Deborah Milano Kajal Pencil 120 Review

This is a review of Deborah Milano Kajal Pencil in shade 120. It comes in many shades, but shades are mentioned as numbers and not names.

Price: INR 250 (Increased from INR 160 to INR 200 to INR 250 now)

Quantity: Not mentioned anywhere

Shelf Life: 36 Months from mfg date. To be used within 36 months from first use or expiry date, whichever earlier.

Made in Italy

It is a bluish black Kajal that looks very close to black and the blue shows up only in bright light. It contains some micro glitters, which give this kajal a metallic finish. I did not know about the glitters until I clicked the pictures.

This Kajal pencil is very soft and creamy and glides easily. The micro shimmer particles cannot be felt on the skin. But is it worth buying? Read on.

This is how this shade looks in different lighting

BRAND CLAIMS:

A soft pencil that leaves ultra-deep colour.
Easy to blend in. Safe for use also inside the lashline.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH DEBORAH MILANO KAJAL PENCIL 120

I like lining my waterline but I am neither a fan of Kajals, nor of sharpenable eye pencils. I still use my retractable Chambor Waterproof eyeliner pencil on my waterline. This is first time I have tried a non-black Kajal.

The soft tip keeps breaking while sharpening, which is total product wastage and no value for money. Also, there is no way to get a  pointed tip.

Can you see wood particles on the pencil tip?
This is why I don't like sharpenable eye pencils
Or may be I need a better sharpener

The first time I applied Deborah Milano Kajal on my waterline, it stung my waterline really bad. There were some strong fumes that made my eyes water instantly and vision was blurred. It reminded me of Amway Artistry Black Eye Pencil, which behaved the same way and I had ultimately trashed that.

After first few tries, I disliked it and it kept lying for a few months until I retried it recently for this review. Here's my experience:

1. After all these months in storage, the stinging has reduced considerably, but it still makes my eyes water and forces me to blink more frequently.
2. After applying on waterline, it instantly blurs vision to some extent.
3. I felt some dryness in my eyes and when I wiped a finger on the surface of my eyes, a layer came off on my fingertips.
4. From waterline, it gets transferred to the entire surface of the eye and forms a layer there, which affects vision. Definitely a NO NO for contact lens wearers and company's claim of 'safe for using inside waterline' goes completely wrong here.
5. Smudges within 10 minutes of application, without even touching and the weather is not even very hot yet.
6. In 2 hours, it smudges down further towards the cheeks and settles into fine lines, giving you panda eyes like you get with traditional home made Kajal.
7. Tried as an eyeliner, but it is not very pigmented and smudges there also while applying. You need several swipes for the color to show up nice.

Can you see the water in my eye?

The only way it worked for me is when I tightlined my lower lash line with it and wore it with a nude lipstick. It looked very pretty that way, even with the smudge.

I personally do not trust Italian cosmetic brands as I have a poor experience with them, including the Lord and Berry Mascara and the Radico Italiano Hair Color, besides this Kajal Pencil.

The shade is pretty though and I would like to try this color in some other good brand with better color stay.

DEBORAH MILANO KAJAL PENCIL 120 INGREDIENTS:

Complete ingredient list is given.

I studied the ingredients. Most of them are safe and do not get deeply absorbed into the skin except BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene), which is a known skin irritant and gets absorbed up to 13% into the skin. This could be the one causing the irritation. You can read more about BHT health impacts HERE. Then there is Ethylparaben too, but I am sure almost all cosmetics would have one or the other paraben as preservative.

I personally think this is not an impressive product unless you like really messy smudgy Kajal, besides the sting.

Contact Lenses and MakeUp

I remember years ago when someone would get a new pair of contact lenses, the doctor would definitely tell them two things: Do NOT wear eye makeup and do NOT keep long nails. We have come quite far from those times and both contact lenses and makeup have evolved much since then.

