When I was at school, there was a girl in our class who we called Clara the Cow. This was a term of endearment, not an insult. The reason being that she had the most gorgeous long curly eyelashes. You see, Clara was also a cow in a nearby field who had long, lovely eyelashes.
Whenever I look at beauty products for the eyes (mascaras, eyelash curlers, or eyeliners), my ambition is always to look as much as possible as Clara the Cow! As soon as I saw Loreal’s Double Extension mascara, I knew it might be the product that turned me into a bovine beauty!
** WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THIS MASCARA? ** You may have seen the adverts with Natalie Imbruglia waggling her fingers at you – “Don’t wimp out … It’s the power tool to make your lashes feel stronger and look 60% longer. Because you’re worth it”
This is no ordinary mascara – it is a mascara with two brushes – one white and one coloured (in my case black). So what does this mean?
* The white brush is a base coat with Ceramide R (to strengthen your eyelashes). It contains natural fibres that act like extensions to lengthen your lashes.
* The coloured brush provides intense colour and coverage without clumping. The purpose is to define your lashes from root to tip.
For those of you concerned about packaging and making your make-up case look like a princess … this does look reasonably sophisticated in gold and cream.
** USAGE ** Ok, ok, we all know how to use mascara don’t we? Or do we? This is a relatively new two-step concept.
Step 1: Begin by applying the base coat (white brush). I normally leave it for a minute or so.
Step 2: Apply the colour. Start at the root and work your way out to the tip.
If you use eyelash curlers, do this before applying the base coat.
** THE DETAILS ** Double extension mascara is ophthalmologically tested for safety (in other words it is suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers, as well as being fragrance free). It does not say whether it is waterproof on the packaging, so I presume it is not. For soft and gentle cleaning, use L’Oreal Plentitude Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. For further information, see: www.lorealparis.com
** VALUE FOR MONEY ** I bought this for £6.99 from Superdrug. Compared to two similar products on the market, this is amazing value (at least £1.50 cheaper): £8.49 – Revlon Lash Fantasy Mascara £8.95 – Bourjois Coup de Theatre Mascara
** MY VERDICT ** My eyelashes do definitely look longer than with my normal one-step mascara. I cannot comment on whether it strengthens or fortifies them (how do you tell that?) I seem to be malting eyelashes at an average rate, so I’d say it has no effect on that front.
L’Oreal claim that the mascara leaves ‘virtually not a clump in sight’. If applied slowly and carefully, it is indeed virtually clump-free. But for those with more clumsy hands, it is possible to create clumpy eyelashes with this product!
One further observation – watch out if you are a wee bit on the lazy side (like me) and don’t fully remove your eye make up at night. If there is even a trace of yesterday’s mascara, you will cause the white brush to turn a lovely shade of grey!
To conclude, my eyelashes are still not as fabulously long as Clara the Cow’s lashes, but they are as close as they’ve ever been before!
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This sounds a bit fiddly to use, and if I'm honest it's on with the mascara, down with the cup of coffee and leg it out the door of a morning, no time for faffing around waiting for coat 1 to dry! Cate.
red_lili 04.10.2003 11:28
I always find it hard trying to find a mascara that doesn't clump!Lisa xx
serza 01.10.2003 15:36
great op! will have to try this one day, thanks. Take care, Sarah xx
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