What it is: Elf Lash Xtndr Mascara is a tubing mascara that is supposed to provide length and drama instantly. It claims to resist clumps, flaking, and smudging and remove easily with warm water. 

Price/Quantity: $7 for 0.25 oz / 7 g

Availability: Elf, Target

Shade Range: 3 shades (Soft Black, Pitch Black, and Deep Brown)

Packaging: The tube is pretty standard and a tiny bit narrower and shorter than other mascaras I have. It has a flexible silicone brush that gives slightly when pressed against the neck of the container but isn’t too flexible, so I can still get good control with it. The wand holds a very reasonable amount of product so I don’t feel the need to clean excess off before applying it to the lashes. To close it, it twists shut with a subtle “pop” once it is fully closed.

Smell/Fragrance: It has a fairly strong scent that I wouldn’t describe as fragrance but more as alcohol and other chemicals. I didn’t notice the scent over the past week just using the product normally but when actively looking for a smell, it was very easy to pick up on. 

Expiration/Shelf Life: 6 months after opening.

Ingredients: 

Here are the ingredients that are on my box. They don’t totally match what I see on the website.

Performance

Shade: I chose the shade Pitch Black and I’m happy with the depth of color I get from it. I feel it is plenty dark enough but I’m sure I’ve used other mascaras that were a deeper/richer black before.

Application: This applies fast for me compared to other mascaras I have. Within a few swipes, I very quickly see noticeable length and volume and I don’t need to add more than one layer to get my lashes to a place where they feel “done”. It goes on evenly without clumps and I don’t find it super easy to accidentally get mascara on the skin around my eyes with this brush. I always curl my lashes and this doesn’t undo the curl when I first apply it and once it dries, it holds the curl for the rest of the day. 

The wand holds a perfect amount of mascara so I don’t need to clean excess off before going in for application. I also don’t feel the need to go back into the tube for more mascara to get one eye done. I will dip back into the container to get some more for the other eye though. 

The product is not too wet or too dry/waxy but it does seem to dry down on the lashes quickly after I sweep it on, affecting how I can layer the product. While I don’t feel the need whatsoever to layer for plenty of impact, if I did want to apply it heavily, I need to do it within a minute or two. If I wait too long before adding more product, it can start to look clumpy and my lashes will stick to each other.

How It Wears: After several days, the only bad thing I’ve noticed about how this wears is some slight flaking. It seems to do this consistently but the flakes are pretty small and there aren’t a ton of them. I’ve been seeing if it will smudge by wearing it on the lower lashes with a hydrating concealer and so far it hasn’t smudged. 

Removal: Being a tubing mascara, it is meant to be removed with water. What I’ve been doing is using makeup remover to take off most of my makeup and my eyeshadow, and then I’ll go to the sink and use some warm water to soften up the mascara before gently pulling the “tubes” or large chunks of mascara off in a pinching motion. Once it’s exposed to water for about 15 seconds, it very easily loses its grip on the lashes and comes off with very little effort.

Worth Buying?

I feel like this mascara is well worth the $7. It’s not much more than some of the cheapest options at Ulta and it performs really well. The only drawback for me personally is some minor flaking.

Before and After

Loreal Voluminous Panorama Mascara is supposed to have a volumizing formula and an applicator that helps apply the product evenly to all of your lashes from inner corner to outer corner so that you end up with a more “voluminous” fanned out fringe without clumps, flakes or smudges. It comes in 3 shades (Black, Blackest Black, and Black Brown) and also in waterproof and washable versions. It looks like the waterproof one is only available in Black. Depending where you buy it, you can find it for around $13-$16. As of the time of this review, it is available to purchase from Ulta, Walmart, Amazon, and CVS.

My Natural Lashes And What I Look For In A Mascara

I have somewhat fine/sparse lashes that are mostly straight and not very long. I don’t typically go for volumizing mascaras and prefer a more “natural” look. I like a bit more length/curl and darker color with good separation. I don’t like when my lashes stick together so it looks like I have fewer but thicker lashes. The claims on this are somewhat up my alley and I enjoyed the last Loreal mascara I bought so I had high hopes for this. 

