Louise McSharry: Five mascaras that deliver clump-free, voluminous lashes

If you are naturally fair, you’ll probably get where I’m coming from. Our lashes are simply imperceptible in their natural form, which is obviously fine if you like that look (and sometimes I do) but if I’m doing a full face, you better believe I’ll be wearing mascara.

As a result, I have high standards for my beloved product. New ones are launched all the time, and more often than not, they don’t hold a candle to my go-to for more than a decade now, Maybelline Lash Sensational (€12.99 via boots.ie), which delivers length, volume and blackness in spades, and doesn’t budge until you remove it.

Lately, though, a few arrivals to the market have caught my eye.

Haus Labs by Lady Gaga B Structural Volumizing + Lengthening Mascara (€32 via hauslabs.com) — Lady Gaga’s beauty brand originally launched in 2019 to mixed reviews, but in 2022, Haus Labs relaunched with new branding and new products and it’s been knocking it out of the park ever since. This mascara builds beautifully, so if you’re someone who likes a relatively subtle coat, it will work for you, but if you’re like me and want significantly boosted lashes, it will do that too. Simply apply as many coats as you like — it won’t clump or flake. No matter how much you apply, your lashes will look fanned out and beautiful.

Benefit Badgal Bounce Volumizing Mascara (€32 via brownthomas.com) — This formula is excellent, it’s buildable, doesn’t smudge or transfer and contains nourishing ingredients like castor seed oil and provitamin B5. The real star here though is the ‘hybrid’ brush. One side is a familiar shape, a fibre brush, while the other side is a comb, which allows you to apply the product to every lash before combing through to ensure there are no clumps.

Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara (€35 via spacenk.com) — I would trust make-up artist Lisa Eldridge’s opinion on any product so it’s no surprise her cosmetics line is special. Each product is well considered, carefully formulated, and performs beautifully. This mascara will work for everyone, but if you have short lashes, you’ll love it. The curved brush contains microbristles, which easily grab even the tiniest lashes, ensuring they all get coated in beautiful product.

Rimmel Thrill Seeker Extreme Mascara (€16.99 via boots.ie) — One coat of this mascara isn’t enough for me, but the thin formula means it builds well so would be ideal for those who like a light mascara for daytime but more volume at night or for special occasions. It wears well without smudging or flaking, and doesn’t cost the earth. Is it better than my beloved Lash Sensational? Not for me. However, if you like a mascara that delivers volume, won’t break the bank and isn’t too hard to remove, this might be the one for you.

Lost in translation

We’ve all heard about the virtues of coconut oil, but what role does coconut extract play in skincare? Unlike the oil which comes from the skin, coconut extract is extracted from the meat of the fruit. Its absorbent and moisturising properties mean that it reduces water loss and therefore strengthens the skin barrier, leaving the skin looking plump and hydrated. For this reason, you can find it in skincare and complexion products alike.

Something old…

Suzanne Jackson’s SoSu Cosmetics has gone from strength to strength since its launch 10 years ago. Many of the range’s products have become staples of my own make-up collection, but none moreso than its lip liners and lipsticks. Available in six shades, the liners (€7.95 via sosucosmetics.com) are creamy and easy to apply. SoSu’s lipsticks (€14.95 via sosucosmetics.com) are available in two formulas, matte and satin, with six shades available in matte and three in satin. I can honestly say that these formulas are par with some high-end products which cost twice the price. Spending less on make-up used to mean compromising on quality, but those days are gone. These lip products are comfortable to wear, long-lasting and competitively priced. Irish cosmetics have really come a long way.

… Something new

Polish brand Inglot’s products are familiar to many an Irish make-up wearer thanks to a range of products which perform at a professional level but won’t cost you professional prices. You’d be hard pressed to find a make-up lover who doesn’t own, or hasn’t at some stage owned the brand’s AMC Eyeliner Gel 77 (€16 via boots.ie), which simply does not budge once it’s been applied. The brand’s latest launch, though, focuses on the lips. Creamy Soft Lipliner (€16 via inglotcosmetics.com) is available in eight shades of nudes, pinks and berries, which deliver intense pigment with a beautifully smooth formula. These glide on without any pulling. The creamy formula also makes them super comfortable. The liners pair beautifully with the newly launched Creamy Soft Lipsticks (€20 via inglotcosmetics.com), available in the same shades and similarly creamy, leaving a comfortable, velvety finish.