Make Up Academy is a budget make up range exclusive to Superdrug. The range includes eye make up, powders, lip glosses etc and many are priced at only £1.00.

~MUA Mascara~

There are 5 shades in the basic mascara range from MUA (there are waterproof and fancier mascaras available for £2.00). Shade 5 is the darkest shade in the basic range and is black.MUA claim that this basic mascara will give you "dramatic eyes for a full on flutter".

For £1.00, you receive a 7ml tube of mascara. The tube is black with silver writing. The mascara wand is attatched to the screw off lid and is around 10cm in length. It features a fairly long, standard mascara brush at the end.

~My Thoughts~

I stocked up on several MUA make up products last year. I normally use more expensive brands but was intrigued by how affordable the MUA products were. They are basic but they do the job and would make an ideal starter kit for a teenager who is experimenting with different make up.

I have yet to find the perfect mascara - I have tried brands such as Lancome and Estee Lauder and also Collection 2000 and No7 but none have given me wow results. I didn't expect much for £1.00 but have been surprised by how decent this mascara actually is. It is the perfect day time mascara for an understated, natural look, just don't expect the full of flutter that they claim you will get.

~Perk Up The Peepers~
This mascara is easy to use thanks to the chunky tube. The wand is easy to grip. The bristles are neatly arranged at the end of brush but aren't anything fancy. They are soft and do not drag on the lashes but are perhaps a bit too soft for my liking. A quick dip in the tube releases a small amount of mascara onto the brush. It has a standard mascara smell and a thin but not watery consistency - just right.

Applying this to my lashes is easy. The mascara doesn't offer curling benefits so I use an eye lash curler beforehand. I wiggle the wand from the base of my lashes up to the tip. I find it difficult to angle the brush enough to coat my corner lashes without making a mess but I can easily wipe off any mascara which comes into contact with my skin.

I do a few coats to cover my (already dark) eye lashes with enough mascara for them to be noticeable. The mascara dries very quickly and doesn't immediately smudge if I close my eyes.The mascara looks decent enough on my lashes. It isn't over the top and whilst it doesn't clump my lashes, it doesn't leave them looking like spider legs. It is lightweight and simply enhances my naturally long lashes. I wouldn't say it lengthens my lashes but it does add some definition to them.

The mascara is very gentle and doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes. Whilst it doesn't claim to be waterproof, I cannot say I have experienced any running with light drizzle. The mascara doesn't flake off my lashes and can easily be removed with some make up remover. My eye lashes have never felt dried out whilst wearing or after removing this mascara.

Shade 5 tints my lashes and after a few sweeps of mascara, I can notice a difference in the shade of my lashes. It isn't as strong a shade as more expensive mascaras offer my lashes but it is noticeable. I would say it is more black/brown that intense black. The colouring of my lashes is short lived and the mascara starts to fade after a few short hours. Topping it up again is simple and quick.

~Conclusion~

This is probably the cheapest mascara I have ever used. It is more than worth the quid I paid for it. It is fine for basic, tinted lashes but not ideal for parties or nights on the town as it simply isn't dramatic enough to give you amazing lashes. I have had my tube for about 5months and the formula is still moist and hasn't dried out. I always replace my mascara after 6months and have no issues with doing this but I will use up my No7 mascara before opening another MUA.

Overall 4 stars!

Thanks for reading :)