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What to Know MAC ZOOM LASH Mascara

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MAC Cosmetics ZOOM LASH Mascara

SUMMARY: MAC ZOOM Lash is a volumizing mascara that sells for $18 for the full size and ZOOM Lash little MAC for $10, an airport-friendly, purse and travel size mini.

About ZOOM LASH Mascara

LOOK: Defining and Lengthening. Makes lashes pop without looking like fake lashes, could skip bottom eyeliner entirely and eyes/lashes will still appear defined.

WEAR: Without a cream or liquid foundation, I got about 5 hours of no fallout or smudges. With cream foundation, it lasted closer to 4.5 hours.

ZOOM LASH MASCARA DETAILS:

FEATURES: LENGTHENING,  DEFINING

COLOR: I got Zoom Black. The mini Zoom Lash mascara also comes in the shades beet, blue, green, plum, and gray.

WHAT MAKES MAC ZOOM LASH MASCARA SPECIAL?

The BRUSH. This is one of the selling points of the ZOOM LASH mascara, a special three-sided fiber brush geared towards lash separation, and the brush gets close to the lashline, so there is no tell-tale bare lash root and mascara starting line. The brush does exactly what it promises and gets right in close to the lash root. It looks like a regular brush, but it is not.

Examining the brush, you’ll notice a spiral binding like a coil at the base, it holds bristles snugly and makes deeper valleys between the bristled rows which allows the brush to get into spaces other brushes and mascara wands cannot.

MAC ZOOM LASH mascara brush features

MAC ZOOM LASH mascara brush features

THE PERFECT DREAM MASCARA WOULD…

The ideal mascara to me is both lengthening and volumizing, SO dark black, and to stay fresh without fall out. I prefer a thin consistency with no clumps but with major lash payout. Is that too much to ask? Sometimes. Here is how MAC ZOOM LASH stacked up:

PUTTING MAC ZOOM LASH TO THE TEST

IS IT DIFFICULT TO APPLY?
It is very easy; there is a quality versatile wand brush

IS IT SLOW OR FAST DRYING?
Dries quickly, especially for a strong statement mascara. There is no need to try to prevent yourself from blinking, so that you don’t smudge

CLUMPS/FLAKES: Light clumping upon application, easy to comb out with a mascara wand or lash comb. No clumping when applied with a mascara fan wand. MAC Cosmetics makes a good one. (Read more about the MAC Mascara fan brush in our recent recommendation review.)

IS THERE FLAKES AND FALLOUT? RACOON EYES?
After about five hours, it seemed to wear off somewhat and not look crisp, but I did not have raccoon eyes, it just sort of faded away without leaving large flakes on my undereye.

DOES IT HOLD AN EYELASH CURLER CURL AFTER APPLICATION?
Somewhat, I had some drooping of my lashes even after just one coat of ZOOM LASH, but not as much droop as other heavy hitters such as Benefit BadGal, Diorshow, Scandal Queen Fairy Drops or Fiberwig. The mascara does not feel heavy on the eye like some mascaras can.

BEST USE
Best used for shorter events such as having a photo taken or briefer encounters (i.e. meeting someone for coffee) to give major lash that is defined yet wispy

CONCLUSION

A solid mascara choice, especially if you favor using non-black mascara colors for a primary or secondary coat. Lashes are defined and separated for about 5 hours, but it does not last the full work or school day without a mid-day touch-up, and it requires a touch-up to complete re-do for going out after work. But a saving grace is that it is a buildable mascara that doesn’t get clumpy with multiple coats, so you don’t have to remove it, you can just reapply, and you won’t get mid-day raccoon eyes. So if touchups don’t bother you, MAC ZOOM LASH Mascara could be a good choice for full, long, defined lashes.

Find Mac Cosmetics Zoom Lash Mascara at MacCosmetics.com

How to Use a Mascara Fan Brush: What to Know

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How to Mascara Fan Brush Guide + MAC 205 Mascara Fan Brush Review: An Ode to Mascara Fan Brushes and why you need one.

Why Use a Mascara Fan Brush?

A mascara fan brush seems like an unnecessary product since mascara generally comes with its own wand and lash tools exist to comb out clumps. I felt this way until I used a mascara fan brush myself.

