You know what’s kinda funny to me? Those scenarios when people ask what your must-have makeup items are for a deserted island scenario. Presumably the least of your worries would be whether or not you had your favorite lipstick or blush. If there’s anything I’ve learned from side-eye watching “Alone” with El Hub, it’s that you want to take care of food and shelter first, not your brows.
At the same time, I gotta say that I would low-key freak out a little if I went someplace and forgot a tube of mascara.
In my journey of going from wearing all the products to only wearing the bare minimum in makeup, there’ve been several items I’ve happily bid adieu: orange color corrector, face primer, eyeshadow base, brow gel (!) and brow highlighter pencil, among other things. I don’t miss them.
There are items I don’t wear right meow, but I still think of them fondly because I’ve always loved them and probably will come back to them someday when I have a little more breathing room, like bronzer (still love it), powder (le sigh!) and foundation.
But one thing I’ve realized I could never say goodbye to is mascara. I was putting it on in my car yesterday (because that’s how I roll now, ha), and after I layered on that first coat, I looked at myself in the mirror and said, “Ah, there she is.” I just feel more like me when I’m wearing it, you know?
I can’t remember when I realized that life is much better with mascara; I must’ve been in college? Even though I wore makeup in high school, for some reason, my mom wouldn’t allow me to wear mascara. I basically wore whatever makeup I wanted, bright lipstick, loads of blush, eyeshadow, you name it, but mascara was forbidden fruit in my house.
I wish I could remember that first tube. I’m guessing it was Clinique because they had a counter at the college bookstore, and when I’d go there to buy my books at the start of the quarter, I’d check out at the Clinique counter and pick up a few things.
Hmm. There’s a chance it was the green and pink Maybelline mascara because that was all the rage back in the day.
Maybe I’ll remember it in my sleep tonight, LOL!
At one point in time during my makeup journey, I would layer multiple mascaras on my lashes. At the height of wearing ALL THE THINGS, I had a specific mascara for locking in the curl, then another for length and then another just for my lower lashes.
The only tube I roll with these days is a keeper from Rare Beauty. If you haven’t tried it, you’ve gotta get it in your life ASAP. I’m talking major lash lift, curl and length, and absolutely no smudging, even when it’s hot out. I need to use an oil-based cleanser to take it off at the end of the day, but that’s no biggie. The only thing I don’t like about it is kinda silly; the pale pink tube gets dirty so easily and that gets on my nerves.
Anyway, I hope your lashes today are lovely and lifted! No mascara smudges for any of us! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Makeup feels unfinished to me without mascara. whether it’s the bare minimum or a full face, mascara is just the finishing touch.
The best mascara I’ve ever used is a recent discovery and I’m obsessed with it. It’s the brand Half Magic at Ultra, it’s by the makeup artist of the show Euphoria. It’s just perfect! Not too wet, not too dry, small flexible brush, doesn’t flake or smudge even in the Texas heat, but washes off easily at night, and I can get both eyes done with one dip! I have sparse and short lashes and this mascara gives me long fluttery lashes, basically my dream.
Before this I was using the Chanel mascara and crying every time I had to buy it because it’s SO expensive but this one is so much better.
I feel like my mascara journey is finally over! lol.
I agree with mascara being my one make-up must have. My eyes look unfinished without it. A very close second would be concealer. I look awake and alive with undereye concealer.
I actually have a “weekend” bag of makeup that I use when I’m trying to be fast with my makeup. If there is a zombie apocalypse…I’m just going to grab that on the way😁. Why limit myself to one item in such an emergency? It has Mac Face & Body, a couple mascaras, a Clinique cheek palette, Nars orgasm, a brow pencil, a concealer…
I am a mascara junkie – I try so many. My current favorite is from Merit. I’m test driving some new ones because my eyes are irritated from allergies & I think mascara might be part of the problem. Hopefully I find something because I feel naked without it on
Rare Beauty mascara comes off like a charm with Clinique Take the Day Off wipes. 😊 (The balm and liquid work well, too, but the wipes are the easiest.)
Thrive tubing mascara is now my new favorite. I was gifted a trial size from a friend (so sweet).
Before this new discovery, I only ever loved Full n Soft by Maybelline.
Mascara is an important staple! For me, removing it at night has keep me from wearing is as regularly…. But the thrive tubing one, just washes off with water and pulling gently on my eye lashes, so awesome!
I have fairly long black eyelashes and often go without mascara if I’m going for that casual no makeup look. For evenings or whenever I want to look more composed and polished, however, I love long, fluttery, upswept lashes—the kind only a good mascara can achieve. I’m currently using Victoria Beckham’s tubing mascara. It wears beautifully and never, ever flakes. But, I’m not a loyalist and am always on the hunt for something new. My color of choice is always black. Colors can be fun, but they’re not for me. As for brown mascara, I don’t really get it. This isn’t the first time it’s made an appearance. It will be around for awhile and then die out until a new generation resurrects it. Unless someone has very light coloring, I think most people like the more defined look of black.
Oh man, my mom was the complete opposite when I was in high school. The only makeup I was allowed to wear once I turned 16 was mascara and lip gloss/balm.
She took me to the Clinique counter and got me a tube of Natural Glossy Mascara which I wore religiously until the day some idiot at Clinique decided it needed to be discontinued. It was also my daughters favorite mascara. Now I buy Kanebo mascara whenever we’re in Japan.
When Dear Daughter was in grade school there was another mom who religiously wore red lipstick. Nothing else, just red lipstick. I tried to do that, it didn’t work for me. If I put on no other makeup, mascara is it for me. Doesn’t have to be fancy, it just needs to make my lashes darker and noticeable.