I am a diehard devotee of L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara. It's a staple in my kit in regular and waterproof formulas. It's in my personal makeup bag too. I love a good, thick, dark lash and it always delivers.

But lately...I've been loving Benefit's They're Real Mascara.

I received a sample of this from Sephora a while back. And for once, actually was sold on something based on a "mini" I got for free to try. I normally hate hate hate brushes like these but this might be one I end up sanitizing and keeping around just to apply other mascaras with. I normally prefer a softer, traditional mascara wand as I always manage to impale my lash line with these sharp little buggers. But this one has been the magic wand I didn't even know I was searching for.

It combs and separates beautifully. It gets those tiny corner lashes you didn't even know you had. The formula is nice and dark. And to top it off, it feels like a "long-wear" mascara. I've had no issues with it smudging or leaving a shady tint of black under my eyes. I will say it does take a little more elbow grease to remove at night.

It's a little pricey to keep in my kit since I go through mascaras like iPhones go through battery life, but I do love the brush! So that might end up in my kit.

Overall, highly recommend! What are your favorite mascaras, both as a professional makeup artist and for your personal stash?