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Reader Poll: What Are Your Top 3 Criteria When It Comes to Mascara?

September 5th, 2014 by Karen 27 Comments

Guerlain Summer 2014
Long, lush lashes via Guerlain

Let’s get to the bottom of this. When it comes to mascara, what matters most?

What are your top three criteria when it comes to mascara (you can pick three things in the poll)?

It’s been a while since a mascara knocked my socks off, and I’m curious. I think the last one was Guerlain Cils d’Enfer Maxi Lash Waterproof Mascara, which came out in May. It’s still my go-to for now, but you know, I get bored… 🙂

My lashes are naturally stick straight like pine needles, and ridiculously thin, so my top three criteria are curl hold, length and volume.

Oh, I love me some big draggy lashes, yo! Resistance to smudging is also pretty high up there.

What Are Your Top 3 Criteria When It Comes to Mascara?

View Results

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.
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Reader Poll: What Are Your Top 3 Criteria When It Comes to Mascara? / Originally published September 5th, 2014

There are 27 comments on this post. Leave yours.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kiss & Make-up says

    September 5th, 2014 at 9:31 am

    I voted length, volume and other, with other being easy to use.

    Reply
  2. Agata says

    September 5th, 2014 at 9:36 am

    Your lashes look a mile long in this picture! I might have to check out that Guerlain mascara, especially since it’s waterproof.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 5th, 2014 at 10:14 am

      Hi Agata,

      I like waterproof formulas but I don’t wear them every day since they can damage lashes. This particular one by Guerlain is amazeballs! Kind of pricey but it’s all that and then some.

      Happy Friday!

      Reply
  3. Kim says

    September 5th, 2014 at 9:44 am

    This is a great look for you! You know I’m a simple creature when it comes to mascara – give me drag queen volume. 🙂 I’m lucky with the length and curl but definitely need my lashes to fatten up, while not clumping. And sometimes I feel like my eye area is made of fryer grease, so non-smudging is key.

    I know that kitties have a terrible sense of the days of the week but I hope Tabs remembers to let you get a few extra winks this weekend. 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 5th, 2014 at 10:13 am

      GIRL. You know I’m on the same page! I want my lashes to look like a work at a drag queen roller disco. Otherwise forget about it. 😉

      I doubt Tabs will give me any time off. Such is the life of a pet assistant to the star.

      SO…how is the trumpet playing going with the boys? Are they both playing trumpet?

      Reply
      • Kim says

        September 8th, 2014 at 7:31 am

        I understand. Pleasing Tabs is a full time job, and then some. 🙂

        So far, so good! We had to do a minor repair on one of the finger button/valves but otherwise, it’s been smooth sailing. Yes, they’re both trumpeting. School just started for them last Thursday so today is their first official band day. They’ve practiced a bit on their own with the help of YouTube tutorials but we’ll see how they feel after their first “lesson”. Cross your fingers!!!

        Reply
  4. Erin says

    September 5th, 2014 at 9:44 am

    I find most of my requirement for a mascara is good volume and no smudging. I also tend to prefer glossy formulas!

    Reply
  5. Bella says

    September 5th, 2014 at 9:47 am

    volume, resistance to smudging, and curl hold, in that order.

    Reply
  6. LindaLibraLoca says

    September 5th, 2014 at 11:00 am

    Volume above all, then length and curl hold. Although I never found a mascara to hold the curl like I wanted to, so I occasionally go having my lashes curled permanently, especially before holidays spend hiking or at the beach.

    Reply
  7. Gina says

    September 5th, 2014 at 11:40 am

    Have you tried the new Lancome grandiose? I’m curious about it!

    Reply
  8. Denise S. says

    September 5th, 2014 at 11:40 am

    Wow your lashes look amazing!I rarely wear waterproof mascara because I find it tough on my lashes.Is the regular formula as good? If so I’m going to pick up a tube.My current favorite is Chanel Le volume because it really plumps up my lashes and is too drying.

    Reply
  9. Shannon says

    September 5th, 2014 at 11:48 am

    I voted volume, definition (no clumping, please!) and other – with “other” being ease of removal. I *hate* when I can’t get all my mascara off easily! At the moment, I’m liking tube formulas, and have been using blinc’s Mascara Amplified for the last few months.

    Reply
  10. Trisha says

    September 5th, 2014 at 1:25 pm

    One thing I definitely DON’T look for is waterproof. I’ve found that waterproof doesn’t stay on lashes any easier than regular mascara, but it’s a LOT harder to get off SKIN. Ugh.

