topic Everything You Never Knew About Mascara in Beauty

Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

feline groovy — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 23:17:24 GMT

an interesting FYI from Yahoo Beauty...

Mascara might just be the most polarizing beauty product of all time. If it doesn’t work for you, you’ll toss it, tell all your friends never to buy it, and pretty much rue the day it was ever created (yes, clumpy lashes can evoke some serious emotion). But, when you find a mascara you love, it’s a whole different story. You’ll buy it in multiples, talk it up to your pals, and become a loyal user for years—if not life.

Clearly, there’s a whole lot going on in these tiny tubes. What makes one mascara stand out from the pack? Is the trick in the application? And, while we’re at it, what’s the best brush for mega-volume? To get these answers and more, we turned to Nicole Masson, vice president of global product development for M.A.C. Cosmetics, who let us in on some little-known facts about everyone’s favorite lash-enhancer. Read on to become a bona fide master of mascara.

It’s the spaces between bristles that make one brush work better than another. If you’ve been looking to the head of the wand to determine the efficacy of your mascara, you’re on the right track. But, be prepared to whip out your magnifying glass for a true indication. “It’s more about the spacing between the bristles,” says Masson. “If you have a wide space between every bristle, you have more opportunity for a lot of product to go on your lashes.” That in mind, the wider the space between bristles, the more volume and overall oomph you’ll achieve. Mason notes that the bristles also need to be paired “with a formula of the right thickness, otherwise you’ll end up with something too clumpy.”

Americans love voluminous lashes. “The name of the game in the U.S. is volume,” says Masson, who develops products for MAC globally. “You have curl, separation, and length as secondary benefits, but what everybody wants is volume.” That’s why, according to Masson, it’s up to consumers to dig a little deeper when mascara shopping. “What kind of volume is it? Is it butterfly volume, is it super-mega volume, is it feathery?” (Yes, these are the technical terms used in the trade.) Determining what the difference means for your lashes involves a little bit of experimentation. Which leads us to…

Even product developers go through trial and error. If you’ve yet to find your perfect mascara match, fear not—even for the pros, the process can be hit or miss. Masson and her team essentially mix and match brushes and formulas in order to achieve a high-performing product. “What we do is we take ten brushes, ten formulas and try different combinations. Once you find something that works, then you start doing some tweaks. You make the formula thicker, you make the brush fibers shorter or longer,” she says. But don’t let the playful nature of product development fool you—it takes a whole lot of hard work to find the perfect combo of formula, brush, and bristles. “We spend around three years working on each mascara,” says Masson.

Comb-style mascaras exist, and they’re ideal for perfectionists. If you’re all about achievinga picture-perfect lash look—think symmetrical and separated—a comb-style mascara brush might just be your best bet. “Comb wands are made in molds, so they’re the same every single time. It allows for an extremely clean and symmetrical separation, but still provides volume,” says Masson. “With natural fiber brushes, the bristles are twisted and with that process, you’ll have a very slight variation from brush to brush.”

You’re using your curling mascara wrong. Sure, some mascaras are already formulated to add a little flip to your lashes, but they’llreally work their magic if you add a little elbow grease. “Use the curved brush to push up the lashes,” says Masson. “If you go a little bit slower as you apply, while simultaneously pushing the curved brush against your lashes, you’ll get extra lift as the mascara starts to set.”

When in doubt, think Christmas. Take note, mascara newbies. Though Masson suggests shopping from a benefit perspective (if you want extra length, look for a product that touts elongation), if you’re just starting your search, a good place to begin is with a Christmas tree-shaped brush. “We call it a Christmas tree because it’s tapered at the top and wider at the bottom,” says Masson. “It’s an all-around great brush because, since the bristles are longer at the bottom, you can use those to really build in a lot of product. Then, you can use the thin end as a separator to get into your inner and outer corner lashes.” It’s no wonder that, according to Masson, the Christmas tree brush is the most popular in the world.

