Certain beauty products — think NARS blush in Orgasm, Clinique's Black Honey lipstick — are so good, they're practically famous and have devoted, loyal followings. While we love many of these, we've been wondering why others have been quietly flying under the radar. With that in mind, meet our series,Cult Classics, in which we'll introduce you to the products you should really, truly know about (and try, like, right now). They're not brand-new, but trust us: They've got staying power.
I've always rolled my eyes at mascaras that claim to curl lashes. Lengthen? Sure. Separate? Absolutely. I'm even down with volumizing fibers, so long as they don't fall into my contact lenses. But curling? That was always going to come down to me and my silver Kevyn Aucoin. Until I met Benefit Roller Lash. Don't let the cutesy, pink-and-black packaging (designed to look like a vintage hot roller) fool you; this stuff is serious business. While the tube comes from a long line of awesome mascaras — hi Badgal and They're Real — Roller Lash is different, thanks to a tweak in the formula. Instead of fibers that bulk lashes, this has fibers that constrict them. Wait. Why would I want a mascara that constricts my lashes? I'm glad you asked. Let's think about drawbridges for a second. (Yep, drawbridges.) If you want to lift a drawbridge, you tighten the ropes. In the same way, this mascara gently constricts to pull the lashes back and — wait for it— curl them. But instead of a wonky bend, this gives them a pretty, full swoop that really opens up your eyes. If you have super-stick-straight lashes, a couple presses of a lash curler won't hurt. But for me (someone whose lashes are non-existent until I sweep on mascara), and everyone that I've recommended it to, the curl from just the mascara is enough. And the formula has vitamin B4 and serine to keep the hairs soft and moisturized through the process. But as any mascara junkie knows, it's not just what's on the inside that counts. A wand can make or break a mascara, and this one is ideal. The curved plastic bristles are spaced in such a way that they really grab each lash — even the tiny baby ones on the inner corners that you didn't know you had. I've been using this mascara almost exclusively for the past three months, and I can't bring myself to swap with another formula. I even had to buy it from one of those airport kiosks when I forgot to pack it on vacation. And yes, it was to a desert island. Benefit Roller Lash, $24, available at Sephora.
I've always rolled my eyes at mascaras that claim to curl lashes. Lengthen? Sure. Separate? Absolutely. I'm even down with volumizing fibers, so long as they don't fall into my contact lenses. But curling? That was always going to come down to me and my silver Kevyn Aucoin. Until I met Benefit Roller Lash. Don't let the cutesy, pink-and-black packaging (designed to look like a vintage hot roller) fool you; this stuff is serious business. While the tube comes from a long line of awesome mascaras — hi Badgal and They're Real — Roller Lash is different, thanks to a tweak in the formula. Instead of fibers that bulk lashes, this has fibers that constrict them. Wait. Why would I want a mascara that constricts my lashes? I'm glad you asked. Let's think about drawbridges for a second. (Yep, drawbridges.) If you want to lift a drawbridge, you tighten the ropes. In the same way, this mascara gently constricts to pull the lashes back and — wait for it— curl them. But instead of a wonky bend, this gives them a pretty, full swoop that really opens up your eyes. If you have super-stick-straight lashes, a couple presses of a lash curler won't hurt. But for me (someone whose lashes are non-existent until I sweep on mascara), and everyone that I've recommended it to, the curl from just the mascara is enough. And the formula has vitamin B4 and serine to keep the hairs soft and moisturized through the process. But as any mascara junkie knows, it's not just what's on the inside that counts. A wand can make or break a mascara, and this one is ideal. The curved plastic bristles are spaced in such a way that they really grab each lash — even the tiny baby ones on the inner corners that you didn't know you had. I've been using this mascara almost exclusively for the past three months, and I can't bring myself to swap with another formula. I even had to buy it from one of those airport kiosks when I forgot to pack it on vacation. And yes, it was to a desert island. Benefit Roller Lash, $24, available at Sephora.
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