. I know most people buy black mascaras, or even the blackest black that you can get so that lashes stand out as much as possible. While others tend to like the more natural look, and just go for brown. I tend to go for black, although when I find out into mascara I bought brownish black and brown for a more subtle look. You can also get mascaras to compliment your eye colour, Cover Girl did this recently with their Lash Exact line. For a very black mascara, try L'oreal Voluminous in Carbon Black, that stuff is very black.

Some tips for getting the most out of your mascara:
* Make sure you replace your mascara often (ie recommended every 3 months), if it has dried out or the consistency has changed in any way, buy a new one, you don't want to get an eye infection. I am guilty of this myself, I have so many mascaras that I rarely use the same one straight for a week, since it's hardly ever opened, I figure it will take longer to go bad.
* Don't pump your mascara, this can dry it out quicker.
* Curl your lashes before applying mascara.
* Use a primer before you apply mascara to coat your lashes first.
* Start applying at the base of your lashes and wiggle left to right as you move your wand to the tips of your lashes.
* Add 2-3 coats for maximum drama.
* Choose the mascara that best suits your lash type, and get what you want out of it.

My favourite mascaras are ones that give maximum volume to my lashes, length is good, but I am more about volume. I want to look like I have more lashes than I have. Some of my favourites mascara to give me this include Maybeline's Lash Stiletto Voluptuous, Maybelline Colossal and Maybelline Full and Soft. Maybelline makes my favourite mascaras as you can tell.

What is your HG mascara and what do you look for in a mascara?