There’s a reason why your favorite mascara is your favorite.“Your eyelashes are just like your hair,” says Masson. “There are so many different textures and like a hair regimen, everybody has something different that works best for them.” Yep, there’s science behind why the mascara your best friend raves about might fall flat for you. “It’s a very individualized process,” continues Masson. But hey, that’s half the fun, right?

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

CANDLEQUEEN — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 03:26:29 GMT

Very cute and informative!!!!!

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

Mistic — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 03:35:10 GMT

I enjoyed this. Thanks!

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

ElvisShops — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 04:49:54 GMT

The models on Q and HSN wear way too much mascara. I don't get why people need to apply coat after coat. It just looks icky.

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

dionline — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 05:13:06 GMT

Great article - thanks for posting!!

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

Jk9 — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 05:27:18 GMT

Great article, and thanks for sharing. I understand why I like certain products better than others!

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

Annabellethecat66 — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 05:31:00 GMT

I never leave the house without wear mascara. I was a teenager in the 60's. Mascara is and was important then and now (phew! That was kinda poetic).

Anyway, I wouldn't leave the house without it. I don't CAKE it on, but I do wear plenty of waterproof.

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

feline groovy — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 06:34:58 GMT

Glad that you've learned some new stuff like I did! Thanks for your thanks.

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

feline groovy — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 06:36:27 GMT

On 1/18/2015 ElvisShops said:
The models on Q and HSN wear way too much mascara. I don't get why people need to apply coat after coat. It just looks icky.

There are ways to apply 2 or 3 coats that still makes lashes look good.

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

MarenSeattle — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 06:42:19 GMT

Great piece, feline groovy -- thanks!!

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

feline groovy — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 06:44:47 GMT

On 1/18/2015 annabellethecat said:
I never leave the house without wear mascara. I was a teenager in the 60's. Mascara is and was important then and now (phew! That was kinda poetic).

Anyway, I wouldn't leave the house without it. I don't CAKE it on, but I do wear plenty of waterproof.

Most women say that mascara would be their one "desert island" cosmetic choice, LOL.

I wear waterproof also, since I'm always putting gel drops in my eyes to counteract dryness.

You're a poet and don't know it, anna.

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

feline groovy — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 06:46:09 GMT

On 1/18/2015 MarenSeattle said:
Great piece, feline groovy -- thanks!!

Hi, Maren, glad you enjoyed it! And you're most welcome. 8)

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

wvumountiefan — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:00:41 GMT

Feline, thanks for posting! I love reading stuff like that!!

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

tototwo — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 17:38:28 GMT

Thanks! interesting read. Now I don't feel so bad about saving mascara brushes I love to use in other mascaras. For me, when I find a mascara I love, I don't like the brush, and vice versa.

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

beach-mom — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 18:24:20 GMT

Thanks for posting! I panicked on time when I realized after I got to school my mascara wasn't on. It bothered me all day!

Every time I think I've found my HG, another one comes along to tempt me!

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

smarty — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 18:54:25 GMT

If you want to try a new mascara, go to Nordies make-up counters and ask for samples of products. Most of the lines will provide a free sample (if you have a Nordies card, they will be glad to give you a 2 week supply of almost any beauty product!) Get two or three and compare. I use Chanel "Le Volume" in non-waterproof formula.

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

ECBG — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 20:12:27 GMT

Fantastic piece! Thanks!

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

Jova — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 20:38:02 GMT

Thank you for posting this!

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

feline groovy — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 22:35:17 GMT

Appreciate your thank you's, everyone. I enjoy learning new things as well.

Re: Everything You Never Knew About Mascara

feline groovy — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 22:38:03 GMT

On 1/19/2015 tototwo said:
Thanks! interesting read. Now I don't feel so bad about saving mascara brushes I love to use in other mascaras. For me, when I find a mascara I love, I don't like the brush, and vice versa.

Smart to do (especially budget-wise!) as long as you keep 'em hygienic. 8)