What Does It Actually Do For Me?

This looks much more natural and light than I expected when considering the claims and compared to other mascaras I’ve used. That said, I like it. It’s actually not that easy to find mascaras that do just enough and don’t get in the way or make a mess of my lashes or the skin around my eyes. It doesn’t add a whole heck of a lot of volume (which I’m fine with) but it does darken and beef them up a bit. It applies evenly as claimed and even if I go over the lashes many times to build it up, it does not clump and doesn’t cause the lashes to stick to each other unless I sweep the wand through my lashes WAY too many times. So far I have not noticed any flaking or smudging during application or throughout the day.

The color is a decently dark black. I’m happy with the depth of color and don’t feel like I wish it were any darker than it is.

It only uncurls the lashes slightly during application but it does so in a way where all the lashes remain in a neat line and don’t end up frayed — I don’t get that weird thing where some lashes end up pointing way down and some are pointing more upward. Once I’m done applying it there’s still plenty of curve left in the lashes and the curl is locked in place all day. 

How It Compares To Other Mascaras I Often Reach For

Other mascaras currently in my rotation are Loreal Noir Balm, Milani Highly Rated Anti Gravity, and Benefit Roller Lash. All of these, including the Loreal Voluminous Panorama, look about the same on the lashes. They all separate, add a bit of volume, and hold a curl decently well in about a similar way. They even share a lack of clumping and none of them cause my lashes to stick to each other much. But where this new one is noticeably different is in flaking, smudging, and ease of removal. 

This one has the least amount flaking and smudging. I’ve worn this for several days and I’ve struggled to notice any flakes or smudges at all even by the end of the day. It is also the most difficult to remove, and almost feels like a waterproof mascara, though the back of the packaging says it is supposed to wash off easily. It does not run/smear/smudge if I wet my lashes with water. It kind of “crumbles” off of my lashes though, similar to a tubing mascara but in smaller pieces (not larger “tubes”). My preferred removal method is using a Neutrogena Makeup Remover wipe. I need to spend about twice as long using a wipe with this mascara versus the others I mentioned.

Can It Be Layered and Built Up Slowly?

Yes I can build it up slowly. I have other mascaras (Loreal Noir Balm) that I can seemingly layer indefinitely without any issue but this one does have a limit. I can layer for quite a while but eventually I can feel my lashes start to become stiff and waxy, making further layering difficult. I have plenty of time to work with it till I get to this point though. I don’t feel rushed to get the application right immediately.

Even being brand new, I don’t feel the need to allow it time to dry out. The formula doesn’t feel “too fresh” or too wet and it doesn’t coat the brush too heavily. I get a nice clean, predictable application that holds well all day. It looks nice up close in photos too which is important to me.

Before and After

Winky Lux Detail Oriented Mascara is a lengthening and defining mascara with a skinny precision wand for reaching every last lash. At the moment, it seems to be available only in black and I don’t see a waterproof version. It goes for $19 and is available to purchase from Ulta, Target, and Winky Lux.

What stands out:

• Works best for me on the lower lashes. The formula of this is thinner and somewhat more fluid but it packs a good amount of deep black pigmentation. It’s not very wet though and it doesn’t take forever to dry down.

• For upper lashes, it will lengthen and darken but it does not volumize much, if at all. It also slightly uncurls my lashes. It doesn’t totally straighten them out and it doesn’t continue to get worse throughout the day – this only happens upon application.

• Easy to avoid smudging mascara on skin around the eyes.

• Wand holds the right amount of product without having to clean excess off.

• The wand is a bit long in my opinion and that can sometimes make it awkward to reach the outer half of my lower lashes. It’s like I have to hold it at a weird angle to reach those lashes. I can do it but it’s not as easy as with other wands. Inner lashes are a dream to reach though.

• Hardly any flaking/smudging throughout the day.

• Reasonably consistent performance over time (4 months so far). I’m only now beginning to see very tiny clumps if I layer the products 2-3 times. It’s not bothersome or noticeable enough to need replacing yet.

Was it worth the purchase?

