Best drugstore mascara for volume

If there's one cosmetic product that I'm super picky about, it's definitely mascara. As a natural blonde, I have very light eyelashes. It actually looks like I don't have any eyelashes at all when I'm sans mascara.

As a beauty consultant, I used to get samples all the time. The pay wasn't great, but the perks made it worth it. I got to try all kinds of prestige brands. 

But every now and then, you find a drugstore product that knocks the fancy stuff out of the water. For me, I've been loyal to one such product for years now ... Cover Girl Lash Blast. There are a few variations, but I usually stick with the orange tube or black tube, which is the 24-hour long-wearing version. Having used this product for so long, I thought I'd give you guys an honest review on it!

Cover Girl Lash Blast review:

The pro's: 

• The wand! The wand that comes with this mascara is so perfect for giving volume and length, while keeping lashes separated. My biggest pet peeve with mascaras is when my eyelashes are grouped together. I like my eyelashes to look full, but also nicely separated. This brush combs lashes out while adding major volume.
• The color! I use black mascara. And I like it to actually be black. Have you ever bought a black mascara and had to apply coat after coat to get your eyelashes to look noticeable? I'm not a fan of those light black mascaras that are made to look "natural." I definitely go for the false eyelashes look. If you're looking for a cheap drugstore mascara that makes your eyes look like you're wearing false lashes, this is it.
• Volume and length! Like I said, this mascara gives awesome volume and length. There are some really great more expensive mascaras you can pick up at Sephora that will give this same effect. But that's the thing ... this drugstore mascara can give the same effect as say, your favorite Lancome or Benefit mascara. Looks wise, no one would know the difference.
• Fat tube = easy to find in purse/makeup bag! It's a small thing, I know, but the packaging of this mascara is pretty cool. It comes in a bright orange tube, which is pretty thick, and I find it easy to pick out from my makeup bag.

The con's:

• Won't last 12+ hours. With this Cover Girl Lash Blast orange tube, I have noticed that this mascara will start to flake off by late evening. This is very annoying, as it agitates my eyes. However, the Cover Girl Lash Blast 24-Hour mascara, in a black tube, will not flake off and really does last aaaaaaaalllll day without a problem. When I wear my regular orange-tube Lash Blast, I apply blinc tubing mascara on top to keep it in place, and I have no problems with flaking. Problem solved.

This is me wearing Cover Girl Lash Blast, my fave!

Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume -- Sky-high lashes, low-budget price

I am so excited to review Revlon's PhotoReady 3D Volume mascara today. I recently purchased this bad boy for just $6.74 from Target (plus I had a coupon so it was somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 bucks for me!).

To be honest, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I've never used a Revlon mascara before and I hadn't really heard much about them. I've used tons of prestige and drugstore brands, but usually I'm pretty loyal to CoverGirl Lash Blast (24-hour, or the regular orange tube with a coat of Blinc tubing mascara on top), as well as Benefit's They're Real.

Both LashBlast and They're Real have amazing brushes -- kind of a like a fusion between a regular big, fluffy-bristled wand and a defining comb, so you really get the volume and definition with each stroke.

What I love about Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume is that it has that same type of brush that can be found on CoverGirl's Lash Blast and Benefit's They're Real, which is pretty difficult to find! But a brush alone isn't enough for me; I need a formula that will last all day without flaking into my eyes (urrggg, that's the worst), that doesn't smell raunchy (husband always complains when I wear smelly Maybelline), and that looks like I put on a pair of false lashes because my eyelashes look that fabulous.

Those are my criteria for approving of a mascara and for repurchasing. I can say with confidence, Revlon's PhotoReady 3D volume is all those things and more. It boasts great volumizing power, but   this would also be a perfect fit for someone who really desires definition and length for their eyelashes. It looks beautiful by itself (see photos below), and with a full-face of makeup for a special event. It's hard to believe I haven't heard of this mascara, but I sure hope it gains a loyal following because I can't imagine life without it now that I've tried it. Thank you Revlon!

 An eye without mascara, and an eye with the Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume:

Left eye with Revlon mascara, right side without any mascara:

Both sides coated with Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume mascara: