Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara

Product:  Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara.  Lancôme mascaras have a cult following but I don’t know why anyone buys this one more than once.

Overall Rating = 2+ stars2.13 Stars – Just Okay.

Cost:  $25.50 (.25 fl. oz.) ($102 per fluid ounce)  Price Category: Expensive

Sold By:  Lancôme USA; Dillard’s; Nordstrom; Sephora; Ulta; Major department stores everywhere.

Container:  Plastic tube with twist-off tapered S-shaped wand, outer carton.

Description:  Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara is a deep black water-based mascara.  You do not need to use an eye makeup remover with this mascara.

Formula:  This is a medium-wet, thick, creamy, fiber-free formula.  It is water resistant, not waterproof.

Sensitivity:  Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara is fragrance-free and I have not experienced any sensitivity issues personally or had any reported from testers or clients.  I have not used this on very many clients.  This is suitable those who wear contacts or have sensitive eyes.

Company Claims:

“Get instant lash drama in a single coat, no clumping or flaking.

  • Intense black pigments
  • Triple coating system delivers a fluid and creamy application to quickly and easily build big, battable lashes that won’t clump or flake throughout the day.

Benefits

  • Unique, oversized brush provides full contact with lashes for ultimate volume
  • Delivers maximum lash coating with immediate load gives lashes instant volume
  • Fluid, creamy gliding formula evenly coats lashes from root to tip for buildable volume
  • Promises intense, deep color
  • Fragrance-Free. Ophthalmologist Tested. Allergy Tested. Safe for contact lens wearers.

Technology

  • New oversized S-shaped curve full contact Convex Brush
  • Texturizing Complex formula with highly saturated waxes
  • Triple Coating System enriched with Pro Vitamin B5
  • Deep Carbon Black Pigments”

Discussion:  I had to laugh.  I recently read a review for Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara.  The reviewer said, “I’ve tried a lot of mascaras in my lifetime (seven) and this one is my favorite.”  Really?  Seven in your lifetime?  I’ve tried more than seven in one day.  I’ve tried several hundred in my lifetime.  I would like to know what the other six were that led her to believe this one was good.

Lancôme’s primary marketing claims for Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara is that it does not clump.  I beg to differ.  I found this to be one of the worst clumping mascaras I have ever used.

Colors:  Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Full Body Volume Mascara comes in one color, Excessive Black.

Morning Review:  I tried this on its own and by putting it on top of Lancôme Cils Booster mascara primerWith or without primer, it clumped.

My first impression of Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara is that I don’t like the brush that is on the wand.  The brush is oversized, thick and S-shaped.  It feels awkward to use.  The shape doesn’t correspond to the shape of your eye and doesn’t make sense to me.  The wand would only be appropriate for those with very large eyes.  It won’t work well at all for those with small or deep-set eyes and it is terrible for lower or under lashes.

There was a lot of excess formula on the tip, so I had to wipe off quite a bit on the rubber collar before working on the lower lashes.  (See photo of collar below)

As far as the formula goes, the mascara is a nice deep jet-black color and it does an excellent job of coating the lashes and adding volume with just one coat.  It also does a terrific job of clumping them together.  I had to work quite a bit to comb through the lashes to get the clumps out.  Once I worked on them, they looked good but it did require quite a bit of effort.

On a separate day I tried the mascara with a completely different dry mascara wand and it worked much better.  The problem with this mascara is not so much with the formula but with the delivery system and the wand.  The tube applies too much product to the weird wand.

Evening Review:  Lancôme Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara stays on well.  After many hours there was no flaking or smudging of the mascara.  It came off easily with regular facial cleanser.

Overall Review:  Lancôme Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara is not the worst mascara I have ever used, but it certainly is not among the best, either.  The formula itself does have good staying power if you have the patience to remove the clumps to get it looking good.  I would definitely use a different wand and not the one supplied with the mascara.  Since I only use disposable wands on clients, the wand is not an issue for me professionally.  Overall, this one just fell short for me and there are many others that produce better results.

Pros:

  • Makes thin lashes look considerably thicker
  • Stays on well without flaking
  • Color is a nice deep black
  • Comes off easily without the need for eye makeup remover

Cons:

  • Tube applies too much mascara to the wand
  • Wand is too large
  • Wand shape is awkward to use
  • Clumping occurs if you use the supplied wand.
  • Price

Suitability:  Lancôme Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara is suitable for the following users:

  • All users (if you don’t mind working with it or using a separate wand)

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Evening Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 2+ stars2.5 Stars;

Value Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Overall Rating = 2+ stars2.13 Stars = Just Okay.

