Can A Mascara Beat Out False Lashes? That’s the Goal with the d.j.v. MIARAY Fiberwig Paint-On False Lashes Mascara
At the risk of being exiled from the beauty blogging community, allow me to confess: I detest false lashes. It takes a great deal of skill to make lashes — whether full strips of individually glued-on pieces — to appear natural, and I find that, more often than not, the result is so drag-y as to be self-defeating (unless,of course, your goal was to look like Tyra Sanchez, Gia Gunn, or Willam). If you spend more than 15 minutes looking at any Bravo, Lifetime, or Vh1 reality show, you’ll look at those cartoonish eyelashes and wonder, Girl, what makes you think anyone, even the moat clueless man on Earth, thinks those look realistic? To me, false lashes are the equivalent of acrylic nails — yes, you got the length you desired, but who are you fooling? So, with all that being said, I’ve never been one to fuss over lash strips, snipping them according to the length of my lashline, applying mascara, covering them with glue and nipping them with tweezers, and the whole odious ordeal. Instead, I’ve pumped up my lashes by relying on great lash primers and mascaras. And, all in all, the process has worked for me, helping my lashes look denser, longer, fuller, more voluminous, darker, and more dramatic.
But, like all women, I’m constantly searching for new mascaras to help achieve a specific set of goals. When I want excellent separation and definition, when I want to reach every tiny little lash framing the top of my eyelid, I often reach for the Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes Mascara. When I want tons of volume, I tend to grab Maybelline’s Volum’Express Mascara. When I want eyes that fan out beautifully, growing longer along the outer corners, I reach for the L’Oréal Butterfly Intenza Mascara. When I want a do-it-all mascara bur don’t need a waterproof formulation, the Ciaté Triple Shot Mascara makes my lashes happy. And for long and saturated black lashes, it’s all about the Urban Decay Lash Perversion Mascara (which looks particularly amazing layered over the UD Lash Subversion primer). For ease of application (and clump-free results), the Estée Lauder TurboLash All Effects Mascara can’t be beat. And for sheer length, the Clinique High Lengths Mascara offers astounding results.
Still, the question remains: can a mascara offer all the qualities associated with false lashes while also looking a bit more natural? Can a mascara manage to fill in any gaps along the lash line, intensify that ridge where lashes grow on the tip of the eyelid, curl hairs, make them appear longer and more voluminous, and wrap them in a saturated black color? Well, that’s the aim of the d.j.v. MIARAY Fiberwig Paint-On Lashes Mascara ($19 at Ulta Beauty stores and Ulta.com).
A reformulated version of Japan’s top-selling Fiberwig mascara, this product incorporates a Film Coating Technology designed to lengthen lashes as effectively as falsies. How so? Well, because, upon application, the black formula transforms into a film that encapsulates lashes as if cocooning each strand of hair. And, since the fiber-rich formula is highly adhesive, you can pile on coat after coat without any clumping or flaking, allowing you to create Betty Boop-worthy lashes that look surprisingly authentic. This, of course, is the most revolutionary aspect of this mascara. With most products on the market, applying more than 3 coats is unadvisable and going beyond four coats is sheer madness since it will simply lead to clumpy, chaotic, spidery strands that look messy and unkempt. With the d.j.v. MIARAY Fiberwig Paint-On Lashes mascara, however, you can truly build upon each layer until you achieve the desired length.
Another great feature involves the curved design of the applicator brush, which conforms to the roots of lashes perfectly, allowing you to wiggle the wand at the root to create the desired intensity and then drag the brush upward towards the tips of lashes. Not only does the curved shape make the application process easier (and more ergonomically sound) but the spacing between the bristles helps to ensure that lashes don’t clump together — a pet peeve for many of us mascara-loving mavens.
Other assets include the oil-repellant nature of the mascara, which prevents smudging or “panda eyes,” and the easy removal process (warm water will do the trick, so there’s no need to tug at lashes with harsh makeup removers that could weaken those delicate hairs and cause irritation).
Moreover, the formula is incredibly gentle and enriched with moisturizing apple extract, hydration-locking honet, growth-stimulating royal jelly extract, and conditioners like panthenol and vitamin E.
All in all, this mascara is a solid choice for women whose main priority is greater lash length. That said, it won’t make stringy lashes appear plump and voluminous, nor will it naturally curl lashes (you’ll need to apply a lash curler for that particular feat) or deposit a rich dose of black pigment. To describe the mascara as a liquid false lash formula, then, might be a bit of an overstatement. But, as mentioned, the results in the lengthening department are undeniable.
Check out this photo of me wearing two coats of the d.j.v. MIARAY Fiberwig Paint-On False Lashes Mascara and notice the length achieved:
Next, check out this close-up photos for a better look at the spider leg lengths of my lashes after three coats (and notice the separation that persists after that many coats):
If you’re seeking length, then, and want a gentle formula that will actually condition and strengthen lashes, this mascara is an excellent choice. Just make sure to align the applicator brush with your lash line, drag the wand upward with certitude and, as a finishing touch, turn the wand around so that the ball-shaped tip is hovering over the tips of lashes and carefully drag it over the tips for an even more height.
If, however, you want jet-black lashes or you want a mascara that will make your lash line appear fuller, you may want to look into some of the other options mentioned above. But, if fluttery, come-hither, longer-than-a-Scorcese-flick lashes are what you desire, this mascara is worth the investment.
