Mascara magic: five reviews

Recently I've switched up my mascara after religiously using maybelline's great lash for yonks, until the brush was 'updated' for the worse (sob). 

So I have been trying out these five new black mascaras and I think I have found a replacement (well one that I'll buy again at least!). 

From left to right...

Giorgio Armani eyes to kill mascara review: 

This was a sample size I was given when I purchased a foundation and I'm hopeful that the full size has exactly the same wand and no-nonsense brush as it's lovely stuff! It is the only mascara of the bunch that made my lashes almost feathery and seemed to coat every last one of them. It lasted all day and keep the curl. It was the lightest black of them all, so great for everyday rather than if you wanted to make a statement.

Would I buy again? Maybe, I always think paying a lot of money for mascara is a waste as there are so many cheaper ones that do exactly the same thing!

Rimmel scandaleyes rocking curves mascara review: 

This mascara has a fascinating brush - kinda curvy! It was a bit fiddly to apply and I kept blobbing mascara on my eyelids and undereye so definitely not precision application. It did seem to lengthen my lashes but made them quite spidery. 

Would I buy again? No. Yes the wand is novel but it doesn't actually add anything to the product and I found it awkward to try to position correctly to coat the lashes on the inner corners of the eye. I love Rimmel lipsticks but have never been all that enamoured with the mascaras and this product doesn't change my mind on that point!

Max Factor excess volume mascara review: 

This is a dual application mascara, first you put on the 'extreme volume' and then you put on the 'dark lacquer'. The wand feels chunky and cumbersome due to the double ends. The product was a lovely shiny black, it definitely lengthened and thickened my lashes and lasted well all day- so well that I couldn't get it off! I had to really scrub with my eye make up remover soaked pad as it went kind of bitty and didn't want to budge. Horrid! 

Would I buy this again? No! I really don't get the dual mascara idea- what a time consuming effort for a product that is no different than any other mascaras. Just mix it all together in one tube I say! Plus I don't want to have to be brutal around the delicate eye area trying to get it off every time. 

Step 1

Step 2

Benefit they're real mascara review: 

Lovely silver packaging with an interesting spiky applicator that's not really a brush. It is easy and quick to apply, thickens and lengthens and the spiky end of the applicator makes it easy to get right into the corners. 

Would I buy this again? Yes!!!! This is now my new favourite! Great mascara, lovely to apply, lovely lashes.

Boots 17 blow out volumise sculpt tease mascara review:

I like the bright yellow packaging, cheap as chips price and also that the product is a matte black rather than looking quite glossy like the Benefit mascara. The brush is fat and it is a little clunky to manage but it delivers some great thickened and lengthened lashes. I like how the brush gets thinner at the top as made it easy to apply to lashes on inner corners. 

Would I buy again? Maybe, it's definitely one that I'd consider purchasing again as I like that it's more matte for a more gothy, undone look.

So there you have it, clear winner = Benefit they're real :-) 

Oh and here are my lashes after being curled for ten seconds on each side and before any mascara so you can see the difference... They are v blond at the tips but naturally quite long. 

Any recommendations for mascaras I should try? Let me know! X