TRIED & TESTED

MUCH-HYPED MASCARAS

OUR testers get to grips with some of the year’s biggest make-up launches.

HOURGLASS

Claire Spreadbury tried: Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara, £29 Hourglass’ latest release comes with lots of big promises – intense length, lift, definition, the look of extensions, while also being film-forming and smudgeproof, yet easy to wash off.

We all have personal preferences, but my biggest bugbear is the black bits that sit underneath my lashes. On first application, I did have a few speckles of black beneath my eye, but after that, I didn’t. I’ve worn it all day and night and not needed to wipe away dark smudges. It goes on nicely and stays put, but most importantly, the film-forming technology really does work!

HUDA BEAUTY

Sarah Marshall tried: Huda Beauty Legit Lashes, £24, Boots This isn’t the easiest mascara to apply, but with a bit of effort, it does deliver dramatic results. There are two brushes: one thick wand designed to build layers of volume and another finer, curved applicator to finish the look.

I found the volume brush slightly too chunky and unwieldy, but it does thicken lashes after only a few flicks, allowing you to work quickly before unsightly spider legs form.

The curling wand was a revelation. Along with coating tips, it’s excellent for catching tricky corner bits and thinner lower lashes.

URBAN DECAY

Liz Connor tried: Urban Decay Lash Freak, £21 The beauty of this mascara lies in its asymmetrical brush – rather than having bristles all over, the wand is smooth on one side to help hit every nook and cranny of your lash line. The bristled tip is designed to define and separate lashes, while the curved side adds lift at the lash root.

I was impressed at how quickly I could build a false lash effect with just a few swipes of the wand. This mascara lived up to its 20-hour guarantee – I wore it all day.