Would Buy Again?  No, I would not buy this one again.

(Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume MascaraLancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume MascaraLancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara Package

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara Wand Close Up

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara Wand Close Up

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara Collar Close Up

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara Formula Swatch

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara Formula Swatch

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara Clumps

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara Clumps

Ingredients:  AQUA / WATER / EAU, PARAFFIN, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, CERA ALBA / BEESWAX / CIRE DABEILLE, CERA CARNAUBA / CARNAUBA WAX / CIRE DE CARNAUBA, ACACIA SENEGAL / ACACIA SENEGAL GUM, CETYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN, PEG/PPG-17/18 DIMETHICONE, STEARETH-20, SIMETHICONE, SODIUM POLYMETHACRYLATE, PHENETHYL ALCOHOL, DISODIUM EDTA, HYDROGENATED JOJOBA OIL, HYDROGENATED PALM OIL, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, PANTHENOL, POLYQUATERNIUM-10, PHENOXYETHANOL, [+/- MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR, CI 77266 / BLACK 2, CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES]

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

Lancôme Cils Booster Mascara Base

Product:  Lancôme Cils Booster XL Base de Mascara Super-Enhancing Mascara Base.  If you weren’t born with long, full, luscious eyelashes, a lash primer can definitely amp up the volume and make the most of what you have.

Overall Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars – Very Good.

Cost:  $25.50 (.18 fl. oz.) ($141.67 per fluid ounce)  Price Category: Expensive

Sold By:  Lancôme USA; Dillard’s; Nordstrom; Sephora; Ulta; Major Dept. stores everywhere.

Container:  Plastic tube with twist-off tapered wand, outer carton.

Description:  Lancôme Cils Booster XL Base de Mascara Super-Enhancing Mascara Base is a primer that is intended to be worn as a base coat under mascara.  As this is white in color, it cannot be worn by itself without looking very strange.

I would not describe this as a wet formula.  It is more of a medium-dry formula.  It has almost no scent other than a faint polymer smell.

Sensitivity:  Lancôme Cils Booster is fragrance-free and I have never experienced any sensitivity issues personally or from clients/testers.  This is suitable those who wear contacts or have sensitive eyes.

Company Claims:  “Give your lashes an XL boost. With just one sweep, this innovative mascara primer glides on and evenly coats and smoothes your lashes to maximize the results of your favorite Lancôme mascara. The magic behind this mascara base is the conditioning formula—featuring micro-fibers and Vitamin E—to add extra length and thickness to your lashes for added visible performance to your mascara.”

Benefits

  • Lengthens and thickens lashes without clumping
  • Maximizes the results of your favorite Lancôme mascara
  • Protects and conditions lashes
  • Smoothes eyelashes by coating them thinly and evenly—emphasizing even the shortest lashes
  • Intensifies color of your favorite mascara

Technology

  • Micro-Fibers
  • D-Panthénol and Vitamin E
  • Triangular, thin-shaped brush
  • Provides a white base for mascara to cover

Discussion:  Mascara primers serve a few purposes:

  • Coat the lashes to increase the diameter making them appear thicker
  • Provide ingredients that promote the health of the eyelashes
  • Act as a first coat of mascara thereby allowing for use of less mascara

Colors:  Lancôme Cils Booster comes in one color, white.

Morning Review:  Before applying mascara, coat both the upper and lower lashes thoroughly with a light coat of Lancôme Cils Booster.

Lancôme Cils Booster definitely makes lashes look thicker.  I would say the emphasis is more on thickness than length.  The company says the product contains micro fibers.  These are not like the thick fibers that you see in lash-extension type mascaras that can flake off and get into your eyes.  I did not actually see any fibers anywhere in the formula even when I inspected it with a magnifying glass.

