Noir Interdit
£25.50, Givenchy (debenhams.com from June 19)
They say The first mascara brush ever to feature a wand that can be bent to a 90-degree angle. Curved just like a lash fringe, the brush clings even closer to coat each lash right to the tip.
We say Despite its wallet-pinching price-tag, this new launch from Givenchy deserves each of its rave reviews from beauty bloggers on Instagram and YouTube. Its unique wand hinges to a 90-degree angle that allows you to reach the roots of your lashes with effortless control. For someone that manages to get mascara everywhere around my peepers, the combination of a dry-ish formula plus a spindly wand that effectively combs lashes, is a winner — no clumps, and no marks on the eyelids. My eyelashes look amped up, but not too dramatic — just the way I like it. Rachael Dove
Colossal Big Shot
£7.99, Maybelline (superdrug.com)
They say Our colossal brush delivers collagen enriched formula from the root to tip of lashes for fully loaded volume.
We say A top option for dramatic Friday night lashes, this mascara is all about building volume. The fat wand features wavy bristles, designed to snugly brush through lashes and give a good, even coating in one application. Two doses deliver big and bold, if a little clumpy, lashes that would give falsies a run for their money. The black-as-night formula isn’t dry or flaky by the end of the day — plus you’ll get change back from a tenner. RD
La Petite Robe Noire
£22.50, Guerlain (johnlewis.com)
They say Just like a little black dress, this new mascara fits perfectly to the contours of each lash. Its “all-in-1” formula means that it dresses up every lash individually, no matter what the angle: for volume, curl, length and definition.
We say Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Mascara is supposed to be like a little black dress for your lashes, clinging to all the right bits and enhancing your, ahem, assets. It definitely delivers for its relatively steep price tag. The brush looks like a spiky triangle with a ball at the top. I used the conical body to volumise the lashes with an initial coat of mascara, and then the round head to intensify the results, plumping each lash from the root to the tip. Its formula is quite wet so if you prefer the smudged, slightly tacky feel of a perfectly dried-out mascara, perhaps it’s not for you. Natalie Hammond
Perversion
£19, Urban Decay (urbandecay.co.uk)
They say Urban Decay volumising mascara will have you hooked with its high-tech brush, which defines and separates as it glides through lashes. It gives you the control to build a bespoke eye look.
We say Urban Decay’s entry is not for the faint-hearted. Waterproof, lengthening, separating, long-lasting, curling and defining, this product is demonstrably brilliant. The large, pencil-straight applicator catches every lash in one stroke, and the result is a dramatic midnight look that frames the eyes and is worth the price tag. The brand’s Subversion lash primer (£16.50) provides a clingy base for the mascara to give an altogether more intense look — should you possibly need it — but I think the mascara stands up on its own. In fact, it’s the best I’ve tried. Isabel Maguire
Grandiôse
£26, Lancôme (lancome.co.uk)
They say This new mascara provides extreme volume, from root to tip. The eyelashes look amplified from corner to corner. Create volume in a few easy strokes.
We say Another bendy wand designed to reach hard-to-get lashes. The “Swan-Neck’’ slanted angle of this Lancôme number allows you to lift the lashes up, while the tip of the wand is small enough to comb the roots. It’s a little tricky to get used to the angle at first, particularly because the brush is quite small and fat, but I find it does make a difference. The lashes at the far corners of my eyes are much easier to reach, and it minimises product residue around the eye. The result is intense, loaded lashes that stay put for at least 12 hours — no smudges — and the formula glides off easily with make-up remover. RD