Episode #2 Conversations About Mascara

In our second podcast (now available), we focused mainly on drugstore brands, proving that beautiful lashes need not come with a high price tag. Choosing a great mascara is simply a matter of finding a formulation you love that gives you the effect you desire. Kerry Anne prefers mascaras that add volume, while Air wants length and curl.

Airdrie's Picks

L'Oreal Lash Out - Waterproof and Regular formulas ($8.99CAD, $6.99USD). L'Oreal is known for their great mascaras, and these don't disappoint. They lengthen and last. The waterproof works great in the pool and also for sad days.

CoverGirl LashExact ($7.99CAD, $6.99USD) Even smart shoppers can succumb to a good marketing campaign. Air was drawn to this one because Queen Latifah is in the advertisements. Oh, and it had a pretty pink wand with "Patent-Pending Moldtrusion Brush Technology". Luckily, it's a keeper. Look for it on sale at drugstores this week as the next hottest thing has no doubt come on the market to replace this product's big splashy display space from last week.

Estee Lauder More Than Mascara in "More Green"($25 CAD, $21 USD) Airdrie swears by Estee Lauder mascara, and probably owns every one that's come out in the last five years. She likes the generous size, and well engineered wands. This one is a limited edition "More Green" version from the More Than Mascara line.

Kerry Anne's Picks

L'Oreal Voluminous ($8.99CAD, $6.99USD) This is a great one when KA wants to have a thick wall of lashes. So far, it's the best deal she has found for a voluminizing mascara. It really makes the eyes stand out and look pretty, and isn't that the point? The only drawback is that it takes some work to get it all off, which is precisely the last thing she wants to do at the end of the night.

CoverGirl Triple Mascara ($6.99CAD, $5.49USD) This is a wonderful bargain mascara that performs like a more expensive one. It lives up to its name and builds length, volume, and curl with no smearing or clumps. It's a great daytime mascara that still provides some glam.

Estee Lauder More Than Mascara in "More Blue" ($25CAD, $21 USD) As with the green, black is really the predominant colour in this mascara. It has a slight blue tint, but nothing obnoxious. KA thought it lengthened and defined wonderfully, and is worth the indulgence. Apparently it moisturizes too, in case "dry lash" is something that is a concern for you.

We'd Pass On These

Kerry Anne was less than thrilled with Almay One Coat Triple Effect Nourishing Mascara ($7.99CAD, $5.99USD). While the quality of the mascara itself was good, it didn't give the lashes any of the volume it claimed to with just one coat.

Airdrie had a shockingly bad experience with L'Oreal's Volume Shocking Mascara. ($10.95-$12.95). This is a two step mascara which contains an initial lash primer to give the lashes some oomph, and a dark mascara to finish them off. The problem was the goopy quality of the mascara formulation, and the difficulty in using the applicator "comb". She injured her eye twice using this product, and her coordination skills have never been called into question before. The packaging is pretty rad, but not worth risking an eye for. Opt for one of the other L'Oreal mascaras instead.

Other Items

We mentioned some of our listener's favourite brands. We received an email from a listener who we've inspired to get back into using cosmetics again, after 12 years of going without. We discussed that wearing makeup is a personal choice, and that many women choose simply not to wear it and feel great about themselves.

Reality Check

The lashes you see in magazines are enhanced by false eyelashes, lighting, airbrushing and digital enhancement, and are not the final result that you will get from purchasing that product.

Remember that a sense of humour, a good heart and an open mind will make you more attractive than any mascara will.