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Welcome to Inspire’s new Tried & Tested column, where, every week, we’ll put a selection of beauty products through their paces to let you know which we really rate. First up? My desert island luxury item – mascara.
I can live without a lot, but were you to root through my handbag, desk or glove box, you’d be guaranteed to find at least one tube of the black stuff (probably two). Which brand? Well, that depends.
Like many midlife women, I’ve learnt that what used to work no longer does as 50 looms and the dreaded crepe starts to set in. So, which are the best mascaras for midlife eyes? I tried 11 for you…
Katherine Spenley’s desert island luxury is mascara – so she tested 11 of them to find the best of the bunch
A while ago a clump of my eyelashes fell out – helpfully, in the very centre of my lash line, so when short, stubbly replacements began to grow back I was absolutely thrilled to discover that the tiny brush on this mascara really does coat every single lash, no matter how small.
Ruby tells me that she came up with the idea from the interdental brushes she used to dip into mascara and use on models to get the best possible look during fashion shoots.
Foolproof, it gives a lovely natural result and makes your lashes look long and full even when they’re not. (Thankfully normal lash service has now resumed, but I still use this – not least for the handy brow tamer that makes it a very practical twofer).
Wow. I can’t quite believe how good this one is. Though the cone-shaped brush comes out with a blob of product on the end which needs wiping off, the rest of the brush isn’t overloaded and it’s easy to get to the base.
A waggle or two and I’m left with long, fanned lashes that look super youthful. The result is impressive – natural enough to dispel any thoughts of mutton, impactful enough to open up my eyes and make me look ‘On It’.
The mascara equivalent of a double espresso. Yes please.
I’m a fan of Beauty Pie in general, as I find its products to be great quality at a reasonable price (if you subscribe), and this doesn’t disappoint.
It’s a tubing mascara, which are all the rage as they use polymers to coat each lash individually.
The corkscrew-style brush on this one is easy to use, and you get a generous application which gives volume as well as length.
One coat is great for a polished daytime look, but wait for it to dry and add a second if eyelash-batting is in order. It lengthens and curls but doesn’t leave that annoying tidemark between lid and brow.
Tubing formulas also wash off with just warm water, so no need for expensive removers.
And the rest…
Don’t know this cult Japanese brand? You do now. I tested this at dinner at a smart Mayfair restaurant and it more than rose to the occasion.
The curved brush makes it really easy to get to the base, and two coats resulted in long, swooping lashes befitting a Big Night Out.
I’m reliably informed that it’s pronounced ‘Sue-coo’ – and it’s definitely worth learning how to say it.
Merit is a luxury, less-is-more label popular with stylish grown-ups, so I had high expectations for this one.
I really like the sleek square tube, and it certainly lives up to its name of ‘Clean Lash’ – the brush comes out loaded with just the right amount of product for a no-make-up make-up look.
Not for you if you’re looking to fake falsies, but ideal if you want to look like you’ve made absolutely no effort at all but somehow still appear perfectly put together.
I wanted to love this – the packaging is gorgeous and I have an Hourglass eyelash curler that travels everywhere with me because it’s brilliant at opening up tired eyes – but, honestly, I was a little disappointed.
Nothing was particularly wrong, but I can’t say it delivered on the Instant Extensions promise.
I’m a big fan of this Swedish brand, founded by make-up artist Gabriella Elio, that launched in M&S earlier this year.
There are two mascaras in the range: Pro Lash Lift and Cloud. The latter is my favourite, largely because I find the brush easier to wield in a rush – and I’m always in a rush. Lengthens, fans and adds volume… win!
This is one of those products that people rave about – sadly I’m not one of them. I found the brush a little unwieldy and I couldn’t easily get it to the base of my lashes – to be fair, this is probably because, at 49, I have heavier lids than I once did.
I ended up with Baby Jane smudges rather than Bambi lashes. Maybe one for your daughter.
I’ve bought this before when I’ve been caught short without my make-up bag and needed to run to Boots for a quick, cheap replacement.
It definitely passes muster, but it can transfer on to the upper part of my lids after a while, so a quick mirror check and keeping a cotton bud or two in your make-up bag is always a good idea.
I tried this after the brilliant Hannah Betts chose it as her pick for last year’s Inspire Beauty Awards and I loved it.
It gives you natural, long lashes, without clumping, for a you-but-better look. The gold tube will also add a welcome note of glam to any make-up bag.
Love the curved brush – it comes out clean and gets right to the base of your lashes. The result was seriously good; it lengthened and lifted, with no clumping. My top tip? Try not to blink until it’s dry. I failed on this front and was left with an impressive semi-circle of inkey black under my eye – thankfully I noticed before I left the ladies’ and it wiped off without a problem.
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