I’ve given Maybelline mascaras a hard time. I disliked the Maybelline XXL Mascara and the Maybelline Unstoppable mascara was quite stoppable as far as I was concerned. I bought them both and I binned them both as quickly as I could. But when I have so many people extolling the virtues of the new Maybelline Volume Express Hypercurl mascara, the itchies struck and I had to test it. Reader Monstro swears by it so there had to be something to it right?
I picked one up at Guardian a while ago for RM25+, a promotional rate from its regular RM30.90 retail price and when I got home, I belatedly saw I’d gotten it in BROWN! Brown mascara?! Its a first for me! The mascara is actually lighter than it looks in the photo above.
The Maybelline Volume Express Hypercurl Mascara is the one in the short fat tube with pink metallic wordings. The counter and print ads show models with impossibly long curled lashes and it promises to add volume to your lashes and curl and keep your lashes curled the whole day.
Does the Maybelline Volume Express Hypercurl add volume? Yes it does. The short fat brush does a good job of adding volume to the lashes and 3 coats will give you nice noticeable lashes if you have sparse lashes.
Does it curl? No. I tried it first without curling my lashes. I have stick straight Asian lashes that point downwards and using the mascara alone does not curl my lashes one bit. The next day, I curled my lashes as usual then applied the Hypercurl mascara. This time, my lashes stayed curled the whole day so I guess the mascara is doing its job of holding curled lashes. It just does not curl them if you don’t use a curler before that.
I do have my usual gripes about Maybelline mascaras:-
- The brush head is too fat and large so if I’m not careful I can mess up my eye makeup
- The formula is heavy and weighs down my lashes.
However, the Volume Express Hypercurl is not as heavy as the other 2 mascaras I have tried and it doesn’t cause my lashes to fall from curled to straight; so for that it gets a plus point. Also, I did not get the strong chemical smell and fumes near my eyes as I did with with other 2 Maybelline mascara I tried, so again, Hypercurl gets a plus point. (I don’t know if its because I ended up with Brown instead of Black formula)
I’ve heard that the Maybelline Volume Express mascara is comparable to many higher end mascaras and in particular, to the Anna Sui Full DX mascara which is my favourite mascara to date. Having now tried it, I can see how proponents of the Maybelline Volume Express are right to a degree insofar as the mascara is volumizing at a fraction of the cost of Anna Sui’s. I’ll do up a challenge some time this century to see how they fare in a head to head combat 🙂
Do I like the Maybelline Volume Express Hypercurl mascara? Actually I’m ambivalent about it. Not in love with it, but not hating it either. But hey, its the first time I’m not hating a Maybelline mascara! 🙂
Pros: Volumizing, Holds a curl, Affordable
Cons: Fat brush, does not curl, heavy formula
[rating:3/5]
Aww…I’m glad you “kinda” liked it 😀
Actually I haven’t tried the hypercurl formula, only the regular waterproof one and that works real well for me.
I think the black has much more vavavoom to it. Judging from your pic though, i’d say that is really nice for a day look. I tend to overdo my lashes for day that I tend not to wear mascara at all except for a night out.
🙂
i had the waterproof black version…
the one before the pink came about
i quite like it, because it lengthens + volumize
but then, it smudges a little at the end of the day.
ever since MJ and Kiss Me is here, i dump it, because it’s dry already!
won’t be repurch
i had the waterproof black version…
the one before the pink came about
brown mascaras are weird on me >_<
i quite like the black version, because it lengthens + volumize
but then, it smudges a little at the end of the day.
ever since MJ and Kiss Me is here, i dump it, because it’s dry already!
won’t be repurchasing it… since i have other better brands! 😛
and oh, i think the pink volumization is lesser than the black! i checked both of the description just a while back 😛
ohh I actually love brown mascaras for regular days as my hair is dyed brown in color 🙂 So works fine 🙂
I love the look of your eyes! Maybelline mascaras actually works for me 🙂 I just have to give this a try though
thanks for the review. it’s just in time as there is a guardian sale in ikano and i almost bought this! it doesn’t curl so that killed my lemming INSTANTLY!
