Benefit Cosmetics: Review They're Real Mascara

We all know that every mascara  advertisement features models with false eyelashes. We know this and yet we buy mascara anyway. So, does Benefit offer real results? Judging by the obviously Photoshopped boobs on the advertisement, I was skeptical but still hopeful for size DDD lashes.

The mascara box made me hopeful: " They're real lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts and separates. Our jet black, long-wearing formula won't smudge or dry out!". In a consumer panel survey, 94% saw dramatic length and volume, 90% saw base to tip curl, 94% saw visible lift, and 100% saw long-wearing results." This product retails for $23.00.

When I put it on, I noticed that upon the first application, it clumped onto my lashes. I applied about four coats in total and there was even more clumpiness. The scary litle spikey ball on the end of the wand didn't help at all. It seemed to get stuck in the clumps! It did lengthen my lashes as advertised. My husband noticed that my eyelashes looked "clumpy" but he said that I had "cute doe eyes."

Here's the result up close. You can definitely tell my lashes are longer, but they are clumpy for sure.

Overall, this mascara photographs well. I did not comb or curl my lashes. If I did, there might have been a better result. I did use a filter to adjust the lighting a bit to bring out the dark values.

 

I read some of the reviews on the Benefit web site and this one really called out how I felt about the product:

 

"Tammy Faye Baker anyone?? And what's with that picky end thing? It certainly didn't help separate the lashes & trying to cover the bottom lashes was a lost cause -- a big mess. I've been wearing mascara since I was a teenager (50+ yrs) so do know how to apply it. Plus it's so hard to remove. Don't like to scrub my eyes that hard. Even with makeup remover it is very difficult to remove. Will go back to my tried and trusted drugstore brand that looks waaaay better. Lesson learned. Won't be buying products from this company again.
This mascara ended up in my trashcan very quickly."

 

CONS: (6)

Clumpy, ineffective, overpriced, overhyped, does not separate lashes, difficult to remove

 

PROS: (1)

Lengthens lashes

 

VERDICT: Not recommended.

They're Real(ly not that good).