Article by BR Natalie
If there's one thing every lady must have in her makeup bag (and handbag, car and desk) it's mascara. A good mascara will address you most pressing lash concerns, as well as opening your eyes, making you look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. A great mascara will do all of this with minimum effort on your part.
Whether you want thicker, longer or fuller eyelashes, this list is going to tell you the mascaras you need to try. And it's not based on brands, editors or even the Beauty Crew's opinions. As if! We present New Zealand's Top Ten Mascaras as rated by shoppers that have bought them and used them - that's you!
Maybelline Volum' Express the Colossal. 4.2 / 5 - 401 reviews
They Say: Volum' Express The Colossal creates colossal lashes in just one coat! Creates 9x the volume instantly. Collegen formula plus mega blush plumps lashes
You Say: I love this product, it really enhances my lashes and makes them appear longer and thicker. I get many compliments while wearing it, people say have you got eyelash extensions? Thats just the look I'm after, colossal, fake looking lashes!!! The price is affordable and i find mine lasts me ages. Will continue to buy this until they make something even better. - Beauty Review Member harksgal
Maybelline Volume Express - Falsies Flared. 4.2/5 - 364 reviews
They Say: False lash glam in a tube, now goes flared. 300% more visible lashes, Winged out and over the top, instantly! Pro-Keratin Formula including a spoon curler brush.
You Say: This is the mascara that I reach for the most these days. I just love how it really brightens my eyes up by even the smallest sweep. I feel like it really does make my lashes look longer and more defined. The wand is a little bit strange and took a couple of goes to get used to, however because of its flexibility it does help to stop over applying. - BR Member g1ggles2
3. Benefit They're Real Mascara 4.3/5 - 279 reviews
They Say: Lengthens, curls, volumises, lifts & separates. Our jet black, long-wearing formula won’t smudge or dry out. A specially designed brush reveals lashes you never knew you had!
You Say: I really enjoyed using this mascara. I loved the brush size and shape and found it really easy to apply. I was given it in the small size from my mum who bought the large one and it came with it. The mascara went on really well and made my eyelashes look defined and long and this lasted all day. I used the product completely up and found it did not go think and gluggy like many do near the end. I would definately use it again if I came across it!! - Beauty Review Member sjphillips88
Eye of Horus Mascara 4.7/5 - 81 reviews.
They Say: Naturally formulated in the style of the ancient Egyptians with plant based ingredients and Waxes. Designed to accentuate and enhance the natural beauty of your Lashes, our Goddess Mascara wont irritate eyes or sting and coats lashes evenly. It conditions, nourishes and strengthens lash structure to assist with lash growth.
You Say: This mascara is amazing! And that's coming from someone extremely fussy with their lashes! The formula is extremely dark, glossy and buildable and does not budge nor smudge. The only downside is that you will need an oil based eye remover to remove this product. The wand is amazing, not spiky and hard like some wands I have tried, very good for sensitive eyes! So far I haven't noticed this product drying up quickly either! - Beauty Review Member Jen_Wakelin
Jordana Lash Extreme 4.3/5 - 73 reviews
They Say: Immediate Extreme Volume. Buildable Formula Without Clumping. Long-Lasting Power
You Say: This is a great, great, great mascara that you would hardly believe is as cheap as it is! It has quite a wet formula and a very bristly brush so it may take a little getting used to, but after a couple of uses it dries down slightly.
This is a formula you can really layer and get an almost false lash effect. It gives both volume and length. This mascara is easy to remove and doesn't irritate my eyes at all. It does sometimes smudge under my eyes by the end of the day, but that's a small price to pay for something so cheap! - Beauty Review Member hyacinthgirlbeauty
Revlon Grow Luscious Lash Potion 4.3/5 - 59 reviews
They Say: Magically transform lashes to lush, long and lustrous. A potion with strengthening proteins drenches lashes for volume. Triple-groove wand combs through for clump-free length.
You Say: The mascara has a lovely thick, big bristled brush which I love. It manages to deliver the luscious black mascara to each and every lash easily and effectively. It separates and is non clumping and makes my lashes look really long and voluminous!! The product is the perfect consistency and and lasts well throughout my day without requiring touch ups.
It comes in a large colourful, fun tube of shimmery purple and green, with a shiny pink lid. I really do love using this mascara. It truly delivers in it's claims of making your lashes long, lush and lustrous!! I highly recommend this to anyone wanting luscious lashes and will definitely be purchasing again when mine runs out!- Beauty Review Expert - Aunty
CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara 4.4/5 - 58 reviews
They Say: Get 200% more volume and zero clumps. Features an innovative double-sided brush with lash-loading and clump-combing zones to crush clumps
You Say: This is one of the best mascaras I have ever used. The formula glides on the lashes and there are no clumps to be found, even as it ages. If you get a brush full of product it still doesn't have clumps. As it gets older it still doesn't clump, it just seems thicker and less glidey.
I have tried waterproof and ordinary, in black/ and black/brown, quality is still the same. I also enjoy the brush - it's thin at one end so you can get right into the corners. - Beauty Review Member Sophia
L'Oréal Paris Volume Million Lashes Waterproof 4.0/5 - 56 reviews
They Say: The millionizer brush combined with carbon-black pigments separates lashes for clean volume and an intense lash.
You Say: Absolutely love this product, it goes on perfectly without clumping and it does a great job of lengthening my lashes and making them look super thick. I naturally have quite long thick lashes so perhaps this would be most suited to people with the same lash type. I find that it does dry out after a few months but that's not an issue considering that you should replace mascara every 3 months anyway and that it is a pretty reasonable price! - Beauty Review Member denise123
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara 4.2/5 - 47 reviews
They Say: Did you know your lashes grow in more than just one layer? New Lash Sensational Mascara unfolds layer upon layer of lashes for the new full fan effect.
You Say: I am a huge fan of maybeline mascara and this one is perhaps my favorite yet! I picked up the water proof version from my local countdown. This mascara is very nice, I love that the brush has a curved side for getting right down to the root of the lashes and another side for fanning out your lashes. The brush does bend a bit where it joins to the rest of the wand, so be careful when closing it,don't just jam it in there. This mascara also dries really fast so make sure you do one eye at a time to do the roots and whole lash. It can be tricky to get on a second coat once it dries.
This is the first mascara I've had that doesn't give me panda eyes after a few hours, It lasts all day and despite being waterproof is easy to remove with a baby wipe. I will definitely repurchase. - Beauty Review Member LaurenMockett
CoverGirl Lashblast Volume Mascara 4.6/5 - 44 reviews
They Say: Get a blast of bold, volumizing mascaras! LashBlast's patented volume-boosting hypoallergenic mascara formula and patent-pending brush are designed to max out each and every lash, leaving you with the ultimate big-lash look. Now in waterproof, too!
You Say: This is my fail-proof go-to mascara. I like the formula in a way that it's gives me a natural look but better. It's not overly volumizing or lengthening (you have to look for another tube for that). The orange container might be a bit bulky than most mascara tubes, but doesn't hurt one bit. The price is just right for replacing it every 3 months or so. I love it and it'll always have a place in my make-up bag.- Beauty Review Member sealikesky
So there you have it - The Top Ten Mascaras in New Zealand, as rated byr real NZ women who have bought them and used them! Did your favourite make the list?
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Such a great article! I have an obsession with buying Mascara. It is the one thing I could not live without. So its always extremely useful to get tips on which mascara is the best. The best mascara I have ever used is the Maybelline Lash Sky High - the flexible brush and the formula are amazing. I would love to see an updated article on Mascara. Thanks Beauty Review!