Yes. Despite the few things I nitpicked about above, I still love this product and reach for it almost every time I do my makeup. I don’t have another mascara that works as well on the lower lashes.

I picked up the new Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara along with the other new products they came out with recently. Tubing mascaras are supposed to wash off with water in clumps instead of breaking down by liquifying. I’ve only seen this available in black and there is no waterproof version. It retails for $14 and can be purchased from Milani and Ulta.

This mascara has a very wet formula and coats the lashes heavily right away. It is noticeably blacker than my Loreal Voluminous Noir Balm Mascara and Benefit Roller Lash. One light layer is about all I can get away with before I start seeing my lashes sticking to each other and pointing in several different directions. I can use this but I have to be careful and quick about it. No more than a few passes of the wand and definitely no second layers.

It isn’t the type of mascara that gives me fanned out fluttery looking lashes. I don’t find it super lengthening nor super voluminzing. It defines decently well and helps the lashes stand out starkly against my eyeshadow but I don’t love the effect.

I always curl my lashes before applying mascara and I didn’t have any trouble with this one uncurling them but it didn’t help to “lift” them either. I think it generally looks best for “everyday” makeup that I’d wear to work or just to get ready for the day. I don’t like it much for close up photos.

This is much easier to remove by washing my face than by using a makeup wipe. The makeup wipe required lots of passes and rubbing to loosen the mascara and it wasn’t worth the irritation it would cause my skin to do that. I don’t use regular makeup remover or cleansing balms so I’m not sure how it’d do with those. Even just warm water without cleanser was plenty to get the mascara to come off.

Flaking and smudging were super minor. After 12 hours worn on both upper and lower lashes without using setting powder, the little bit of smudging I noticed looked like a faint shadow. And I only saw like 3 tiny specks that flaked off during that time.

Pros:

• Very black, shows up well against dark eyeshadow
• Somewhat glossy look
• Not too difficult to wash off with just cleanser and water
• Doesn’t uncurl my lashes
• Not clumpy
• Somewhat lengthening
• Small brush makes it easy to apply without getting mascara on my skin

Cons:

• Causes lashes to stick together a bit, though I’ve had other mascaras that do this worse
• Easy to over apply, 1 layer looks best on me
• Feels kind of heavy
• Very wet and takes a long time to dry down
• Not good for layering or building up slowly

I’ve been in need of a new mascara for a while and decided to pick this one up to try out. It’s supposed to be a volumizing and (I guess) moisturizing formula, hence having “Balm” in the name. These are my thoughts based on a couple weeks of wearing it so far.

Packaging and Applicator

It has a bendy plastic applicator. If I press it against the edge of the container, it gives a little but it isn’t floppy. It’s a cool feature but I don’t feel like it makes applying the product any easier or harder. The bristles aren’t pokey or uncomfortable against my lashline. It’s not too big for the size of my eyes or length of my lashes so I don’t get very much smudging on my lids during application. I have a few mascaras from Covergirl that have a similar type of applicator, which is maybe why I thought I might like this.

Here are a few other mascara wands to compare to and help you visualize. From left to right:

• Loreal Voluminous Noir Balm Mascara
• Covergirl Lash Exact Mascara
• Tarte Tarteist Mascara
• Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

So far the have tried the Covergirl one side by side with this and they feel nearly identical both in how bendy they are and how gentle they are against the lashline. These are all taken straight from the container without cleaning any excess product off the wands.

I prefer a lighter mascara application so for me, just the right amount of product coats the brush to apply to all my lashes on both eyes without having to dip back into the container. The stopper removes all excess mascara from the wand except for a tiny bit on the tip which is no big deal to wipe off.

What The Formula is Like

The formula is more volumizing than lengthening but has a good balance of doing both. I usually go for lengthening mascaras that provide good separation and fanning so I’m surprised I still get that quality out of a volumizing formula. The balminess seems to make it take longer to fully dry down than other mascaras I use but it does completely dry so I can touch my lashes without it transferring. I can add a second layer without it causing my lashes to stick together or uncurl them.