Helpful Tips:

If you read reviews for this product you may find the information confusing, as some people say to apply mascara on top of the Lancôme Cils Booster while it is still wet, and others say to wait until the primer is dry.  Here are my thoughts:

  • If you apply your mascara on top of Lancôme Cils Booster while it is still wet and you use the wand that comes with your tube of mascara, you have just contaminated your mascara by getting wet primer on the wand. As soon as you put the wand back into the tube of mascara containing wet primer, your mascara will not perform the same and the mascara will produce terrible clumps.
  • When you remove the Lancôme Cils Booster wand from the tube, scrape some of the primer back into the tube so the brush won’t be too full of product.
  • Apply the Lancôme Cils Booster to one eye at a time as it dries quickly.
  • A light coat will work better than a thick coat.
  • After applying the primer brush through the lashes with a dry wand to remove clumps before applying mascara.
  • By the time you have finished with the second eye, the first eye is dry.
  • If you find that your mascara is clumping worse on top of the primer, it is because you are using too much primer.
  • If you are having trouble completely covering the white primer and some of it is still showing, first apply a light coat of mascara, then the Lancôme Cils Booster and finally another coat of mascara. By “sandwiching” the primer with mascara you will eliminate the potential for any graying or white showing through.

Evening Review:  Lancôme Cils Booster makes lashes look considerably thicker and makes mascara perform better.  After many hours there is no flaking or smudging of the mascara.  You can use Lancôme Cils Booster under any brand of mascara even though Lancôme would prefer that you use this over a Lancôme mascara.

Overall Review:  Lancôme Cils Booster Base de Mascara Super-Enhancing Mascara Base performs very well and provides excellent results for making the most of thin or sparse eyelashes.

Pros:

  • Makes thin lashes look considerably thicker.
  • Makes mascara go further as you use less mascara.
  • Primer gives mascara something to bind to.

Cons:

  • The tip of the wand is too bulky for my taste; I would prefer a narrower, more tapered tip for greater control and ease of use on the lower lashes. (I like the wand that comes with Clinique Lash Building Primer.)
  • Price

Suitability:  Lancôme Cils Booster is suitable for the following users:

  • All users

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Evening Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 4 stars4 Stars;

Value Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Overall Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars = Very Good.

(Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Lancôme Cils BoosterLancôme Cils Booster PackageLancôme Cils Booster Wand and SwatchLashes Without Mascara or Lancôme Cils BoosterLashes With Lancôme Cils Booster By ItselfLashes With Mascara By ItselfLashes With Mascara over Lancôme Cils Booster

Lancôme Cils Booster Before After

Ingredients:  AQUA / WATER / EAU, ORYZA SATIVA CERA / RICE BRAN WAX, COPERNICIA CERIFERA CERA / CARNAUBA WAX / CIRE DE CARNAUBA, CERA ALBA / BEESWAX / CIRE DABEILLE, STEARIC ACID, CANDELILLA CERA / CANDELILLA WAX / CIRE DE CANDELILLA, TRIETHANOLAMINE, PALMITIC ACID, ACACIA SENEGAL / ACACIA SENEGAL GUM, PANTHENOL, PEG/PPG-17/18 DIMETHICONE, SODIUM POLYMETHACRYLATE, MYRISTIC ACID, RAYON, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, POLYCAPROLACTONE, POLYQUATERNIUM-10, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

How To Choose The Best Mascara For Your Eyelashes

How To Choose The Best Mascara For Your Eyelashes – Mascara is one of those cosmetics that is the most confusing for most wearers.  Why?  Because there are so many different kinds, types and variables.  The below photograph shows just some of the mascaras I currently own.  As a professional makeup artist, I keep many different kinds on hand for different uses with clients.

Mascara 101 Best Formula Help Guide

What makes a good mascara?

  • Ease of application
  • A formula that provides length and/or volume (depending upon your needs)
  • No clumps
  • No flakes
  • No smudging
  • No running
  • No irritation

That doesn’t seem like too much to expect, right?  Why can’t they all do that?

Before you begin shopping for mascara, you need to know exactly what type of eyelashes you have.

Eyelash Characteristics:

  • Length – Are your lashes short, medium or long?
  • Thickness – Are your lashes thin or thick?
  • Density – Do you have sparse lashes or a lot of lashes?
  • Straight or Curly – Do your lashes have natural curl to them or do they stick straight out?
  • Suppleness – Do your lashes tend to get dry, brittle or break?
  • Delicate – Do a lot of them fall out when you rub your eyes?

Examine Your Hair:

If you are having trouble answering the above questions, typically your eyelashes will mimic your hair.  If the hair on your head is curly and thick, you probably have thicker lashes.  If your hair is fine and thin, your eyelashes are probably on the thinner side, too.  Regarding the length of your eyelashes, this trait does not correspond to any particular quality of your hair.  If your hair is very dry, chances are your eyelashes are, too and you may experience dryness or brittleness in your lashes.

