Tarte Maneater Mascara: This Is For Dramatic, Voluminous Lashes

Say hello to your new favorite dramatic mascara: Tarte Maneater.

Maneater Mascara has some rave reviews, with a 4.3 star rating from over 2300 reviews on Ulta.com. And, it’s received an Allure Best of Beauty Award for Best Drama Mascara (2020). I prefer my mascaras to be all-in-one formulas that do it all: add volume, length, separate, and hold curl. Plus, as we all do, I want the formula to be transfer/smudge free, flake free, and clump free. While Maneater doesn’t do all of these things, I do think it is a solid mascara for a dramatic, false lash look.

Promises vs. Performance: Get ready for long lasting, massive volume with Tarte Maneater Mascara.

Maneater Mascara “finds and flutters every lash” according to Tarte. It promises to create massive volume, infinite length, and extreme curl, making eyes look bigger and lashes lifted with just one coat. The formula claims to not clump and wear free of flakiness and smudging for 16 hours. It features a custom 500+ bristle brush that helps coat and separate each lash. Maneater’s formula is safe for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes as it is ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested.

The wand of this mascara is stiff and not bendy, which I appreciate. I don’t like wands that are too bendy as they are just hard to control. As I applied the mascara, I instantly saw the length and volume Tarte promised from Maneater. My lashes looked longer and fuller. However, this was not without clumping. The formula is thicker and did get clumpy in my lashes, though the clumps were easy to comb through. By the end of the day (one with the Tennessee humidity, I might add), I did have some smudging and transfer under my eyes. Despite this, I still think this is a solid mascara if you’re looking for the most dramatic lash look without wearing falsies. And, another perk, the formula is more on the natural side.

Quick Rating Rundown

This Product

(4.1)

:Tarte Maneater Mascara

Price: $24.00

0.30 oz

Value

(4.3)

Application

(4)

Volume, Length, Curl, Define

(4.3)

Longevity

(3.8)

Extra Benefits

(4.2)

Industry Standard

(4.4)

:Lancome Lash Idole Mascara

Price: $27.00

0.27 oz

Value

(3.9)

Application

(5)

Volume, Length, Curl, Define

(4.8)

Longevity

(4.5)

Extra Benefits

(4)

^{Our Rating Criteria}

How It Compares: With so many mascaras on the market, is Tarte Maneater Mascara better or worse than the standard?

If you’re looking for a mascara that gives you a dramatic lash look without having to apply falsies, I’d check out Tarte Maneater. This mascara gives mega volume and length while keeping lashes curled all day. Though, it can clump when applying. While the formula can transfer and smudge a bit, it isn’t enough to deter me from this formula. The wand is unique, featuring 500+ bristles to coat each lash while also being stiffer, making it easy to work with. If you’re looking for a more naturally formulated mascara, this one is a good option.

Other Formulas I Love

Now, if you’re looking for what I deem to be the holy grail professional grade mascara, that would be Lancome Lash Idole (rated ****4.4). Lash Idole’s formula is volumizing, lengthening, and separating. It has a phenomenal all day wear that doesn’t smudge or flake. It doesn’t clump in my lashes when applying and it has an easy, no-tug removal. Truly, Lash Idole is a mascara that continuously outperforms itself again and again.

In terms of clean mascara, ILIA Limitless Lash ($28) does it best, in my opinion. It wears with minimal flaking, smudging, or transfer, giving lashes mega length. The brush is unique, with a dual sided wand made to comb and separate lashes while adding subtle volume and lift. I will say, I get more volume out of Tarte Maneater than ILIA Limitless Lash.

Milabu Beauty Method: Want a false lash effect without the trouble of false lashes? Here’s my tips.

1. Curl. Looking for a good lash curler? I recommend this one from Kevyn Aucoin ($21).
2. Prime. I do think Maneater applies better over top of a lash primer. My favorite is Lancome Cils Booster XL ($28)
3. Coat. It’s mascara time! Coat lashes from root to tip. Wiggle the brush as you comb through, ensuring to coat every lash. To get those pesky corner lashes, use the tip of the wand to paint them individually.
4. If desired, layer for more drama.