I've Been Waiting Years for This Mascara—It's Best for Natural-Looking Lashes

As I'm a luxury-makeup lover, it might surprise you to learn that I almost exclusively use mascaras that cost about a tenner. The reason is I simply have never found a luxury mascara that can compete with my affordable favourites on results. I like my lashes to look long and full, hold a curl, and, most importantly, still look like my lashes. I don't want clumps, I don't want smudging, and I certainly don't want them to appear unnatural. It just so happens that my trusty affordable mascaras (Maybelline Sky High and L'Oréal Paris Lash Paradise are favourites) do that for me better than any others. Except, that is, for one luxury brand. You see, I have adored Chanel mascaras since I first tried one at age 16 for my school prom.

I remember sitting down at the Chanel counter to get my makeup done and ogling at all of the products. When I saw my face in the mirror, I made the sort of financial decision only a 16 year old can—I spent my entire pay cheque from my weekend job on Chanel makeup. I remember the exact products I purchased—a now entirely discontinued nude lip gloss (it remained my favourite lip gloss until my early 20s when it disappeared from shelves), Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in a blush rose shade, and, most notably, Inimitable Intense Mascara. It was love at first try when it came to Inimitable, and that moment ignited a decade-long love affair with Chanel mascaras. However, as time went on, I grew tired of them because of one major issue—they all dried out ridiculously quickly. 

But finally, over 12 years after I first tried one, Chanel has launched the mascara I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for—one that delivers the lifted, natural-looking results of all of the brand's cult mascaras but with extra precautions in place to prevent drying. Chanel Noir Allure Mascara (£38) is, potentially, the best everyday mascara I've ever used. 

Designed to tackle all of your lash needs in one product, Noir Allure delivers subtle volume, intense pigment, natural-looking lift, and elegant length while keeping lashes suitably fanned out for one of the most convincing lash looks I've managed to execute. The slightly shorter wand and beautifully precise brush allows for each lash to be manipulated if you so wish but can equally as wonderfully be swept from root to tip for stunning results in seconds.

Since first getting my hands on Noir Allure, barely a day has gone by that I haven't used it. And many weeks after first opening it, there hasn't been a single sign of drying. Typically, by this stage, I would expect to see some build-up around the top of the tube and find myself having to work a bit harder to get the same finish I did when the formula was fresh, but with Noir Allure, it's just as good now as it was on day one. The secret? A patented opening and closing system that helps to keep the formula airtight.

Those familiar with Chanel's "clicking" Rouge Allure lipsticks will know all too well the satisfying press-and-release mechanism. You press the gold CC on one end to release the bullet—something that has not only become synonymous with the brand but also makes the Chanel makeup experience feel distinctly luxurious. Now, Chanel has one-upped itself by launching Noir Allure with a similar mechanism (that's patented, by the way) to ensure the formula inside remains protected. The result of such a seemingly simple design feature is what I believe to be the best everyday mascara for natural-looking lashes on the market.

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