Additional Concerns and Questions:

  • Do you wear contacts? (Stay away from mascaras with fibers.)
  • Do you have allergies and other sensitivities?  (Read the ingredients and make sure they are fragrance free.)
  • Do your eyes tend to water a lot?
  • Do you have oily skin? (Yes, your skin type will affect what type of mascara will work best for you.)
  • Are your eyes so deep set that your eyelashes touch your upper eyelids? (If so, a smudge-free formula is very important.)

Once you have answered all of the above questions, then you can begin to determine what type of mascara will perform the best for you.

Mascaras come in the following types of formulas:

  • Water based – These mascaras will run if you cry or your eyes water. These have a light density.  They are easily removed with any normal facial cleanser and do not require a separate eye makeup remover.  They are the gentlest to your lashes.  If you have a lot of chemical sensitivities, these formulas may be the best for you.
  • Natural – These are water-based mascaras that are made from minerals, beeswax and other naturally-occurring ingredients.  This type will always be free of fragrance and other irritants.  These are the best mascaras for anyone with allergies, sensitive eyes and those who wear contacts.
  • Water resistant – These mascaras, although water based, also contain ingredients that prevent the mascara from running if your eyes tear. These have a medium density. Some of them are easily removed with regular facial cleanser and some require an eye makeup remover.  These are good for deep set eyes and are good for people with dry, brittle lashes.
  • Waterproof – These mascaras are oil based, will not run when exposed to tears or water, but many are not smudge proof. These will have a medium or thick density depending upon the formula.  These must be removed with a dedicated eye makeup remover.  These stay on the longest and the best, but because they are oil based, they may actually smudge worse on users with very oily eyelids.  Think about this… What do you use to remove waterproof makeup?  Oil-based cleansers.  If your eyelids are extremely oily, your body is producing its own remover.  Those with oily skin will have to experiment the most to find a brand that works for them.  Waterproof mascaras can also have a drying effect on the eyelashes over time so they may not be good for those with brittle lashes.

Mascaras also have different objectives:

  • Some are designed to enhance a natural look.
  • Some will volumize or add thickness to sparse or thin lashes.
  • Some will add length.
  • Some have wands that claim to curl the lashes (They don’t work very well.)
  • Some have added fibers (These are not good for contact lens wearers.)

Mascaras have different types of applicators (wands):

  • Wands with straight brushes (These make it difficult to get into the corners.)
  • Wands with tapered brushes (These work the best.)
  • Wands with curved brushes (Most of them are too big.)
  • Wands with plastic bristles (These work okay if they are small.)
  • Wands with tiny combs (These are good for separating upper lashes but don’t work very well on lower lashes.)
  • Wands that vibrate (These are a silly gimmick.)
  • Wands that rotate (These can be very dangerous.)
  • Wands with adjustable brushes (These usually break after a few uses.)
  • Wands that are tiny just for the lower lashes (Some of these are very good.)

Most of the applicator brushes that come with mascaras are too large.  The smaller the brush, the greater the level of control.  Also, many of the brands with curved wands are way too large and the curve is wrong for the average-sized eye.  Mascaras with battery-operated rotating or vibrating wands are a marketing gimmick and I’d prefer to wiggle my own wand.  Also, there have been reports of people getting their eyelashes caught in the rotating ones and pulling them out.  Ouch!

Everyone just wants long, full, dramatic eyelashes.  So which formula do you need?

  • If you have enough lashes but they are short, look for a lengthening mascara.
  • If your lashes are a good length but you don’t have enough of them, look for a volumizing mascara. A separate eyelash primer will also add to the thickness.
  • If you have so few eyelashes that you can barely find them, look for a fiber-filled mascara. Using a separate eyelash primer will also greatly enhance your lashes.
  • If you are blessed with long, thick eyelashes, a simple water-based formula or even a clear gel mascara will add definition. (If this is you, please know that the rest of the world is envious.)

