I know what you’re thinking: “Why is Paul reviewing the Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Firework Mascara when he doesn’t wear makeup?” A fair question. But when a beauty product lands on my doorstep – this time unaccompanied by any note of explanation – I feel compelled to give it a review. And when that product doesn’t fit into my usual skincare repertoire, I do what any resourceful blogger would do: I delegate.
Enter Nicole, my friend and choosey makeup appreciator. Nicole is the kind of person who knows exactly what she wants from her beauty products. Perfect, I thought, to road-test this mascara. Her go-to is the cult-favourite Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara by Too Faced, so I knew she’d set the bar high.
Nicole gave it her best shot. On her first try, she messaged me with her initial impressions, which, unfortunately, were less than glowing. The mascara, while mercifully clump-free, didn’t hold the curl in her lashes or deliver the separation she loves. The result? Sparse-looking lashes that left her underwhelmed.
But in the spirit of fairness, Nicole gave it another go the following day. And, as it turned out, her opinion remained unchanged. The mascara simply couldn’t deliver the full, fluffy, curled lashes she craves, so it’s unlikely to dethrone her beloved Too Faced option anytime soon.
That said, I’ll give this product credit where it’s due: no clumping is always a win. But as Nicole reminds us, the perfect mascara is deeply personal – it’s all about finding the formula that matches your specific needs and lash type.
As for me, I’ll be keeping my feet firmly planted in the skincare aisle. But as Nicole returns to her Better Than Sex mascara, the only question in my mind is how a mascara could possibly be better than sex? A glass of rosé with Nicole may be needed to uncover that mystery.
