Review: Benefit They're Real Mascara

When I needed a new mascara recently, I went out with my best friend Becky to find one and she convinced me that being an adult, it was worth spending more than £10 on a mascara. We mooched around the counters in Boots and I was drawn in by the hype of Benefit "They're Real" mascara. The girls were really good and applied some on my eyelashes so I could see the effect, and I was sold!

The mascara comes in a large tube, with a plastic bristle wand (which I like). The wand has small spikes on the end in a ball shape to catch the little lashes.

So on to the important part, what is the effect? Here's my before and after

 This is the effect after 2 coats and as you can see it gives a really dramatic impact but doesn't have that lumpy look a lot of lengthening mascaras have. The Benefit lady tells me this is because it doesn't have the traditional fibres to build longer lashes, but does it some mysterious other way. Here's how it shapes up compared to my old favourite, L'Oreal False Lash Effect

I wanted to say I preferred the cheaper option (L'Oreal) but in reality, the Benefit mascara gives thicker, blacker lashes for a bigger impact. Does it live up to the hype? Absolutely. My only complaint is that it's super hard to get off! Often unless I have really scrubbed my eye makeup off, I find my lashes are still a little crisp the next day when I try to re-apply. Benefit sell their own eye makeup remover for the They're Real range which I didn't purchase, but it may be worth considering if you like squeaky clean eyelashes every night.


 It costs £17.55 from Boots