I recently featured a L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes review, and I was sure that this Maybelline would simply be big sister’s mascara in a new tube. But, I was wrong!

I’m a fan of adding length with mascara, but when I have to be careful which pair of glasses I wear with a mascara… You know a lot of length was added! Meet the new Maybelline mascara that can only be used with my Coach glasses. It was the “fiber extensions” (Which, I’m sorry, but I’m just going to write as “fibre” from now on, OK? It’s written as “fiber” on the tube, American style, but… I just can’t.) bit which first attracted be to Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Waterproof Mascara. (Snappy name, no?) I seriously love this mascara, even though it seems to fall a tad flat after the 12 hour mark. First, it is not goopy coming out of the tube, which is unique for a fiber filled mascara. When applying, my lashes immediately just pop. The new length and added volume are immediately apparent. Best of all- it doesn’t clump on itself! I can apply 2 coats without issues. I don’t need to use a lash brush either. Maybelline recommends extending your lashes upward from the root to the tip of the lashes using the fiber-fix brush. They also say not to let the mascara dry in between coats, and that only a few swipes are necessary. They recommend removing the product with an oil-free eye makeup remover. The Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara features a fiber-fix brush that makes it easy to grab each lash.When the mascara arrived, I was a bit disappointed to find that it was an “all in one” product, unlike Better Than False Lashes, which comes in two separate tubes: one for the mascara, one for the fibre extensions. Illegal Length, by contrast, has the fibres mixed in with the mascara itself, so there’s just one tube, and you apply it exactly as you would any regular mascara.

For maximum length and volume from your mascara, celebrity makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran suggests a six step process, which starts with choosing the right formula for you and ends with some finishing touches. She recommends an "up-out-in" method that involves moving the wand in motions that coordinate with different areas of your eyes. Well, THAT won’t work!” I grumbled to myself as I set to work putting it on, but actually, I couldn’t have been more wrong, because holy wow, this does EXACTLY what it claims to do, lengthening the lashes and also curling them gently upwards, for an even more dramatic effect. I’ll be honest: I was totally surprised by just how good it was. How does this product compare to other drugstore mascaras? Well, needless to say Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara was on my DO NOT WANT list of mascaras. This is a fiber extension mascara so it extends lashes using tiny little fibers. Although this product is meant to lengthen lashes, I found that they are other products out there that I reach for more frequently when I'm looking for long lashes. Instead, I use this product on its own whenever I need my makeup to last without smudging, or I layer it on top of a different lengthening mascara to make sure everything stays in place all day long. Where the Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara is AvailableNon Clumping Mascara: Stretches lashes and seals the fibers to each lash without flaking or breaking. To use: extend lashes upwards with mascara brush from root to tip; only a few strokes necessary. For best results do not let dry between coats Is it AS good as the aforementioned higher-end mascaras? Not quite. If they were all the same price, I’d probably go for Better Than False Lashes, because although it does take a bit of getting used to, every time I wear it, someone comments on my lashes, and that’s good enough for me. This, however, makes a REALLY good alternative, and I’m really impressed with it for the price: so much so, in fact, that I’m almost onto my third tube of the stuff. Waterproof or non-waterproof? It’s not there yet but I’m thinking that Maybelline Illegal Length could join the ranks of my HG (holy grail) product list. This is one of the better mascaras I’ve tried at the drugstore. It performed beautifully well and did indeed bring not only good lenght to my lashes but gave them a fuller appearance. Keep scrolling to read my full review on the mascara. About the Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara

After about 12 hours my length and volume have gone down (the pic above was at 14 hours, it was a very long and not fun day at work so I’m a bit scary looking), but there are no flakes or smudges in sight!It’s no wonder that the brand has built such a great reputation and has become a popular choice amongst makeup enthusiasts and professional makeup artists alike. However, with the number of different formulas out there, it can be tough to know which one is right for you. We turned to celebrity makeup artist Keita Moore to get his expert take on why we can trust Maybelline’s products and which formulas are the best of the best. Formulas aside, Moore also considers Maybelline’s brushes worthy of praise. “They’re so amazing because they help the products get deep down to the root of the lashes,” he says. Getting deep down into the roots will not only help to create more eye-popping effects but will also keep the lashes separated and prevent clumping.

The first time I tested it, I used it without curling my eyelashes and found that it did an excellent job of giving my lashes lift and volume. Plus, it's easy to remove — no rough scrubbing or applying fifteen different makeup removers when it's time to take everything off at the end of the night. How to Use the Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara Simply put, Maybelline’s mascaras are tried and true and you can rely on their formulas to get the job done. “Maybelline mascaras are classic, and their formulas stand the test of time, which is why I trust them,” says Moore. “I’ve been using them my entire career. If you love it, don’t let it go—and if it’s not broken, don’t try and fix it!”

Majolica Majorca

What I love most about this product is that it lasts for hours without any fallout. I can even wear it during a sweaty workout and know that by the end of it, everything will still be in place. The brush is a straight line with bushy bristles, no plastic applicator here! The brush seems handy enough for pulling lashes up and out and surprisingly does well with curl as well. As I pull my lashes out with the brush it twists up nicely to curl the lashes upward. Illegal Length® Fiber Extensions Washable Mascara delivers longer-looking lashes for dramatic eye looks. Illegal Length Maybelline Mascara: Build lashes with 4 mm of measurable lash extension fibers and break every law of lengthening with our fiber lash mascara. Available in washable and waterproof mascara formulas