This Mascara Is Designed To Give You Clumpy Lashes & We Love It

After a winter of multiple coats of foundation and some serious flexing of my cat-eye muscle, I'm looking forward to a summer with a more stripped-down makeup routine — concealer, my ever-present red lip, and mascara. But, here's the thing about the 'ol lashes: like many-an-editor here at Refinery29, lately, I like a clumpy lash, whether I am wearing minimal makeup or not. I adore it, even. I want my lashes to look as mucked-up, clumpy, and sooty as possible. The issue? Most mascaras are formulated to deliver the exact opposite effect. We've got clump-crushing bottles, tubes that help to lift and separate, and brands that tout their ability to give you a fluttering, soft set. Up until recently, I was a devotee of a certain green tube that gave me lashes so clump-free, they looked like they belonged in a museum. Then, two things happened: I read an interview with Caroline de Maigret where she describes her ideal mascara look as "Packed on thick; it makes you forget the under-eye bags." And, I got tossed a tube of Maybelline's brand-new The Colossal Chaotic Lash Mascara. In my attempt to look every bit French girl chic, I decided to try de Maigret's lash look with it. I mean, ladies have been rocking this look for ages. (Hey, Twiggy!) I'd be in good historical company, even if it didn't fit the modern ideal of A+ lashes. So, I grabbed this mascara, which is specially formulated to create huge, spidery, clump-tastic lashes by applying wet and then drying a little chunky. The massive brush with a slight bend on the top is meant to leave behind balls of product on and get the lashes to stick together. That's the point — full disclosure. So, if you aren't into that aesthetic, this formula is not for you. True, this is a technique that you can probably achieve with any mascara. But, Maybelline's tube makes it totally fool-proof. And, you don't have a clump-free formula working against you. Since both the brush and the formula are meant to get your lashes chunky, they work in tandem to give you some serious doll eyes. The packaging also comes with application directions — brush up as normal, then flip the brush vertically, and run the flat end horizontally along your lashes. Maybelline calls the resulting look "a perfectly sexy mess," which may just be the new front-running title for my forthcoming memoir. I'm officially a clumpy lash convert — this product is like French girl eyes in a tube. Chunky mascara reads like a new take on a smoky eye: when you have this mascara on, you literally need not apply another type of eye makeup. These lashes, plus a red lip, are the look I've been rocking lately, and the compliments keep flying. Turns out, this beauty "don't" has turned into a beauty "do, and do it as often as possible."

Maybelline The Colossal Chaotic Lash Mascara, $7.99, available at Ulta.