These days it can be hard to tell the difference between a product that's deserving of its praise and a brand with just really clever marketing.

I'll admit, I thought Celeste Barber spruiking a certain MCoBEAUTY mascara was the latter... until I tried it.

Call me a sucker but I fell hook, line and sinker when said MCoBEAUTY LashXtend Mascara was compared to an exxy Kevyn Aucoin counterpart. Could the $12 supermarket buy possibly live up to the $45 cult favourite? (Disclaimer: it was $12 at the time of sell-out but is currently $17 at Woolworths).

Well, I put it to the test and here's what I found...

MCoBeauty XtendLash Mascara Review

The mascara itself is pretty unassuming on the outside and would be easy to pass over in the supermarket. Once I opened it, I was excited to see the brush had a shape that I find works well for my lashes – slim but well bristled with a slightly more pointed end (for getting right into the inner corners).

My pet peeve with new mascaras is they usually apply quite clumpy with too much excess, until you've used them a few times and they calm down. But this one didn't clump while it coated the lashes and provided really nice separation, lift and length rather than chunky volume.

FYI, it's a tubing mascara

This isn't something I typically look for when shopping mascaras – I've never had a problem with smudging or mascara ending up on my eyelids, which I've heard they're great for. This one certainly didn't smudge throughout the day and even when I accidentally rubbed my eye (it's hard to remember I'm wearing makeup in 2021) it didn't budge. In fact, my lashes didn't even flatten despite the intrusion of my fingers. My lashes stayed long and lifted all day.

I applied 3 coats

The picture above is my lashes before and after three coats of the MCoBEAUTY XtendLash Mascara. It's really good for a fluttery lash look with length, lift and staying power. If you have short lashes I think it would be great for extending the look of them, but if it's fullness and thickness you're after, this buy is more of a separation guy.

Removal process

When it came to removing the mascara, I was a bit worried because of how well it had lasted and was clinging on. I'd heard tubing mascara can kind of be 'pulled off' the lashes but I really didn't like the sound of that. Instead, I decided to do a proper double cleanse to be safe. I used the Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm followed by the Fenty Total Cleans'R Remove-It-All Cleanser and this worked an absolute treat. It removed easily without anything left on my lashes or any rigorous rubbing needed.

The verdict

For under $20, you really can't go wrong. If you like a fluttery lash look and hate a mascara that smudges, this could certainly be your new go-to. And all thanks to Celeste Barber.

Speaking of sell-out products, this Maybelline mascara is all over TikTok...