This $9 Mascara Is a Solid Drugstore Pick in a Pinch

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Welcome to Esther Tested, where surfer and Racked SF associate editor Esther Hahn shares her best tips for fitness and beauty in the Bay.

Traveling typically means forgetting certain beauty essentials at home. For me last week, that item was mascara. Of course, I could go a few days without it, but my smokey eye never really pops without a good coat of black pigment on my lashes. My usual mascara of choice is the Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara ($30) so when I stepped into the local drugstore for a quick buy, I was overwhelmed by all the options. I took a shot with the L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Waterproof Mascara ($9). The verdict: it goes on smooth and thick, and it doesn't budge.

I had to get used to the application wand. I rely so heavily on Givenchy's ball applicator that fuller, longer wands feel clumsy. The L'Oreal wand works well for the bulk of the lashes (both top and bottom) but the inner corners require a soft touch and little dabs. To avoid any mascara contact with skin when applying to the lower lashes, hold tissue (or blotting paper) in between the two. The mascara, used with an eyeliner brush, can work double duty as liquid liner, too. And while it's a blessing that this L'Oreal formula won't run off your lashes, it requires an eye makeup remover for full removal. If you don't have one at home (or on the road), don't forget to add it to your drugstore shopping list.
· L'Oréal Paris [Official Site]
· Esther Tested [Racked SF]