I am obsessed with mascara. It's true; I'm not exaggerating. I don't care if it's a tool used by the patriarchy to make us all believe that longer eyelashes will lead to greater success, fulfillment and happiness, I just really love what it does for my face. I've tried many, enjoyed a lot. I've tried very expensive mascaras and I've tried bargain basement mascaras. I've tried blue mascaras, gold glittery mascaras (reserved for festive cheer at Christmas, obviously) and even purple mascaras (never again). Recently, I tried a mascara that reportedly sells one every minute in the UK, and one every five seconds in the US. And I'm hooked.
The mascara in question is L'Oréal's Paradise Extatic mascara – not a new product (it launched in 2017) but one that has been surprisingly under-the-radar considering its brilliance. In terms of the formula itself, it's enriched with castor oil to supposedly make your lashes softer. I'm not sure if I noticed any particular improvement in that area but the brush was certainly softer than most, leading to smoother application and no clumping.
The real joy, however, is in the fact that after just one application, my lashes were longer and thicker, to the extent that three different people asked if I was wearing false lashes. It doesn't smudge, either – I even went to a HIIT class (help) after work one day and, while my dignity and composure may have disappeared, my mascara was firmly in place. Logic would suggest that this means, come bedtime, it may be a fight of gargantuan proportions between you, your cleanser and your eyelashes. I am happy to report that this is not the case – I removed it with ease (and smugly, too).
My only complaint would be that it didn't last very long, but I fear this was down to my own over-use that anything else. You actually don't need more than one coat, so it should technically last longer than a lot of mascaras (and significantly more expensive ones, at that). But I told you, I'm obsessed. But at least, finally, I have good reason to be.
BUY: L'Oréal, Castor Oil-Enriched Paradise Volumising Mascara, £11.99
BUY: L'Oru00e9al, Castor Oil-Enriched Paradise Volumising Mascara, £11.99
1 of 1L'Oréal, Castor Oil-Enriched Paradise Volumising Mascara, £11.99
SHOP: 8 Other Mascaras Loved By Team Grazia
Best Mascara 2021 - Grazia
1 of 8L’Oréal Paris Paradise Mascara, £11.99
'In L'Oreal Paris I trust, and their Paradise Mascara is a total game-changer. The soft bristles catch every single lash - including those hard to reach corner ones, without a single clump in sight.'Emma Stoddart, Beauty Writer
2 of 8Maybelline Mascara Instant Lash Lift Look, £9.99
'This has an hourglass brush that makes it look like you're wearing a row of those natural lashes – not the really big fake ones. Plus it's bright purple so I can find it in the black hole which is my handbag and it doesn't take a look of scrubbing to come off unlike some mascaras...'Phoebe Parke, Social Media Editor
3 of 8L'Oreal Paris Telescopic False Lash Effect Mascara, £10.99
'This has a thin brush that's perfect for elongating the lashes, plus the formula doesn't 'flick' everywhere when you apply it (so it's great for bottom lashes too).'Georgia Aspinall, Digital Writer
4 of 8Benefit BadGal Bang Mascara, £21.50
'This mascara is life changing. It is so pigmented, makes your lashes look ultra long and think, and the brush is really good at separating them so they don't look clumpy. Plus a little product goes a long way, so it really does last a long time.'Arianna Chatzidakis, Digital Commercial Content Editor
5 of 8Guerlain Maxi Lash Mascara, £26
'I'm a BIG fan of Guerlain's Maxi Lash mascara – it gives you that doll-like wide-eye curled lash with only a few sweeps, and it's such a dramatic black colour it amps up the intensity.'Contributing Editor
6 of 8Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara, £8.99
'The bristles really capture each of my lashes; it takes a couple of coats but the end result is a lotta volume.'Contributing Editor
7 of 8Benefit Roller Lash Mascara, £20.50
'I keep coming back to Benefit's Roller Lash, which has a unique brush that literally hooks, separates and lifts the lashes for a longer, bolder finish.'Contributing Digital Writer
8 of 8Guerlain Maxi Lash So Volume, £28
'The art deco-style tube houses the ultimate lash-thickening formula and ultra-fine brush that gets to every last hair. It delivers fluttery lashes, perfect for batting, in a mere two coats.'Contributing Digital Writer