If you wear soft contact lenses (I don't know anybody who still wears the old conventional hard lenses), you can definitely wear eye make-up. Just make sure to follow these basic tips and rules for the most comfortable and healthy experience with eye makeup:

THE DOs:

• Wear your contact lenses BEFORE you start applying makeup and remove them BEFORE you start removing makeup. Most contact lens advertisements show models with heavy eye-makeup inserting lenses, which is a wrong representation. Lenses: FIRST IN FIRST OUT.
• If you like to wear makeup on your waterline, please do some good research before buying your eye-makeup. Use only opthalmologically tested eye makeup on waterline.
• Do not use liquid eyeliner on waterline as it may get into the eye when wet and may also get under the lens if it flakes on drying.
• Use oil-free and fragrance-free eye makeup. Do NOT use eye pencils/Kajals that emit fumes and make your eyes water.
• Avoid wooden eye pencils that require sharpening. The sharp wooden edges may tear your lenses while applying makeup and you won't even come to know. Use twist up pencils (Eg Chambor stay on waterproof eyeliner pencil) or makeup brushes to apply makeup.
• Use waterproof mascara and eyeliner even though it requires extra time to remove and also a makeup remover. I personally prefer waterproof eye makeup as it does not get into your eyes even if you happen to get wet or if you are the emotional kinds who cries a lot;)
• Apply eye shadow and liner gently, so you don't put pressure on your eyelid ending up damaging your lenses.
• Try applying mascara, starting from a little far from the base of lashes. Avoid mascaras with lash-building formula as they contain nylon fibres which may wither and fall into the eyes, scratching both the eye and the lenses.
• Use a good eye shadow primer to make your eye shadow stay longer and to prevent eye shadow particles from falling into the eyes.
• Replace eyeliner and mascara every three months. Most eye makeup is anyways meant to be used within 3-6 months of opening but people usually keep using it for longer, which is not good.
• Always use clean hands to apply eye makeup to prevent eye infections and store makeup in a cool, dark place away from dust.
• If you wear contact lenses first thing in the morning till very late in the night, don't use oil based makeup remover as the oil remains in the eye and eyelids and may cause blurry vision and also deposit on lenses.
• Remove all eye makeup every day using a hypoallergenic and oil-free makeup remover, no matter how tired you are.
• Try to place your dressing table/ makeup mirror in a well-lit area so you do not have to widen your eyes to be able to see clearly while applying eye makeup.
• Never ever touch the tip of the lens solution bottle while doing makeup or otherwise as this may contaminate the solution.

MAKEUP DON'Ts

• Don't wear eye lenses and eye makeup if your eyes are red, swollen, watering or infected.
• Don't share eye makeup.
• Don't share contact lenses.
• Avoid powder makeup or non-opthalmologically tested products on your waterline.
• Do NOT wear your lenses when you go to a hair salon. Any fumes from the sprays used there can damage your lenses.
• Do NOT wear your lenses when getting your hair colored, permed or any other chemical treatment.
• Do NOT use aerosols (hairspray, deodorants etc.) with your eyes open, when wearing lenses. Just close your eyes when spraying and immediately move away from that room as the aerosol particles will remain in the air for some time after the spray.
• Do NOT wear lenses with freshly applied nailpaint on your fingers, if your nail paint smells highly of chemical fumes. Or apply nailpaint after wearing lenses.

What to do if you experience redness/irritation?

Take off your lenses immediately. Causes of irritation could be:

• Torn or broken lens
• Make-up or eyelashes trapped under your lens
• High level of protein deposits or makeup debris on your lenses
• Prolonged wear beyond the recommended hours (particularly for conventional yearly lenses and not for disposable lenses)
• Dryness in the eyes because of working in dry weather conditions or sitting long hours in front of computer.

Feel free to go to a doctor if problem still persists.

GOOD NEWS FOR CONTACT LENS WEARERS: 

Do you know that people who wear contact lenses can actually do their eye makeup more confidently and comfortably, since they will have a very steady hand at that as compared to people who don't wear lenses?

Human body is designed such that when an object or your hand approaches near your eyes, the eyes send signals to the brain that a 'foreign' body is approaching and brain tells the eyelids to shut and protect the eyes. This is why hands shake and eyelids flutter when you try to apply eyeliner and many women are not able to apply neat eyeliner because of this.

When people are trained to wear contact lenses, the eyes slowly adapt to the hand coming near the eyes and putting the lenses inside. So they stop seeing your hand as a 'foreign' body and no longer 'react' when you bring your hand near your eyes to do eye makeup :)

WHAT TO DO IF EYELINER OR EYE MAKEUP GETS INTO EYES?

If ever eyeliner or eye makeup gets into your eyes and under the lens, and also smears your lens, remove the lens immediately. Wipe clean the eye with a cloth/towel dipped in clean water. Do not dash water into the eye to avoid the rest of the makeup getting into eyes. 

Clean the lens with lens solution. If the eye is still watering a lot, try wearing the lens again only after some time gap.

