I Have Straight, Asian Lashes—This New Mascara Is So Good I Threw Out My Curler

This might seem shocking to admit as a beauty editor, but mascara isn’t one of my favorite products. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of mascaras out there that I love and have loved (RIP, Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir!!), but compared to other makeup that I tend to truly obsess over (and write about a lot), I don’t consider it as much of a priority. (Then again, I do feel naked if I do eye shadow and liner and forget mascara, so maybe I’m wrong!)

My lashes are super-duper straight, which is a feature we Asians tend to have, so I can’t just put on a great mascara and instantly have the most gorgeously lifted lashes like some of my friends. Yes, I have lash envy! I’ve considered going back to lash extensions, or at least a lash-lift, but have had second thoughts since my hair and nails already require serious maintenance. So when I find a mascara that I love, it's a big deal, and now that I've finally found my holy-grail mascara in Milk Makeup’s new Rise Lifting + Lengthening formula, I've completely neglected the idea of getting any type of fancy professional lash treatment. 

I’m on a serious Milk Makeup kick lately and have been using the Hydro Grip Hydrating Makeup Primer ($36), the Hydro Grip Setting + Refreshing Spray ($21), and the new Future Fluid All Over Medium Coverage Hydrating Concealer ($29). I was curious about Rise, especially since I was already a fan of the brand’s Kush High Volumizing Mascara ($26), and had wondered how different they would be. Kush is focused on volumizing and uses a straight brush with heart-shaped fibers (cute), which wrap around lashes and thus really lock in the formula. It also contains hemp-derived cannabis sativa oil, which is packed with fatty acids and antioxidants, so it helps keep your lashes soft and healthy (shout-out to Milk Makeup for being one of the first mainstream beauty brands to showcase the benefits of cannabis, BTW).

Meanwhile, Rise contains a blend of four all-vegan waxes, such as sunflower seed wax, carnauba wax, tree berry wax, and candelilla wax, that are supposed to help give lashes lift and length without weighing them down. Instead of cannabis sativa oil, the mascara uses monoi oil and marigold extract to keep lashes strong and conditioned.

My Honest Review: Milk Makeup Rise Lifting + Lengthening Mascara

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(Image credit: @marielodiandreakos)

At first glance, I loved how unique the packaging was. The tube is futuristic looking, which is the vibe I get from most of Milk Makeup’s products. It’s white, with a ridged, rubbery texture that can help you get a good grip when you’re applying the mascara. Naturally, it stood out to me since most mascaras have a smooth, sleek, metal, or plastic packaging.

When I applied Rise mascara to my lashes for the first time, I gasped out loud. Usually I have to use my trusty Shiseido Lash Curler ($23) whenever I use mascara, but with each swipe, my lashes were already lifting. Talk about rise… She was waking up! Glorious! I applied it how the brand recommends: wiggling the brush up from the root to the tip and applying a couple of coats without letting them dry in between. My lashes looked full, curled, and not spidery, stiff, or overdone. Love it! All in all, while I’m not completely dismissing the idea of getting a lash-lift someday, I’m definitely not in any rush to do it thanks to Milk Makeup's Rise Lifting + Lengthening Mascara ($28). 

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(Image credit: @marielodiandreakos)

Helpful Tips: Using Milk Makeup Rise Lifting + Lengthening Mascara

Something that has helped me with mascaras, in general, is using a lash guard or mascara shield while I apply since it can easily end up on my eyelids during application. Rise is not waterproof, so keep that in mind if you’re watching any kind of emotional TV series. However, because it's not waterproof, you don’t need a heavy duty makeup remover to take it off at night. I’ll usually use Bioderma's famed Sensibio H2O Micellar Water ($19), which is great for sensitive eyes.

Another somewhat random but important note: I realized you should keep the brush straight when you put it back in the tube (this is recommended by the brand). Because I was rushing and not paying attention, I put the brush in too quickly, which caused the formula to get smudged around the opening of the tube. And because it’s white, it can be noticeable and look messy. For my second tube (yes, I’m already on my second), I’ve learned the error of my ways, and I always make sure to put it in slowly. 

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Marie Lodi
Freelance Beauty and Fashion Writer/Editor

Marie has covered beauty, fashion, and lifestyle for almost 15 years. She contributes to the beauty section here at Who What Wear. Previously, she was the Looks Editor for Bust Magazine, built the beauty vertical at HelloGiggles as its beauty editor, and was a founding staff writer at Rookie mag, giving fashion advice to teens. Her bylines have appeared in The Cut, Allure, Glamour, The Hollywood Reporter, and more. She was born and raised in Southern California and is based in L.A. Marie is a self-proclaimed costume design nerd and a co-host of Makeover Montage, a podcast about fashion in film and costume design. You'll see her writing about her beauty obsessions: red lipstick, winged eyeliner, pink hair, nail art, and skincare for people over 40. When she's not working, she's playing with her dog, Gnocchi, and writing her style newsletter, Overdressed.