beauty

The cult mascara that's as good as fake eyelashes, and costs less than $20.

 

For the last two years, I’ve only been devoted to one mascaraIsehan’s Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume and Curl Mascara.

Now, you’re probably reading the product name and thinking, ‘but I’ve never heard of this before,’ and this my beauty-loving friends is a travesty.

The mascara is SUPER water proof, it never smudges, yet volumises, lengthens and holds a curl even on my stubbornly straight Asian lashes. This last bit is a big deal because even after several rounds with an eyelash curler only a few waterproof mascaras will actually hold a curl, and even then I find the formula will still inevitably smudge on my very oily lids by the end of the day.

For argument’s sake I wore this during a 45-minute, 65 degree celcius infra-red sauna session, and the mascara did not smudge.

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Please ignore my (very) sweaty face and look at the mascara.
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But while it's one of Japan's top-selling makeup products, my mascara needs have been at the mercy of travelling friends and family members, but not anymore.

Thanks to beauty store Blush Cosmetics, you can nab yourself multiple tubes of the cult favourite for a very reasonable $18.95, plus shipping, which they calculate through Australia Post postage rates.

Although their website is mainly in Chinese, don't fret. All the important bits - like the final checkout screen - are in English and they offer Paypal for easy payment, and despite any initial confusion that comes from navigating the site, the mascara is 100 per cent worth it.

Here's proof in the form of a before and after pic:

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Just look at the difference.
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Now if you prefer a natural mascara, this product is not for you, but if you're after something with a 'false lash effect' than this formula will definitely do the trick.

It's also worth noting that Isehan also do another almost identical mascara called the 'Kiss Me Heroine Make Long and Curl Mascara' which describes itself as being more lengthening and defining, as the name would suggest, but in my opinion, the only difference between the two products is in the brush. The 'Long and Curl Mascara' brush is slightly curved, which offers a bit more lash separation, while the 'Volume and Curl Mascara' wand looks like your traditional cone-shaped, bristle brush.

I've tried both, and use them interchangeably.

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(L) Volume and Curl (R) Long and Curl.
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However, be warned, because of its insane lasting power, the mascara does require some extra work in the removal department, but I've got that sorted. Thanks to the advice of one of the UK's top beauty bloggers, Anna Newton of The Anna Edit, a few splashes of Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover ($40) on a cotton pad will do the trick ASAP.

La Roche Posay's Respectissime Waterproof Eye Make-Up Remover ($19.99) is also another option that's equally fantastic, and cheaper too.

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My current mascara stash.
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Now go and live your best-lashed self.

You deserve it.

What's your go-to mascara? Tell us in a comment below.

We need to talk about 'mascara face', because it's totally a thing.

Video by MMC