One of the things I am obsessed with is mascara. The truth is I love my eyes, and it is my favorite face feature. Now, most of my experiments with mascara have been at the drugstore level. With the exception of Lancome’s Definicils High Definition Mascara and Cils Booster XL Super Enhancer Mascara Base (both which I looooove), I have never been much of a $25+ mascara gal. Just.can’t.do.it. With such good and improved mascara formulas at the drugstore level, it is hard for me to justify spending that much on a tube of mascara. Are you the same way? Or do you have a mascara that has cost you a pretty penny but it’s well worth it? Leave me a comment – I would love to hear your recommendations.
Anyway, about a month ago, I picked up L’Oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara from my local CVS – on sale for $6.99 – after watching the commercial featuring Eva Longoria (damn you EVA – you already made me buy this!) claiming this mascara plumps your lashes with 12x more impact, with no clumping, no flaking, no smudging. SOLD!!!
Color:
I purchased the mascara in Black #675 – unfortunately CVS had ran out of Blackest #680, but this Black is a true black, deep and alluring!
Packaging and Brush:
This mascara comes in a sleek, black tube with “L’Oreal” written in gold letters. There is no product name on the packaging, i.e. Extra Volume Collagen Mascara, which makes it impossible to remember what you purchased. As I am writing this, I’ve had to refer back to L’Oreal’s website to get the name of this product. I guess with such a long name, there is no room on the tube to put it.
The length and weight of the brush is your average length and weight - think CoverGirl LashBlast brush feel. It fits and feels pretty good on my hand, and I can maneuver it easily around my eyelashes. The brush is thick and “fluffy” with lots of bristles; L’Oreal calls this its “Instant Impact Brush, designed to grab each and every lash”.
Scent and Formulation:
This mascara has your average plastic-y scent, but since it goes on my eyes and not on my nose, I don’t mind it. The formula is thick, it adheres to every single lash, it is buildable and longwearing despite not being waterproof. This mascara adds volume like it promises and also lengthens your eyelashes. This formula doesn’t irritate my eyes.
Testing, Testing, 1-2-3:
I have worn this mascara for about a month, and I want to like it, like it… But I don’t. After using it, I will not buy it again. Here is my case:
What I like about L’Oreal Extra Collagen Volume mascara is:
- Volume: this mascara does volumize your eyelashes, and lengthens them in the process. See my before and after.
- No smudging, and lasting power: This mascara lasted me through a 5-mile run (of course, don’t rub your eyes) with no smudging; it stayed put during my run.
What I don’t like about L’Oreal Extra Collagen Volume mascara is:
- Flakiness: Despite lasting through my run, at the end of the day, I noticed little black specks on my cheeks – this mascara flakes. Argh! So not attractive… The no-flaking claim is untrue.
- The GOBS of excess formula on the brush, the rim: No matter what the mascara I use, I always wipe off the excess mascara from the brush onto the rim of the tube for a clump-free application. With L’Oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara, no matter how many times I wipe off the excess, there are still gobs of thick formula left on the brush. OF COURSE – this is what you need to achieve the plump, but it leads to major clumps. What is worse is the excess mascara on the rim – it is hard to get back in the tube and it cakes around the rim of the tube. This in turn dries, makes it hard to close the tube tightly, flakes, and falls back into the tube. Needless to say, this is a pain in the rear.
- The clumps, the cluuuuumps: Yes. It clumps – on the base and the tips of your eyelashes. Now, I understand again, that you will have some of this as you are building volume, but I hate the feeling of having 5 little eyelashes stuck together – I feel I can’t see very well when this happens. I got around the clumps – see my application tip at the end of the post.
Bottomline and Final Grade:
In my mind, the dislikes outweight the likes for L’Oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara. This is something I will not repurchase. With L’Oreal Mascaras, I rather stick with L’Oreal Original Voluminous Mascara. I give L’Oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara a C-.
Application tip:
Since I am always determined to use what I buy because I hate feeling like I have wasted money, I follow the application of L’Oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara with a coat of CoverGirl LashBlast Length, to clean off the clumps and excess mascara from my eyelashes. Alternatively, you can also use a disposable spoolie to clean up and separate lashes after the application. Unfortunately, I have not found a solution for the flakiness issue.
Have you used L’Oreal Extra Volum Collagen Mascara? What do you think? Do you have any tips?
