When I came of "makeup-wearing age," the first beauty tip I learned from my mother was: If you're leaving the house and only have time to apply one product, it better be mascara (with blush being a very close runner-up). I lived by that rule for years, starting with my beginner Maybelline clear formula and working my way up to the blackest of black shades.
Now, in my mid-30s, I don't always feel the need to wear mascara or makeup in general every time I leave my apartment. However, I stand by the fact that no makeup look is complete without a few coats of something on my lashes. So, it may come as no surprise that I'm rather picky with this particular beauty product.
Almost a year ago, I had the pleasure of trying Il Makiage's super-viral foundation, and in the process, discovered a new reliable cover-up for my acne-prone skin. More recently, I had a second opportunity to try another one of the brand's products; this one was a little lesser known in the beauty community. I tried it out to see if it deserves to be talked up more.
How I tried the Il Makiage Black Card Mascara
I made sure to wear this mascara for three days in a row, in order to test not only its lengthening and volumizing features, but also its longevity. I used day one to determine its performance with only a single coat. On days two and three, I applied two full coats. For each testing period, I kept the mascara on for at least eight hours, with one day ending up being a 14-hour testing period.
Why I like the Il Makiage Black Card Mascara
The brush grabs every lash
My biggest pet peeve with mascaras is when it has a useless brush. (Imagine having an incredible formula, just for it to go to waste because the applicator can't do its one job: applying!) Il Makiage's brush is made from silicon and features short, concise bristles. I can't explain the sigh of relief that escaped me after my first pass — each bristle grabbed onto the first lash hair it touched to ensure every single one was coated. I don't want my mascaras to rip my lashes, but I like to feel a little tension, so I know the brush is doing its job.
The overall brush head is nothing out of the ordinary in terms of shape; it slightly curves to go with the eye shape. However, the brand did something interesting by leaving one side completely bristle-less. I considered that strange, until I applied the mascara and realized it made all the sense in the world. I only used one side, so why add bristles 360 degrees around, just for them to pick up product that will never be used? Smart move in my book.
I don't need to prep with a lash curler
I don't own a lash curler for two reasons. One, I'm lazy and haven't gotten around to ordering one. Two, I've seen too many videos of people accidentally ripping out their lashes while using it. (Maybe why I'm so slow to add one to cart ...) Fortunately, this mascara takes my internal "to curling tool, or not to curling tool" debate off the table, because this formula somehow renders one unnecessary. According to the brand, I have a mix of shorter and longer fibers to thank, which work together to "circle, lift and extend each lash.
When it comes to separation, this mascara might take the top spot. I did not experience a single clump. And no matter how many swipes I applied, I was able to maneuver the brush so that it easily broke apart any lashes that stuck too close together.
Two coats = major length
I would recommend applying two coats of this mascara to get the best bang for your buck. One coat will give your lashes some color and noticeable fullness, but I saw much better lifting and lengthening action after going in for a second dip in the tube. The formula seemed to stick to the lashes even more after the first application, and I was left with spider-like lashes. (But with more than one coat comes the risk of flaking, which it did do but only the tiniest bit. With a quick flick of my finger, the two flakes I noticed disappeared.)
Contributing writer PJ Gach can also attest to this mascara's lash thickening and lengthening powers. As someone with hooded eyes, she aims to find formulas that can make them appear bigger and wider. "Il Makiage’s Black Card Mascara has become my “daily driver,” she says. "I love how the mascara makes my eyelashes look luscious. I also like that no matter what my makeup look might be for the day, this mascara tops everything beautifully."
What to consider
It's easy to take off!
On my first day of trying the mascara, I didn't apply any other makeup, so I actually forgot I was even wearing it. That resulted in me grabbing my normal face wash instead of my makeup remover, which I only realized when I saw black dripping down my eyes and cheeks mid-cleanse. I thought I just screwed up my entire routine, but as I kept washing and gently wiping at my lashes, I was shocked to see that the formula removed itself from my lashes quite easily. Clearly, the mascara was made to show those sensitive hairs a ton of love and nourishment, even after hours of wear, which I'm thankful for since I'm at an age where each lash is precious.
I love how my lashes look with this mascara, but it's not the most volumizing. It definitely focuses on length and lift, so if you're aiming for a more dramatic, Hollywood glam with your eye look, maybe use a volumizing formula first and follow it up with Black Card for the separation benefit.
More editor-loved mascaras to shop
Editorial assistant Annie Shigo has stocked up on this oldie-but-goodie mascara ever since watching her mother apply it when she was a kid. Why? Because even after all these years, the formula still performs perfectly.
"I have naturally pretty short lashes that don’t have a ton of natural curl to them. I have tried other popular mascaras, but they always end up clumping or never reaching my desired length. This pick is great because it really does lift your lashes up, giving them a natural-looking arch," she says.
"In my opinion, this is the best mascara the beauty industry has to offer," raves associate editor Shannon Garlin. "I find it to be super pigmented and long-lasting; you just need a few swipes in the morning and you’re set for the rest of the day. The brush is different from most mascaras, it has a slight half-moon shape so you can really control the application and it gives your lashes that cat-eye and lengthening effect. I get tons of compliments on my lashes when wearing this!"
Deputy managing editor Jess Bender is currently testing this mascara's promise of "longer lashes in six to eight weeks," but so far, there are plenty of other benefits she is loving. "The finish after the first round of application is subtle and natural, but that also makes it easy to build upon if I want a more dramatic fluttering effect," she says. "Best of all, this mascara does not seem to budge one bit no matter how much I try to test it — it's gone through long work days, sweaty workout sessions and at least one massive downpour without any evidence of flaking or smudging."
After taking a break from lash extensions, editorial assistant Madison San Miguel was on the market for a mascara that could volumize without weighing her lashes down. Enter: Clinique's High Impact Mascara.
"Since the mascara is fiber-infused, each tiny fiber coats every lash to boost volume. Think of these fibers as mini extensions for your lashes," she says. "Compared to traditional mascara, I found this formula to be the most buildable. And since I can apply multiple layers, I’ve noticed the product adds extra length to my lashes, too."
Senior social media editor Kate McCarthy and associate editor Kamari Stewart are both big fans of this volumizing mascara by Charlotte Tilbury. McCarthy raves that the formula made her lashes look lifted and full, while Stewart showed some love for its ability to separate her lashes without ever clumping.
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The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
Danielle Murphy is the audience development writer for Shop TODAY. She’s been writing for the team since 2021, covering everything from fashion and beauty to product reviews and sales content.
