Marc Jacobs Lash Lifter Mascara : Product Review

The week already started and I'm already a day behind. In my defense, I left my camera at the office all weekend, so I couldn't get anything done in my time off. I am going to be recording/uploading a video tomorrow night, so keep an eye out for that! Today's review is a mascara that I got as a "luxe" sample from Sephora a few weeks ago; the Marc Jacobs Lash Lifter Gel Mascara in Blacquer. 

The Facts

Price: $26

Amount of Product: .24 oz

Number of Shades: 1

Claim: "Innovation for your eyes only. This next-generation mascara combines an innovative, triangular brush with exclusive E-Lash-Tic Lash™ technology to create the ultimate glossy lashes. The special formula contains micro-crystalline powders that coat and stretch your lashes for maximum length, definition, and curl, while providing a rich, smooth application that never clumps. Available in the blackest, shiniest black on the market, Lash Lifter Gel Volume Mascara will make your lashes flake-proof, run-proof, and life-proof. "

Formula: I think that one of the most important things about a mascara is the formula and knowing what you like in a mascara formula. The Marc Jacobs mascara is a gel formula, but it's a very, very wet mascara. I've only been using this for about two weeks, but it hasn't gotten much drier in the time that I've been using it; it has definitely maintained the wet feel and look. I assume that the gel formula has a major part in that and the fact that it's meant to create a shiny look on the lashes means that it will continue to be wet. This only comes in a regular formula, no waterproof available. 

Brush: The brush is made of bristles, not plastic formed like many of the new mascaras on the market. I favor traditional bristled brushes, so I really like that aspect of this mascara. In their claims, it's states that it's an "innovative, triangular brush", but I honestly didn't even notice that this is triangular. It works and looks like a typical brush head. Not bad, not amazing; it just is.

Color: This mascara is a true black; you shouldn't have any worries that this will show up gray or off black... it's blackest black for sure.

pre-mascara

post-mascara

Volume, Length, and Flaking: I'm going to address flaking first because it can be boiled down to this: there is no flaking. I got absolutely zero flaking using this mascara. A+ in that category.

As for volume and length, I need to give my standard forewarning; I have naturally long and thick eyelashes, but I'm still extremely judgmental about mascara. Ok, that aside, let's dig into those two categories. This is a fantastic lengthening mascara and I am going to attribute that to the wet consistency of the formula. When I wear this mascara, I feel like my lashes are a million miles long. It was actually really odd to start using this after having come off of using Chanel Inimitable Intense and YSL Babydoll (review for that coming soon), which are both much drier and in turn, not as lengthening. I absolutely love the length I get with this mascara.

The volume however... it just isn't there. I'm a bit confused because the description of this mascara calls it "Lash Lifter Gel Volume Mascara" but the product is actually called the "Lash Lifter Gel Definition Mascara". Either way, this mascara just doesn't have the oomph that other mascaras does and again, I'll go ahead and attribute that to the formula. It's incredibly hard to build volume on your lashes with an extremely wet mascara.

Does it deliver on its claim? Yes... I think. Aside from that goof up on the name (I'm assuming it's a goof up), it pretty much delivers on everything; it doesn't flake, it isn't clumpy, it's glossy, and it realyl lengthens the lashes. 

Final Verdict: I know that this review has been very positive, but I think I would tell most people to skip this. The reason for that is that this is just such an average mascara in terms of what it does. Yes, it's nice, but it's not extraordinary and for $26 it should be extraordinary. Since it only lengthens my lashes (and makes them dark, obviously) and doesn't add any volume, I feel like I'm missing out on a major component of mascara. I do really like the sample, but I think that I could find 8 drugstore mascaras that do the same thing. I also need to mention this, because it drives me crazy, but this mascara is a pain in the ass to remove. Since it's a gel based formula, it comes off in weird little chunks and I have to wipe at my eyes multiple times to get it all off. 

Basically, what I'm telling you is skip this and hit up the drugstore instead.

Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara : Product Review

Fancy mascara; more often than not, I do not buy mascara anywhere other than the aisles of the drugstore. I have long been an advocate of drugstore mascara, but when I saw that Nordstrom was doing their bi-annual Mascara Madness event, I couldn't help but pick up a few goodies. Quick side note, Mascara Madness is a buy two, get one free event; I picked up three mascaras and will eventually review them all for you! The first up on the chopping block is Chanel's Inimitable Intense, which is housed in a plastic container. Honestly, for a $30 mascara, I expected the packaging to be a bit more luxurious, but we'll get to that later.

The Facts

Price: $30

Amount of Product: .21 fl oz.

Number of Shades: 4

Claim: "This technologically advanced formula builds on the success of the original mascara, delivering dramatic effects with a unique brush. The result is a more intense lash look, with the same easy application. Lashes appear longer, thicker and more curled, yet each lash, even the finest, is still precisely separated – without clumping, spiking or flaking." 

Shade that I used: 10 - Noir

Packaging: Like I said up above, the packaging on this is very plastic and not necessarily in a good way. I own several pieces of Chanel makeup and my biggest complaint about all of them is how cheap the packaging feels. I don't know about you guys, but for me, if I'm spending $30 on mascara or $43 on a blush, I want that packaging to feel luxurious. That doesn't mean heavy, but just better than what you're getting here. I do like that all black tube with the silver detailing though, very classy looking.

