So I’m one of those people who loves a mini mascara. Not only do they last nearly as long as their full size counterpoints, but they give you the chance to try something in a smaller (& cheaper let’s face it) form before you commit to buying the full size! I have 5 minis in my collection and I’ve been trying them out over the last few months to give you my two cents on whether I would repurchase!
So these are samples I picked up as free gifts with purchase, through advent calendars and one was a cheeky purchase… so let’s get cracking
Laura Mercier Caviar Volume Mascara – Mini
£22 for full size vs unknown
This is one of those meh mascaras… like it gives good volume, a bit of length and it’s very black. But past that, there’s nothing about it that particularly stands out to me and says I need to RUSH down to the shop (not that we can of course) and buy another one. The brush is a ‘natural’ bristle applicator with a slight twist to it, it gets product on your lashes quickly and I found it relatively easy to apply. I didn’t get much flaking (but as you’ll see, this isn’t really an issue I suffer with). Overall, it was a fine mascara.
ABH Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara – Mini
£26 for full size vs £14
I love my ABH eyeshadow palettes, but had tried little else from them, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. This has my favourite packaging out of the five with a stunning ombre effect from rose gold to black. It’s also (in a way I can’t quite describe), easy to hold… ha! It has a ‘natural’ bristle brush in an hour glass shape and this is the mascara if you want volume. Want thick, black lashes? Yeah this is your one. It’s not massively lengthening, and for that reason I probably wouldn’t repurchase personally, but if it’s your jam (and you like jam!), go for it!
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – Mini
£22 for full size vs £12
Remember when I said I’d actually bought one of these? Yeah, this is that. I’ve been wanting to try the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara for AGES! I love my L’Oreal Lash Paradise mascara, and it’s mean to be the dupe for this so thought I’d try it out. This has a brush very similar to the ABH one and, to be fair, a very similar finished result. Thick, black lashes! I find this a little more lengthening than the ABH one, but I also do find it transfers when I put it on my bottom lashes. Would I repurchase? Probably not, because I feel like the L’Oreal one is just as good…
IT Superhero Mascara – Mini
£21 for full size vs £11
I mean somehow this is the cheapest mascara… and it’s also the one I knew least about! And all in all I leave feeling the least about it. Like it’s an ok mascara, it gives good length, good volume and it’s black. But something about it didn’t wow me and I’m not 100% sure why. It has a ‘natural’ straight brush and goes onto the lashes fairly seamlessly (I find the straight brush just a tad too long for the hard to reach areas), but I’m not sure I’d be rushing out to get this again
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara – Mini
£21 for full size vs £12
You know you get those samples and you’re like ‘do I really want to try this?’ and then you do and it opens your eyes to a new favourite? Yeah, this is it. The Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara totally blew past me, but I’m so happy this is now in my collection. I’m not personally keen on the packaging, but the tapered wand gives you the most stunning, separated and natural looking lashes! I mentioned my first impressions of this in my Tarte Haul, and my opinions have not changed! I’m still OBSESSED!
And there you have it, my reviews of the 5 mini mascaras in my collection! Are you a mini mascara lover?
Katie x