Emma Watson’s Favorite Mascara

I have struggled with mascara for the longest time. It doesn’t matter how good the formula is, it will fall down–a side effect of my very hooded eyes. Thus, I always carry a bottle of makeup remover in my bag. Although that does the trick, it takes my previously well-blended under-eye concealer with it. Plus, I just really dislike removing mascara at the end of the day. It always stings and just never seems to come off.

So, when I read about the DHC Double Protection Mascara in an edition of Into the Gloss’ The Top Shelf featuring Emma Watson, I just had to try it out. According to Emma, it does not budge, even in the face of cold water (like when it’s raining). However, it’s not like any waterproof mascara; it is a tubing mascara, meaning that it can be removed using warm water. No makeup remover necessary. This seemed too good to be true, but I’m here to tell you that it isn’t!

 

First, let’s talk about application. I’m absolutely in love with the wand. It has a very thin comb-style wand that does an excellent job of coating and lengthening each lash. I’ve always been partial to thinner wands (Loreal’s Telescopic Mascara is one of my all-time favorites!), but those who seek thicker, more volumized lashes may not be as thrilled. The application does not really thicken my lashes, but it does provide a good amount of length and definition. It’s really more of a daytime lash than night out, if you know what I mean.

While I enjoy how it coats my upper lashes, I have to say the standout part is how it wears on the lower lashes. This is the BEST mascara for the lower lashes that I’ve ever tried. I would repurchase it for that function alone.

In terms of longevity, this mascara lives up to the hype Emma gives it. For the most part, it stays put all day and into the night. I don’t get the dreaded raccoon eyes when I’m wearing this. However, if anything does flake down, it can easily be wiped away with a dry cotton swab without leaving a trace of black pigment or messing up your concealer.

When it comes to removal, however, I was left a bit disappointed. I was really hoping that this would be the antidote to my mascara removal woes, but unfortunately, it’s just not that easy to remove. Yes, it truly does come off with warm water, and it falls off in little “tube” shapes–hence the name. I actually thought my eyelashes were falling out at first, but it was just the mascara. The problem is that you have to rub your eyes a lot to get it off. Like a lot. I just don’t love the idea of physically rubbing the delicate eye area that much every time I take my makeup off.

With regular mascara, I usually soak a cotton swab in eye makeup remover and then wipe at my lashes. It takes a long time, but it’s fairly gentle. I tried doing the same thing with the DHC mascara using a warm water-soaked cotton swab, but nothing came off on the top lashes. The product is much easier to remove from my lower lashes.

The verdict? DHC’s mascara has become my go-to lower lash mascara. I will likely repurchase it for this reason when I run out of my current bottle. As for my top lashes, I’d say it’s a pass. It’s a shame because the longevity truly is astounding. However, I might continue to experiment using different removal methods. Perhaps I just don’t have the right technique down yet.

For now, I’ll stick with my current favorites: Benefits’ Roller Lash and Loreal’s Lash Paradise!

xoxo Kelli