
Hey guys,
I bought this mascara ages ago as I thought I might like it based on some of the things I’d heard about it. I’ve been using this mascara for about 2-3 weeks now and I’d like to share my thoughts on it with you today. Although 2-3 weeks is not very long, it’s one that I’ve used enough to know what I think about it.
I like my mascaras to do a lot for my lashes. Typically, I like the following from my mascaras: definition, length, longevity, no flaking or smudging, opacity (I want my mascaras to be super black), separation and volume. I want my lashes to be long, volumised, separated and defined.
The only mascara I have ever tried that gives me all of those things is the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir mascara (reviewed here). That is my ultimate mascara.
I guess I’ll start with the packaging. When I take the wand out of the tube there is a LOT of product on the wand, so the excess has to be wiped off and I usually just wipe it on the tube and never have an issue. However, with this mascara, the product tends to clog and get all over the bar from the lid to the wand, and when I screw the lid on, the product tends to bulge out of the top of the tube and get all around the outside of it.
It’s quite messy and the first time I used this, I didn’t realise the mascara was on the outside of the tube and it got all over everything it came into contact with in the drawer, resulting in a lot of cleaning.
It’s impossible to get off. It is literally like glue. The first time I used this, I had to use a lot of cleansing oil to remove it, and even then, I didn’t get it all off. I had to stop after a bit as my eyes were red, sore and irritated from all the rubbing.
Even when I was removing the mascara from the outside of the tube and the other items it got on, I had to use an oil cleanser to break it down. I had to do this a few times to get it off fully.

The wand is a nice shape and size. It’s not too big or small. CoverGirl claim that “this ultra-volumizing mascara creates full, defined lashes after just one coat”, and I definitely do not agree with that at all. The mascara however is quite a dry formula, so it takes a couple (3-4 usually) coats to get an even coating on all lashes, which results in them looking spidery. Not quite the look I go for with my lashes and not what I want in a masara.
The other times I have worn this, I’ve used 2 coats and no more, as it’s easier to get off and doesn’t result in red, sore, irritated eyes. The downside is, my lashes are not evenly coated and they have barely any length or volume. I personally need to use 3-4 coats to get some volume and length, and even with that many coats, I don’t get the volume or length I like.
CoverGirl also claim that this mascara doesn’t smudge or flake, but in my experience, it does both. If you rub your inner corner, it will smudge, if your eyes water or you cry, it will smudge. It flakes throughout the day, it’s not the worst flaking I’ve experienced, but it does happen. With mild flaking I can normally look past it if I like the mascara, but because I don’t like this mascara, I struggle to look past it. Petty? Maybe, but combined with everything else, this mascara is a fail for me.
CoverGirl also suggest using their Exhibitionist Mascara Primer first for an even bigger lash boost. I don’t have and never have had this primer so I can’t say whether it works alongside the mascara or not, but I will say that I don’t like having to buy an extra product just to make something work for me. It should work well enough on its own without needing a boost from something else. If you were going to get that product anyway then its no biggie, but if you have to buy it especially to make something work…. that’s a red flag for me.
If the product wasn’t so dry and I could evenly coat all my lashes with one or two (or even three) coats and it was easier to remove, I’d like it I guess, but it wouldn’t be one that I’d repurchase because of the work that would be involved in applying in. It’s definitely not something I would repurchase anyhow as it’s too much effort and doesn’t give me the results I want.
It’s not an expensive mascara, it’s between $8 and $12 USD depending on where you buy it and it’s around $24 AUD in Australia. So, whilst it’s not the most expensive (in the US at least), it’s not one I’d recommend. There are, just as affordable mascaras out there that are better and take a lot less effort to apply and remove, that offer better results too.
If you’ve tried this mascara, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it and what your experience with it was. Let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading, until next time, take care xx
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