Call your eye care professional if you have any redness, pain, swelling or irritation.

CONTACT LENSES AND LONG NAILS:

Contact lens wearers are asked NOT to keep long Nails though I do NOT know a single woman who would like to agree to that :) If you like to keep long nails, please take extra care and patience while cleaning, rinsing and wearing/removing your lenses. Nails can damage/cut your soft lenses. Sometimes there is such a minute damage in the outer circumference of the lens that you can't even figure out but it stings like needles in the eyes. So please be careful even if it is like second nature to you.

OPTHALMOLOGICALLY SAFE EYE MAKEUP:

Maybelline eye-makeup is good and cheaper, but it is not opthalmologically tested and also stings on the waterline, therefore unsafe for contact lens wearers. A few Revlon products also sting eyes badly (Eg Revlon Fabuliner). 

Many good brands (L'Oreal, Chambor etc.) make opthalmologically tested eye makeup which is safe for contact lens wearers, just do your research. Read many product reviews before buying eye makeup. It definitely pays.

Please share any other valuable points you know of. Thanks for reading!

For more information on contact lens care and handling, please read the previous article HERE.

LORD & BERRY Mascare Black 1350 Review

This is a review for LORD & BERRY Mascare High Definition and Treatment - Black 1350. Other names: Lord & Berry Mascare eyelash code 1350, Lord & Berry treatment mascara, Lord & Berry Wardrobe Mascara. The 1350 variation is available only in India. Internationally, 1351 is available as the wardrobe mascara. I am not sure of the difference.

I wanted to do this review for a long time, but had mixed feelings for this product. I didn’t find ANY reviews for it, when I bought it. But I have now used it extensively. So this review is as honest as can be.

Product	Black Treatment Mascara for sensitive eyes
Quantity	10ml / 0.34 FL OZ
Price	INR 890 (Not mentioned on the package). Available for Rs 699 at urbantouch.com.
Shelf Life	Not mentioned on the pack. To be used within 6 months of opening.
Make	Made in Italy
Package Description	LORD & BERRY treatment mascara enriched with LXB Complex. Opthalmologically tested, for sensitive eyes. MASCARE: High definition, Volume and Treatment.
Details mentioned on online store	Lord & Berry Mascare Black 1350 is supremely soft and creamy texture. Never gets smudgy or blurry. Magically seals in 30 seconds. Long-lasting and water-resistant. Opthalmologically tested and safe for sensitive eyes.

Lord & Berry is an Italian brand in business since 1992 and is presently selling in 25 countries. I first saw this brand on goodlife.com, when searching for a black waterproof mascara. I actually wanted to buy their Raincoat Waterproof mascara, but that went out of stock on goodlife.com. I needed one for an upcoming party, so bought this water-resistant alternative from urbantouch.com.

UNIQUE QUALITIES CLAIMED BY THE BRAND:

MASCARE is a holistic approach to mascara that strengthens and treats lashes, as well as enhances their volume, definition and length. It is infused with Silk Proteins, Panthenol and Vitamin E to keep lashes fit. Black metallic pigments give colour, both light reflecting and defining. Mascare is an ‘Eyelash Spa’: healing and beautifying lashes simultaneously.

MY TAKE ON THESE CLAIMS:

High Definition: Somewhat, makes lashes look black and long.

Volume: NO Volume.

Treatment: Not sure. But it does not make lashes hard like other mascaras.

Opthalmologically tested and for sensitive eyes: Though the formula itself doesn’t sting, it withers off in very small black particles (highlighted in the pic below in pink stars) which at times get into the eyes and cause irritation.

It takes a while to master applying this mascara as the tip of the wand is unusually long, and needs a lot of precision to handle. I have usually seen women craning their neck forward near the mirror and opening their eyes WIDE open to apply mascara. But if you do that with this mascara, you will only end up with a lot of black mess around your eyes.

HOW TO APPLY?

This mascara has a very particular way of applying it, especially if you have long lashes. Have you ever watched eye makeup being applied to models on TV? Well, that’s how this and any other mascara should be applied to get well defined highlighted lashes, without straining your eyes, neck and hand.

For the upper eyelashes: tilt the head back and look down. Apply starting from the roots and sweeping towards the tips.

For the lower eyelashes: tilt the head forward and look up.

Lord & Berry Mascara 1350 with black withering particles highlighted in stars.

