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.