The author orders two customized mascaras from Eyeko, a company that offers bespoke mascara services. The author takes a quiz to create a personalized mascara formula and brush. The first mascara is designed to address the author's lash concerns, including unruly lashes and clumping. The second mascara is created with different answers to the quiz to compare the customization process.
Upon receiving the mascaras, the author compares the two and notes that while the formulas are similar, the brushes are different. The author tests the mascaras through a nap, crying, and water, and finds that both perform well. However, the author notes that the true value of the customized mascara lies in the brush, not the formula.
The author also investigates the ingredients and finds that while the formulas are similar, they are not identical. The author concludes that while the customized mascaras are good, they may not be worth the extra cost. Instead, the author suggests purchasing a non-customized mascara from Eyeko, which may offer similar benefits at a lower price point.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The company Eyeko offers a bespoke mascara service where customers can take a quiz online to get a personalized mascara formula with a tailored brush.
2. Eyeko also offers this service in person in London, Paris, and Hong Kong.
3. The quiz consists of three questions to determine the customer's lash type and desired effects.
4. The customer can choose to have Eyeko recommend a brush or select one themselves.
5. The customized mascara costs $40, and monogramming is available for an additional $4.
6. The mascara formula is supposed to be customized based on the customer's answers, but some ingredients and technologies are similar across different formulas.
7. Eyeko's customized mascaras come with a quick fix brush or a twist and shout brush, among others.
8. The mascaras are supposed to be long-lasting and waterproof, depending on the customer's preferences.
9. The customer received a free waterproof shadow liner with their purchase.
10. The customer's mascaras arrived within 3-5 days, despite the promised 48-hour delivery.
11. The customer performed a nap test and a crying test to test the mascaras' long-lasting claims.
12. The customer found that the mascaras performed well in both tests, with minimal smudging or running.
13. The customer compared the ingredients of their customized mascaras and found that while some ingredients were similar, the order and composition differed.
14. The customer discovered that Eyeko's website sells mascaras with similar brushes and ingredients to the customized mascaras, but at a lower price point.
15. The customer concluded that while the customized mascaras were good, the true value lay in the brush, and that customers might be able to find similar products at a lower price point.