Quick: What’s the one beauty product that you simply can’t live without? For me, it’s mascara. I’ve been cursed to spend my days roaming the Earth with short, sparse, and straight eyelashes, so for me, a good mascara is a non-negotiable. And when I say that it’s a “non-negotiable,” I mean that I rank it up there with food, shelter, water, and oxygen.
Given that I am an absolute nutcase a very serious mascara aficionado, I’m constantly on the hunt for the next big thing in eyelash enhancement. So when I heard that Benefit–maker of the cult favorite mascara They’re Real!–was releasing a brand new product called Roller Lash, I was immediately intrigued. I’ve been wearing They’re Real! for the past two years, and I’ve always been really happy with the product–it gives me great length and isn’t quick to clump or smudge–so it was hard for me to imagine that Benefit could create something to top such a successful formula. I always approach new mascara with cautious optimism–it’s hard to let your guard down when you’ve been burned before in the past, you know? (I’m looking at you, CoverGirl Exact EyeLights Waterproof Eye Brightening Mascara in Black Sapphire. You did not make blue eyes shine bright like a diamond, and I can never forgive you for that. You hurt me real bad.)
I’m sure you’ll be relieved to learn that I was able to let my guard down enough to buy a tube of Roller Lash. Here’s what the packaging and the product look like:
Cute, eh? I love the super girly look, which couldn’t be more different from the sleek silver tube that They’re Real! comes in.
So, now we know the products look different, but do they deliver different results? According to Benefit’s website, Roller Lash mascara “grabs, separates, lifts, and curls,” while They’re Real! “lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts, and separates.” The makeup artist at my local Shopper’s Drug Mart (that’s Canadian-speak for “drugstore”) told me that the big difference between the two mascaras is that Roller Lash really brings the curl factor in a way that They’re Real! simply cannot. According to her, Roller Lash curls so well that conventional eyelash curlers are in serious danger of becoming obsolete. As someone with a time-consuming daily makeup and skincare routine, this was welcome news to me. Who doesn’t want to skip a step or two in their morning regimen?
When I took my tube of Roller Lash home and uncapped it for the first time, I was pretty surprised to see a wand that was entirely different from the one on They’re Real!. The wand on Roller Lash is slightly curved and features super short, hooked bristles, while the wand on They’re Real! is straight with long, unhooked bristles and a domed tip.
For comparison’s sake:
I’ll admit, I was initially pretty underwhelmed by the tiny bristles on Roller Lash. I really didn’t think it was possible for such a basic wand to give my lashes visible lift and curl.
But lo and behold! For the first time in my life, I was happy to be proven wrong:
I loved it! The curl was incredible–I’ve definitely never used a mascara that gave me such fantastic lift without the aid of an eyelash curler. The length I got from Roller Lash was great too, and my lashes were wonderfully clump-free.
To really emphasize the difference between the two mascaras, I took some photos of myself wearing Roller Lash on one eye and They’re Real! on the other:
And here are some side-by-side shots:
Yup, that confirms it: I’m a Roller Lash convert from here on out.
I should mention that I still think They’re Real! is a pretty fantastic mascara, and if your eyelashes curl naturally, They’re Real! might be the best choice for you. As far as I’m concerned, however? I’m officially making the switch. I’m a Roller now, guys. Is there a club I can join? A leather jacket I should buy?
Anyway, how do you feel about Benefit mascara? Have you tried Roller Lash yet? (And if you have, please let me know what you think!) Do you swear by an even better mascara from a totally different brand? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
