Long, luscious lashes have been sought after for nearly 6,000 years now. While the means of achieving them and methodologies have changed somewhat over the years, the origins of mascara can be traced all the way back to 4000 BCE, when ancient Egyptians used outlandish ingredients on their eyelashes as pigments. Thankfully, we have advanced far beyond some of the substances they used to keep the color in place.
The first mass-marketed mascara was produced in 1917 by a manufacturer we still know of today: Eugene Rimmel. Unlike modern mascara, however, the first Rimmel mascara came in a solid cake that was scraped and applied with a mascara brush. Today, mascara comes in a wide variety of colors and ingredients, each perfected to suit your individual needs.
No single mascara is going to be right for everyone, since everyone likes a different look, style, texture, and thickness. There are, however, a number of different criteria used to judge the best mascara, ranging from price to effectiveness.
The best mascaras you’ll find won’t smear or smudge but will still give you volume and length without clumping, and you won’t need the allowance of a Fortune 500 Exec. While there may never be a single mascara that fills all of those criteria, here is a list of the best 3 mascaras to have in your toolbox.
Origins Beyond the Fringe – $23
Origins Beyond the Fringe mascara is actually two products in one. On one end is a tube of Underwear for Lashes, which is a base coat that both thickens lashes as well as helping provide staying power to the top coat of mascara. On the other end of the wand is a tube of Origins famed Fringe Benefits mascara. When applied over the base coat, the mascara glides on smoothly, creating a full, rich, thick lash.
Origins is a company known for their natural botanical ingredients, but unlike many natural products, they don’t sacrifice quality and high performance for natural ingredients.
This makes Beyond the Fringe a great mascara for people with sensitive eyes. Since there are two layering coats, it is also a great product for people with thin or sparse eyelashes.
Beyond the Fringe mascara will give you full, thick high-performance lashes that still feel light and natural. Best of all, it comes off quickly and easily at the end of the day. For a great all-around daily mascara that won’t irritate or feel dry or artificial, a tube of Beyond the Fringe is a must-have!
MAC Opulash Optimum Black Mascara – $18
For the richest, juiciest, plumpest jet black lashes, look no further than MAC Opulash Optimum Black Mascara. Featuring a curling brush that gives you an advertised 108% increase in volume, this carbon black mascara loads your lashes with lush flake-proof, smudge-proof, sweat and humidity resistant volume that lasts up to 15 hours. Whether you are dancing all day or partying all night, MAC Opulash Optimum Black Mascara will stick with you and give you all the longevity and performance you need.
As anyone can tell you, MAC is a highly respected name in the cosmetics industry, making the highest quality products with a commitment to celebrating diversity and individuality. Their makeup products are well known for being high performance and long lasting, using the riches pigments and most wearable bases. If you want a high-quality product from a respected name that delivers ultimate performance at a good value, this is the mascara to have.
Yves St. Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara – $32
When you want high performance volume with a fun, flirty edge, try Yves St. Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara. Unlike the aforementioned brands, which only come in black, this Yves St. Laurent Mascara comes in 6 different colors including Extreme Blue, Fascinating Violet, Burgundy and Deep Night. Colored mascaras are not only great for a fun night out on the town, but they also are great for accentuating unusual eye shadows or creating a great pop of color for more neutral ones.
Their secret to creating full, rich lashes is a triple-film complex.
The complex includes a coating film for intensity, a conditioning film that keeps lashes soft and supple while creating maximum curve and a fixing film that offers ultimate staying power. The non-drying formula is enriched with a B5 pro-vitamin which helps keep your lashes supple and healthy. The straight nylon fiber brush coats lashes from root to tip to create the dynamically bold look of false lashes. Yves Saint Laurent is also one of the most respected names in the fashion and beauty industry. With a makeup brand that reflects the same values as the haute couture fashion industry, the YSL style is reflected throughout their many different product lines, including jewelry, accessories, fragrance, and cosmetics.