THE PLUSES:

1. Smell: Very light soothing sweet natural scent. No perfume.
2. Very pigmented. Gives a RICH black color to lashes.
3. Gives impression of lengthening.
4. Seals in quickly.
5. Comes off simply with a splash of water into my eyes, without even a hint of burning. But you do need to clean the blackness from your face in that case.

THE MINUSES:

1. No volume, some definition to the lashes and yet a very big price tag. It is sold as water resistant and still costlier than the leading waterproof mascaras in the Indian market.
2. The packaging is full of flaws: The tube is not straight. There is a gap in the tube and the brush part (See pic below), which lets dust and air to enter. The bottle doesn’t stand and keeps falling. No expiry/mfg date or MRP mentioned.
3. Forget Eye Spa, I find broken lashes on my cheeks after removing, almost every time.
4. The black metallic particles in the formula keep withering off and settle on under eye and cheeks. Need to be brushed off every couple of hours. They also get into eyes at times and irritate them.
5. Not water resistant. Comes off easily in a splash of water and leaves panda eyes.
6. The tip of the wand being extra long, dirties the upper eyelids. So if you are using this along with eye shadow and other makeup, you need to redo the eyeshadow and eyeliner after the mascara. Too much effort.
7. Most cosmetics have to be used within 12 months from opening and this one has to be used just within 6 months.

THE FINAL VERDICT:

This mascara is nothing but plain black ink for your lashes with a very high price tag. If you just some rub petroleum jelly into your lashes, they will look equally black and shiny. It is a complete waste of money. When I look into the mirror, the lashes look highlighted. But caught on the camera, it is like you are not wearing mascara at all. As you can see in the ‘Before and After’ pic below, the lashes look the same in the two except for a little blacker in the pic with the mascara.

Do I recommend? No.

Will I buy again? Never. It was a mistake to buy this.


Can anyone recommend a good black waterproof volumising mascara?

MASCARA: All you need to create BEAUTIFUL LASHES

TIPS ON APPLYING MASCARA:

1. The first most important key to applying mascara without creating a mess, is to pull out the right quantity from the tube/mascara bottle. NEVER pull out the applicator wand from the bottle in one pull as it will bring out loads of formula. Slowly and gently ‘unscrew’ the wand out of the bottle in anti-clockwise twists.
2. Once the wand is out in your hand, wipe off the extra mascara at the tip of the wand against the bottle neck or on a tissue paper. If you don’t, this will dirty your nose and the area around the eyes, when applying mascara.
3. It’s a good idea to apply eye makeup shortly after having bath or washing your face, to lock moisture in your lash hair. But make sure there is no water or cream on your lashes, else it will make your mascara sticky not letting it dry properly.
4. Keep your mouth wide open when applying mascara. This stretches your upper and lower lids apart and helps apply mascara easily and neatly.
5. Hold the wand at an angle and start coating with the small lashes near the nose, on the inner side of your eyes. Then take up the longer lashes in the middle and move towards the end.
6. There is no rule as to applying 1-2-3 or 4 coats. I just keep coating till I get the desired result.
7. Don’t dip the wand again and again into the bottle. Just twist the wand to use all the mascara present on the bristles. That should be enough to give you several coatings on one eye. The moment you feel your lashes are about to stick, stop right there and let the mascara dry. Most times it will be alright once it dries.
8. Practice is the key. Don’t expect to get great lashes in the first time. Applying mascara beautifully comes with practice. You cannot get the same effect like they show in the ads, as those are false lashes. Learn to beautify what you have been gifted by nature.
9. Place the brush near the roots of the lashes and sweep upwards towards the tips. Repeat to build volume. At least 3-4 coats are required to highlight your eyes. Apply more if required.
10. If you want cat-like eyes with lashes looking longer on the outer sides of your eye, hold the brush in the middle of your lashes and sweep it towards the outer side in upward motion.
11. Go for a good waterproof or water-resistant mascara that does not run down on your face if you happen to get your face/eyes wet.
12. If your mascara gets wet, don’t try to wash it off to reapply. Just pat your lashes gently against a tissue paper and let the lashes dry. Then simply clean any black trails left on your face. Once dried, reapply mascara if required. Trying to clean/wipe wet mascara will only make it messy.
13. Always keep a separate set of paper roll and earbuds to clean your eye makeup. Let your mascara and eyeliner dry first, and then simply clean any blackness around your eye area using a wet Q-tip/soft earbud.
14. For tips on how to remove mascara properly, read here.