Here is why I love a good mascara fan brush.

BACKSTORY I love dark, thick mascaras but they are difficult to apply well: I love dark blacker-than-black wet mascara but often these formulations are heavy and weigh lashes down too much to hold a good curl. They often are messy and clumpy on application and can flake.

So many mascaras I LOVE upon application are so dark, lush and lovely like:

All these mascaras give lashes OOMPH. But I must apply them too heavy handedly because my mascara looks way too obvious and fake no matter how much I clean off the wand before application.

I like a thick lush lash, but somewhat natural looking. Or at least not multi-lash stuck together clumpy disasters.

So while lash tools,combs, and mascaras with special wands are quite useful, they rarely give even application of mascara, and generally cannot create the look of individual lashes, combs generally leave at least some lashes stuck together.

SOLUTION: To solve this beauty dilemma, use a Mascara Fan Brush to de-clump and apply these lovely dark, thick, wet mascaras smoothly and clump-free for wispy, fluttery, long, dark THICK lashes – even on your tiny lashes.

How to Find a Quality Mascara Fan Brush

There is a range of fan brushes on the market from a basic drugstore beauty chain store fan brush to the $65 Barney’s Claudio Riaz Lash Touch Brush. A good quality one is the MAC 205 Mascara Fan Brush for $20.

Mascara Fan Brushes can individually “paint” and coat each tiny or long lash separately for AMAZING definition of your lashline. Each lash stands out with no clumping yet appears naturally dark and long and thick.

About The MAC 205 Mascara Fan brush

Mac 205 Mascara Brush Fan

MAC 205 Mascara Fan Brush

The MAC 205 Mascara Fan Brush is frequently used by bridal makeup artists for a few reasons:

  • to create wispy lower lashes
  • to coat mascara onto to the top lashes for those lowered lid bridal photo shots
  • to better blend false and real lashes together with mascara application
  • to apply mascara to individual fake lashes without disturbing their placement
  • for all day, clump-free lashes that do not require touch-ups.

This brush is probably 40% smaller than competitor mascara fan brushes such as the Paula Dorf, and has tiny soft wispy guard bristles that make it easier to remove clumps and create feathery lashes.The MAC is:

  • Easier for those with the steady hands of a true makeup artist than a clumsy makeup fanatic like myself to use.
    MAC 205 Mascara Fan Brush Bristles

    MAC 205 Mascara Fan Brush Bristles

    But a little practice went a long way and now I can always get a good application the first time, which reduces the time I spend declumping and combing excess mascara upon application (but keep q-tips at the ready). This reduces how much reapplication or clean-up of mascara I do when touching up my makeup.

  • Notice the longer and shorter bristle lengths in the photo to the right. When using the MAC 205, try to load the mascara onto the shorter fan bristles, not the longer guard bristles.
    HOW TO DO IT:  Do this by bending and holding the longer guard bristles away from the shorter bristles with your finger while only coating the short bristles with mascara. This way, you can apply the mascara with the short bristles and comb out clumps and direct the lashes with the longer bristles.

Best Use LEARNING CURVE – it takes practice

Mascara Fan Brushes take a bit to get used to, mostly how to wiggle it into your lash line without being too heavy-handed to spread the product evenly.

But once you get the technique down, it lasts for the day without touchups and goes much faster than traditional wand application and de-clumping.

In the photo seen above, this was Calvin Klein CK One Mascara, a thick black mascara that stays put but is too heavy to apply directly from the tube.

In this photo, I did a quick running-out-the-door-I-am-late, 30 seconds for both eyes, didn’t have to de-clump much (although I see one clumpy spot on my lower lashes I could have fixed) and I didn’t have to reapply at all during a 13 hour day. No real flaking during the day either or undereye cleanup.

While the Mac Mascara fan brush can do a perfect application within a few minutes, this photo is a realistic every day quick use of a THICK BLACK mascara applied with the brush with some practice.

