The best mascaras for mature lashes

Nothing good ever comes from compliments with caveats attached. I speak as someone recently on the receiving end of one, courtesy of a Kwik Fit mechanic.

Let’s call him Leon (because that’s his name). As he perused my driving licence details and noticed my date of birth, he said brightly, “1970? Shut up! I’m not even lying, you look good…”

Should have left it there, Leon. But instead, he went on to deliver the devastating left hook, “for your AGE”.

Oh Leon, telling me I look good for my age is a bit like telling me you adore me – despite what everyone says. It’s like saying I look so fabulous – you barely recognised me. It’s up there with that estate agent who told me how lovely my home is – it’s so lived in.

But there was one backhanded compliment I regularly got in my youth that I’d crawl a hill of broken glass to be on the receiving end of again. It usually went something like, “Amazing eyelashes. They’re FAKE, right”

I may not have inherited all my parent’s best features (thanks, Dad, for gifting my sister the dazzling blue eyes and handing me the eyebags), but I did get one genetic lottery windfall: a decent set of lashes. Naturally long, all they ever required was one quick coat of mascara to create instant volume.

But post 50, a curious thing has happened. My lustrous lashes have fled, only to be replaced by short, thin, uncooperative stumps.

When we age, not only does our hair growth cycle slow down, but the lack of oestrogen damages hair follicles, making lashes thinner and more brittle.

The good news? There’s a wealth of products out there catering for us mature lash types. And I’ve kept my eyes peeled for the best of the bunch.

1. Rumi VolumeCare+ Mascara

 RRP £31

One great place to start comes via family-run business Rumi Cosmetiques, which takes a scientific approach to beauty for the over-50s, and once you invest in its VolumeCare+ Mascara you’ll never look back.

The first waterproof mascara specifically for older women, this stuff lengthens, volumises and separates even the most stubborn short lashes. Packed with peptides to boost growth, it’s also smudge-proof and boasts a money-back guarantee.

Total lash game-changer.

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2. Uklash Eyelash Serum

 RRP £38

There’s a big buzz around eyelash serums, but do they work? Well, this offering gets snapped up every ten seconds – Uklash Eyelash Serum contains growth-stimulating vitamin B5, green tea extract and biotin.

Apply daily along your upper lash line for visibly longer, fuller lashes. Patience is key; keep at it for eight weeks and you’ll be wowed.

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3. Eylure Natural Curl Cluster Kit

RRP £12

I’m slightly wary of false lashes – for details, see the film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? – but then I discovered Eylure Natural Curl Cluster Kit, a collection of tiny lash sections that allow you to build a more subtle look.

The lashes come in three different lengths, and the glue lasts for 18 hours. Frankly, I need a nap after about four hours these days, but you get the picture.

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4. L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Mascara

RRP £11.99

If you fancy adding at least 60% more length to your lashes, head straight for L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Mascara. The flexible, multi-comb brush allows for a precise application, coating each lash in glossy black from root to tip.

It’s also mercifully clump-free, leaving you with a beautifully elongated, natural effect.

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5. Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara

RRP £12.99

If it’s thicker lashes you’re after, meet Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara. Infused with bamboo extract to add volume and length, this one’s also suitable for sensitive eyes.

Genuinely transformed my sorry-looking little tufts into Kim Kardashian-style feathery fans.

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Enjoy transforming your lashes – and remember, if anyone ever begins a compliment with the words, “You look good for…” politely suggest they do you both a favour and end the sentence right there.