Beauty Product of the Week: Lights, Camera, Lashes!

What is it? Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara is "a lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning mascara. (It's) what we call a push-up bra for your lashes—a 4-in-1 (lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning) dermatologist- and clinically-proven to increase the appearance of lash volume by 430% after applying giving dramatic, thick and sexy lashes. Formulated WITHOUT Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petro-Chemicals, or Phthalates. This mascara contains Skinvigorating™ ingredients like rice bran wax to help lengthen lashes and carnauba wax, an emollient wax that ensures a smooth application. ProVitamin B5 treats and thickens lashes, olive esters condition, treat, and protect lashes, and the mascara also contains mineral pigments known for their soothing and softening properties. Dermatologist-tested." Available at Sephora for $18.00.

What did you think? I'm something of a mascara fiend. I'll admit it. I've tried tons of mascaras at all different price points. This mascara is...in my humble opinion...blah. It doesn't do anything special. It doesn't lengthen, thicken, or curl better or worse than most products. It's not darker or more water resistant. It doesn't clump or separate more or less than other mascaras. It's not easier or harder to use than other products.

It's just a mascara. Plain and simple.

$18.00 mascara, so it IS more expensive than many other mascaras. I could head over to Target to pick up three tubes of better performing mascaras for that price...or add a few dollars to it and get something fun like Dior Iconic Mascara.

The final verdict? This product is so average, that I cannot confidently recommend that you buy this product or warn you not to pick it up. There's nothing I can point to that makes it stand out in anyway whatsoever except for it's stupid packaging. Yes, that IS a tube of mascara housed inside a purple pleather sleeve. And you know what? The one thing that makes this product unique is, in my opinion, wasteful, unnecessary, and in some respects, downright ugly. Unless you're a huge Tarte fan, I say skip this one.