I have to add this to the packaging section, because I'm not sure where else this would go, but the area where you pull the applicator out gets very messy, very quickly! I'm one of those people that's kind of psychotic about keeping my makeup clean and presentable looking (this is the only part of my life like this, I'm a very messy person) and it just gets too much excess mascara on it. It drives me insane.

Applicator: This is a plastic brush with short bristles; not your traditional spoolie brush. I tried to snap a photo quickly to show you, but it isn't the best quality, so I apologize. The plastic "bristles" are actually fairly fine, which I enjoy quite a bit.

Color: I feel like this is an odd thing to include, but if you've used numerous mascara brands, then you know that sometimes black doesn't always translate to black. I'm happy to say that the Chanel mascara is a very nice black, but not the blackest mascara that I've ever used. 

Formula: This is a rather dry mascara and it is not waterproof. As far as I know, the Inimitable Intense does not come in waterproof, but the original Inimitable does.

Volume, Length, and Flaking: As I said up above, this is a drier formula, which is typically great for building volume and this mascara is no exception. I have fairly thick lashes on my own, but I can see the mascara grabbing each lash to increase it's diameter (something that more liquid-y formulas don't do as well until you've had them a few weeks). I'm a horrible person to have judge any mascara on it's lengthening abilities since I also have fairly long lashes, but this does extend them nicely. I wouldn't normally thinking of a drier mascara to have great lengthening abilities, but this grips onto the ends of your lashes and coats them nicely.

And now lets get to flaking. I have been wearing this mascara every day for about the past two months and I am fairly certain that I have had it flake on me every single day that I've worn it. It is not, by any means, substantial flaking; it does not get all over my face and it doesn't smudge, but I do see little flakes under my lash line every day.

On the other hand, this mascara is some of the softest mascara I've felt on my lashes in a long time. I had been using Lancôme Hypnôse Star previously and that stuff turns your lashes into little blocks of cement. Chanel's mascara keeps your lashes as soft as I've probably ever felt with a mascara on them (aside from Maybelline Full & Soft); that's a monstrous win in my book.

Does it deliver on its claim? I think it delivers on pretty much everything except for its flaking claims. I just get too many flakies for that to be true, even if they're only small flakes, they're still there. The volume, length, and definition claims check out though.

Final Verdict: You know what, I'm not really going to give you a final verdict. If you like drugstore priced mascara, there's no way that you are going to buy a $30 mascara; you know that and I know that. If you ever get an itch and want to try out an expensive mascara to see what they're like, this is a perfectly acceptable one. If you do buy high end mascaras, then I would recommend this to you. The small flakiness is not enough to deter me from recommending it since it does make your lashes look really nice AND it keeps them very soft; never crunchy.

Revlon Lash Potion Mascara : Product Review

When this mascara came out a few months ago, I remember that my friend Becca sent me a text and asked me to buy it and review. At the time, I said no because I had about 6 different mascaras lined up to use and review, but somehow, someway, this bottle of Revlon Lash Potion mascara wormed its way into my basket at Target (ok, I basically got it for free due to a sale and coupons). Is this mascara any good? Does it make your lashes as pretty as the bottle looks? Keep reading to find out my thoughts on it!

Clump Crusher : Product Review

I feel like everyone and their dog has been talking about Covergirl's Clump Crusher; it's basically the biggest thing in drugstore mascara since Covergirl Lash Blast. I am not one for plastic brushes and I will state that right off the bat, but I have been surprised by some brands, so I thought I would give this a try. Keep reading to find out what I think about this mascara.

Easy Eye Pick Me Ups : How To

 

There are always quick tips and tricks to freshen up your look, but people don't always explain them with visual evidence. A lot of magazines and websites will simply describe them to you because they think that the idea is simple enough that everyone should just understand it. Well, I think that's pretty dumb or maybe it's just because I'm a visual learner, but I always think that the photographic evidence helps people learn something that is, well, visual. Keep reading to see how to implement two very simple, very quick pick me ups for your eyes.

Two mascaras : Regrets

I think that one of the best things about cosmetics companies and beauty subscription services is that they absolutely love to send out mascara samples. I have so many mascara samples that I will probably never have to buy mascara ever again. I love it because it gives you the opportunity to try out lots of different types of mascara and find the really really good ones. Unfortunately, these two mascaras are not ever going to enter my category of favorite mascaras and keep reading to find out why.

Smudged Smoky Eye : Tutorial

I feel like I need to post tutorials every Tuesday so that I can coin it "Tutorial Tuesday". Regardless, I thought it was time for another tutorial and today, we are going to venture into the world of the smoky eye. The greatest thing about a smoky eyes is that even the most simple smoky eye can look sexy as hell. This smoky eye is incredibly easy to achieve with minimal tools. Keep reading after the jump to see what you need and how to get this look.

Better than False Lashes : Product Review

Better than False Lashes : Too Faced

False Lashes. These two words may strike fear into your heart. In fact, I think that out of all makeup products, there are two that terrify people the most. One being the eyelash curler, which I fully understand*, and the second being false eyelashes, which I used to fully understand. False eyelashes don't scare me, I think that they're actually fairly simple to use, but I get why people don't like them/don't know how to use them. If you've ever worn falsies, you know that the process of putting them on/taking them off can be a little time consuming and some days, you just don't want that. Since eye makeup is my absolute favorite thing of the makeup world, I was intrigued when I found the Too Faced Better than False Lashes product. I put off buying this for a long time because, well, it's expensive. This system is $35 and I really didn't want to buy it and then be disappointed. Keep reading for a full review and fun-sized tutorial.