This $12 Mascara Keeps My Lashes Curled All Night

I consider myself one of the most qualified people to test out mascaras; I can tell you whether or not they are truly worth the hype. Why? Well, my eyelashes aren't great on their own. They're short, stubby, and stick straight out — so it takes a truly great product to make them noticeable. I've tried all different kinds of formulas, but there are only a few products that I've deemed worthy of a repurchase.

I recently fell in love with an invisible mascara hack from TikTok that keeps my lashes curled all day using only Aquaphor, but there are occasions that call for actual mascara — like dates. I took a break from dating last month, but now that February (aka the month of love) is here, I'm fully back in the game and scheduling outings like I get paid to do it.

Recently, the Sephora Collection launched a new product, the Love the Lift Curling and Volumizing Mascara ($12), and it's been my go-to date-night eyelash enhancer ever since I first got my hands on it. It checks all of my boxes, and it's one of the more affordable options I've tested as of late.

Love the Lift Curling and Volumizing Mascara

From

$12

$12 at Sephora

Keep scrolling to read my full review.

My favorite thing about this mascara is how easily it separates my lashes. I've found that other products tend to clump them together, but with this one, I can see every single lash. Plus, this formula is lightweight, so it doesn't weigh my lashes down, which helps them hold a curl for a long period of time.

I also love the curved wand, and if my lashes didn't stick straight out, I probably wouldn't even need an eyelash curler to achieve my desired look.

I've been using it as my everyday mascara since it isn't too heavy, but I recently wore it out on a date and braved the Southern California rain, and I'm happy to say that it didn't smudge, move, or cause any fallout. Let's just say that by the end of the night, my face and eye makeup looked a lot better than my hair.

The brand recommends using the shorter bristles on the mascara brush to apply the formula in a wiggling, zig-zag motion, starting at the base of the lashes and working out. From there, they suggest using the longer bristles to lift and stretch the lashes and distribute the formula using a regular combing motion.

Since my lashes are stubby and stick straight out, I always start with an eyelash curler. From there, I put on two layers of product using the brand's recommended technique, but I like to focus on the outer corners of my eyes to give them a fanned-out look.

I've noticed when using this product that if I add too much formula at once, my lashes can clump. To alleviate this issue, I just swipe off a tiny bit of product from the wand before applying it.

Rating:

★★★★☆