HOW TO CURL EYELASHES WITH MASCARA?

To create a curl, complete at least 3 continuous sweeps without letting the mascara dry. Then keep the brush near the roots of your lashes and start rolling the brush between your thumb and fingers moving upwards. Once you reach the tip of the lashes, press the tips backwards towards your eyes to create a curl, putting pressure with the applicator brush.  Hold the brush there for a few seconds while pressing down. This will give the curl time to dry and set in. Repeat.

You can get a good curl in just two curling strokes (3 simple+2curling strokes=beautiful lashes) Please know that this is bound to leave some extra mascara drops on your lash tips. Just delicately dab with a ball of tissue paper, holding it near the tips and pressing down the same way as described above. Don’t clean if you want to keep the volume.

Alternatively, after you have applied several coats, place the index (first) finger of each hand below your upper lash hair, glide the finger to the lash tips, and press your lashes backward towards your upper eyelid a few times. The mascara should dry and set into a curl in a few seconds. Clean your fingers.


To learn how to train your lashes to curl up naturally, read here.

WHY DOES YOUR MASCARA DRY?

Quite often people complain that a mascara is bad because it has dried up in the bottle. But it happens mostly due to poor handling than poor formula.

Always unscrew the wand out of the tube/bottle. Never pull out. This will help avoid wastage of your costly product and also ensure good neat application. Similarly, always screw the wand into the bottle, never pump/push it in. Pumping the wand into the bottle in one push will cause air to trap into the bottle and will make your formula become clumpy and dry.

Chambor Stay-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil Forever Black 301 Review

This is a review of Chambor Stay on Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil Forever Black 301. (Review updated on Sept 27, 2012). This eyeliner pencil is also available in two other shades: 303 Forever Blue and 306 Forever Navy.

 Chambor Stay-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil Forever Black 301 

 Chambor Stay-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil Forever Black 301 

Quantity: 0.28 gms

Best before date:  3 yrs/ 36 months

Made in Germany

Customer care: bpbp@baccarose.com / 1800220864

Price: Mentioned in the end

I was looking for an intensely black waterproof eyeliner pencil when I stumbled upon this one. This is very black and is comparable to the Maybeline Colossal Kajal, though this costs more than double the colossal kajal. But because the Chambor eyeliner pencil is both dermatologically and opthalmologically tested (which Colossal Kajal is not) I would rate this higher than the Maybelline Colossal Kajal and the higher price is justified. I consider this as one of the gentlest eyeliner pencils for my eyes.

BRAND CLAIMS:

Has a soft and creamy formula, with an intense and rich color base. This stay on waterproof pencil gives you the perfect look in simply a stroke.

Twist up – One Way, Water Proof – Stay on and Smudgeproof, Vitamin Enriched: Vitamin – E & A, No Animal Ingredients, Non – Comodogenic, Dermatologist Tested, Opthalmologist Tested

 This product lives up to the claims made by the brand, though the 'perfect look in a single stroke' claim is exaggerated. 

I use it on the waterline (both upper and lower) as Kajal and on the lower rim of the eye, as eyeliner. You do NOT get the perfect look in one stroke, but need several to and fro strokes to build the color to an intense black.

HOW TO APPLY

How to apply Chambor Stay-on Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil

As you can see in the picture, it is easier to apply Kajal and pencil eyeliners, if you latch your pinky (smallest finger) to the upper cheekbone for support, while gently pulling down the skin at the same time. I line a small portion at a time, to and fro and then move on and finish the entire line like this. 

Apply a few strokes and leave it for 1-2 minutes while you do other stuff (See Right Eye below). In this time, the base coat will set into the skin. Then apply more coats and you will get a very black, dry, matte beautiful finish that will stay very long (See Left Eye below). As a finishing touch, darken the eyeliner from the outer edge of your eye towards the middle.

Lower Waterline - Chambor Eyeliner Pencil Forever Black
Lower Rim Eyeliner -  Chambor Eyeliner Pencil Forever Black
Upper lid eyeliner - Revlon Fabuliner

Chambor Stay-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil Forever Black
on Waterline, Upper Eyelid and lower eye rim.

It does not give good coverage on the upper lid if used alone. The only way to use it as an upper lid eyeliner is to use it over an eye shadow, like you see in the pic above.

