Everyone once in a while, a self profession beauty counter creeper will rack up enough courage to switch out a beauty bag staple for some new innovation on the market. The increased buzz attributed to tube mascaras was enough to pique my curiousity so much so that I decided to temporarily retire my Maybelline Great Lash in order to give tubing a shot. Well, like a page out of The Secret, a package arrives that contains two tubes of L'Oréal Double Extend Beauty Tubes mascara - courtesy of L'Oréal.

Tube mascaras are rumoured to provide water resistent and irritation free, all day wear. They are apparently incapable of clumping, smudging or even migrating in any way even if you cry, rub your eyes or sleep with it on. The reasoning being, the product doesn't simply paint your lashes, it coats them in a thin shell that dries to form minute tubes around each and every lash.

Furthermore, tube mascaras are celebrated for adding volume and length while being ridiculously easy to remove - it only needs some warm water and gentle pressure.

While all the hip make-up lines, such as CARGO, Stila, Kevyn Aucoin, Too Faced, Blinc and Urban Decay, all carry their version of tube mascara, only L'Oréal's bid in the tube mascara market, comes in the form of a two step mascara that both nourishes and lengthens lashes up to 80% - and has the lowest price point $12. Even less if you use the $5 coupon I have available on my website, karmacake.ca

The package that arrived from L'Oréal, included 2 tubes of Double Extend Beauty Tubes, Wear Infinité Eye Shadow Quads in Smokey Eyes 904, Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black, a set of travel make up brushes (currently very necessary as I have somehow broken the lot of mine - heavy user.) and a mesh make up bag (even more necessary at the moment - can't always take the giant kit with me everywhere). While it is clear, with the sheer shadow trends of the former season, it's nice to usher back in the bold hues of smokey eyes - but, let's not forget, regardless of how great the package is, it's all about the mascara.

On the matter of the mascara - I have a lot to say.

L'Oréal claims that the mascara will provide wearers with a "...look of salon lash extensions..." delivered in a two-coat process. The first is a coat of a white nourishing base that delivers both Ceramide R and D-Panthenol. Just so you know, Ceramide R is a synthetic ceramid that allows hair follical to attract and absorb lipids. This action is key to promote healthy hair as well as repair damaged hair. Coincidentally, it is often used as a main ingredient in volumizing and thickening shampoos. D-Panthenol on the other hand is Pro Vitamin B5 which is known to bind to hair and easily get absorbed - that's why it's always in shampoos.

Now you know.

The second step is the classic black top coat. This is the step that will lengthen, volumize and dry into those novel little tubes I've talked so much about.

In regards to the clumping, while L'Oréal claims that Double Extend Beauty Tubes doesn't clump, I question whether or not they've actually used the product - all is does is clump. In fact, I believe clumping to be the product's number one favorite thing to do - watch the video I sniped from beautytubes.ca and see for yourself! Even the capable make up artist cannot help but produce a bad case of Tammy Faye grade spider eyes on the model.

Now, overall, anyone looking to buy this product needs to understand that it is not a simple one step process. In order to ascend from the clumping and get the slick results that L'Oréal claims, employing the aid of a clean spooly is required.

Great Lash, this is not.

This is not the slap on and go mascara, this is a product that requires a certain level of commitment, otherwise it is pretty close to unwearable. 

First off, curl your lashes. Curling after you apply will break the tubing.

Secondly,wipe down the wands. The bushy brushes hold an unreasonable amount of product and will dump it all on your lashes if you aren't careful. 

Lastly, follow each application with a pass with a clean spooly. This step is crucial to remove access, redistribute product evenly and seperate the lashes. If you don't have any, you can pick up bags of them at the drug stores, reusable ones in beauty supply outlets, or if you're cheap like me, pocket a few from your neighborhood Sephora.  Using the spooly is much more effective than simply combing through the lashes.

In terms of every other claim this product makes, I agree with. I have slept in the mascara and it didn't budge, in fact, it stayed put until I rinsed it off with water and a face cloth. It didn't irratate my contacts wearing eyes, it didn't smudge, it didn't even go anywhere when I sat in the hot tub - providing I didn't choose to rub my eyes at that moment. Even then, the mascara doesn't smudge, it just flakes off in curious little tubes that easily wash away.

In the end, I have no problems giving the product a 7 out of 10. Discovering how to properly apply the mascara completely changes the experience. Only through that extra bit of effort does the product thickens and lengthens lashes in a way that can only be found in comparable and more expensive brands - some time testing at Sephora confirms this. At the price, the ease of availability and the overall quality of the product, consumers can have a decent high performing mascara with the accessibility of a drug store brand.

I recommend L'Oréal's Double Extend Beauty Tubes and I would be curious to hear other people's experiences with it as well.

Best,

Karmacake

PS - The photo of the kit that I posted is pinched from the website Torontostyles.com, who got the same products as me. I figure if I give credit then somehow that excuses my laziness from taking my own photos! haha

PPS - You want that $5 off coupon? Surf over to karmacake.ca by clicking here and grab the coupon, follow the instructions and get nearly half off the product.