Milani Mascara – 2 Great Choices from 1 Fab Brand!
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Total Lash Cover Mascara and Runway Lashes Instant Volume Mascara Review
photos: we heart this
My many sleepless nights as a graduate student have recently made me develop a much greater appreciation for mascara. For me, nothing else really gives the appearance of having had a good night’s sleep like a few strategic swipes of mascara.
Of course, I love many of the fancy department store brands. Unfortunately, my grad student budget can usually only accommodate the drugstore brands. So I am always on the lookout for the latest and greatest from brands like Milani Cosmetics for an affordable mascara option.
Naturally, I was very excited to hear that I would have the opportunity to test the two mascara offerings from the latest 2012 Milani collection. I was not surprised to see that they had two unique mascara options, Total Lash Cover Mascara and Runway Lashes Instant Volume Mascara in one collection. There is truly something for everyone in this virtual beauty bonanza!
According to the company, Milani’s Total Lash Cover Mascara ($4.99) with 3 Zone Brush provides multi-performance coverage. The unique brush is split into three distinct zones that help to define, build, and curl lashes…and just looks cool!
This mascara was developed to be a long-lasting, non-clumping formula that is comfortable enough for all day wear. Runway Lashes gave me the long and natural look, perfect for day time wear. Currently only available in one shade, black, it is available at select Wal-Mart stores.
Total Lash Cover Mascara Pros:
• The unique brush does a great job of separating lashes, preventing excessive clumping, and building volume
• Creates long, natural looking lashes
• Excellent price at just under 5 bucks
• No irritation with my sensitive eyes
Con:
• Runway Lashes is a very wet formula, which clumped ever so slightly. (This was easily corrected with an eyelash combo.)
Milani’s Runway Lashes Instant Volume Mascara ($4.99) has a classic shaped, soft bristle brush that was designed to give instant volume, length, and curl. The formula is long-lasting, smear-proof and does not clump. It is also paraben-free.
I found that Total Lash Cover gave me a lot of curl and definition. The one downside was that I did experience a bit of flaking with this formula. But I was still pretty pleased with the performance for the low price. Again, the mascara is only available in one black and can be found at select Wal-Mart stores.
Runway Lashes Instant Volume Mascara Pros:
• Adds curl to lashes without the need of a curler
• Just 5 bucks!
• Paraben-free
• My sensitive eyes experienced no irritation
Cons:
• Total Lash Cover left me with a small amount of flaking at the end of the day.
While neither of these mascaras are perfect, both are an overall excellent value and perform quite well compared to other drugstore brands. I would rate them both at 4 stars.
Milani’s mascaras give this grad student two more ways to look awake and pretty on a budget.
we heartsters – are your eyes and wallet singing the praises of Milani mascara?
Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.
I tested Total Lash Cover Mascara, which I found to be the best and worst of mascaras in one pretty package. The mascara itself is exactly the type of formula I love– thin but buildable, quickly drying to a glossy black finish. It doesn’t smudge during the day, and removes easily when it’s time. It reminds me of expensive department store mascaras I’ve used in the past.
But the brush… it does look cool, @kellie76 . So advanced looking and colorful in the package, I was surprised to discover it’s possibly the worst mascara brush I’ve ever used. It left behind clumps no matter how I held it. I had to comb out my lashes after applying, or I had messy little blobs of mascara everywhere.
If Milani released this with a different brush, I’d buy it in a second. As is, probably not. 5 stars for the mascara, 1 star for the brush = 3 stars.
I’m sad to hear that there was flaking from the Total Lash Cover mascara, and I’m not surprised by the mixed reviews on the brush! :P
I tested out the Runway Lashes Instant Volume Mascara, and I find that it does add volume, and even a bit of length. There’s no flaking, smudging, or irritation either. The color is a nice true black. The tube is standard (not oversized, which I appreciate!) and the brush is your typical big fluffy mascara wand (which I like as well). My only issue is the formula. It was PERFECT when I first opened the tube, but within a week or so, it was a little too thick and left my lashes a little clumpy looking even with just one coat. And after a couple more weeks, the formula got even clumpier. It’s an easy fix, as I just wipe off some of the excess mascara before using, and then I can layer it on to my heart’s content. It’s a good mascara, at a good price, so I’m giving it four stars.
