Jones Road The Mascara
Editor’s Note: We reviewed this article on September 20, 2023. As per our editorial policy, we are constantly updating our content, to make sure it reflects the best of the best when it comes to beauty, wellness, and fashion. We want to assure our readers that we still stand by our recommendations, which we do.
A stellar mascara can both make a no-makeup makeup look seem like it took you more than 30 seconds to put together and take your full-on glam looks to the next level. That’s why mascara is one of my desert island products—if only I could decide which mascara to bring with me. In my never-ending hunt to find the best mascara, I decided to try out Jones Road The Mascara.
Jones Road is a new-to-me brand, but the face behind it is not. It was founded by Bobbi Brown—yes, the legendary Bobbi Brown—to create better, higher-quality versions of the makeup products we already use in our routines. To put it to the test, and show whether it’s worth adding to your online cart, I swapped out my usual mascara with Jones Road The Mascara for a week to try it out.
Keep reading for my honest thoughts.
FAST FACTS
- Best for: Volumized, inky-black lashes
- Cruelty-Free?: Yes
- Price: $26
- About the brand:Jones Road is a makeup line created by Bobbi Brown that focuses on clean, high-quality products.
About My Lashes: Looking for a lift
My lashes are already pretty dark and have natural thickness, so I look for mascaras that can give me extra length and curl. I actually got my hands on a bottle of Latisse to add some extra length to my lashes, so I was excited to test drive a new mascara to see how it’d do.
While I love the lifted look a good curler can give, I skip that step on most days and jump straight to the mascara application. My recent favorites are LOréals Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara for when I want more of a dramatic look, and Glossier Lash Slick for a day-to-day more natural approach.
The Feel: Bigger-than-average brush
The brush and its bristles are bigger than others I’ve used, but instead of making the application process unwieldy, I found it made it easier. The curved brush coated my lashes with one or two coats. Plus, I didn’t have to put in too much effort to get immediate lift and curl. The formula swiped on smoothly—however, the same thickness that gave my lashes volume also made it harder to get a clump-free look, but more on this to come.
Ingredients: Clean & simple
In the tube are some really good ingredients. The brand claims that the addition of vitamin E, vitamin B, and sodium hyaluronate all contribute to the health of lashes. While I haven’t been able to see any direct results from the conditioning formula, it’s great knowing that my mascara is doing something behind the scenes to keep my lashes long and healthy.
The Results: Impressive lift
I’ve tried a lot of mascaras, jumping around to whatever catches my eye when I need to pick up a new tube. So when I say I was impressed at first swipe—that means something.
Immediately, my lashes were fully coated and lifted without using an eyelash curler.
Immediately, my lashes were fully coated and lifted without using an eyelash curler.
It can get a little thick on lashes, which is great for volume but not so great for a clean, clump-free look. I’ve found I can mostly mitigate this by swiping through my lashes with the brush several times to evenly distribute the formula to each hair, but keep in mind that this doesn’t always guarantee a clean application.
The only color it comes in, Pitch Black, is highly pigmented, which I like because my lashes and hair are already a naturally dark hue. While it works on me, those with light hair and a fair complexion may find it too dark or overpowering (especially when combined with the mega volume it gives lashes). So hopefully Jones Road has a brown shade in the works for the future.
I should also mention that I wore The Mascara all day long without flaking, and it even impressively kept up the lift. And at the end of the day, it was easy to remove and I was only left with the tiniest bit of raccoon eyes after a shower (nothing too scary).
The Value: A little pricey
Jones Road The Mascara sells for $26 on the brand’s website. This is on the higher end of the market. I typically think that drugstore mascaras do enough of a great job to never spend more than $10 or so.
This mascara does have a few bonuses that make it worth the $26, though. Besides the pigmentation it gives, the clean, cruelty-free formula is worth the cost alone. The sleek, heavy packaging also justifies the cost—it feels expensive.
Overall, if you are looking to splurge a little and treat yourself or a loved one, I think The Mascara is worth it the price.
Competition: Many options to choose from
LOréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara ($11): As I noted, this mascara is another one of my favorites, and it’s similar to The Mascara with its large brush and the way it lifts and volumizes lashes. It’s also budget-friendly, and you can pick it up at the drugstore.
Milk Kush High Volumizing Mascara ($25): If a cruelty-free, clean mascara is what you’re after, this one delivers similar volume and lift to The Mascara, and it includes hemp-derived cannabis seed oil to condition lashes. It’ll even save you a dollar.
Final Verdict
While I think it’s possible to get similar results from a more affordable mascara, the brand’s philosophy of high quality, ingredient-conscious products makes the extra cost worth it to me. That, and the way it lifts, curls, and seriously volumizes my lashes.
Specs
Product Name: The Mascara