Anastasia Lash Genius

Beauty Decrypted is happy to have received our first product for consideration.  Anastasia of Beverly Hills, famed for their amazing eyebrow cosmetics, sent us something, well, quite revolutionary. This product is called Lash Genius and it could well be just that, genius!

Lash Genius is a clear waterproofing topcoat for mascara. It is designed to go over any mascara of your choosing. If you are like me, you have found your Holy Grail mascara. But, this Holy Grail product either doesn’t have a waterproof formula or if it does, it destroys your lashes once your dare to remove it. Anastasia’s Lash Genius could be the answer to the prayer that your Holy Grail has been looking for.

Can’t live without DiorShow? Wouldn’t leave home without Lancome Hypnose? Want to languish in long lashes, but mother nature has other plans? Here’s what Lash Genius claims:

Instantly waterproofs, refreshes, and protects any mascara all day, without the typical drying or clumping. Its advanced, lightweight formula glides on smooth, dries quickly, and gives your lashes a touchably soft lacquer finish that lasts all day.

 

 

 

 

 

Did Lash Genius pass the test or did it need further tutoring? Let’s find out!

I was very intrigued by this product and I really wanted to put it through the ringer to see how well it performed. I devised a series of staged tests to check for its waterproofing abilities. First, let’s talk about application.  I started with a fully made up face and a neutral eye, using a non-waterproofed mascara. I marked my right eye with an “A” to represent Anastasia’s Lash Genius over mascara.

I was actually impressed that, for me, Lash Genius actually enhanced the length and thickness of my lashes on top of what the base mascara already had done. The formula is quite thick and I made several passes on both sides of my lashes to make sure that the mascara would be thoroughly sealed. I used an eyelash brush after application to help separate my lashes a bit, though there was not much clumping from Lash Genius.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, the first situation that I thought of that causes my mascara to run is when I tear up during movies.  So, I thought about the one movie that always makes me cry, Steel Magnolias. Oh yes, that sappiest of the sappy chick flicks does it to me every time. I couldn’t call myself a good southern woman if I didn’t get a little choked up while watching. But let’s face it, this movie makes me bawl.

Round One, Cry!

I pressed play and 117 minutes later, my face looked like this.  Yes, you girls recognize the tell tale signs: the red and swollen nose, the pressed pink lips where you tried so hard to bite down on that sob and yes, the running mascara.

But wait, the mascara only ran on the left eye. Lash Genius has won the battle against Steel Magnolias! Absolutely no running, clumping or any ill effects from my hard won tears. The right eye isn’t terrible, but you can see the under eye smudge, the upper lid shadow and the tear duct streak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round Two, Rain! I mean Fight!

Next, I wanted to show how Lash Genius held up in  a light rain shower.  Unfortunately, the weather, after weeks of grey wetness, decided to be sunny and beautiful.  I would not be thwarted! Into the shower went I. Now, this was not a full face soaking.  I just stood there and let the water splash around a bit while I wet my hair. Then I jumped out and snapped off a few pics.  Yep, I know, you just got a visual image. Well, stop it. This is science!

Slap me and called me amazed.  The mascara side is really starting to break down and Lash Genius looks exactly the same as when I first applied it. The left eye shows smudges at the outer lower corner and on the upper lid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round Three, Torrential Storm!

This was a no holds barred, full in the face shower to show what it would be like running through a thunderstorm with no hat, no umbrella and no hope of avoiding raccoon eyes.

Or not?

I was in the shower long enough to wash my hair. I let the water beat on my face and blinked my lashes opened and closed as much as possible.  I did avoid rubbing my eyes, but gently blotted to get the water out. The mascara side is just barely hanging on to the lashes. It is pooling and puddling at the inner and outer corners and smudging all along the eyelid. The only thing I noticed with Lash Genius is that the lower lashes are starting to clump together a little bit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round Four, Dunk!

This final test is to simulate swimming.  After all of the previous rounds, I ran a bathtub full of water and repeatedly dunked my entire head under the water.  Yep, another visual. I’ll wait while you process that and chuckle. Again, I tried not to rub my eyes, but blinked all of the water away or gently blotted with my fingertips.

The mascara side is done for. There is hardly anything left on the top lashes. The bottom lashes are saturated and smudged and a long black mascara trail is working its way down my cheek. Lash Genius is just now starting to show some changes. The upper lashes on the Lash Genius side are less separated and starting to stick together. The very tip of the upper lash mascara is starting to break off and deposit on the upper lid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round Five, Remove!

If you have ever worn waterproof mascara, you have experienced some of the same woes that I have. Scrub, scrub, clump, stick, glop and a few detached lashes later, you have a fairly clean eye.  I was really worried that Lash Genius would end with the same result.

As instructed, I used an eye makeup remover. This one is by Sephora and relatively gentle. I loaded two cotton pads, one for each eye and counted how many swipes did it take to get to the center of a tootsie clean state of my regular eyes.  A one, a two, a three.  Three swipes and Lash Genius and the mascara beneath were gone baby gone. In the picture above, the pad on the left is the plain mascara and the pad on the right is the Lash Genius.

Decryption:

Lash Genius is available at Sephora for $21.00.  It is dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, paraben and fragrance free. It contains:

-Jellified Triglycerides: Provide a creamy, lightweight texture.
-Silicone Resin: Provides long lasting hold and a waterproof film.
-High Melting Point Wax: Provides high definition and lasting effects.

Isododecane, Polyethylene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Synthetic Wax, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Propylene Carbonate, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butylhydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol.

If you hate waterproofed mascaras, this is well worth the investment to make your favorite mascara last longer and stay looking great all day long. I am thoroughly impressed with Lash Genius. It was easy to apply, fully waterproofed my mascara, survived all that I could throw at it and removed quickly when I wanted it to and without a fuss.  As far as texture goes, Lash Genius was not stiff, sticky or gloppy.  Once dried, it left my lashes soft and malleable and it felt like lashes with just mascara applied. I highly recommend Lash Genius for summer brides, first dates at the movies, rainy days and beach vacations.

While I concentrated on the application, waterproofing and removal, Titania had a go with Lash Genius to see how it wore all day long.  Stay tuned for her follow-up review!

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