Tips and Tricks for Successful Mascara Application:

  • Always begin with clean lashes.  If you apply today’s mascara on top of yesterday’s leftovers, you are starting out with an invitation to clumping and flaking.
  • Always scrape some of the mascara back into the tube before applying. When you first pull the wand out of the tube there will be too much product on the wand.
  • If you need more product on the wand, don’t pump the wand in and out as this will infuse air into the tube, which will cause the mascara to dry out faster.  Instead, twirl the wand while fully inserted to get more mascara on the wand.
  • If your mascara came with a separate outer cap, replace the cap while the wand is out of the tube and it will last longer.  (Don’t throw away those outer caps the first time you place the wand into the tube.)  Air is the enemy of a tube of mascara.
  • Begin by coating the top of your upper eyelashes first with your mascara or primer. Let the first coat work from the top down.
  • Always move the wand in a wiggling side-to-side fashion from the lash roots to the tips rather than one sweeping motion.
  • Twirling the wand while applying to the upper lashes will help to keep the lashes separated.
  • If you are using a mascara primer, make sure to wait 30-60 seconds for it to dry, then apply your mascara on top of the primer. This will keep it from looking diluted or gray as opposed to black.
  • Use a separate clean mascara wand to separate your lashes in between coats. If you try to use the applicator brush that is already coated in mascara, you’ll end up with way too much product on them which leads to very clumpy lashes.
  • Mascara needs to thoroughly dry in between coats to avoid clumping and flaking. When applying multiple coats of mascara, avoid putting several coats on one eye at a time. Instead, switch from one eye to the next before applying a second coat in order to let your lashes dry between coats.
  • Don’t apply more than 2 coats.  More than that will lead to clumping and flaking.
  • Don’t ever share your mascara or you are inviting an eye infection.
  • Don’t add water to your mascara if it is too thick. (If you add water to a waterproof mascara, it will just bead up, not blend and that tube will need to be trashed.)
  • If it gets too thick, it is time for a new tube.

I will be adding a list of the best brands for each type of formula.

I hope you found How To Choose The Best Mascara For Your Eyelashes helpful.  Mascara is an important tool for adding accent and drama to your eyes.  Perhaps determining the best type of mascara for you will be a little less confusing now.  Please let us know your favorite mascaras and why.  We’d love to hear from you!

Ardell Lash Magic Blending Mascara

Product:  Ardell Lash Magic Blending Mascara.  This is not your typical mascara.  This one has a special purpose and it works very well.

Overall Rating = 4 stars4 Stars – Excellent

Cost: $7.96 (.27 fl. oz.) ($29.48 per fluid ounce)  Price Category: Inexpensive

Sold By: Eyelashes Unlimited; Wal-mart.

Container: Plastic tube with twist-off medium-sized tapered-brush wand, outer carton.

Description:  Ardell Lash Magic Blending Mascara is a mascara that is specifically designed to be used with false eyelashes.  This water-based mascara blends your natural lashes into the false lashes without damaging the false lashes or clumping them together.

Ardell Lash Magic Blending Mascara is a fragrance-free product and is suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.  This mascara only comes in one color, black.

The company claims,Lash Magic is not your ordinary mascara, Lash Magic Blending Mascara simply blends your natural lashes into artificial ones making them undetectable. Lash Magic does not add length or thickness to your lashes so your lashes will remain clump-free. The Lash Magic formula is water soluble and can be easily removed without ruining a perfect pair of lashes.”

Discussion:  You already know by now that I have applied more false eyelashes in my life than I can count.  Until I discovered this product, I always used a dry spoolie for blending, or sometimes a very light coat of a somewhat dry formula of water-based mascara.  I was intrigued when I first discovered this product many years ago.  I have been using this for over a decade and always keep some in my makeup kit.

Daily Review:  After the completion of eye makeup and the application of a pair of false strip eyelashes, I blended my own natural lashes into the false lashes first with a dry spoolie and then a coat of this Ardell Lash Magic Blending Mascara.  I only use this from underneath my own lashes into the false eyelashes with a side-to-side wiggling motion.  This mascara is a very dry formula.  Because it is not wet it does not remove the curl from natural or human-hair false lashes.  It does not look or feel like a regular volumizing or lengthening mascara.  It does not add volume or length to your own lashes or to the false lashes.  It also does not clump them or make them stick together.  This can be easily washed off of the false eyelashes with warm water.  (I will have a future post showing how to do this in great detail.  You must be careful when cleansing your false lashes as it is quite easy to ruin them.)

Overall Review:  Ardell Lash Magic Blending Mascara does not make my nose run, eyes water, turn red or burn.  I have never experienced any sensitivities from using this mascara and I have never had any issues from the hundreds of clients I have used this on.

This is an excellent product that performs precisely as it is supposed to do.  It serves one purposes and does it well.  I do wish the wand was a little smaller and more tapered.  I also wish it was readily available at more retailers and I did not have to order it online.

Ardell Lash Magic Blending Mascara is suitable for the following users:

  • All users of false eyelashes

RATINGS REPORT:

Daily Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 4 stars4 Stars;

Value Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Overall Rating = 4 stars4 Stars = Excellent.

(Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Ardell Lash Magic Blending MascaraArdell Lash Magic Blending Mascara

Ingredients: Water, Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearic Acid, Glycerylo Stearate SE, Ozokerite, Ceresin, Beeswax, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, PVP, Sorbitan Oleate, Sorbitan Trioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylaparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben.

May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara

Product:  L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara.  Does anyone really like this?  If so, please tell me why.

Overall Rating = 1+ stars1.8 Stars – Terrible to Just Okay

Cost: $7.97 for .26 oz. ($26.57 per fluid ounce)  Price Category: Inexpensive

Sold By: L’Oreal Paris; Walgreen’s; Wal-mart; Retailers everywhere.

Container: Gold Plastic tube with twist-off large-sized plastic nub wand, blister package.

Description:  L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara is a readily-available waterproof mascara.  This mascara requires an eye makeup remover to effectively take it off.  (See our other reviews for recommendations.)  This mascara is intended to build volume and add thickness to eyelashes. This is a fiber-free formula.

For detailed information on mascara formulas and finding the best one for you, please see Mascara 101 on the Help page.

L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara is primarily a volumizing and thickening mascara although I find it also adds a little length to my lashes.  This would be good for anyone who has thin or sparse eyelashes if only it worked better.  The Blackest Black color (635) option is a deep glossy black that will help to accentuate and add definition to your eyes.

The company claims, “Smooth and even application. Lash by lash definition. Natural volume.”  (I’m sorry, but I have to disagree with these claims.)

What makes a good mascara?

  • Ease of application
  • A formula that provides length and volume
  • No clumps
  • No flakes
  • No smudging
  • No running
  • No irritation

That doesn’t seem like too much to ask, right?  In this case, apparently it is.  I’m surprised this one passed Research and Development at L’Oreal Paris and even made it to the market place.  I can’t imagine anyone buying it more than once.

Morning Review:  L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara is a very wet mascara and I prefer a dryer-feeling formula.  In my experience (which is considerable), the wetter the formula, the greater the tendency to clump.  This mascara has an unpleasant scent, but it is not so bad as to make my nose run or eyes water.  The applicator is a huge fat rubbery plastic wand which is also way too large for my taste.  I have also found the smaller the wand, the greater the precision and control.

The rubber collar at the top does a pretty good job of removing some of the mascara, but there is still a big glob on the tip and I have to scrape some of it back into the tube prior to application.  The first coat of mascara does add a little length, but it also makes my eyelashes stick together and I had to really work with a clean spoolie brush to separate my lashes.  The second coat made them even spikier and spidery.  L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara also takes a long time to dry.  In short, yuck!

Please see Mascara 101 on my Help page for application tips.

Morning Rating = 1 star1 Star

Evening Review:  After several hours L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara stayed on and did not flake off.  It also did not smudge or cause any irritation issues.  My makeup looked awful all day though and I was very happy when it was time to take it off.  I used an eye makeup remover designed for waterproof makeup and it came off easily.

Overall Review:  L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara is a terrible mascara unless you like the Tammy Faye Bakker spider-lash look.  (If you’re young, you don’t know who that is, and have no idea what I’m talking about.)  If you do like that look, you are going to fall in love with this product.

As a professional makeup artist, when I do someone’s makeup I need products that can deliver beautiful results.  My clients expect full dramatic lashes.  I would NEVER use this on a client unless I was going for a specific type of terrible look for a character.

L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara is suitable for the following users:

  • No one (unless you like spiky, spidery-looking eyelashes).

Please see Mascara 101 on the Help page to determine your eyelash type and find the best formulas for you.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 1 star1 Star;

Evening Rating = 1 star1 Star;

Average from Other Testers = 1+ stars1.5 Stars;

Value Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Overall Rating = 1+ stars1.8 Stars, Terrible to Just Okay.

(Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara TubeL’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara Wand

Ingredients:  ISODODECANE • CERA ALBA / BEESWAX • CERA CARNAUBA / CARNAUBA WAX • DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE • AQUA / WATER • ALLYL STEARATE/VA COPOLYMER • ORYZA SATIVA CERA / RICE BRAN WAX • PARAFFIN • ALCOHOL DENAT. • POLYVINYL LAURATE • VP/EICOSENE COPOLYMER • PROPYLENE CARBONATE • TALC • SYNTHETIC BEESWAX • ETHYLENEDIAMINE/STEARYL DIMER DILINOLEATE COPOLYMER • PEG-30 GLYCERYL STEARATE • PROPYLPARABEN • METHYLPARABEN • CANDELILLA CERA / CANDELILLA WAX / CIRE DE CANDELILLA • MAY CONTAIN [+/- CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES • CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE] • FIL D45787/2.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara

Product:  L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara.  Will this drugstore brand flake, smudge, or perform beautifully?

