L'Oréal Double Extension Renewal Serum Inside Mascara

RRP: £10.99

--What does the promo say?--
"L'Oréal Paris Double Extension Renewal Serum Inside Mascara combines The Renewal Lash Serum inside a spectacular mascara. The new L'Oréal Paris Double Extension Renewal Serum Inside Mascara is a 2-step mascara that gives a multiplied lash effect and up to 80% longer-looking lashes.

Step 1: A serum enriched base coat with arginine and centella. Lashes feel fortified and nourished.
Step 2: An ultra-lengthening mascara for a lash extension effect. Up to 80% longer-looking lashes.
Spectacular lashes!"

--Packaging--
The packaging is gold and royal blue, with each side being embossed with text in the reverse colour. This is not to be confused with the red version, the Double Extension Beauty Tubes, although you have to sit with the products for a while to work out the true difference between the versions. The original Beauty Tubes contain a sort of primer for the lashes, whose primary purpose is to make the lashes appear longer; however, the new Double Extension variants have a serum, which is not only designed to make the lashes look longer in the short term but is also supposed to make your lashes longer on a long-term scale. The writing on the tube is a little bit cheap-feeling and prone to rubbing off even when the tube is new; I definitely like the use of the two colours either way, though.

--Application--
Apply the serum to your lashes on one eye, and then add the mascara immediately afterwards. Repeat the process with the other eye. I do it this way because if my experiences with Lancôme's equivalent are anything to go by, if the serum is allowed to dry before the mascara is applied then there is a risk of the serum clumping or looking more obvious on the lashes (see below regarding appearance). Otherwise, this is fairly simple stuff.

--Appearance--
The serum is white (sob - maybe one day the mascara companies will work out how to make it clear/transparent), which I suppose does distinguish from all those clear mascaras on the market. You therefore couldn't just put this on and then go out as it actually does make you look albino. However, once the mascara is applied over it, no white is visible at all. The mascara is of a good colour and the two used together deliver real showgirl lashes.

--Texture/consistency--
Arguably better than Lancôme's equivalent - overall application and results are smoother and with better separation and definity.

--Effects on lashes--
Now, this is where L'Oréal loses out to Lancôme. I'm a firm believer that the vibrating technology used for Lancôme's serum really helps to stimulate the lashes' roots for visible long-term growth results. While L'Oréal's version does definitely provide an excellent base and gives extra length and separation to the mascara (so good results on a day-to-day basis), I'm afraid I didn't notice the same degree of results when it came to long-term lash improvement. One of L'Oréal's key ingredients of the serum, arginine, is an amino acid that has been reported to boost growth hormones, but as yet there is no proof. I prefer the sound of the serum's other key ingredient, centella, which has been traditionally used in medicine and is thought to maintain youthfulness and aid healing. I did definitely see an improvement in just a few days of use - maybe just not as significant an improvement as with the Lancôme equivalent.

--Value for money--
Ultimately, despite Lancôme's winning stakes in the lash growth department, I still think I'd plump for this product instead: it is cheaper, has far fewer clumps, and comes in a handy travel format instead of two separate tubes. Following L'Oréal's copy of Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes in the form of their Telescopic Explosion mascara, this is another successful replication of the higher-end market.

perfect partner
Renewal Lash Serum, £10.99

Lancôme Oscillation Powerbooster

RRP: €35/£26.50/$39

--What does the promo say?--
"Lancome presents the first vibrating lash booster to promote the natural growth of your lashes, improving density and length to show them at their best and improving the surface of the lashes. Every day lashes become visibly stronger, denser and longer; a unique step in beauty to immediately magnify the power of each mascara."

--Packaging--
As with all Lancome mascaras/lash products, it comes in a silver box, so is initially nondescript and indistinguishable from other Lancome products. However, the tube itself is white, with a gold streak leading to the button on the lid, which makes it much more unusual.

--Application--
Wiggle the wand through your lashes (the wiggling is important as it helps you to avoid clumps) as a primer for your mascara. As it dries quite quickly, though, I'd advise priming one eye with the Powerbooster, then adding mascara immediately afterwards, before treating the lashes on the other eye with both steps. This process also means that the white colour of the lash primer is less obvious as it blends better with the colour of the mascara, rather than appearing as two separate colours (though this does NOT turn your mascara grey, thankfully!). The button on the lid is quite sensitive, so go easy with it during application.

--Appearance--
The formula of the Powerbooster is white. Although this can to an extent be combatted by applying mascara immediately afterwards, I would really prefer the formula to be clear.

--Texture/consistency--
This is a difficult one to call. When I first started using this, I experienced clumping often, which doesn't say much for the formula, but this is greatly improved by wiggling rather than stroking the wand through the lashes, meaning that on the whole the experience of the formula's texture and consistency is more positive too. Doesn't weigh down your lashes.

--Sensation--
The sensation of the vibrating wand can be difficult to get used to, and obviously you must be careful when using it, as a vibrating wand can clearly cause more serious injuries than a non-vibrating one.

--Effects over time--
Immediately, lashes appear longer and fuller and a good base for mascara is provided as it gives even greater definition. Over time, you don't even have to be especially patient to see a difference in the length and thickness of your lashes - I noticed a difference in just a few uses, and wish I'd thought to take before and after pictures.

--Value for money--
This works really well with any high quality mascara, so you don't have to buy a Lancome mascara to go with it unless you want to. It also makes a visible difference that you can see in a relatively short space of time, which is more than can be said for some products. While the vibrating wand seems pointless for the actual mascara (Oscillation), I can see why it's needed for the Oscillation Powerbooster as it probably stimulates the lashes for all that natural growth that Lancome talks about. While it is slightly pricy, you know you are getting a product that works. Good job, Lancome.

Out on July 1st, 2009

perfect partner
Oscillation (available in 3 shades + 1 waterproof version), £28
Crayon Khol Waterproof, £17