Review: Most Recommended High End Mascaras - Lancome, Fairydrops Scandal Queen, Chanel Inimitable, Benefit's They're Real

Hallo! It is day two of my January blog challenge, and I am back with a post related to my favorite high end mascaras. If you are on a budget or would prefer not to splurge on mascaras, I'm going to have a post for my most recommended lower end mascaras in a few days! So no worries.

Mascara is something that I've always invested in because I realized at an early age that mascara was the number makeup item that really brought my eyes out. I have tried multiple brands upon brands and recently I think (think, because makeup preferences always change, no?) I've found my favorites. I assure you though, the ones I will talk about, I have repurchased because they are just that good.

Brief background on my lashes: although I am asian in heritage for some odd reason I've been very blessed with eye lashes that curl up (I blame it on my dad and his Spanish heritage). Although they are not quite voluminous or thick, they aren't reasonably sparse either. Because my eyelashes tend to naturally to curl up, I often have to line my tightline with a dark eyeliner (Urban Decay's Perversion), and thankfully save the eyelash curling only for special occasions. With that said, I prefer really lush lashes that have length AND volume. When a mascara is so good, I often don't even have to put eyeliner because it creates an illusion that I lined my eyes already. Without further ado, my most recommended:

1. Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Buildable Mascara - This mascara is my #1 pick. Literally the best mascara ever. Reason being is because you can build up the volume and length to your liking. You can use this on days that you want a minimal makeup look or use it for date nights or special occasions. This mascara is so versatile and is great for bottom lashes too. I wiggle this on the base of my lashes to give an eyeliner effect. The lashes end up becoming really voluminous and lengthened, and they aren't clumpy (usually). I say usually because sometimes if you get too much product on the applicator you'll get a clump every now and then. My only con about this is that it runs out FAST, and you don't really want that happening with you spend 26 dollars on a mascara. Out of any mascara I own this is perhaps the best that does the volume and lengthen combination. I tend to get the waterproof one because my eyes get watery often, but the regular version works just as well. Unfortunately it is super hard to take this off, and if you don't want to lose a few lashes in the process of removing it, I suggest you buy an eye makeup remover that is gentle (oil or gel based). I use Makeup Forever's Eye Makeup Remover ($20 from Sephora). By the way, I've repurchased this mascara 6 times. Yup. I'm surprised myself... I guess I just love it that much.
Price - $26.00

Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara. The packaging is simple, but the mascara is effective!

The applicator is made of regular bristles, some longer than others. I do like how the wand is quite long and has a tapered handle. It allows me to apply with a heavy or light hand really well.

2. Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara - This mascara is so unique. Fairydrops is a Japanese brand and I came across this when I was shopping around prettyandcute.com and read great reviews. People were not joking! The shape of the wand is the first of its kind. I think I read somewhere that they have a patent for the wand shape in Japan. The fibers on the wand in the picture makes it seem like the mascara would apply clumpy, but it definitely doesn't. It does more lengthening than volume, but it does have a volume effect to it. It does a great job on separating the lashes and just gives this gorgeous lash look that seem natural but defined. It is also awesome to use as sort of a glue to get your real lashes to stick onto your fake lashes (if you're wearing some). This mascara isn't waterproof but at the end of the day it still doesn't come off. I've used this multiple times on my sister when she gets all dolled up, so I highly recommend this for girls who are into the Asian doll or gyaru look.
Price - $24.00 

Isn't the packaging cute?? I wish I could take a 360 picture or something, because the art detail is so noteworthy.

The wand is really unique. Fairydrops claims that the shape of the wand is key to the mascara's curling effect. Not entirely too sure about this claim, but the mascara is effective in curling. 

3. Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara - Unfortunately, I used up this baby real quick so I don't have to actual picture of the one that I bought. I do still have the sample that I got with a whole bunch of other samples when I hauled at the Chanel counter in Nordstrom. What's to say about this mascara? It applies incredibly well! Does not clump whatsoever. It's a dream to apply, so easy and glides softly along your lashes. It has a plastic wand, but it miraculously works even better than bristled wands. It's volumizing and lengthening. It gives a natural look, and if you wiggle it on the base of your lashes before you apply upwards, you'll get an "eyeliner" effect. I've worn this mascara everyday for a month and a half (yeah it emptied out that quick!) because it was so versatile. It looked great by itself and it also looked great with a full face. The only downside was that, just like the  Lancome mascara, it finishes up quick, and that it was SUPER expensive. If it didn't perform so well I would tell you abandon ship altogether, and honestly I don't think you should spend 30 bucks on a mascara when there are other great, slightly cheaper options. However, I don't have a mascara that works like the Chanel Inimitable so I plan on going back to Nordstrom and buying it once more. Again it's your preference, but I still stand by my claim that I highly recommend this item.
Price - $30.00

This is the sample I got, which I used up in a week. There's not much product on the brush anymore because there's none left in the tube. But as you can see it is a plastic applicator with a tapered end.

4. Benefit's They're Real Mascara - This particular mascara has a cult following pretty much. It's one of Sephora's bestsellers. It's interesting that I even ended up liking this mascara because I don't like big plastic wands. It also has this interesting ball shape at the very tip that helps to get the really stubborn lashes in the very inner part of your eyes.  I do have a quips about this mascara. My first is that it doesn't give a tapered end effect on the lashes, and instead gives "boxy ends" that can give away to your friends that you are wearing lots of mascara (hopefully that made sense). Who doesn't want to have natural looking lashes? I thought I was the only person having this problem but when I applied this on friends, it did the same box ends thingy on them. Another quip is that if you are like me and have lashes that curl up, you will definitely need to tightline your upper lid because it will expose that area underneath your lashes. But on a positive note this mascara is great for volume. I usually apply a lengthening mascara like the Fairydrops Scandal Queen in order to have more tapered natural ends at the lashes, but it works so wonderfully for va-va-voom lash effect. It does clump a tiny bit, but it's not significant enough to overpower the volumizing effect.
Price - $23.00

I think the packaging is cute for Benefit's They're Real Mascara. It has a "metal" look to it.  

The applicator is plastic. I don't know if you can tell very well in this picture, but the end is rounded to capture the smaller hairs of your inner eye. 

  That's it ya'll!!! See you in my next post!

Love,

Jacq