Have you ever sat in front of a mirror, mascara wand in hand, twisting and turning it every which way to coat every lash, only to end up with black smudges all over your inner corner? Same. But the new Microscara from KJH.Brand, a line created by celebrity makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes, is made to help you avoid such mishaps.
Microscara is aptly named—it’s microscopic compared to regular mascara. The tube is slimmer and the brush is smaller, about the size of a Tic Tac. In an Instagram video, Hughes gave her best tips for how to use it. “I sort of blink on the wand, because it gives me the most lift,” she said. “The wand being so tiny helps you hit the root of the lash even more, therefore darkening the root of your lash quicker, and giving you drama, dimension, and definition.” The ELLE beauty team decided to put it to the test—below, find our unfiltered thoughts on the formula.
Katie Berohn, Beauty Editor
“I’ve been anti-mascara lately, but this formula might just change my mind. The small brush makes it so easy to apply that I feel like I could put it on with my eyes closed (though I wouldn’t recommend that). It is also able to catch every single eyelash, even the ones that are usually too tricky to reach with a larger brush. I like the tubing formula too; it actually makes my lashes look longer. My only con is that it doesn’t hold a curl as well as some other formulas, but it makes up for it by lasting for hours without smudging or flaking.”
Nerisha Penrose, Beauty Commerce Editor
“One time, I wanted lash extensions for my birthday and was turned away by a technician because she deemed my lashes ‘too short.’ I’d say that’s when my villain origin story began, and ever since, I have set out on a mission to grow my lashes as long as they possibly can—or fake it with a really good mascara. Thank the heavens for this KJH formula, which is extremely black (perfect for giving a thickening effect). The wand’s tapered brush bristles also separate and lengthen even my shorties. Even better, I love how easily the tubing formula glides off at the end of the day.”
Emma Aerin Becker, Associate Beauty Commerce Writer
“At first swipe, I absolutely loved this mascara. The extra-small ‘micro’ wand grips every lash, ensuring each little hair is perfectly coated from inner to outer corners. The pigment is rich, the formula is incredibly lengthening, and I experienced zero clumping no matter how many layers I applied. However, my lashes naturally point straight to the ground, so mascara application for me requires an intense curl beforehand. Unfortunately, I found that after a minute or two, this formula would weigh my lashes right back down to their starting position. If you’re lucky enough to have naturally upright eyelashes, I would definitely recommend this mascara.”
