A Stranger Asked If I Had Eyelash Extensions—And It's Because of This Mascara

We put the IT Cosmetics Lash Blowout Mascara to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Does it stand the test of time? Keep reading to find out if our editor is still using this mascara eight months after her initial review.

My natural eyelashes are comparable to waiting for Chad Michael Murray's character in A Cinderella Story—useless and disappointing. They're short, blonde, stick-straight, and fall out if someone within the tri-state area sneezes too hard.

But here's the thing—having voluminous eyelashes is sort of my entire brand. That's because my (very noble) life's work is to test all of the major mascara launches and separate the mediocre from the formulas that deliver real lash transformations (the ones you should actually spend your money on). Lately, the tube I'm reaching for is IT Cosmetics Lash Blowout Mascara.

About My Lashes: Short and straight

I have short, blonde, fairly sparse eyelashes (due in part to wearing eyelash extensions for a year straight). They're also stick-straight, which means I look like I don't have any eyelashes at all unless I look up or down. Basically, they need all the help they can get.

The Formula: Lash-loving ingredients

Your eyelashes are hair after all, so I love that the formula is made with conditioning, "hair-loving" ingredients like vitamin E, jojoba oil, and biotin for immediate volume and stronger lashes over time.

But disclaimer: This is a very thick formula, which you'll notice the first time the wand goes "pop" out of the tube. The applicator is drenched in product, so I like to scrape the bristles on the mouth of the tube so I can build my lashes more gradually. —otherwise, you're more likely to get the clump effect, but to each their own!

Application: A total breeze

This mascara is a collaboration with Drybar, which is why the tube is shaped like a roller brush—Drybar's Half Pint brush, to be exact. But that's not all: the applicator itself is designed using the same tech as a barrel brush to create lift, separation, and lasting volume (just like a round brush would do for your hair).

It Cosmetics Lash Blowout Mascara $25.00

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According to the IT Cosmetics website, the "specially designed mascara wand features microspheres to gently catch and grip all of your lashes—creating effortless root-to-tip application, while separating your lashes to deliver instant maximum lift and structured volume that won't clump or flake." If you look closely at the brush, you can see these "microspheres"⁠—they're the tiny balls on the end of each bristle that really make this applicator look (and function) more like a roller brush than your standard mascara wand.

With the applicator's intentional design, actually applying the mascara is a breeze. Just pull the roller brush-inspired wand through your lashes from root to tip. You'll notice an immediate difference after one layer, but you can pile it on for a more dramatic effect. It layers well without clumping—just make sure to reapply before the previous layer dries. (I usually wear around four layers of Lash Blowout.)

The Results: Voluminous, fanned-out lashes

To be honest with you, I had low expectations when I twisted this tube open. The collaboration seemed a little gimmicky to me, and I'm 100 percent no-nonsense when it comes to my lashes. But as it turns out, this stuff really is like an IRL blowout for your lashes.

My favorite thing about this mascara is how it actually curls my lashes upward for the doe-eyed effect. Plenty of mascaras darken, lengthen, and thicken, but it's rare to find a mascara that can actually hold your lashes into a curled position (without an eyelash curler).

Are my lashes 19x their usual volume like the product description promises? Who's to say, but they look pretty darn good. The before and after photos speak for themselves, but the first time I wore this mascara a stranger actually asked where I got my eyelash extensions done. For the record, I don't have any extensions, falsies, perms, tints, bells, or whistles—just Lash Blowout.

I'll also say that because my lashes are so fragile, easy removal is a huge priority for me. For cleansing, I found that I needed to take a few passes with micellar water and some firm pressure. If losing lashes is a concern for you, try removing this formula with a cleansing balm. I use Drunk Elephant's Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser as a first cleanse and it completely dissolved every trace of this mascara—even from my stubborn waterline.

The Value: Worth it, without a doubt

At $25, Lash Blowout is definitely on the pricier side when it comes to mascaras—and there are definitely drugstore mascaras under $10 that can get the job done. But when you consider the fact that this mascara essentially recreates the look of lash extensions⁠—which can run upwards of $100 for a set that lasts two weeks⁠—I don't skip a beat.

Similar Products: You have options

L'Oreal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara: Similar to Lash Blowout, this drugstore-favorite formula features a fluffy applicator that builds serious volume. At $11, it's a solid dupe but lacks some of the hair-loving ingredients that Lash Blowout offers, like Vitamin E and biotin.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: Better Than Sex is the number one best-selling prestige mascara in America, which means it has a serious cult following. It's the exact same price as Lash Blowout and produces similar results, but, unlike LB, it comes in a waterproof iteration.

Our Verdict: Buy it—it'll become a staple in your routine

As you can see from my before and after photos, IT Cosmetics Lash Blowout Volumizing Mascara completely transformed the look of my eyelashes. They went from bare and blonde to looking like a fresh set of lash extensions. Plus, high-quality ingredients like jojoba oil and vitamin E work behind the scenes to improve the health of my lashes over time. Yes, this is definitely on the pricier side for mascara, but considering this tube lasted me almost three months, I think it's totally worth it. Eight months after first discovering this formula, Lash Blowout is still my go-to tube every day of the week.