HOW TO USE A MASCARA FAN BRUSH

  1. Comb through your lashes with a clean lash brush spoolie or lash comb, especially if you have curly lashes or flat lying lashes. Curl lashes now if desired.
  2. Sweep the wand of your favorite over-the-top wet, dark mascara against the tip of your mascara fan brush to deposit enough mascara for one eye. Brush away any obvious clumps. Start with less than you think you need, you can always add more.
  3. Begin with your upper lashes and lightly touch the fan bristles horizontally to the center of the root lash line, depositing some product. Then wiggle it into the lash root and comb through in one stroke, gently pushing that color out along the length of the lashes, taking your time, lightly painting your lashes up and out. Comb through with a clean spoolie if you use too much product or have any lashes stuck together. You can also separate lashes any stuck together wiggling the brush vertically as well.
  4. Repeat the same procedure with the lashes on the outer corner, applying in vertical strokes where necessary to catch all the lashes. Then proceed to do the same the inner corner lashes
  5. Check your upper lashes for any clumps or stuck lashes, use a spoolie if needed or lash brush. If mascara got on the waterline unintentionally, clean up with a q-tip.
  6. Do the other upper lashes of the other eye

BEGINNER’S Best Use Fan Brush TIP

If you do not have a steady hand, hold the fan brush bristles close to the lash base, and slowly blink your lashes over and through the bristles to paint on the product.

HOW TO USE A MASCARA FAN BRUSH ON LOWER LASHES

  1. Assess if more product is needed on the fan brush before beginning lower lashes
  2. Use the apply-to-root technique described above, then wiggle it into the lash root and comb through in one stroke. Comb outside lashes outward, comb middle lashes straight down, and comb the inner lashes inward for the most natural, doe-eyed look.
  3. Clean off the fan and do a quick final comb through for any clumps from underneath the lashes.
  4. Assess if you want another coat.
  5. Clean your brush immediately (or at least later that day), because it will get stuck and gunky quickly.

Where to find the MAC 205 Mascara Fan Brush

How to Find a Good Mascara Fan Brush

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WHERE TO BUY A GOOD MASCARA FAN BRUSH

Here is our round up of the good and the bad when it comes to Mascara Fan Brushes. There is a wide variety of quality and prices when it comes to finding a good Mascara Fan Brush. Here are a few we have tried:

The most popular mascara fan brushes are both around $20. These are the Mac 205 Mascara Fan Brush, and the Paula Dorf Perfect Mascara Fan Brush.

  • The Paula Dorf is one of my favorites because it is the widest and longest, the right combo of soft enough to maneuver around lashes while stiff enough to “paint” and the easiest to wield. Found mostly on eBay.

    Mac 205 Mascara Brush Fan

    Mac 205 Mascara Fan Brush

  • Mac 205 Mascara Fan Brush. Frequently used by bridal makeup artists, the MAC 205 brush is probably 40% smaller, but has tiny soft wispy guard bristles that make it easier to remove clumps. The MAC is:
    • Easier for those with the steady hands of a true makeup artist than a regular makeup fanatic like myself to use. But a little practice went a long way.
    • When using the MAC 205, try to load the mascara onto the shorter fan bristles, not the longer guard bristles. Do this by bending and holding the longer guard bristles away from the shorter bristles with your finger while only coating the short bristles with mascara.

Other Mascara fan brushes:

  • SEPHORA COLLECTION: Pro Lash Fan #34, $21. Not very fan-like, but quality bristles, good shape for a beginner to load mascara onto the lash, doesn’t have the ability to create wispy lashes like the Paula Dorf, Claudio Riaz or Mac 205. But, this brush can do cream and cake mascara much easier than the other fan brushes.

Surprisingly, there was only one kind of Mascara Fan brush at Sephora at this time. That seems weird. Does anyone else think that is weird?

  • Claudio Riaz Lash Touch Brush, at Barneys, for $65.
    • The Mercedes Benz/Rolls Royce/Jaguar of Mascara Fan Brushes.
    • A bit steep, but a VERY good brush with nice heft and ease of handling, which is good for klutzes like myself. Nice width to the fan which covers about half the lash line.
    • Bristles are high quality and easy to work with, easy to get fluttery, wispy lashes with this one. I could argue buying a cheaper mascara or not being loyal to any one mascara or in a mascara emergency, using a drugstore brand (gasp!) and still getting a nice high-end look with the ease of use on getting a nice, clump-free look with this brush.
  • Royal and Langnickel BX-145 Revolution Fan Mascara Brush
    • hard to find stateside, but ships to North America
    • reasonably priced
    • nice gentle guide feature on the bristles
    • Easier to de-clump with, harder to get wispy lashes.
  • Ben Nye also makes a Mascara fan brush, it is around $8, haven’t tried it yet.

