Mascara Week: Etude House Lash Perm All Shockara Mascara

Should you invest in a good mascara or should you just save that money for something else? There are tons of good affordable mascaras out there, if you find one that fits your preferences then there's no reason to spend over a thousand bucks for a tube. My HG mascara is quite expensive, yes, but if it gets wiped out from the face of the Earth tomorrow, I'll go to my next favorite one (which is just P600 bucks btw). No big deal.

Just set a comfortable budget and read reviews first before you settle on a mascara purchase. Do avoid using mascara testers on your eyes, for the love of glob! You don't know where that wand has been and how long it has been steeping in the darkness! *shudder* Just read beauty blogs you trust and save yourself from a possible eye infection.

So! To continue Mascara Week, here's a review of one of the latest mascaras in the country - the Etude House Lash Perm All Shockara Mascara (P648). It promises shocking volume, curls, and length all in a waterproof formula. Does it deliver?

It does, at least in the lengthening and waterproof department. If you want curls and volume, you need to give your lashes a really, really good curl first! This isn't the kind of mascara that you can just swipe on and expect to get dramatic eyes immediately - it requires some prep time with a great lash curler plus a lot of coaxing afterwards.

I find that using the Shu Uemura Lash Curler works best with this mascara. My Bobbi Brown and Shiseido curlers give me too gentle a slope; the Shu raises my lashes steep and high right at the base, the perfect shape for Shockara. Then I apply two layers, doing quick upstrokes to get those va-voom lashes.

If I don't pay attention to curling, this is what Shockara looks like. I get the length, but not much curl or volume.

Sounds like a lot of work, eh, but I have to give EH props for the lasting power of Shockara! It's a tube mascara, which means that it encases the lashes in a flexible tube that you can just (gently) rub off with soapy lukewarm water or a water-based makeup remover. I've worn this the whole day and it did not smudge or smear! 

Love the slim wand; brushes like this are easier to control.

Overall, I would recommend the Etude House Lash Perm All Shockara Mascara to ladies who possess thick, curly lashes and just need something to lengthen them quickly. If you just want everyday natural lashes that won't turn into a mess whenever you sweat or oil up, you'd appreciate this as well!

However, if you're looking for volume and curl but do not have a lot of time to work on your lashes, the Shockara isn't the best choice out there. :)

And that's it! Let me know what you think of EH's latest mascara! What kind of mascara user are you, btw? Do you like drama, subtlety, or are you well-endowed enough that you don't need mascara?

PS I would super appreciate it if you can help me win at the Stylebible.ph Virtual Style Awards! You can vote 10 times everday (just click till it's ten) until September 15. Thank you very much!