We're Mascara Snobs With High Standards, so We Tested the One That Claims to Rival an At-Home Lash Lift
Welcome to Internet Famous, a monthly series in which we ask our Instagram followers to vote on a viral beauty product that's taken social media by storm. Then the beauty team will take the winning pick for a spin and share their reviews—pictures included.
I speak for myself and my fellow editors when I say that we are mascara snobs. We've tried drugstore, luxury, tubing, waterproof, and fiber, and of course, we have our favorites. Claiming that top spot is no easy feat, but there's always a mascara that meets our strict criteria. Is it clumpy? Do I have raccoon eyes at the end of the night? Are my inner lashes being neglected by a big wand? These are the questions that run through our minds when we're testing a new mascara. They may sound a bit intense to the average consumer, but we are editors after all. Our job is to find the best of the best products, and as you'll see below, we take that job very seriously. Lately, TikTok has been making a strong case for L'Oréal's Extensionist Lengthening and Curling Washable Mascara ($16), so we're here to spill the tea.
When it comes to mascaras, L'Oréal Paris will always be in the big leagues. It's no secret that its formulas rival luxury mascaras, and the brand continues to innovate year after year. This year, we got the Extensionist mascara, which claims to curl and extend your lashes 5 millimeters closer to your eyebrows. I don't know about you, but that's basically all I've ever wanted from a $16 tube of mascara. Not only does it give your lashes extended length, but the volume is truly unmatched, which we can credit to the thin, curved wand with 300 bristles. It removes the need for an eyelash curler, giving your lashes a sculpted curl for up to 24 hours. The formula contains magnetic pigments and lengthening fibers that give you that extreme lash-extension look without the expensive appointments. Despite these claims, the Extensionist mascara has the WWW team split. Keep scrolling for our reviews below.
"It's been a while since a mascara truly wowed me, but this one did exactly that. I'm a loyal fan of the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara, and I'd just reached the end of my tube when this newcomer landed on my doorstep. With a low-stakes dinner on the calendar, I decided to give it a test run. From the first swipe, the curved wand grabbed every last lash, lifting and separating them to perfection. Any hint of clumping was immediately smoothed out by the firm bristles. What impressed me most, though, was the lack of smudging on my eyelids throughout the evening, even after a couple of margaritas and plenty of laughing with friends. New favorite mascara unlocked." — Emma Hughes, social media editor
"I've recently started taking a prenatal vitamin, which I swear has made my eyelashes longer than ever. So I was very excited to see what this mascara could do for me. I mean, the reviews on TikTok are absolutely insane. Upon first application, it didn't feel like my lashes grew exponentially, but by the second pass, they really doubled in length. I love the curling effect that this mascara gives as well. (It's almost as if I got a little lift.) I didn't have any smudging, but it's about 20° outside, so not too much of a chance for melting." — Anneliese Henderson, senior fashion editor
"I had a holiday party over the weekend and decided to put this to the test. It has everything I want in a mascara: a thin, flexible C-shaped brush that expertly grabs every lash, a buildable formula that can layer on length and lift without drying out lashes, and an affordable price point. Plus, I didn't look like a raccoon at the end of the night, which is a win for obvious reasons. It didn't overly impress me by any means, but it got the job done, and done well." — Caitie Bellamy, executive group director, branded content
"I swear by the original L'Oréal Telescopic Mascara—my mom recommended it to me years ago, and I've truly never looked back. So I was really curious to see how this one would match up. For context, I have super-curly lashes that can be a bit unruly—it takes some maneuvering to get them to stand out and look uniform. The original Telescopic gives me really nice, natural length, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Extensionist Mascara gave me the length and uniformity I wanted, but with much more volume. Plus, the curved applicator makes it easy to apply evenly and without clumps. I can see myself using the original for everyday wear and saving the Extensionist for nights out." — Sahara Clement, branded content copy editor
"I'm going to say it louder for the people in the back: You don't have to spend more than $20 on mascara. To be honest, I've always thought that the drugstore has the best mascaras, and this L'Oréal one confirms that theory. The fine-bristled wand lengthened and defined each of my lashes, and I was able to build up the volume without it getting clumpy. I will definitely be reaching for this one on the daily (and repurchasing)." — Emma Walsh, beauty editor
"The videos I saw before testing this mascara set my expectations super high. Between the shocking before-and-after clips and my own personal bias toward L'Oréal mascaras, I knew I'd be in for a treat. I love how the small curved wand grips every lash and adds so much volume. My biggest advice when using this is to go for two or more coats. I saw the biggest difference in length and volume after two coats. Did my lashes touch my brows? No, but they were much closer than they've been with the other mascaras in my makeup bag, and that's saying something." — Aniyah Morinia, fashion and beauty editor
"I wanted to love this mascara for my wallet's sake, but I'm on the fence. I have really thin, long lashes that clump easily, and I fear this mascara gave me a spikier look than I'd like. That said, the thousands of TikTok reviewers were not lying about how well this formula curls your lashes—I probably could have ditched my curler altogether and had the same effect. Because of my annoying unique lash type, most mascara requires a trial-and-error phase for me, so I'm going to give this formula a few more tries before I determine if it's a hit or a miss." — Stephanie Johnson, beauty, homes, and non-endemic director, branded content
"With any viral product, I have high expectations. I have to say the formula didn't wow me like it did the rest of the internet. Don't get me wrong—it is a solid mascara. But if you have stick-straight lashes and rely on a curler as I do, this mascara does not hold the lift like others I've tried. That being said, I love the thin wand that was easy to use on both the upper and lower lashes." — Natalie Gray Herder, commerce editor
