You asked for it – it’s mascara showdown time! In previous posts you will have seen that I’m always up for a showdown of the best mascaras! There’s so many out there from the high street brands to world renowned brands like Xlash, so I love pitting two against each other to see which comes out on top. Today’s lineup puts Marc Jacobs Beauty’s Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara against ELF Cosmetics’ $3 Mineral Infused Mascara. Who comes out on top in this battle of designer v. the drugstore?
Hello there, dreamers! Today I’m putting my investigative reporter hat on and coming to you with an epic battle of mascaras.
When I picked up the Marc Jacobs Beauty Mega Lash and ELF’s Mineral Infused mascara around the same time, I took to my Twitter asking if you’d like to see a mascara showdown on the blog. Overwhelmingly, the answer was…YES!
It seems I’m not the only one interested in a battle between a designer mascara and one of the cheapest mascaras available out there. At $3 a pop, no doubt Elf’s Mineral Infused Mascara is an absolute STEAL compared to the $26 Marc Jacobs is asking for the Mega Lash mascara. But as we know, a higher price tag doesn’t always mean better quality. So I’m here to give you all a full report on each of these mascaras and reveal one, ultimate winner!
Mascara Showdown I Marc Jacobs v. ELF Cosmetics
Fully committed, I’ve been doing my research and have used both of these mascaras religiously for several weeks now. Don’t forget though that if you are using mascara, then you should replace your mascara every 3 months.
I EVEN went so far wear them both at the same time to compare results side-by-side. Yes, I was the girl wearing Elf mascara on one eyes and Marc Jacobs Beauty on another. What can I say? I meant business!
After several weeks of mascara showdown testing, I have to say there are positives to both of these mascaras – but one definitive winner.
Who came out on top? Keep reading to find out!
Marc Jacobs Oi!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara (Shop)
As a big fan of Marc Jacobs Beauty, I went into using this mascara with high expectations. MJ’s makeup has not only never disappointed me to date, it has managed to blow me away with the quality every time. Foundations, eyeliners, eyeshadows, lipsticks…I’m all over it.
The Marc Jacobs Beauty team claims that the Mega Lash Volumizing mascara delivers “instant drama” and long, voluminous lashes. How did it measure up?
Breaking Down the Mega Lash Mascara:
- Volume and Length: Good, Not Great. Definitely adds length but not to the level as claimed.
- Smudge-Proof: Absolutely! Even while working out and surviving super long days in the heat.
- Long-Wearing: Very long wearing. Lashes will stay put all day long!
- Price: At $26, I find the price pretty fair for a ‘designer’ mascara. (Dior and YSL charge $30+ and then there’s Tom Ford charging $50 for a mascara. Nuts!)
- Cruelty-Free: The mascara is certified cruelty-free – a big plus!
- Availability: Sephora, Marc Jacobs Beauty
Overall Thoughts:
While the mascara did lengthen and add volume to my lashes, I wouldn’t exactly call it “instant drama” as claimed. The description of the mascara promises “OHMYGOD” lashes…which is definitely an overstatement in my book. In the end, I found this to be a pretty good mascara, but nothing earth shattering. It’s one I’ll continue to use up but don’t see myself purchasing this one again.
Kind of surprising really, since I’ve found every Marc Jacobs Beauty product I’ve tried thus far to be phenomenal. This mascara just didn’t have the same “wow” factor.
Elf Mineral Infused Mascara (Shop)
Next up on the agenda? Elf Cosmetics Mineral Infused Mascara. I receive this from ELF and went into it thinking at $3 a pop, it might be a pretty good mascara for the price but wouldn’t totally blow me away.
Elf’s Mineral Infused mascara is an all-natural product, that’s also certified cruelty-free and vegan. The brush was designed to “minimize clumping”. How did it work out?
Breaking Down Elf Cosmetics Mineral Infused Mascara
- Volume and Length: I was immediately impressed at how well this elongated my lashes.
- Smudge-Proof: Yes!
- Long-Wearing: I wore this on an 18-hour day without any issues. Side-by-side with the Marc Jacobs, it holds up just as well.
- Price: $3 is a pretty unbeatable price, if you ask me
- Cruelty-Free: Yes! Also the mascara is all-natural and vegan.
- Availability: Available on ELF’s website, in drugstores and Target
Overall Thoughts?
In the end, Elf’s Mineral Infused mascara more than exceeded my expectations. It creates long lashes that really hold a curl. The brush design definitely minimized any issues with clumping and I found this one actually easier to apply than the Marc Jacobs mascara. When worn side-by-side with MJ’s mascara, you can see that it definitely matches Marc Jacobs in being a smudge-proof and uber long-lasting mascara…which is pretty darn brilliant at $3.
Mascara Showdown I ELF Cosmetics v. Marc Jacobs Beauty
To help you see how the mascaras perform on natural eyes, I wanted to give you a side-by-side demo. I’m (obviously) not wearing fake lashes, a primer or anything like that. These pictures reflect the mascaras going to work on their own, with only the help of me curling my lashes before applying.
On the left, I’m wearing ELF’s Mineral Infused Mascara. On the right, see the Marc Jacobs Beauty Mega Lash in action.
And the Mascara Showdown Winner Is….ELF!
While I can’t fault either mascara in the least bit for how well they perform in terms of being 100% smudge-proof and SUPER long-lasting, I have to award ELF as my ultimate favorite.
The Mineral Infused mascara was definitely easier to apply and really resisted any issues with clumping. When applying the Marc Jacobs mascara, you really have to concentrate on the application to avoid any issues with clumping – which is a nuisance in my book.
When you compare the brushes side-by-side, I think it’s clear why ELF’s mascara performs better. The wand is much more defined with space between each bunch of bristles. This design helps the mascara more naturally separate your lashes, where the Marc Jacobs’ Mega Lash brush is more bunched together and takes more work when applying.
You can very easily brush the ELF mascara on, effortlessly separating and elongating your lashes. In fact, I think you cold even apply without a mirror. (Which you definitely couldn’t do with Marc Jacobs’. That mascara requires you to really watch what you’re doing to avoid major clumps.)
All-in-all, MAJOR kudos to the ELF Cosmetics team for blowing my expectations out of the water. The Mineral Infused mascara is a slam-dunk product and one I look forward to purchasing again and again. If you’re looking for a new go-to mascara, I highly suggest checking it out!
SHOP THE POST
E.L.F Cosmetics Mineral Infused Mascara ($3)
Marc Jacobs Beauty O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara ($26)
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Kelly
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