Fusion Beauty LashFusion Verses Shu Uemura Precise Volume Mascara

Lush Lashes are bigger than ever, and many companies are producing mascaras that promise lush and full lashes. Some of these mascaras are almost $40, which seems hard to justify and very expensive to try to find your favorite. One feature is mascaras that promise a VERY black lash. Here are some facts about two popular expensive mascaras that may help your decision process.

Fusion Beauty made a big beauty debut with their Lip Fusion lip plumpers and followed suit with several other beauty products. One of them is LashFusion Micro-Technology Pure Protein Lash Plump Mascara. It comes in black and brown/black, which is also very dark, almost black. The black is a very dark black. The brown is almost black. If you are a fair blonde who does not use black mascara, this product is likely too dark for you.

Sephora describes Lash Fusion as "Fusion's Micro-Technology delivery system allows for tiny particles of our encapsulated, multitasking Lash Plump formula to strengthen and protect each and every last lash through a time-release mechanism. In addition, LashFusion is formulated with micro fibers to increase lash length and volume and deep rich pigments for glossy, high impact lashes. LashFusion is formulated with hydrolyzed keratin (keratin that reacts with water) which bio-adheres (clings to and charges the lashes) to keep them long and luscious through a nanosphere (particles even smaller than microspheres) time-release formula. Natural camellia oil and panthenol (vitamin B5) work to condition lashes, enhance their appearance, and increase elasticity. The fiber-rich wand extends lashes and makes them silky smooth. Weather-, water-, and smudge-resistant."

I found the Lash Fusion mascara to stay on and to be smudge resistant. It is very thick mascara and very highly pigmented. I mean really pigmented. It is so pigmented that you do want to be careful during application not to get it on your clothes or the rest of your face, since it is really, really dark. It is also thick enough that you will likely want to blot it with a tissue to clean off the wand at first. But my lashes looked like a movie star. Dark, glossy, and thick. My lashes looked as thick as if I had on fake lashes without looking like fake lashes. It is however obvious that you are wearing mascara or some product, so this is not for if you are trying to look natural.

What I do not like, aside from the $40 price tag is I do not see any of the vitamin and conditioner benefits the mascara claims to have in their patented delivery system, which is what attracted me to the notion of mascara by Fusion. It does however delivery a great look upon application. This is not a mascara for a rush makeup job - meaning it is too easy for this to get sloppy and messy when you are in a rush. If you have the time for it, it can make great flirty lashes. It would take less time than false lashes though. This product might benefit from a different type of applicator brush or wand. If you have your own mascara wand brush you might avoid the mishaps of this mascara.

Shu Uemura mascara is part of the oriental line and caters to the lash obsession that is common in the orient. There are three different Shu Uemura mascaras available in stores like Sephora, these include the Fiber Extension ($23) which is very black and creates very long looking lashes, the Volume Mascara is their version of a thickening mascara without the thick goop, and the Basic mascara, which is an excellent thin consistency that could pass for not wearing mascara and still make you look like you have super long lashes. The Basic mascara is super but it is less black than my natural lashes, so I recommend it more for those with light colored hair and lashes. It is made from special clay, so it is not a brown black; it is more of a granite gray black or a dull black. So the best comparative mascara for LashFusion would be the Shu Uemura volume mascara since it is very black and is intended to thicken.

Sephora describes Shu Uemura Precise Volume Mascara Waterproof Mascara as "revolutionary mascara that redefines volume. Precise Volume Mascara Waterproof is applied with a unique precision layering effect that coats the lashes without clumping to ensure full and highly defined lashes. The double-wiper system allows a precise amount of product to be applied to the lashes while the uniquely flat shaped pinpoint brush ensures increased volume and the precise separation of each lash."

I do like the brush on this Shu Uemura mascara, and while it does not seem to stop someone as sloppy as myself from making a few mistakes, it does control the application much better than the Lash Fusion applies. The mascara creates a no clump, defined lash that is indeed quite black and thicker, but not unnaturally thick. There are no long term benefits of conditioning or growth promised with this mascara. It does not wear off and looks a bit fresher. It is not glossy but it is not as matte appearing as the Shu Uemura Basic mascara, I believe due to the non-clay formulation. You can apply this in a rush and not make big mistakes, but it is not as big or thick a look as the LashFusion mascara creates. I consider the Shu Uemura mascara the absolute longest and thickest your lashes could look and still look like a natural lash or at least make people wonder. With one light application you could just look like you have naturally fabulous lashes. The mascara is $23 and comes only in a rich black.

Both mascaras are available at Sephora.