People always ask, “as a professional makeup artist, which mascara do you think works the best.” Well, I’m here to tell you a little secret the beauty industry is keeping from you. All mascara formulas are pretty much the exact same thing: wax, pigment and film formers. You will find little differences like darker colours and waterproof formulas, but overall the difference is in the brush.

The truth is, it's easier and cheaper for beauty brands to create a breakthrough brush than a breakthrough formula. In fact, many brands “share' a formula, but the effects can be drastically different due to the brush, wiper, and bottle. So, let me give you a lesson on what to look for when shopping for mascara

Thick Bristle Wand – These are the most common mascara wands you will find. They are meant to give fullness to existing lashes. It is ideal for those with shorter and thinner lashes as it is meant for coverage and length.

Comb Wands – This brush will create long luxurious lashes. This brush is ideal for people who already have thick lashes but want some length as well. The brush defines each lash and coats them from root to tip. Mascara tends to dry up less on these kinds of bristles since the formula slides on and off much easier.

Curved Wand – These wands were made to mimic the natural arc of eyelashes. You should use this brush if you’re looking for something that not only defines and coats each lash, but curls and lifts them. Curved wands create a gentle curl in the centre of the eye and lift the edges up to make eyes seem bigger and more open. Make sure you use the wand so that the curve faces upwards, and the lashes sit into the curve – sweep the wand from side to side across your lashes whilst pulling it upwards from the root to the tip to encourage your lashes to curl.

Tapered Wand – This wand is very similar to the thick bristle wand, but since it is thick on one side and then tapers off into a point, you are able to get volume and length from the thick part and use the tip to define individual lashes.

Ball Wand – These wands might look weird, but it is just a smaller version of the thick bristle wand. This wand requires you to work in smaller sections. It is for all perfectionists out there! This wand allows you to be super accurate and define each individual lash. The only downside is, because of the shape, you tend to transfer product onto your eyelids more often.

So ladies and gentlemen, when looking for the perfect mascara, don’t worry about the mascara formula. Promotional items that contain vitamins, argan oil and botanical extracts are at such low percentages that it doesn’t change the product. The truth is, it’s all in the wand.