Mascara is a staple in every makeup routine, with countless options available to achieve voluminous, defined lashes. Two popular mascaras, Maneater Mascara and Benefit’s They’re Real, have gained widespread acclaim for their ability to transform lashes. This detailed comparison explores their formulas, application, performance, and value to help you determine which mascara best suits your beauty needs.

Packaging and Wand Design
Maneater Mascara
Maneater comes in a sleek, modern tube with a dense, tapered wand designed to separate and volumize lashes evenly. The bristles vary in length to reach every lash from root to tip, aiming for a clump-free finish.
Benefit They’re Real
Benefit’s They’re Real features a unique, cone-shaped wand with short and long bristles to grab, separate, and lift lashes. The wand’s design helps coat lashes individually while adding dramatic length and curl.
Formula and Pigmentation
Maneater Mascara
The formula is rich and creamy with intense black pigment, offering buildable volume and conditioning benefits. It is designed to provide bold lashes while nourishing them.
Benefit They’re Real
They’re Real boasts a jet-black, long-wearing formula that lengthens, volumizes, and curls. The formula is lightweight yet intense, focusing on separating lashes without weighing them down.
Application Experience
Maneater Mascara
Application with Maneater is smooth and easy, with the wand gliding through lashes to coat them evenly. The formula builds volume with multiple coats without significant clumping.
Benefit They’re Real
They’re Real provides instant length and lift on the first coat. The wand’s shape allows for precise application, making it easy to reach corner and lower lashes, though it can sometimes require careful layering to avoid flaking.
Performance and Wear
Maneater Mascara
Maneater is praised for its smudge-proof, long-lasting wear, maintaining volume and definition throughout the day without flaking or smearing.
Benefit They’re Real
They’re Real offers all-day wear with impressive staying power but may experience minor flaking after extended wear, especially on oily skin or in humid conditions.
Removal
Maneater Mascara
Requires a good makeup remover due to its rich formula but removes cleanly without excessive rubbing.
Benefit They’re Real
Typically requires an oil-based remover for easy removal, especially due to its long-wearing nature.
Price and Value
- Maneater Mascara: Positioned in the mid-range price bracket, offering excellent value with conditioning ingredients and long wear.
- Benefit They’re Real: Slightly higher price point, considered a cult classic with proven results and a loyal fan base.
Final Verdict: Which Mascara Should You Choose?
- Choose Maneater Mascara if you want a nourishing, smudge-proof formula that builds bold volume and lasts all day with minimal fuss. It’s ideal for those who prefer creamy formulas with conditioning benefits.
- Choose Benefit They’re Real if you seek instant length, lift, and separation with a unique wand design, and don’t mind spending a bit more for a cult-favorite formula.
Both mascaras excel in enhancing lashes, so your choice depends on whether you prioritize nourishing creaminess (Maneater) or dramatic length and lift (They’re Real). Either way, you can expect standout lashes that elevate your makeup game.