    Reply
  11. Nicole says

    September 5th, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    Mascara is one of those things that eludes me. Just when I think I’ve found one that works, it does something to disappoint. Thankfully a mascara’a shelf life is short, so the guilt of replacing it isn’t as great.

    Plus it doesn’t help that I have a hard time applying it on my left eye.

    Reply
  12. Alison says

    September 5th, 2014 at 3:26 pm

    I have oily lids, so I think my top priority in a mascara is that it’s going to last throughout the day: as in, waterproof and smudgeproof. As for the third, I’m torn between length, volume, darkness and definition but I’ll probably go for length!

    Reply
  13. Infrequent Ranter says

    September 5th, 2014 at 3:31 pm

    I also like a good clump-free or low-clump formula!

    Reply
  14. Ann Karlin says

    September 5th, 2014 at 4:26 pm

    I have given up on finding the chupacabra of Mascaras for me (volume, length, color intensity), so use any lengthening mascara, but then I gave to put voluminous by loreal over it. Always voluminous-period. I also need to be able to comb through it, and no matter how many layers of it I use, I can always comb through it!

    Reply
  15. Chelsea says

    September 5th, 2014 at 6:19 pm

    I’m big on definition. I love volume and length too, my other priorities, but stuck together lashes and clumpy lashes drive me batty.

    Reply
  16. Amanda says

    September 5th, 2014 at 6:30 pm

    Karen, absolutely beautiful photo! Your smile is so pretty! Yes, I agree with some others that wrote your eyelashes look so great. So, the Guerlain? I’m going to have to try it because I’m with on the drag lashes. I’ve been reading all this mess that it’s very modern and it girl to skip mascara but it’s really a non negotiable for me. It just changes my eyes so much! Where is the Guerlain? I know I’ve seen it but I’ve never tried anything from that brand. I don’t know why.

    Reply
  17. Fancie says

    September 5th, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    I look for length, definition and waterproofness. I have short, thick curly lashes and watery eyes so I need a mascara that’ll lengthen, separate and hold up throughout the day.

    Reply
  18. Lulle says

    September 5th, 2014 at 7:58 pm

    This photo of you is spectacular!

    I can see why I have a hard time finding a good mascara for my taste: looks like most people out there are looking for volume – I’m not. I don’t want my lashes thick, and it’s really difficult these days to find a mascara that doesn’t thicken too much.

    Reply
  19. Jennifer says

    September 5th, 2014 at 8:31 pm

    I want length, definition, and easy removal. My favorites now are Armani Eyes to Kill and Chanel Le Volume. Benefit’s They’re Real was great until it was time to take it off.

    Reply
  20. Cathy says

    September 6th, 2014 at 3:50 am

    I’ve sworn off waterproof mascaras forever after reading so many models and make-up artists hate them and, after suddenly realising that one of my go-tos wasn’t actually waterproof but stayed put all day, have boycotted them! I have long lashes, so volume and unclogginess are a must.

    Reply
  21. Icequeen81 says

    September 6th, 2014 at 9:07 am

    I voted
    color
    You don’t need to see me from a distance, so that is why I opted for the most natural shade brown/black is a combination of both love that shade, looks much better than black on me.

    smudge
    don’t need panda eyes

    price
    I don’t need to rub a bank to buy a mascara I will use for a few months , I know you are not allowed to use a mascara longer than that

    and there was one more I don’t know where it falls maybe definition? I don’t need spiders legs as eyelashes.

    So basically those are my criterias

    Reply
  22. Diane says

    September 7th, 2014 at 11:17 am

    Length, resistance to smudging, and other: in my case, non-clumping formula or a brush that allows for good definition to avoid clumping.

    Reply
  23. Claudia says

    September 8th, 2014 at 8:14 am

    I just have to ask what shampoo and conditioner you use?? Your hair always looks Amazing and so healthy and shiny!! 🙂 My parents are from the middle east, and my hair is very thick, it seems like no haircare can fix it, and i would love it if you could recommend something for my hair haha, because what ever you are doing, you’re doing it right! 🙂

    Reply
  24. Chas says

    September 8th, 2014 at 11:08 am

    So I’m a little late to this dance, whoops! Being Filipino, I have stick straight lashes so I really want something to hold the curl, give me volume and be non-smudging. It’s funny because I actually really like Maybelline Colossal mascara in the yellow tube. For me it’s a good layering mascara that holds a curl. I find that I can’t really wear non-waterproof mascaras because they make my curl drop. But when I wear Colossal as my base mascara to hold the curl, only then will the other mascaras work. I really enjoyed the Armani Eyes to Kill but found that when I wore it alone (no Colossal) I had to curl my lashes to look like cylinders so that when they droop back it would droop to a normal curl!

    Reply

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