Overall Rating = 4 stars4 Stars – Excellent

Cost: $5.84 for .26 oz. ($22.46 per fluid ounce)  Price Category: Inexpensive

Sold By: L’Oreal Paris; Walgreen’s; Wal-mart; Retailers everywhere.

Container:  Plastic tube with twist-off medium-sized tapered-brush wand, blister package

Description:  L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara is a readily-available water resistant, not waterproof, mascara.  This fragrance-free mascara is sold by most retailers and can be removed with a regular facial cleanser.  This mascara is good for most users.  It is fiber free and is suitable for those with contact lenses or sensitive eyes.  L’Oreal also makes a good Voluminous primer that can be used with this mascara.  I would recommend the primer if you have very thin or sparse lashes.  L’Oreal used to make this in a Full Definition version which performed even better with no clumps at all.  I have no idea why they discontinued the superior product.

For detailed information on mascara formulas and finding the best one for you, please see Mascara 101 in the Help menu.

L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara is primarily a volumizing and thickening mascara although I find it also adds a little length to my lashes.  This is good for anyone who has thin or sparse eyelashes.  The Carbon Black color option is a deep jet black that will help to accentuate and add definition to your eyes.

The company claims, “Separates and builds lashes. 5x fuller lashes. Bold volume.”

Morning Review:  Due to my allergies and sensitivities I have a difficult time with mascaras.  Most of them make my eyes burn and turn bright red, which is not pretty.  I find it shocking that a lot of mascaras contain fragrance.  This one does not and I can tolerate it well.  I also use this on my clients with allergies and sensitivities with no ill effects.

The wand has nylon brush bristles, not plastic nubs.  It is medium sized.  I would prefer that it be a tad smaller, but this one is not bad.  It does have a slight taper at the end.  The rubber collar at the top does a pretty good job of removing some of the mascara, but there is still too much for my taste and I have to scrape some of it back into the tube prior to application.  It goes on well without too much clumping.  I use two coats.  It makes my lashes look much thicker, but not spiky.  The Carbon Black is my favorite color as it is the deepest of the black colors in this formula.  This does not have any fibers or give you that “false eyelash” look, but it does a very good job for a fiber-free mascara.

Please see my Help page for mascara application tips.

Morning Rating = 4 stars4 Stars

Evening Review:  After several hours the mascara stayed on and did not flake off.  It also did not smudge or cause any irritation issues.  For me, this is a huge victory.  I used an eye makeup remover and all of it was easily removed.

Overall Review:  L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara is a very good mascara.  It goes on well and performs well over time.  It is not perfect, but for the price, it is an excellent value.  Since I buy so much of it for use on clients and replace it frequently, this is a good choice for me.  I have used this on clients with long, short, thin, thick and sparse lashes and it has performed beautifully in every situation.

L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara is suitable for the following users:

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Thin lashes;
  • Sparse lashes;
  • Dry lashes;
  • Brittle lashes;
  • Contact wearers;
  • Sensitive eyes;
  • Deep set or hooded eyes.

Please see the Help page to determine your eyelash type.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Evening Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 4 stars4 Stars;

Value Rating  = 4 stars4 Stars;

Overall Rating = 4 stars4 Stars, Excellent.

(Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara 1L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara 2L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara 3

Ingredients:  AQUA / WATER / EAU, PARAFFIN, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, CERA ALBA / BEESWAX / CIRE D’ABEILLE, STEARIC ACID, TRIETHANOLAMINE ACACIA / ACACIA SENEGAL GUM, CARNAUBA / CARNAUBA WAX / CIRE DE CARNAUBA, PALMITIC ACID, DIMETHICONOL, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, PANTHENOL, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, SODIUM POLYMETHACRYLATE, METHYLPARABEN, PEG/PPG-17/18 DIMETHICONE, 2-OLEAMIDO-1,3-OCTADECANEDIOL, PROPYLPARABEN, SIMETHICONE, BHT, POLYQUATERNIUM-10

[+/- MAY CONTAIN: CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77491 / IRON OXIDES, CI 77007 / ULTRAMARINES, CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CI 77266 / BLACK 2, MICA, CI 75470 / CARMINE, CI 77510 / FERRIC FERROCYANIDE, CI 77288 / CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS, CI 77289 / CHROMIUM HYDROXIDE GREEN].

