What Should I Consider When Buying Mascara?

If you’re at the store or the cosmetics shop buying mascara, you may find yourself overwhelmed with too many choices. Not only will mascara choices vary, but brush length and shape also varies and may be a factor to consider when buying mascara. Further, one has to assess color as well as variety, since one shade may be better than another for your lashes and coloring.

Typically, mascara is available in black or brown. You can also sometimes find clear mascara that may work well as a first coat, or on its own if you have thick dark lashes. For a silly costume, or for a rock concert, you might consider buying mascara in purple, blue or green. But for everyday use, black or brown tends to be more flattering. Those with light coloring may find black to be a bit overwhelming, and may opt for a subtler brown. Once you have decided on the appropriate color, buying mascara gets a little more complex.

First, if you are using mascara for a special day, like your wedding, consider buying mascara that is waterproof. This will help you get through your day without worrying that you’ll look like a raccoon if you shed a few tears. You may also want to use waterproof mascara for all days, and especially in rainy weather. If you are buying mascara that is waterproof, be sure to also pick up an oil based eye-makeup remover for cleaning off the mascara at night.

If you tend to have skin irritations from make-up, you want to think about buying hypoallergenic mascara. This may be particularly useful for those with frequent eye allergies too, as some mascara can irritate the eyes. If you’re into cruelty-free makeup, you may also want to consider buying mascara that has not been tested on animals. These tend to be gentler on the eyes in general because they cannot be tested on animals and use ingredients that are not likely to irritate.

You will also note that mascara comes in thickening formulas, lengthening formulas and anti-clumping formulas. Some brushes will be curved, and some will be long and straight, or short and straight. Longer brushes will allow for easier application of the mascara. Curved brushes push top lashes upward for more curl. The formulas above are relatively self-explanatory, but one choice may be better than another when you are buying mascara.

Thickening formulas tend to have wax or polymers that make the lashes appear slightly thicker. If you have thin lashes these may be your best choice when buying mascara. Lengthening mascara may have essentially the same formula as thickening mascara, but come with a longer brush that has denser bristles. This puts more mascara on the lashes with each application and allows you to get the tips of your lashes with greater ease. It doesn’t really lengthen the lashes, but simply puts more mascara on, providing a longer-looking lash.

For some, buying mascara that is anti-clumping is the best way to go. Anti-clumping mascara tends to have silk or other oils that keep the mascara from sticking together. It tends to work fairly well if you wish to apply more than one coat.

Lastly, consider buying mascara every two months. Over time, it can dry out and won’t work as well, and may also become a breeding ground of infection-causing bacteria. If you have an eye infection while using mascara, buy new mascara when the infection is resolved. Further, don’t share mascara with others, as this too can result in viral or bacterial eye infections.