Something that I can’t stand about mascara is when the part the mascara that extends past the tip of my lash to create that extended length doesn’t follow the curve of my lashes and gives me these weird angled bits that don’t look natural at all. Thankfully, this does not do that. It very nicely follows the curve of my lashes and doesn’t cause them to point all different directions once I’ve applied it, even when I add a second layer.

How It Wears

This holds curl all day and I get very minor flaking and smudging on the lids near the lashes. Smudging happened more as my skin became more oily toward the end of the day or if I wore more emollient concealers. Most of the days I’ve worn this I haven’t seen flaking except for those that I decided to apply it more heavily or layer it.

There really isn’t much that stands out as being super unique about this. It’s kind of a no-nonsense, just-make-my-lashes-look-better type of product and I’m happy with how it has been working for me. Flaking isn’t something that bothers me unless there is a whole lot of it. Smudging is annoying but this has been so minor and not something I’ve seen happen every time I wear it.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you make purchases through them.

L’Oréal Unlimited Mascara is supposed to give your lashes length and lift thanks to the innovative bending wand and “stretchable” formula. It isn’t supposed to clump, flake or smudge. It retails for around $12 and comes in 2 shades. There is also a waterproof formula, but this review is for the washable formula. It is available at Ulta, Target, and Walmart.

This mascara gives my lashes a lot of impact quickly. Just a few swipes both lengthens and volumizes with rich black color. It dries down fairly quickly and holds a curl pretty well. I have to be careful to get the application right with the first layer though and stop there. Adding another coat quickly turns my lashes into a clumpy, spidery mess. I also noticed quite a bit of flaking throughout the day but no smudging.

The wand can be used straight like a typical wand or it can be angled. Personally, I just prefer to use it straight because it’s what I’m used to doing. The applicator is plastic, tapered, and narrow which is great to avoid getting mascara on your eyelids. The narrow end seems like it would be great for reaching smaller lashes near the inner corners of your eyes. However, it holds onto too much product and those tiny lashes are easily overwhelmed by the sheer heaviness. I can make it work by applying that excess product to the outer parts of my lashes first which can tolerate holding onto more product. Once the brush is a bit cleaner, I’ll move on to my inner lashes.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you make purchases through them.

Product Description

What it is: Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Angel Mascara is supposed to give your lashes a lifted, flared out effect and volume at the root thanks to the unique brush. The formula is designed to hold “the lifted wing look in place.” This is not the waterproof version, but they do offer one as well.

Price/Quantity: $9.50 for 9.8 mL / 0.33 fl oz

Availability: Ulta, Target, Walmart, Drugstores, Amazon

Packaging: The packaging is beautiful and feels well made. The wand twists open and closed easily.

Smell/Fragrance: I don’t smell any fragrance but there is somewhat of a chemical smell. It’s not something I notice with normal use.

Performance

The very first time I applied this, I remember being impressed with how smoothly and evenly it applied over my lashes. Over time I found that it didn’t apply the same way reliably every time. Some days my lashes would stick to each other, as if they’d been coated too heavily. I think it has something to do with how much product is coating the applicator. This tube has been open for about 2 months and since then, it seems to have gotten better, or maybe I’ve just learned to work with it better.

The brush is super skinny and there are bristles on only one side. I have a tendency with my eye shape to end up with mascara on my lids, so I figured this applicator would be a good fit, but it ended up disappointing in this regard. It’s not nearly as messy as some extra huge brushes are, but I still do have to be a little extra mindful not to mess up my eyeshadow.

The color is nice and dark and it gives my lashes a semi glossy finish. Though my lashes sometimes stick together, it doesn’t leave actual clumps of product on my lashes, which is nice. It holds a curl, doesn’t weigh my lashes down, and remains smudgeproof throughout the day once it dries down. I find that it dries quickly, within a few minutes. Rarely do I notice any product flaking off during the day.

This requires a bit more work to remove than my Benefit Roller Lash. It comes off fully when I use Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes but I do need to spend a few extra minutes working on it to remove it all.

Worth Buying?

I like it but I don’t love it. I’ve gotten good use out of it but I personally wouldn’t repurchase this.