L’oreal’s newest mascara to hit the market is the Double Extend Eye Illuminator, which has a double-end opening with two separate wands to lengthen, volumize, separate, and illuminate eyelashes. This mascara is no larger than your typical mascara, only it has two ends that both twist to open up, each working to make your peepers look extra beautiful and luminous. Upon seeing this in the store, I was intrigued, as this comes in several different shades, including one to enhance each eye color, and one for all eye colors. Since Beauty Gala readers have all color eyes, I decided to go with the universal shade, which is Blackest Black with a Crystal illuminator. To see swatches and how effective this drugstore mascara is at waking up your eyes,
The innovative two-step system allows you to twist and open each end of the mascara, with two separate wands, each with their own color, brush, and formula. The universal one, which is shown in this review, is blackest black during step one, and crystal during step two. These two shades are meant to work to highlight every single eye color. This mascara also comes in shades for specific eye colors, such as copper instead of crystal for blue eyes.
The mascara wand for L’oreal’s Double Extend Mascara looks fairly average and mediocre. It doesn’t have that large, plump wand, or crazy curved wand that you see on other mascara’s these days. I was a bit hesitant that this mascara would work well because the wand looked so average, and my lashes need some major effective mascara. However, you will see how great this mascara wand is as you continue reading!
The mascara wand for step two is a small, round bulb, with extremely tiny bits of crystallized glitter. This wand is similar to the infamous Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes Mascara, with it’s tiny round shape, meant for easy application to the tips of your eyelashes. The crystal color is quite noticeable, even under artificial lighting, but I was expecting this to just barely show up on my eyes.
Go time! My bare lashes are very blonde, sparse, and short. In fact, when I wake up in the morning, some of my lashes actually curve downward making them look even less noticeable than they already are with no mascara on. Let’s just sum it up like this: my lashes need all the help they can get. Mascara is my one “must-do” if I only have a couple of minutes to put makeup on.
This mascara is extremely easy to apply, and step one, the regular mascara wand, blew me away! For looking like such an average mascara wand, it perfectly separated each eyelash, and turned them thick, dark, and voluminous.
This mascara gave my eyelashes a similar look to false eyelashes! I loved how effective it was, and I was excited to use the crystal illuminator ball wand to highlight the tips of my lashes…
Surprise! You can actually notice the crystal illuminator on your eyes. I was shocked, since most colored mascara’s do not show up well on the lashes. This gave my lashes that extra razzle dazzle, and made me look way less tired.
Let’s take note of some comparison photographs:
I noticed a huge difference in the appearance of my eyes when I applied this mascara. Notice how the whites of my eyes are much more pure and bright. I felt and looked less tired, and my eyelashes looked great. I was not originally sold on this mascara, but after trying it out, I love it! The best part is that you can choose to use only step one for the daytime, and add step two for a nighttime look, or mix and match according to your mood. Fun with beauty!
L’oreal Double Extend Eye Illuminator Mascara is available at all major drugstores and retail chains where cosmetics are sold. This mascara is available in multiple shades: shades for specific eye colors, and the universal shade shown in this review. The best part about this mascara? Beauty bargain! It cost me under $8 for this tube.
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[ALL PHOTOGRAPHY ON THIS SITE IS TAKEN BY REBECCA KAZIMIR. NO PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION.]
Erin says
When’s the last time someone told you how gorgeous your eyes are?! Between the close-up shots and the mascara doing such a great job, your eye color is like WOW 🙂
Rebecca says
Thank you so much Erin! That means a lot to me coming from someone with gorgeous blue peepers herself!
Christine says
This was very helpful. And I am going to give it a try!! I have just one question though. I see that it says it hold up to flaking and all that stuff, but is it waterproof? I’m finding now and days that tubes aren’t waterproof anymore, and I tend to sometimes get watery eyes. Noting is more annoying then racoon eyes as I call then!
Rebecca says
Hey Christine, thanks for your question! This particular mascara is not labeled as “waterproof,” but just like you, I deal with watery eyes. Actually, make that watery eye…my left eye waters like crazy on certain days. I’ve been wearing this mascara for two weeks straight, and I haven’t had any “raccoon” eyes or scary looking results from it. I also wore this on vacation recently, where I did outdoorsy things, and it held up nicely!
Ana says
I recently bought the copper version for blue eyes on ebay for 3 bucks and love it! Between my sister and myself we’ve tried dozens of different mascaras and I’ve never gotten the amount of volume I’ve gotten with this! Hands down the longest, fullest lashes I’ve ever gotten with any mascara.
Rebecca says
Isn’t it amazing? I love using this mascara!