A Makeup Artist Reviews ILIA Beauty's Limitless Lash Mascara

We put ILIA Beauty's Limitless Lash Mascara to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review.

I've always been fairly minimalist when it comes to makeup, oftentimes just donning concealer, bronzer, mascara, and touching up my brows a bit. But one of the key products I consistently rely on to complete my look is mascara. Having tried dozens of mascaras over the years, I know exactly what I need: definition, a bit of length, and a ton of drama. Using my needs to inform my purchases, I wanted to check out ILIA Beauty’s Limitless Lash Mascara after reading so many reviews about it. Keep reading for my honest thoughts below to see if it gave me what I was looking for, and if it's ultimately worth the hype.

About My Lashes: Average length with natural curl

Overall, my eyelashes are pretty average; they have a decent length and curl and are truly brought to life with a great mascara. When it comes to accentuating my lashes, I believe in going big or going home. I like to use mascaras that can define my lashes and give me supreme volume. In terms of length, I don’t care too much about that, because I’d rather pop on a pair of falsies to give me the length I’m after. Currently, my go-to mascara is the Benefit Cosmetics “They’re Real!” Mascara; it gives my lashes good volume and length without having to sacrifice definition. I’m also never too fussed about ingredients; I just want to find a product that gives me the look I want. When I decided to give ILIA Beauty’s Mascara a try, I wanted to see how a clean mascara would hold up to the mascaras I’m used to.

How to Apply: Use the brush or comb side—or both

When I opened the ILIA mascara, I was immediately drawn to its design: I don’t use mascaras that have a brush on one side and a comb on the other too often. I immediately knew this product placed emphasis on having clearly defined, separated lashes. This mascara can be used in whatever method is comfortable for you. With the dual-sided brush, you can use the brush side to coat your lashes with product and build for volume, turning the wand over to use the comb to rid your application of any clumps. Alternatively, you could use the mascara wand the opposite way; you’d still find yourself with defined, full eyelashes.

The Results: Long, natural-looking lashes

Once I finished adding the last layer of the ILIA mascara, I was left with full lashes that had great lift, definition, and curl. Being the mascara aficionado that I am, I knew exactly what I was looking for, and this product met every single requirement—with the exception of one—but hear me out. I’m a four, sometimes five coats of mascara type of girl, and that is definitely not realistic for everyone. I also like my lashes to look like they are one layer away from being clumpy (I don’t know why, but I live my truth). Because of this, this mascara doesn’t reach holy grail status for me, but what I like isn’t what most mascara lovers prefer. Outside of my affinity for unreasonably thick lashes, I was really impressed. My lashes were defined, curly, and had great length and volume. I’ve found that a lot of mascaras I’ve tried over the years make my lashes look crunchy and dry; ILIA Beauty’s Limitless Lash Mascara gave my lashes the look of being shiny and nourished. It’s no wonder that my lashes looked so healthy, because ILIA’s mascara is packed with good-for-you ingredients like shea butter and beeswax. 

The Value: A pricier product that’s worth the cost

I find that when it comes to mascaras, you can purchase some amazing products that will give your lashes the look you prefer without having to spend too much. Keeping that in mind, ILIA Beauty plays on the same stage as other prestige beauty brands that are, for the most part, financially accessible. With that being said, I think that ILIA’s Limitless Lash Mascara is expensive to the naked eye, but it's actually reasonable and worth the price when you factor in its ingredients and ability to deliver results. If you’re not a huge mascara lover like I am, this product may be too expensive; if you need mascara in your life like I do, shelling out $28 for 0.27 oz of product will be worth it to you.

Similar Products: You have options

MAC Cosmetics Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara: A defining mascara that gives a wild amount of definition, the Extended Play Mascara from MAC Cosmetics is a fantastic alternative to ILIA’s Limitless Lash Mascara. The Extended Play wand is extremely firm which allows you to thoroughly comb through your lashes and apply several coats to give you the volume, curl, and lift you want. 

MILK Makeup KUSH High Volumizing Mascara: The KUSH Mascara from MILK Makeup is another clean beauty product that can compete with some of the best mascaras out there. This product will give your lashes the length, definition, and volume you’re after with a traditional mascara wand. If super defined lashes are a must-have for you, ILIA’s Limitless Lash Mascara may suit your needs better because of its dual-sided brush.

CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara: Hands-down one of the best drugstore mascaras you can find, the Lash Blast Mascara from CoverGirl delivers in every category. Not only will this mascara define, volumize, lengthen, and curl your lashes, it’s also sold at a price that won’t make you regret spending your money on it.