Have you noticed anything weird about mascara brushes lately? It’s like they’re getting all funky cold medina! Last year it was motorized brush heads; before that, spiked medieval flails (Givenchy’s Phenomen’Eyes).
Now even Clinique is throwing their hat into the ring with a different spin on the standard brush design. High Lengths Mascara ($14) flaunts a minimalist, almost alien bow.
Maybe I’ve been watching too much sci-fi lately (a VERY safe bet), but those rows of short, stubby teeth aren’t giving me warm and fuzzy feelings — that’s for sure.
When I touched the brush for the first time (expecting certain doom!), it flexed and bent like Gumby’s yoga master, LOL! I really had no idea how it would perform on human lashes. 🙂
Buck nekkid lashes!
For the most part, I like the way it works.
One layer
Above all else, as a true lengthening mascara, High Lengths delivers, and I think the shape of the brush has something to do with it.
Those rows of little teeth reach out and grab lashes like a praying mantis catching a moth, separating and coating from base to tip — even the hardest-to-grab lashes (the short, stubby ones).
I like the way it looks after one coat — smooth, lifted, clump-free lashes with no flaking or smudging throughout the day — but two coats felt a little crispy with lumps…
Two layers
In a nutshell, I like what Clinique’s done with High Lengths, and it feels like a deal at $14. I would, however, love to tweak the length of the brush head a smidge. Maybe it’s just me, but it feels a few millimeters too long.
High Lengths comes in two colors (Black and Brown; neither one is waterproof); I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that Clinique expands the range to add fun shades like dark blue and purple, OOH! Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A
Speaking of unusual shapes…
I dusted off my yoga mat today and did some stretching for the first time in … a while. It’s perhaps ironic that whenever I did a downward dog, Tabs crawled under me, plopped down in the center of the mat and refused to move, ha!
NOTE: It’s hard to look graceful or sleek with a 13-pound tabby in your grill. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Before you jet, beauty lover, check out the home page for more makeup reviews. 🙂
Nice review, I agree, I liked your lashes better with just one coat, two looked too cakey.
And you know I gotta show some love to Mr. Northman 😉 I didn’t know Mr. Skarsgard got his vampire cues from Tabs! You’ve been holding out on us Karen 😉
.-= Hafsa’s last blog post… The Elephant In The Room =-.
LOL! Yeah, Tabs taught Vampire Eric everything he knows!!
I remember seeing this on Sephora’s website yesterday and thinking Clinique? But they don’t do weird brush shapes…… I must say it does scare me a little too, especially since I’m really not with it in the morning (that really looks like it would hurt if you poked yourself in the eye, not that poking yourself in the eye with a normal mascara wand would be any less painful but still…) It looks nice and natural on you with one coat, but I don’t think I’d pay $14 for something that doesn’t deliver more length/volume. LOL @ tabs, he looks like he’s enjoying himself there.
I was afraid of poking my eye out, too, but it’s shockingly user friendly!
ROFL at Tabs yawning. Sort of reminds me when I take a nap with Zena. Instead of plopping on one side of the bed, she plops herself down in the middle, groans happily digging her nose into my fleece blanket and leaves me to decide which TEENY sliver of my bed I want to take. I have a rather big bed too (a Queen) so she’s a definite bed hog.
You know what the brush reminds me of? A prosthetic running leg with hair. Or a sci-fi-ed scythe. Can’t decide which one to go with.
Why do animals do that? It’s like they have a sixth sense specifically for bed/yoga mat hogging!
I don’t know, but it really annoys me, especially when I wake up and find I can’t roll over without a face-plant on the floor!
That is one funky brush, long and skinny. I imagine it would be good for the lower lashes and inner corners. I love it when cats yawn they look like little lions or tigers roaring.
.-= amy’s last blog post… FOTD Golds, Greens, Purple and Hot Pink Lips using Nars Schiap Lipstick and Nars Easy Lover Lipgloss =-.
Me too! Catching Tabs in mid-yawn brings me much amusement, LOL!
I agree with you about the awkward look of the mascara wand, but I have adapted to basically any type since I like to wear my mascara thicker than you do. (I have big, brown eyes which are always my emphasis. I use about six to seven different types every day, however I promise it doesn’t look like it sounds. Ha!) But for $14, I am gonna get it anyway. I am more of a fan of thickness, but I like to go over my lashes with wands like this one. It does a great job as a lash comb as well. Your lashes look great with this mascara on! 🙂 I personally like the two coats, but that first coat is still a huuuge difference!
I love kitty cats; Tabs is beyond adorable! He seems to have so much personality.
Wow! Which of your mascaras are your faves? I’m always looking for a good thickening one that isn’t clumpy.
LOL! The resemblance between Tabs and Skarsgard is just too funny 😛 I have to say, though, the look of this lash… brush… wand… comb-thing is much scarier than any of the True Blood vamps ^^ They may suck you dry, but with my clumsy fingers, I’d probably blind myself in some slow, painful way with High Lengths!
.-= Rae’s last blog post… Stash: trios, quads, and palettes =-.
I was afraid of that too, but it’s surprisingly very user friendly!
Clinique discontinued my Holy Grail mascara, Long Pretty Lashes, and replaced it with this. I just ordered one from Sephora so I’m hoping it lives up to LPL. If not, I’m going to be very disappointed 🙁
*Swoons for Alexander* That man is delicious to look at…I looooove his short hair. And his muscles. And how tall he is. And his evil but very alluring way of taking.
Wait.
MASCARA! Ah, that’s what we’re talking about! This one looks good on you, but those kind of brushes and I have a hate/hate relationship…I always end up stabbed in the eye or giving up. Usually both lol
Happy almost Friday!
