A Peek Into my Product Testing Process: Comparing 3 Mascaras Sold at Sephora

We haven't talked about mascara for a bit on La Petite Rose, and I will admit, though I have been trying new ones fairly frequently over the last year or so, very few have made a good impression on me and others still, have really not been winners. Recently, however, I decided to try some mini sizes of three mascaras sold at Sephora, and they each really captured my attention but in different ways. All of them are priced in their full sizes between $25 and $30 USD, and they all have the "Clean at Sephora" distinction, meaning that they are formulated to some extent with cleaner, more natural-based, "greener" , or more environmentally conscious ingredients compared to perhaps some other products that they carry. Of course, every store's, and every brand's, clean beauty standard-- and what they allow and disallow in their formulas therein -- is different. But I often find looking at products that qualify under such standards a good place to start shopping for brands that are less irritating to my sometimes sensitive skin, even though I am not a strictly Green or clean beauty user.

Beyond those shared criteria, though, these three mascaras really diverge. So I am going to share with you my thoughts on them today. Note: the mascaras are listed in the order in which I tried them, not necessarily in the way I would rank them as favorites. And all mascaras come only in black.

Bite Beauty Upswing Full Volume (Full Size: $28 USD, Mini: $14 USD): Bite Beauty's Upswing is an excellent mascara for building volume at the root, but with a formula that does not feel heavy or seems to clump the lashes together. With its lightweight nature, I find this mascara both comfortable to wear and easy to layer without clumping, which can be a common drawback to volumizing or thickening mascaras. It does provide a lovely curve to the lashes as well, hearkening back to the "upswing name", but it does not seem to do much to make lashes look longer, just curvier. This effect also helps the eyes to appear wider and more awake. I have also seen more dramatic volume than this mascara provides, but I love the "upswing" results, and the comfortable wear of the formula. The brush appears to be made of fiber bristles, and there are not many of them on the brush and are pretty widely spaced. This can make it a challenge to capture each lash and do so evenly, especially in one go, but with it being so easily layered, this is fairly easy to address. Right out of the gate, this mascara is a drier formula than most, which does contribute to its lightness and also makes it very smudge and clump resistant. The downside to that is that it may dry out to the point of becoming unusable faster than other mascaras, particularly when working with the full-size tube. But I think it would be a great choice for those with sensitive eyes and those whose eyes are prone to watering, and despite the dryness, I do not notice any significant flaking. It stays in place quite well. Yet, removal is easy and relatively raccoon eyes-residue-free when you actively remove with water and a cleanser.

Milk Makeup KUSH High Volumizing ( Full Size: $26 USD, Mini: $13 USD) The Milk KUSH mascara is the most instant drama-bringing of this bunch. The formula begins its life with average wetness, and glides super smoothly through each lash, giving them a grand sweep upward and really extending them. This mascara is excellent if you are looking for truly lengthened lashes. Seriously, with a single coat, my thin and average-length lashes are are shot up and out to nearly touch my brows. This is super impressive. To add volume, I feel this does need multiple coats, but when the volume does come it comes in a big way enviable to false lashes. This does mean that if you want a more natural, barely there lash, this mascara would not be the best choice, as even the first giving just some superior length, it makes a statement. Also, the brush is has a big tip, which I feel would be hard to control of your eyes are small and close together. The bristles are fibers, which I tend to prefer and are placed together in a cone shape whivh I think not only gives the mascara it’s incredible lash stretching quality but also allows the lashes to be lifted and curved. I would imagine this would hold a curl decently well, but I never use lash curlers, as the formula is not at all stick when first applied or as it dries and is not too thick. But the effect is so impactful, you maybe could find yourself skipping the step, even if you curl your lashes daily, especially if you apply two coats or more. It lasted pretty well for a standard eight-hour or so day, and was average with a standard cleanser. Sometimes as I wear it throughout the day it starts to feel a bit heavy in the eyes, but this could just be my individual experience and is not too much of a complaint. I did not experience any clumping or flakes with the formula, and it never seems to irritate my eyes even if I wear multiple layers. However, a major drawback to this formula is that it tends to smudge. This might improve after some weeks of use as the formula naturally dries out, but that coupled with its density and overall heaviness does create some significant raccoon eyes by the end of many day's wear.

Update: (about three or four weeks post- review) : After using this mascara off and on over a few more weeks, I sadly have to report that the smudging did not lessen, so despite it's beautiful, dramatic effect, I have to say I have grown to dislike this and will not repurchase and would hesitate to recommend.

Ilia Limitless Lash (Full Size: $28 USD, Mini: $13 USD)

Featuring a unique dual -sided plastic bristle brush, Ilia Limitless Lash allows you to create many diverse looks for your lashes, making you feel almost like a mascara artist. The side with the shorter bristles is great for definition, and the longer bristles really pack on and build length and a good amount of extra volume. I personally find the longer bristles easier to work with as they get to and coat through each lash more thoroughly, but a good trick is also to start with the short side for a first coat then to do a second with the longer bristles to really extend the lashes and have them pack a punch. I do recommend with this technique, and when layering most any mascara really, to wait at least a few seconds between coats to make sure the product doesn't smear or glom on too thickly, but I also don't like too wait too long or else the lashes get crispier when additional layers are applied on top of fully dry mascara. As for the mascara itself, the formula is the wettest of the bunch and can feel kind of sticky, so again, taking some time for it to set between coats is a must. But if you have the time to work with it, it is a lovely product and offers probably the widest range of effects you can get among each of these three products. I do feel that it sometimes get heavy feeling after a long day, and I’m not crazy about thee herbal smell of the formula. If you have really sensitive eyes, I would stay away from this and perhaps opt for one of these other two instead, which are scent-free. though my surprisingly don’t seem to be bothered by it. It is a lavender-esque scent I think, but I cannot say for sure.

Comparing these three similarly-priced mascaras from Sephora was a real treat and an eye-opening experience (no pun intended-- hee hee) to just how different mascaras can be from one another. If you are in the market for a new mascara, or were considering trying out any one of these, may this help to serve as a guide to the next destination in your lash journey!