Trust Me, This £12 Mascara Is the Next Best Thing to a Lash Lift

A lot of mascaras pass my desk in the Who What Wear UK office, but only a small handful genuinely make it into my everyday rotation after testing. While I have a penchant for luxury mascaras, it's well-known in the beauty industry that drugstore mascaras truly reign supreme (great news for bank accounts everywhere).

No word of a lie, I've often received the most compliments on my eyelashes when I've been wearing an affordable mascara (such as L'Oreal Paris Big Deal Mascara, or the Panorama Mascara) but, since trying Rimmel's Wonder'bond Lash Filler + Hyaluronic Mascara (£12), it might just be my new favourite. Scroll ahead for all the deets and receipts of just how good this mascara is.

Rimmel Wonder'bond Lash Filler + Hyaluronic Mascara Review

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The Wand and Formula

The wand is of the flexible plastic variety (my personal preference compared to bristled wands) with a curved shape that sits snugly at the base of the lashes. It has lots of tiny triangle-shaped spikes that help to capture every lash as you sweep it through.

The formula contains teeny-tiny fibres that add visible volume and length to each lash. Additionally, it includes biotin and hyaluronic acid to help soften and nourish your eyelashes.

The Application

After curling my lashes, I swept the wand through and what really stood out was the perfect amount of tension this mascara creates. Some feel like they're not doing much, but I can actually feel this wand grabbing onto even the smallest of my eyelashes, helping to lengthen but also lift and curl.

In the above video, I'm applying one initial coat and I was amazed at the lengthening and curling it achieved in just a couple of sweeps. This mascara creates a really fanned-out look and the formula is a deepy, inky black (it does come in brown too, FYI). My lashes are prone to drooping, even when using curling mascaras, but this one kept my lashes beautifully lifted all day long. It doesn't feel heavy on the lashes and it's easy enough to remove at the end of the day too.

One coat creates a wide-eyed flutter, but you can easily layer up if you want more volume and drama. I'm pleased to report I didn't get any clumping, even after layering up with a couple of coats. Scroll ahead to see my before and after pictures.

Before

After One Coat

After Two Coats

The Verdict

Aside from a tiny bit of smudging transfer on my upper lids, I really can't fault this mascara—especially at £12. I've only tested this for a couple of weeks, so I don't think I've seen the full benefit of the nourishing ingredients on my lashes yet (although my lashes do feel softer) but it's a nice addition to have in an already brilliant mascara.

The curved brush and bristles really grab on to every single lash, stretching them, fanning and volumising them to their full potential so you get a doe-eyed flutter. One coat is great for everyday length, curl and definition, but you can layer up with another one or two coats for more volume and a false-lash effect if you want something a bit more dramatic for the evening.

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