I prefer not to do that, as it sticks the eye shadow particles to the tip of the eyeliner pencil making it unsafe to be used on waterline. Plus, I personally like my upperlid eyeliner as shiny and not matte.

THE PLUSES

1. Glides as smoothly as silk on my lids and skin. After hurting my eyelids with sharpened wooden eyeliner pencils for years, this one came as a caring saviour.
2. Indeed waterproof. I have tested.
3. Doesn’t smudge even if you happen to rub your eyes, though it did smudge a little in extreme summers. Fades lightly from waterline after 2-3 hours depending on how watery your eyes are. Slightly fades from eyelids after 4-5 hours, with no blackness/mess around.
4. Matte finish. Once set, it doesn’t spread a bit, and helps your other eye makeup to stay put for long hours.
5. No need to sharpen, as this comes in a twist up packing.
6. Travel Friendly. Long, slim, light-weight pencil, easy to carry, easy to manoeuvre, easy to find in the purse as the length doesn’t decrease with use. Comes with a good tight fitting cap to keep it in good condition.
7. Enriched with Vitamins A and E. This is a plus if you use it on your waterline where it can be absorbed into the delicat e skin.
8. Non–Comodogenic, which means it does not clog skin pores and does not cause or promote blackheads. This makes it safe to use on the skin under the eyes.
9. Dermatologist Tested. Some other branded eyeliner pencils I tried in the past caused the skin under my eyes to swell up strangely and made my eyes baggy. This one has had absolutely no side effects. Very safe product.
10. Opthalmologist Tested. Safe to use on the waterline. Safe for contact lens users. Have tried it with contact lenses.
11. Fragrance free. My other pencil used to smell like some herbal oil and felt like some fumes were burning my eyes. This one pampers the eyes.
12. I noticed absolutely no chemical residue in my eyes. Comes off easily with makeup remover/wipes. I use oil.
13. This product has no animal ingredients and hence cruelty free.

THE MINUSES: 

1. You need to be careful that this pencil can only be twisted out, and cannot be twisted back in (eg. a lipstick twists both ways). If you happen to twist it out more, you cannot put back the extra pencil tip into the packing. Just 1-2 twists are sufficient to expose a one-time use amount.
2. Due to one-way twist packing, you can’t figure out how long will this product last or how much of it is left.
3. The 'perfect definition in one stroke' claim is exaggerated, you need more strokes.
4. The price is high for a just 0.28 gms (meaning 28 mgs?) packing.

AVAILABILITY:

Available at the Chambor outlets at Shopping Malls. You can check out the other store locations on their site www.chambor.com/stores-events.asp

Easily available online in India on 

medplusbeauty.com for INR 336.7

browsecart.com (INR 352)

slassy.com at MRP of INR 370, 

and many other online stores.

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MAYBELLINE NEW YORK the COLOSSAL VOLUM’ EXPRESS MASCARA REVIEW (Washable)

This is a detailed user review for Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara. This product comes in two variations: the washable one (yellow+purple package) and the waterproof one (yellow+sky blue package). This review is for the washable variation.

This is the first Maybelline mascara I have used. I have used Lord and Berry treatment mascara, Revlon waterproof Mascara and Almay lengthening mascara in brown in the past. This mascara does add drama to your lashes and highlights them beautifully. ‘M loving it’ more and more with every wear.

Product description on the mascara bottle/tube

MRP: Rs 275 (Inclusive of all taxes)

Net Content: 10.7 ml

Product life: 2.5 yrs from import date

Made in France

Any complaint, call consumer advisor on 1800 22 3000 or E-mail at advisor@maybellineindia.com

Product Claims:

Colossal Volume – in just one coat (the one coat claim is Incorrect)

No Clumps (Correct)

THE RESULTS

THE PLUSES

1.  Lengthens Eyelashes:  It gives you decent volume with several coats, but it actually makes lashes look EXTREMELY long and dramatic. It should rather be marketed as a lengthening mascara than a volume building one.

2.  Affordable: The product is fairly decently priced at Rs 275 for the kind of results you get. In fact, I found it better than my other mascara, which is 3-4 times costlier than this.

3.  Easy to Apply: The applicator wand is nicely bristled, has just the right length of the tip and easy to manoeuvre. I could apply several neat coats in just a few seconds and had to dip the wand in the bottle only twice, to get a good application.

4.  Not Messy: When you unscrew the wand out of the bottle, it brings out just the right amount of mascara to nicely coat both the lashes a few times. Does not dirty the area around your eyes while applying.