I was one of the lucky testers of the Total Lash Cover. I am lucky to have naturally long lashes and plenty of them. My downfall in that department is that my eyes are often sensitive. I have to say, I was very impressed with the formulation of this product. It did not irritate my eyes in any way. I also was pleasantly surprised that I did not have any fall out under my eyes after a long work day. I did not care for the mascara wand. I use the root to tip method of applying mascara and this brush scratched the edge of my eye lid. (I really think my brush may have been defective. If you look at the package, the brush is vulnerable sitting by itself and the mascara is next to it with a lid on it. ) My work around to test this product was to use another mascara brush. (YES—I really did co- mingle mascaras. I take my role as tester very seriously and want to be able to give worthwhile feedback)
My rating is based solely on the formulation, longevity and price point.
I give this a solid five stars
I love how thorough you are, Holly! :)
That is the craziest brush for mascara I’ve ever seen. I didn’t get the chance to try this mascara but I think I would have been drawn in by that brush. @turboterp thanks for sharing your experience. I hate having to brush out my lashes after mascara.
I also tested the Total Lash Cover. The 3 zone brush is a great idea, but I think needs more time in the design department. The tapered outer portion is meant to define the inner and outer lashes. For the first couple uses it actually worked really well for me and I was excited to use it. Then and ever since, the product just clumps there at the end and then clumps all over those end lashes. The body of the brush rotates between being a standard brush to build volume interspersed with the longer comb pieces to curl. I tried to use the built in combs to separate and unclump and again at first it worked great, and I thought it was pretty ingenious. After awhile though it all just became a clumpy mess on me and really took a lot of work and other combs to separate out the lashes. That all being said the formula itself is really good! No sensitivity issues and a jet black color. Stayed put most of the day ( I did get some pieces balling up and falling out after quite a few hours) but mostly great coverage that came off easily too, at night. So yes, with a different brush, I’d buy this again for sure but because of the current design I have to go 3 stars.
I’ve never been much for gimmicks, but that brush would sway even me to try! I, however, tested Runway, a fantastic performer. This promises volume and delivers. My lashes were well and easily coated, if mildly crunchy. Still, the volume was there in spades and I had no flaking in spite of the crunch. I did have a tendency to glop the mascara all over me before it dried–it’s a little messier than I’m used to. Overall, better than Maybelline Great Lash for an inexpensive performer– maybe even the best low-end performer–but not as good as some higher end versions from Urban Decay and Lacome. 4 stars.
It sounds like people had some brush issues. Too bad. :( I still say that the formulations are not too bad for a affordable mascara. I have actually never understood the hype around the Maybelline Great Lash. I thought that these two worked better for me. No, they are not my favorite mascaras ever but they are a decent value and perform fairly well if you are willing to put in the extra work with an eyelash comb. 4 stars from me still
@kellie76 – I agree with you whole heartedly. Personally, I like to have products at all price points in my beauty “toolbag.” I would buy this product again and give the mascara brush another chance.
That brush looks so awesome, for the price I’d feel like I must try it :) My only concern is the fact that it flakes a bit. If it flakes a bit for some, I usually maximize the probability for myself and would assume automatic raccoon eyes. Looks to be worth a try though!
I tested Runway and I had a very similar experience to the other testers. It did a fantastic job of adding fantastic volume to my wimpy eyelashes, so that was a major plus! But, I too experienced quite a bit of clumping and found that the mascara itself is a bit gloppy. Not my favorite of all time, but for an easy affordable brand I’d give this about 3 stars.
I tested out the Runway lashes and while it added nice volume, I experienced no lengthening or curling. It actually glooped the curl OUT of my lashes. Then there was the traveling…oh, the traveling. I have oily lids, so very few mascaras work at a 5 star level for me. I expect a mascara to travel after 3 hours unless it’s one of a select few. This traveled in 30 minutes on me. I’ve NEVER used a mascara that dissolved that quickly–ever. I’m deducting a point for the gloopy formula and a point for the traveling. 3 stars for me.