Benefit “They’re real” Mascara Review

Normally I find myself living in a bit of a beauty bubble when it comes to brand new "hyped-up" products, but even I had heard of Benefit’s "They're real" mascara before I came across a huge display of the stuff staring right at me in Boots the other week. The girl on the counter noticed me looking and started raving about how amazing it is and how it’s their best-selling product by miles. Intrigued, I asked her how much it was.

£19.50 was the answer I got.

£19.50!? For a mascara!? I'm a bit stingy when it comes to buying makeup but 20 quid for a mascara seemed pretty steep to me. I left empty-handed but I still had it stuck in my head when I heard on the twitter grapevine a few days later that ELLE magazine were actually giving away a free sample in their June edition. At £4 for the magazine that seemed pretty darn good to me. I thought I might as well get it and see how I go; if the shop assistant was right and it is their best-selling product ever then I figured it must be doing something right.

Benefit "They're real" mascara review

Also available from the Benefit website, Boots and ASOS (to name but a few)

First impressions: the wand doesn't look particularly different from the many other mascara wands I've used in the past (a bit short if anything) and I just wasn't convinced that this little thing was gonna make my lashes longer, curlier and more lifted compared to others before it. I worked it onto my lashes though using the technique explained on the box - wiggling away horizontally from base to tip.

In spite of my first impression, ultimately I've got to hand it to Benefit because they have created a bloody good mascara. It goes on nice and thick, without clumping, and really makes your lashes stand out. the one thing I was really impressed with though was its staying power - you put it on in the morning and it's still there looking just as good as when it first went on when you're scrubbing your face trying to get the damn stuff off just before you go to bed. I've worked my way through many a mascara before but this is definitely one of the best. 

At the end of the day though the question is would I buy it again?

Honestly? I don't think I will.

If money was no object then I would use this as my main mascara without a doubt, however nearly £20 is a lot for me personally to spend on a mascara when I only wear it a couple of days a week (I rarely wear it to work). I don't think I could even justify buying it purely to use on "special occasions" since if it's that special an occasion I'd probably wear false lashes anyway (even a mascara as good as this one can't create the same effect that they do).

In spite of this I will be really sad when my sample finally runs out, although I might ask for one for Christmas or pick it up if I ever see it on special offer because at the end of the day it is still one of the best mascaras I've ever used - if not the best. If £20 seems reasonable to you however then I would definitely recommend it.

Have you ever tried Benefit's "They're real" mascara? What do you think of it?