.-= Vanessa H’s last blog post… Weekend Adventures =-.
and by taking, I meant talking.
Mr. Northman scrambles my brain lol
.-= Vanessa H’s last blog post… Weekend Adventures =-.
Y’know, he didn’t do anything for me until he cut his hair off and started wearing that black tank top!
Thanks for showing us how this works. It has a good price also, so maybe I’ll give it a try 🙂
.-= diane’s last blog post… latest Asos wish list 😀 =-.
You’re welcome! I hope you like it. 🙂
Tabs is awesome LOL !!!
This morning as I was getting ready for work, Linus was with me in the room and had a lot to say about me leaving the house on such a rainy morning. 😀
The mascara seems interesting – ive never used one with a wand that looked like that. The price aint so bad either.
The wand is fascinating. I’m usually skeptical of mascara doo-dads but this one actually gets the job done.
Is Linus usually very chatty?
I love Tabs! My husband is allergic, so I like to check out make-up and see how Tab’s is doing at the same time!!!
Tabs can be your virtual kitty! 🙂 Of course, he expects virtual gravy and lurvies in return, LOL!
The wand looks funky and a bit scary too but I love how the mascara looks on you.
Tabs is so cute!
.-= gio’s last blog post… Looks: Winter Sky =-.
Totally scary! But it works. 🙂
I really dislike this brush design, but I like what it’s done to your lashes. I’m glad it worked for you, cause brushes like this never work for me. I am totally averse to the plastic bristles.
Tabs is adorbs. My cat Bella does that to me all. the. time. when I work out at home! Why do they love to get all up in your business at the most inopportune times??
.-= Kristen’s last blog post… It’s What’s Inside that Counts: Jones in Philadelphia =-.
Maybe our cats are secretly in love with fitness, LOL!
That is a FUNKY head. It does look sort of oddly long… I really like the look of one coat, though. I might have to try it out if they start making a waterproof version.
Have you ever looked into the history of mascaras? Some of the stuff they came up with back in the day was pretty out there, expecially when they started trying to make it more “user friendly” and putting it in tubes. It’s pretty funny looking back on all of it 🙂
I haven’t, but it sounds very interesting. 🙂 Did you read about it in a book or see it in a documentary?
That wand is super weird!!! Wow! What will they think of next!!!
.-= Khalia Bentson’s last blog post… Prescriptives is Closing Up Shop!!! =-.
I know. I am tempted to take the scissors to mine… it’s just a touch too long, but otherwise perfect.
Lovin’ the Tab-man and his big chompers…you better get him some noms, quick!
LOL! That’s his “Gimme gravy, woman!” face, fo’ sho!
Happy Friday!
Hmm, I am thinking that most mascara wands are getting a little to avant garde for this old-school girl (hey, love the reference to Funky Cold Medina! Tone Loc rocks!).
I refuse to try those oscillation ones, because I have weird sensory issues at times and I know this would bother me. I think it would be like those little electric massage things you can use at home and those give me the heebie jeebies.
Back to the Clinique mascara – I love the way it looks on your lashes with one coat, but if it makes my eye lashes crispy after one coat, that could be a deal breaker. I think I would purchase this for a soft, daytime look. Right now, I am wearing MAC Zoom Lash (free sample) and it seems to be working for me and it’s cheaper than my holy grail Lancome Definicils.
Hope you, Tabs, and your hubby have a fabulous weekend!
What an odd looking wand! I’d be scared of it too…but I might have to give it a try since it looks like a good “everyday” mascara. I’m more into thickening my lashes than lengthening, but a friend of mine works for Clinique in NYC and I might have to call in a product favor, ha!
One of my all time favorite thickening mascaras is also by Clinique – Lash Doubling mascara. Never, ever clumps and 2 coats does the trick! I like to try out different mascaras, especially new ones that come on the market, but LD is my old standby or when I’m in a super big hurry in the morning.
I can’t wait to get this! I love Clinique masacaras. The High Definition one has a plastic half of the brush, similar to this. And I love it! Clinique masacara has never failed me. Neeeeed this! Hmmm the second coat doesn’t look TOO bad. Really, I just don’t want Clinique to fail me. Is it available in stores already? I might have to try to get some of my makeup biz friends to help me snag one!
.-= Allyssa’s last blog post… CoverGirl Tropical Fusion Eye Enhancers review + look =-.
Vampire Bill all the way!! JK
Yeah this is one funky brush but I find with the invention of plastic mascara wands more and more wierd shapes follow. Looks like a great mascara for definition. I think it’s kinda funny how the brush head looks all wierd but the tube is just the same ol’ Clinique minimalist packaging 😛
.-= Stephie’s last blog post… It’s a New Year =-.
Oh Yummy coverage. I like the two coats on your eyelashes. I will probably do three coats on mine as soon as I buy this.
I love the side by side of Tabs and the vamp! Hilarious!!
Ha Ha! How funny, my cats do the same thing when I try to do my yoga.
.-= Sarah’s last blog post… 2010 Grammy’s – Did You Watch? =-.
this brush gives me hope! did you ever try l’oreal volume shocking mascara? i’ve been a devoted user for years and loove the results (my lashes are naturally tiny, and with it everyone thinks that i’m wearing falsies!), and now they’re discontinuing it. i’m so, so upset. i’m trying to find a replacement, and this brush looks like the brush that they had as the colored (non-primer) side of volume shocking! any thoughts?? do you think this might work the same?
i love this mascara i have the tendency to rub my eyes during the day and when i have this mascara on it doesnt smuge or get ruined