Benefit They’re Real Mascara

Benefit they’re Real Mascara officially launches in the UK this Saturday, 27 August, so I was more than a little excited to have the chance to preview this product and tell you all about it.
I’m know I’m not alone in my search for the holy grail mascara.  My own lashes, as you’ll soon see, are pretty much non-existent. I need a LOT of help to bring them to life. The things I look for, in order of priority, are:

• volumising
  
• lengthening
  
• smudge-proof, ie no panda eyes (unless I’m lazy enough to sleep in it, which of course I’d never, ever do!)
  
• non-flaking
  
• non-clumping
  
• long lasting
  
• thick brush
  
• glossy finish
  
• non-crispy to the touch

They’re Real is my first dalliance with Benefit make-up and I reckon it lives up to the hype.  I don’t necessarily want to look like I’m wearing false lashes, but the likelihood of that happening with my very fine, average length, invisible lashes is pretty much impossible.
I know some people like lash definition without drama. If you’re one of them, they’re Real isn’t for you. Though I defy you to try it and not be impressed with the results.
I’ve been using this mascara for a couple of weeks now, as I usually find it takes this long for mascara to come into its own. Though to be honest, I was pretty blown away the first time I tried this.

The packaging in a pewter mirror-effect casing is rather glamorous, though still young and modern, with the name emblazoned in black & orange lettering. 


I also love the amount of info on the box – please click to enlarge pics.
 
The nice fat wand has my favourite kind of bristles with a little circle of ‘spikes’ at the end, which is great for reaching the very shortest of lashes or coating the lower lashes and providing lift.


Can you see the curved shape of the wand above?  It fits so nicely into the contour of the eye.  I’m not sure if it helps with curling or not - I didn’t really notice any extra curl.
Now for the scary bit… with great trepidation I show you my naked eye, with one coat of they’re Real on the other eye…

Quite a contrast, don’t you think?!


Both eyes mascara-d up (phew!). Also wearing Urban Decay Naked Palette eyeshadows.

In context of full face in natural light. Please excuse startled expression – (husband waving hot pans cooking next to me!)


As above, with flash.


And especially for a very sweet blogger who said earlier today that I should be more smiley in pics – you know who you are!

All in all, I’ve really enjoyed using this mascara and received several compliments on my lashes, though not been asked if they’re real!  In my experience, it gives volume and length, doesn’t flake or smudge, lasts all day and is as easy to remove as any other mascara I’ve tried. If I had to pick a negative, it's that my lashes look a bit spikey with this on and don't curl as much as normal, but I'm on the lookout for a good eyelash curler anyway (recs welcome!) so that will soon be rectified.  I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase this once it’s done.  I have poked myself in the eye with it a few times, but I can’t blame the mascara for that!


Benefit They're Real is available here. 


What do you think – and will you be trying this?