Fashion is On

Maybelline One by One Volum’ Express Mascara. Courtesy of Maybelline New York

As a beauty editor, I’ve tried hundreds of mascaras over the years, and I generally find the formulas extremely thick and the brush bristles set too far apart or just too short. Awhile back when the new rubber and plastic comblike brushes came out, I thought I might like them better. Alas, I did not.

I’m firmly in the camp that considers the brush itself to be way more important in creating the perfect fringe than the formula, so when I was asked to road-test Maybelline New York One by One Volum’ Express Mascara, I was skeptical.

The elastomer (a fancy word for rubber) brush is almond shaped with finely tapered, dense bristles. The mascara itself has a floral scent to it, which put me on the defensive right away, since I prefer my makeup to be mostly odorless.