Beauty Purge is my irregular series where I basically show you things I purged from my stash for one reason or another. It’s different from my Empties posts, because most of these products are not used up. Recently I finally rummaged through my mascara drawer and found several that were way overdue to be tossed. Here they are!
This first trio is my drugstore mascaras. Truth be told, I was very happy with all of these, but they are wayyyy past the 3-month mark. I think drugstore companies are killing it lately, and a lot of the products, especially mascaras, are totally on par, and sometimes even better than their department store cousins.
Both Maybelline Pumped Up! Colossal Volum’ Express and Maybelline The One by One Volum’ Express mascaras were purchased when I was looking for something to define my lashes and give them some oomph. They share the same wand shape, except One by One is made with spikey plastic bristles, and Pumped Up! features classic fluffy bristles. Like I said, I was happy with them, but I wouldn’t call them must-haves, so I probably won’t repurchase.
Now, Rimmel Scandaleyes Retro Glam here is one of my favorite drugstore mascaras of all time. It features the perfect hourglass-shaped wand that is fluffy enough to give some serious volume to the lashes, yet the formula goes on without clumps and can be layered easily without creating spidery effect. Highly recommended!
This next group of mascaras is what I call “boutique”. They come from brands that are not normally sold in stores, and most of the time you can only order their products online. I received a lot of these in my subscription boxes over the years, and usually neglect them after a week or two, even if I liked the result.
I have no recollection where I got this blue CAILYN Lengthen & Thicken mascara from, but it was a long time ago. The wand with spikey plastic bristles has a classic bullet shape that works well for lengthening, but didn’t do much for volume. I vaguely recall using it a few times, and it looked pretty nice, but for what it is [essentially, a PLM makeup] I wouldn’t personally purchase it again. By the way, it’s been so long, I don’t think CAILYN even sells this mascara anymore!
I remember receiving Starlooks Lengthening Mascara in a Starbox many years ago, and yes, that’s how long it’s been sitting in my stash. Starlooks makes PLM makeup, I believe their manufacturer is Modern Basic [or at least it used to be] but it’s one of the higher quality manufacturers out there and I actually ended up liking a lot of their stuff, especially eye shadows. The wand is huge and fluffy, and gave me more volume than length actually.
Mary Kay Lash Primer didn’t do anything for my lashes, I don’t even know what it’s supposed to do. Usually when I think of primers, they’re white and they add buildup to the lashes to make them extra thick and long, so when I use my mascara afterward it looks like I’m wearing falsies. This primer is clear, and it didn’t improve the look of my lashes at all. A fail product for me, but I did like the wand shape. I bet if it was a colored mascara I would’ve liked it a lot more.
This is the infamous Be A Bombshell Lash Out Mascara that created the whole mascara-gate last June. It smells absolutely rancid and I never wore it, because just a whiff of it made my eyes water. Look what it did to the wand after a year, can you imagine putting that nasty thing on your lashes? Eek!
And another mascara I got from Ipsy – Elizabeth Mott It’s Big Volumizing Mascara, which honestly didn’t leave a lasting impression. Even though the wand featured my favorite hourglass shape, it was just not enough to wow me.
This third group in my purge pile is department store mascaras. Most of them are deluxe samples, but I also almost finished two full-sized ones, which is quite an accomplishment!
I don’t normally use waterproof mascaras, but in the summer they are essential for me to wear on the lower lashes, because most non-waterproof mascaras tend to give me raccoon eyes. Lancome Definicils Waterproof mascara has a long thin wand with short bristles that is perfect for the task! However, when I tried to wear it on my top lashes I discovered that it goes on slightly clumpy. Maybe I’ll try Clinique bottom lash mascara next, because I’m still searching for that HG.
Buxom Sculpted Lash Mascara has one of the coolest wands! It looks like an S, and it grabs every single lash, even the wimpiest ones. It’s one of my all-time favorite mascaras, that is definitely on my list of eventual repurchases!
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara is another one of my favorite department store mascaras; it really makes my lashes look long, fluttery, and glamorous. It’s one of those mascaras that provide a dramatic false lash effect, without getting spidery.
Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara honestly feels like a dupe of the EL I mentioned above with a similar formula, similar wand, and similar performance. It’s a pretty good one, but I like EL more than I like Smashbox, so if I had to pick between the two, I’d probably just go with EL.
I got theBalm What’s Your Type? “the body builder” mascara in my Ipsy bag eons ago, and it was just rotting away in the corner of my drawer. It made my lashes ridiculously long, but I am usually looking for volume, so this was just the wrong type of mascara for me.
How often do you do makeup purges? How often do you replace your mascaras? Have you tried any of these? Let me know in the comments below!
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I try to keep my mascara stash low because I have a fear of eye infections hahah!
That’s some amazing restraint! I am terrible about opening too many mascaras at once.
I need to go through my mascaras and toss a lot of ’em including the Rimmel Scandaleyes that’s about a year old. Have you tried L’Oreal Butterfly Voluminzing Intenza? It’s another goodie from the drugstore IMHO
Oh, no I haven’t tried that one yet! I’ll need to give it a shot. I’e always liked L’Oreal’s mascaras, especially Voluminous Butterfly.
That’s a serious purge! I need to go through mine too. The ones on the bottom are def old.
I can feel another one coming up very soon. I have a ton of smaller samples that are probably begging to be purged soon, even though they aren’t terribly overdue.
I just purged a couple of old mascaras, too. I have so many samples I want to try! I love Rimmel ScandalEyes and Lancome Defincils is one of my all-time faves.
Nice! And I’m with you, I always try my mascara samples, and end up neglecting the full-sized tubes I have open, so they end up expiring before I’m even halfway done.
I agree that some drugstore mascaras are seriously the best!!
Right? Sometimes it seems like it’s the same formula even.
I’m a terrible person and always keep makeup past it’s expiry haha… oops. I just did a few huge purges over the last few months though!
Haha, high five! I’m sure most people do the same thing anyway 🙂
I have a box of old mascaras, some I loved, some I didn’t. I keep promising to do a post like this. I think most of the ones I didn’t love are the ones from the subscription boxes.
I would love to see a post like that! Hopefully you end up writing about them 🙂
I purge at least once every two months
You’re so good about it! I wish I was as diligent 🙂
I purge about every 3 months.
I wish I was that disciplined 🙂 Maybe adding a reminder to my Google calendar will help me remember to purge more often.
I toss a mascara when it runs out or dries out and starts clumping, flaking or smearing. I have never followed the three month rule.
I pretty much do the same, but sometimes my mascaras sit around unused for a looong time.
I need to go through and toss my mascaras. I have too many going right now!
Good luck, girl!
We have similar favorites for mascaras girl. I toss mine out every 3 months like clock work… if I hold onto them any longer and by change use it, my eyes are so sensitive that they swell. So I actually keep track of them when I buy it on a spreadsheet that syncs with my google calendar to remind me. I go through so many since it’s the one beauty product I use consistently, so luckily, I get some great use out of them. 😉
You’re so diligent, Honey! I always seem to forget to purge, and always pile new mascaras on top.
I just purged a whole bunch of old mascaras and liquid eye liners! My section of the drawer they were in looked so bare!
Nice! More room for new goodies, haha 🙂
I seriously need to purge – So many of my mascaras need to be thrown out!
Right? Getting rid of all these seriously felt so good!