Formulated Without:  Artificial Fragrance.

Lancôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover

Product:  Today’s product is Lancôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover.  Does this product do all that it claims?

Overall Rating = 2+ stars2.75 Stars – Okay to Good

Cost:   $15.00 1.7 oz. ($8.82 per fluid ounce)  Price Category:  Expensive

Sold By:  Lancôme; Sephora; Major department stores everywhere

Container:  Plastic bottle with child-proof screw-off lid (push down while turning)

Description:   This is a clear liquid remover for all forms of eye makeup.  According to the manufacturer it is, “Gentle enough for sensitive eyes” and “Ophthalmologist-tested”.  This is not a fragrance-free product and parfum (fragrance) is the third from the last ingredient.

Before I begin the review I must state that I am not now, nor have I ever been, a fan of Lancôme products.  Not because they don’t perform well (they do), but because I don’t support some of their ingredients, especially the high concentration of fragrance and unnecessary chemical additives in their products.  I decided to buy several Lancôme products to review because they have such a cult following.  I wanted to really put them through numerous tests for quality and effectiveness to ascertain what others see in these products that I do not.

Everyone needs a good eye makeup remover that doesn’t burn, sting, and leave an oily film on their eyes.  The Lancôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover is a bi-phase formula.  It contains a lipid layer (oily cleansing layer) and a water layer.  Simply put, this is similar to an oil-and-vinegar salad dressing.  The ingredients will separate when left standing.  You must shake the product well to temporarily combine the ingredients.  When shaken, the liquid will change from two clear liquids to one milky-looking liquid.  Oil and water are not miscible (don’t mix) but can form emulsions when shaken or stirred together.  (Enough for the chemistry lesson.)

Morning Review:  I like to use this product with a sterile fresh cotton swab each time.  A little goes a long way.  This remover does have a very slight oily feel to it, but the consistency is closer to water than oil.  There is a light floral scent.  This remover effectively removes all eye makeup, including waterproof mascara and gel eyeliner.  It does not burn or sting my eyes or make them water, but the fragrance additive makes my nose run.  Personally, I do not want fragrance anywhere on my face, especially my eyes.  The remover is quickly absorbed into the skin and does not leave an oily residue.  I always rinse off any eye makeup remover prior to the application of skin-care and makeup products but you don’t have to rinse this off if you don’t want to.

Morning Rating = 3 stars3 Stars for effectiveness, 2 stars2 Stars for making my nose run = 2+ stars2.5 Stars

Evening Review:  At the end of the day the skin around my eyes does not feel tight or irritated.  This product effectively removes all eye makeup including stubborn and difficult-to-remove products.   My makeup wipes do not find any traces of eye makeup.

Overall Review:  Lancôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover is a very good eye makeup remover for all skin types and is gentle enough for those with contact lenses.  This is not an appropriate product for those with fragrance allergies.   This remover is suitable for both women and men who wear eye makeup.  (Yes, more and more men are wearing eye makeup now.)  My only negative is the fragrance additive.  Also, it is on the more expensive end.  After using it many times, I do not like this remover nearly as well as my usual fragrance-free eye makeup remover which costs less.  (Please see the review for the competitor’s product here.)

I have sensitive eyes and this product does not bother me, but some people are hyper-sensitive and Lancôme does make Effacil, a gentler product, which does not contain the lipid layer.  The primary difference between the two products is that Bi-Facil will remove waterproof mascara or gel eyeliner and Effacil will not.

Lancôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover is suitable for the following skin types:

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Dry;
  • Sensitive (not if your sensitivity is fragrances);
  • Consistent;
  • Oily;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 2+ stars2.5 Stars;

Evening Rating = 2+ stars2.5 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 4 stars4 Stars;

Value Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Overall Rating = 2+ stars2.75 Stars – Okay to Good.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Lancôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover

Ingredients:  Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Sodium Chloride, Poloxamer 184, Hexylene Glycol, Dipotassium Phosphate, Benzyl Alochol, Potassium Phosphate, Quaternium-15, Benzalkonium Chloride, Parfum, Citronellol, Geraniol.

 Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.