Tarte Maneater Mascara Review: Is This Mascara Worth It?
Tarte Cosmetics, a New York-based company, has gained popularity for its commitment to crafting makeup products using what they term “high-performance naturals.” These products are not only vegan but also renowned for their superior quality. Tarte has consistently been one of my preferred cosmetics brands, particularly when it comes to eye makeup. Given my sensitive eyes and a propensity for itchiness and redness with certain products, Tarte’s eye makeup range has proven to be a game-changer. While the Tarteist Lash Paint mascara has been my trusted go-to, the Tarte Maneater Mascara has recently piqued my interest.
Tarte Maneater Mascara: More Than a Volumizing Mascara
Contents
The Tarte Maneater Mascara boasts a reputation beyond that of a typical volumizing mascara. It’s marketed as a mascara that not only adds volume but also opens up your eyes, creating a bigger and lifted appearance. The secret to this lies in its brush, featuring over 500 bristles meticulously designed to separate your lashes. Moreover, the formula of this mascara is conditioning, ensuring that your lashes remain clump-free.
Tarte Maneater Mascara Review: Key Features
- Volumizes, lengthens (although it may not curl as effectively)
- Creamy and moisturizing formula
- Resists clumping
- Creates the illusion of larger eyes
- Available in a smaller, TSA-approved size
- Soft flex brush with over 500 bristles for even lash coating
Pros
- Does not flake, clump, or smudge
- Enhances lash thickness
- Long-wearing
Cons
- May not provide significant curl
- The large wand can be slightly cumbersome for lower-lash application
- Requires at least two coats for more pronounced results
Why I Love Tarte Mascaras
As I mentioned earlier, mascara often triggers itchiness and watery eyes for me. In some extreme cases, it has left my eyes red and irritated. However, this is not the case with Tarte Maneater Voluptuous Mascara. Regardless of the Tarte mascara I use, I experience exceptional comfort, and I can wear their products throughout the day without any discomfort. The website claims that Tarte mascara is ophthalmologist and dermatologist-tested, ensuring its safety for contact lens wearers, although I cannot personally verify this.
While the Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara typically holds the top spot in my list of Tarte mascaras, the Maneater Voluptuous Mascara stands out in terms of volumizing and lengthening, albeit with slightly less curling power. I find that the Lash Paint excels in providing curl, length, and volume simultaneously. The only Tarte mascara that didn’t quite meet my expectations was the Surfer Curl; it does offer a great curl but tends to clump and provides a more natural look.
Lash-Friendly Ingredients
One of the secrets to Tarte’s impressive mascaras lies in their selection of lash-friendly ingredients. Here are a few noteworthy components found in the Maneater Mascara:
Carnauba Wax
This wax is derived from the leaves of the carnauba palm Copernicia Prunifera, native to northern Brazil. Known for its waterproof and hard nature, it lends itself perfectly to mascara. Carnauba wax adds volume and length to lashes while ensuring a smooth application, resulting in impressive and long-lasting results without clumping.
Jojoba Oil
Despite its name, jojoba oil behaves more like wax than traditional oils. Extracted from the seeds of the jojoba plant, it boasts hydrating properties while also protecting and strengthening your lashes.
How to Use This Mascara
To achieve the best results with the Tarte Maneater Mascara, follow these steps:
- Begin by curling your lashes using an eyelash curler, as you typically would.
- Start applying the mascara in the center of your eye, moving the brush upward to coat your lashes from the base to the tips. You can use a zig-zag motion to ensure even coverage.
- Continue applying the mascara to the outer and inner corners of your lashes. Tarte recommends layering for a more dramatic effect.
- For an intensely dramatic look, I applied three coats, which delivered impressive volume and length. However, do note that achieving significant curl may be more challenging with this mascara.
My Experience
With each coat of the Maneater Mascara, I noticed a gradual intensification of results. The first coat provided subtle enhancement, while the second coat delivered more pronounced length and volume. It was the third coat that truly amped up the volume, with my lashes appearing fuller and longer. Although this mascara did not deliver as much curl as I desired, it was still impressive in other aspects.
The success of this mascara, in my opinion, largely stems from its brush. The hundreds of bristles effectively separated my lashes without any clumps or flakes. However, it’s important to note that the brush is relatively large, which may pose a slight challenge when applying mascara to lower lashes.
For this review, I opted for light eyeshadow and eyeliner to highlight the dramatic length and volume achieved by this mascara. As you can see, my lashes are impeccably separated and clump-free. I highly recommend this mascara for its ability to provide stunning results on its own.
Capturing mascara results in photographs can be challenging, but it’s worth noting that this mascara did not provide as much curl as I desired. Another minor concern pertains to the intensity of the black color; while it is indeed black, it may not be the most intense shade available. Nevertheless, these minor flaws do not outweigh the benefits of this mascara. I will continue using it and would even consider repurchasing it. However, it’s essential to acknowledge the Lash Paint mascara’s curling prowess and intensely pigmented black shade, which I will delve into further in the Alternatives section.
The Cost
At $23 USD, this mascara may be perceived as a bit pricey by some individuals. Personally, I don’t mind investing a bit more in mascara if it means I’m getting a high-quality product. In my opinion, this mascara falls within a reasonable price range, especially when compared to other premium brands like Dior.
Alternatives
Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara
Throughout this review, I’ve consistently praised the Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara, and for good reason. This mascara delivers an all-encompassing false lash effect, offering curl, length, and volume. Its brush is similar to that of the Maneater Mascara, featuring numerous bristles for flawless lash separation. Additionally, this mascara resists clumping and flaking. However, it’s worth mentioning that the Maneater Mascara has an advantage when it comes to smudging, making it a preferred choice in this regard.
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes
If you desire volume with a more natural finish, the Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara is worth considering. It provides a decent volume boost while maintaining a natural appearance. Keep in mind that this mascara has a tendency to clump more compared to other Tarte mascaras. It’s also available in a waterproof version for those concerned about smudging.
Thrive Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
Although I haven’t personally tried this mascara, I’ve heard rave reviews from friends and customers alike. The Thrive Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara is known for making lashes stand out. It offers volumizing, defining, lengthening, and curling effects. This mascara incorporates plant stem cell technology to promote lash health. Similar to Tarte, Thrive Causemetics adheres to vegan and cruelty-free principles and donates to women in need with each purchase.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara
While I haven’t tested this mascara, I have a deep-seated trust in Anastasia products for my eyebrows. The Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara is praised for delivering significant volume with minimal coats. Some reviewers have mentioned minor smudging as a drawback, so it’s essential to consider this aspect.
Maybelline Volum’ Express the Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara
For a drugstore brand, the Volum’ Express the Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara impressed me with its affordability and remarkable volume, curl, and length. The black color is intense, and the washable version is easy to remove. However, this mascara does have a tendency to clump and flake, and it may cause slight itching for some individuals.