5.  Doesn’t Clump: The consistency of the mascara formula is perfect:  neither very thick, nor very watery, which is why it makes your lashes look naturally thick. Most reviews on the internet claiming that it does not give volume, are incorrect. In fact it does give decent volume, and very good length.

6.  Stays Very Long:  Does not come off with sweating or wetting. Does not spread smudge or wear off even after hours of wearing (I wear daily for at least 10-14 hrs in summer heat).  I even happened to doze off one night with this mascara on, and woke up to find it intact with no harm to the lashes.

7.  Gentle: Lashes do not feel hard or plastic like on wearing this mascara. My Revlon Waterproof mascara used to harden my eyelashes like plastic, giving me bad headache within an hour. I am wearing this Maybelline mascara comfortably till late night.

8.  Holds Curls: You don’t need to curl your lashes separately. While coating from root to tips, just put a little pressure on your lash tips to make them curly and repeat several times. Let it dry.  The curl will stay till you remove the mascara.

9.  Beautifully separates Eyelashes: Since I applied several coats, the ends of my lengthened eye lashes started sticking to each other. I dabbed lightly with a tissue paper and let dry. The lashes came out beautiful and separate on drying.

10. No broken lashes: Unlike my other costly mascara, this mascara does not cause my eye lashes to break, touchwood.

11. Contact lenses friendly: The best part, I even wore it with contact lenses without any problem, itching or irritation.

12. Foolproof packing: Comes in a sturdy plastic packing that won’t break upon dropping. Won’t leak. It comes in a bold bright yellow tube, helping you find it easily in your dark lining purse.

THE MINUSES

1.Sometimes irritates on contact with water: The packaging does not say if it is opthalmologically tested or not. Upon first wear, I felt slight irritation at the root of my lashes and had to scratch the skin every few hours. Most times, I comfortably wear it for at least 7-10 hours. But whenever the mascara happens to get even slightly wet, the chemical releases into the eyes and irritates. It is not waterproof and it is the same with all non-waterproof eye makeup items.

2. Chemical Smell: Smells like some eye medication or may be fountain pen ink, though it smells better than the ewww smell of waterproof mascaras.

3. Less Volume than claimed: The brand’s claim of colossal volume in just one coat is exaggerated. You do get decent volume, but with several coats. However, this product won’t disappoint you for sure.

4. Bottle doesn’t stand: The mascara bottle is shaped like an elongated eye or an elongated wheat grain, like an Indian gulli to be precise:  fat in the middle and very thin at the ends. It keeps falling on the table.

HOW TO REMOVE THIS MASCARA?

Despite being washable with soap and water, this mascara should be removed with oil and rose water. Read on to know why...

Initially I didn’t know it was washable and kept removing it with oil and rose-water my previous mascaras. There was not a single broken lash hair when I removed with oil.

The day I discovered it is washable, I tried removing it with Johnsons baby top-to-toe, no tears wash (didn’t have the heart to hurt my eyes with soap). It came off but broke my lashes and badly stung my eyes due to the chemical that got in my eyes while washing.

With oil, it comes off with 1-2 min of gentle oil massage into my eye lashes with my pinky (smallest) finger. You can use almond, coconut or any other branded make-up removal oil. I used Biotique Bio almond Oil (face and eye makeup remover oil). Plain parachute coconut oil works equally well.

It is very important to remove eye makeup properly to keep your eyes healthy. You can read my tips on applying mascara here and tips on removing mascara eye makeup here.

AVAILABILITY:

Easily available in retail stores in most cities. Not available in mine. I wanted to buy this one in Feb this year, but I had read mixed reviews about this product on the internet.  So I bought another one. This one came in a PRIZE hamper from goodlife.com for winning in their Facebook Summer Tips contest, along with two other items.  Even though I have another new mascara, I was very enticed to try it and am pleasantly surprised with the results . You can buy it online from goodlife.com (free shipping on orders above Rs 100, which qualifies this mascara for free delivery), medplusbeauty.com (free shipping above Rs 300), urbantouch.com (free shipping above Rs 300) and many other online stores that offer great service and cash on delivery.

THE VERDICT:

A very affordable formula with great results. Can be used as an everyday makeup item without burning a hole in your pocket. Makes a great gift for a young girl who has just started using makeup. Since the washable variation is so good, I am hoping the waterproof variation should be very good too. Will try after finishing the two mascaras I presently own.