So far, I have not found a drugstore/beauty chain store version of a Mascara fan brush that I like. Most are too stiff to apply mascara or to wiggle it into the root of the lash line, and it is not really a fan shape, more like an eyeliner push brush.

For this reason we cannot recommend the Bdellium Tools Makeup Cosmetic Beauty Brush Travel Line – Mascara Fan Brush 731. Most drugstore and beauty supply store fan brushes seemed a variant of this overly rigid push liner brush style, but I would be happy to find a good basic mascara fan brush if anyone knows of a good one.

Urban Decay Mascara Resurrection What You Need to Know

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REVIEW: Urban Decay Mascara Resurrection. The pros and cons 

As soon as I heard about Urban Decay’s Mascara Resurrection, I was talking about it all the time. Urban Decay has developed some great lash cosmetics products. Was this one of them?

The Need for Urban Decay Mascara Resurrection

By the end of the day at work, my mascara tends to be dry and clumpy and I was really excited about a product that could, well, resurrect my mascara to it’s morning freshness.

I view this in the Apple Watch category of products: great concept, and hopefully will be improved in the future.

I picked it up as soon as it was released at Sephora and tried it out the next day after work.

While I spent the time in the morning to separate my lashes, they had clumped a bit by the end of the day. So I was pretty game to try Mascara Resurrection.

It’s a good product, but I found a couple of issues that keeps it from being a fantastic product.

What is Bad Urban Decay Mascara Resurrection

First issue is the wand. For mascara or lash treatment products, a curved wand is usually a good thing. With Mascara Resurrection, the product tends to cling to either end of the curve and does not catch in the middle of the curve.

While the product is described as a liquid, it is more of a glycerine-y gel (glycerin is the third ingredient). So instead of using the wand horizontally and catching the full lash fringe, I had to use the wand vertically. This is not very functional for the purpose, and the product ended up distributing in globs on my lashes instead of evenly.

What could make it better

When I tried it with straight disposable wand, it distributed evenly and did the job. So I hope Urban Decay includes a wand with a straight brush in the future to take advantage of the consistency of the formula.

My second issue really comes down to expectations.

I expected Mascara Resurrection to dissolve clumps with ease, but that is really the province of eye makeup remover, not a “freshen up” product.

While clumps do dissolve with some brushing. But they also get flakey if you aren’t thorough about removal. It didn’t refresh the mascara I had on. But rather it provided a clean, silky base for me to reapply mascara without having to take my eye makeup completely off.

So those are my issues with Mascara Resurrection. If you go in armed with said facts, you’ll have more appreciation for what is a good product.

Now that we’ve covered the bad, let’s move on to the good.

What is Good Urban Decay Mascara Resurrection

I like the fact that Mascara Resurrection allows me to brush out dried clumps and have a new base for mascara without disturbing my other eye makeup.

If my eyeliner and concealer are still looking good, I’d rather just freshen up my lashes without starting over.

TIP: Just make sure that you remove all the loosened mascara or else it will flake off onto your under eye.

It is also great to use to change the consistency of your mascara.

I never have been particularly fond of high-gloss mascaras. but Mascara Resurrection provides the right balance of “sparkle in your eye” shine without looking wet.

It also provides the right level of malleability to be able to safely recurl your lashes during the day, which is great.

Final Thoughts

We tend to only review products that really excite us on Style Chicks, so this might seem like a lot of negative for one of our reviews.

The thing is, though, this product still excites me since Urban Decay tends to improve their packaging etc over time.

So Urban Decay Mascara Resurrection is still a product I recommend – just make sure to get used to it before you bring it with you to a photo-op event, which as you know, is anywhere and everywhere these days.

Where to Find Urban Decay Mascara Resurrection

Find Urban Decay Mascara Resurrection at UrbanDecay.com for $16.00.

Urban Decay Mascara Resurrection

Urban Decay Mascara Resurrection

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