Tested by our readers: the best mascaras for all budgets

Mascara is probably the most subjective beauty product on the market. One woman's (or man's) "perfect" is another's flaky, smudgy or clumpy. Formulas react differently on contact with different people's lashes, and the curve or materials of a spoolie brush can spur mascara lovers into heated debate. We generally like blacker-than-black pigment, staying and lasting power, general oomph and buildability, but tastes vary. In this, our first Irish Times Magazine Reader Beauty Panel, we hosted some readers who are on that lifelong quest known to all beauty lovers: the search for the perfect mascara.
Over coffee (and maybe a mimosa or two), they shared their views on the mascaras we  asked them to test, and what makes an ideal mascara in general.

L'Oréal False Lash Superstar Red Carpet Mascara (€15.99)
Caitlin Hennessy from Ballybough, Dublin 3 trialled False Lash Superstar, the only mascara on our list that contains a lash primer. Sadly, Caitlin says that the white primer lightened the mascara, and the finished lashes "just weren't black enough". She says: "It's not as lengthening as I'd like, but it does make lashes look much fuller". Caitlin also liked that the mascara lasted very well and was buildable for extra oomph at night, and says she would buy it for that reason.

Bourjois Volume Reveal Waterproof Mascara (€13.99)
Sarah Moore, a busy nurse from Kilmore Quay in Wexford, describes the little magnifying mirror on the side of Volume Reveal's tube as probably her favourite thing about the mascara.
"It's really easy to apply and I think it would appeal to commuters doing their make-up on the bus."
She says it enhanced her lashes nicely, too. Sadly, she noticed flaking after seven or eight hours, but would still recommend it for a night out. Unlike many waterproof mascaras, this was comfortable and easy to remove with micellar water, she says.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara (€11.99)
Eavanne Murphy from Glenageary, Co Dublin, loves and usually uses Maybelline's The Falsies mascara. She describes Lash Sensational as "good, but not great". She found it wasn't conveniently buildable – tending to clump – but the pigment was a good true black. "The thin rubber brush made it more awkward to apply; I prefer a thicker, more bristly brush."Eavanne, who has used lots of luxury mascaras but always goes back to Maybelline, says the price point is really good.

Rimmel Volume Colourist Mascara (€9.99)
Sarah Murphy from Cavan found the packaging and deep black hue of Volume Colourist pleasing, as well as the brush, which she says "picked up just enough mascara and didn't clump".
"When I applied the mascara, it made my eyelashes look really defined, but I have a habit of rubbing my eyes, and it didn't survive that well."
Sarah says that her usual chosen mascara from Lancôme can withstand a bit of rubbing, but this one smudged "though I probably can't hold that against it".
This mascara claims to darken natural lashes over time, but Liz didn't notice that it had any effect in that area.

YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils (€32.50)
Liz Osbourne from Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, trialled the priciest mascara on our list and was very taken with the gold packaging. She uses mascara only on her upper lashes, and found that "this mascara was extremely easy to apply and lasted all day".
One of the first days she was wearing it, she received a compliment on her lashes, which is always a reliable sign of a good mascara.
The only drawback was that the formula was a bit wet  on the brush at first. After a couple of weeks' use, the formula thickened just a little and became ideal. Though the brush was slightly large for convenience, Liz says she would buy this mascara.

Lancôme Grandiose Mascara (€31)
Paula Voiseux from Athy, Co Kildare, thought this mascara was beautifully packaged and a great product overall. "It lasts all day and doesn't flake. It's so pigmented and easy to apply with an almost gel texture, and I love the brush," she says.
The finish was dramatic and lovely, with the only drawbacks for Paula being the price – "It costs more than I would usually spend on a mascara" – and the fact that it takes a bit of work to remove.

JOIN THE READER BEAUTY PANEL
If you would like to join our panel, sign up at irishtimes.com/beautypanel. Each month, we will send out products for a group to try, plus we will invite you in to The Irish Times for a beauty morning with a goodie bag of beauty treats.