It’s time for another mascara review, as I hunt for the perfect lash perfector. I’m going to try and alternate between makeup counter options and bargain alternatives, because I truly believe there are some £5 mascaras out there that really do the job.

Today, however, is the turn of the pricey ‘Sumptuous’ from Estee Lauder, a £17+ treat in a swish gold tube that promises bold volume and lift.

Now I like drama, and when I was buying this, that was what I was promised. Well, actually I was told I should try the TurboLash with its vibrating brush, but the idea of putting something that vibrates so close to my eyes freaks me out, as does the £27.40 price tag. So Sumptuous it was.

All in all, this does the job. It’s a proper old-school mascara, with a classic mid-sized bristle brush and quite a thick, dense creamy texture. Where it really impressed me was that it just doesn’t clump. Cheaper mascaras of a similar thickness (Rimmel Volume Flash, for example) give bold results but need loads of combing through to separate the lashes after application. With this, I only needed a couple of coats for a daytime lash, but I found I could keep on adding it without any clumping.

However, it takes quite a lot of coats for anything resembling the false lash look I like, but I do have high hopes when it comes to that. As a does-it-all daytime mascara, it looks the part, stays on all day, and doesn’t weigh down the lashes. Whether it’s worth £17 I’m not sure, but the lack of clumps definitely makes it a cut above many rivals.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara £17.13

Before: Maybelline Stiletto Lash
Next: Rimmel Glam’Eyes

I’ve been talking about mascara a lot on Twitter recently. As makeup goes, it seems to be the thing that gets people most angry / passionate / vocal. Ironically it’s also the thing I probably spend the least amount of money on. While my skin is coated in £25 foundation and my lips given a bit of shine with £15 lipgloss, the mascara I use rarely costs much more than a fiver.

Thing is, I’ve never found the perfect one. So I’m still on the lookout. Plenty have impressed me, an equal number have let me down. I’m sure you’re the same, ladies, so in an attempt to perform some kind of service on this blog other than amusing myself, I’ve decided I should try as many mascaras as I possibly can and share the results.

I’ll start with Maybelline Lash Stiletto. Looks pretty, has a quirky idea behind it, and doesn’t cost the earth. Sadly, I found it a little ‘meh‘. It does what it’s supposed to – adds gloss and loads of length, but I just wasn’t wowed by it. Maybelline are the mascara brand but this one isn’t their best, I think it’s just a bit too thin. I like drama and drama with this means four or five coats.

One thing I did love, however, was the brush. It’s a godsend if you’re fed up of HUGE brushes or plastic bristles or whatever other ‘new’ idea is trying to reinvent the wheel. This goes back to basics, it’s a long-bristled, narrow brush that gets to the roots and drags the lashes out and up. It’s really good for lower lashes and it allows so much control I can apply it on the train without smudging.

Yes, I do my makeup on the train. Please don’t judge me. It’s A 45 minute commute and I like my sleep!

Maybelline Lash Stiletto: £7.82 (with £2 off at Boots now)

Next: Estee Lauder Sumptuous.