I’D put money on the fact that mascara is the most popular make-up product.
It’s definitely the easiest to apply, and makes an immediate difference to your face, so even if you’re not into , you can’t get it wrong.
I’ve had many new mascaras, all promising to be the best one ever, cross my desk already this year with price points ranging from a few pounds to over £50 – and a quick search of Boots.com throws back over 400 results for “mascara”;, so it’s no wonder finding The One feels like a minefield.
I know this is a huge claim – but I think Kim Kardashian’s famed make-up artist Mario Dedivanovic’s debut mascara might just be the perfect all-rounder.
Before I tell you why, let me first list all my requirements, so you can understand how picky I am.
I’ve got sensitive eyes that always seem to be itchy, so I need a lightweight formula that doesn’t make the problem worse.
Because of said itching, it also can’t flake – there’s nothing worse than looking in the mirror and seeing black specs all over your face.
I’ve got very oily skin, so it needs to be smudge-proof – but because of said sensitive eyes, I try to avoid waterproof formulas, which can take a heavy-duty cleanser to remove.
As for my lashes, they’re long (a win!) but fair and very straight – so the brush needs to be able to get into the inner corner of my eye to pick up every and lift my lashes, while the formula has to hold them in place once it’s on and not clump lashes together or look thick towards the ends.
I told you – I’m a really tough customer when it comes to mascara.
Miraculously, Makeup By Mario Master Mascara, £28 manages to tick pretty much all the right boxes.
A few years ago, I attended a Mario Dedivanovic make-up masterclass where he divulged his foolproof four-step mascara routine.
Curl lashes, wipe excess off mascara brush, apply to lashes, then comb lashes through to separate. But the clever design of Makeup By Mario’s Master Mascara delivers the same results in one step.
Makeup By Mario Master Mascara, £28
It has a cone-shaped tapered wand that I knew I was going to love as soon as I saw it.
The slimline design means I can get up close and personal with the base of my lashes without transferring the product on to my eyelid, but it’s not too complicated that I need perfect lighting and a magnifying mirror to work out which way to use it.
Plus, the head of the wand has fibre bristles, which I prefer, as they help distribute product more evenly.
The bristles are super-thin and spiral around the wand, so they comb through every lash – picking up ones I didn’t even realise I had – adding volume, and seamlessly carry product from root to tip while also preventing lashes sticking together so they look wispy rather than spider-like.
It has a shorter wand than most on the market, which allows more control as you can get closer to your face.
I’m usually wedded to my lash curler, but I’ve stopped using it completely since trying Master Mascara, as the tubing formula means you can lift your lashes with the wand alone by holding it in place for a few seconds while the formula sets to maintain the curl.
Hours after applying, I can feel my lashes touching my brow bone when I look up, so I can vouch for how well it stops them falling flat.
The first time I used it, I was worried the formula might be too wet and thus prone to smudging, but it dries down quickly on lashes putting my fears to rest.
I even wore it when I went to cheer on my friends running the Marathon – if you’ve seen any videos on , you’ll know how emotional it can get, but there was no sign of panda eyes at the finish line.
Yet still, because of the pro-vitamin B5 and caster oil-packed formula, my lashes don’t feel at all crispy.
It’s not something I do often, but in the name of research, I even reapplied the mascara after a full day’s work to see what would happen.
It didn’t flake or get clumpy, only upped the volume for a more dramatic look.
Makeup By Mario Master Mascara, £28
I love how you can tailor the application and achieve countless different looks – from minimalist, lengthened lashes to OTT false-lash effect volume, it’s the most versatile formula I’ve used in a long time!