I liked my maybelline volum express very much but like all maybelline mascaras I’ve tried, it dries up too fast! I’m not repurchasing it yet because I’m still using my Rimmel Glam’ Eyes (something worth trying too!). Have you considered eyelash perming? If curling lashes is your problem, you should really consider it. Saves you heaps of time and energy (used to contain your frustration).
@Monstro : Yeah if I ever get a replacement it’ll be black for sure. Brown just doesn’t do it for me.
@plue: Too many others are better than this one so I wont repurchase too.
@nikki: Glad they work for you! They never did for me, sigh…
@jojoba : Heh… it doesn’t curl but it holds a curl if that makes sense.
@connie: I’d take a look at the Rimmel some time. I usually don’t have a problem with curling lashes with a curler – just thought a mascara that curls should curl even without a curler! 🙂
Mine is black, waterproof.
No curls, nice volume.
I’m wearing contact lenses so I use eyedrops and the mascara stays (but I think L’Oreal waterproof mascaras have better staying power)..
im also born with the sad-stick-straight asian lashes. i envy my colleague so much everytime i see her applying mascaras without having to curl beforehand! She is an indian, with perfect eyelashes
Lol, my sister has the same fate with you, she only realized that she bought the brown formula instead of black when she reached home haha! Anyway, she swears by this mascara, this is so far the only mascara which gives her the results she wanted. I haven’t try it out though.
Hey Paris, I did the same thing and bought brown by mistake once. If you like the way it volumnises you can use it as a primer underneath a black mascara that say, lengthens but doesn’t volumnise. The combo should = va va voom!
hello Paris 🙂
have you tried L’oreal Telescopic?
it’s good although it only helps to lengthen.
Doesn’t smudge and comes off easily when wash with water 🙂
i have the waterproof hypercurl version and the waterproof non-hypercurl version and honestly, i liked the old non-hypercurl version more. the washable kind took forever to dry and always stuck my lashes together when i blowdry my hair. eek.
I bought one during the promotion few weeks ago, thinking of replacing the old version volume express when it’s finished. When I saw your post, I quickly went to check my mascara which is still unopened. Guess what!!! MINE IS BROWN COLOUR ALSO!!!! T_____T was too happy for the price until forgot to check the labels. Sigh…
Volumnising, lengthening, curling, i got all of that achieved by my chanel inimitable. And, the great thing is, it’s waterproof! For a change, this waterproof formula does not smudge on me. LOVE.The problem is that it’s too expensive for everyday use. For everyday use, I stick to Blinc Kiss Me which tubes the lashes instead of painting them. I know, I’d been wanting to review them in a LONG time. Slacker!
As for maybelline mascaras: They’re NEVER waterproof except for their classic great lash which is not found in Malaysia. (WHY?!) It’s a great simple basic (cheap!) mascara for everyday use.
Someone mentioned a Loreal mascara earlier: My experience with loreal mascaras, they do the job, they’re not waterproof as claimed and a complete female dog to remove.
Inimitable is the way to go, PB. Costs a pretty penny but does the job. AWESOMENESS! 😀
I found this Maybelline Volume Express Hypercurl mascara (Waterproof) around March 2008 and I use it already more than 6 months. I can’t remember where I bought it but I remember the pink and black cover attract me so much to look at it. (I think somewhere during I’m on my way back from Hanoi trip). But it’s also perfect for everyday use.
Dear Ms. Paris, I’m just wondering if you could able find the Majolica Majorca eyeliner pen. (Especially the black colour one)? Just difficult to find it here at east side.
Agreed completely with your review of this mascara (since I’m currently using it too!) and currently considering if I should get another tube once the 3 month period is up. Hehe. However, the lazy side of me prefers Clinique simply because I can wash that off in the shower.
I’ve never tried brown mascara, but not I’ve got a sudden hankering to do so! 😛
@Indira : I’ve never tried using L’oreal mascara for some reason. Thanks for sharing.
@prettybeautiful: Yeah me too. Those who don’t have to use curlers don’t know how lucky they are!
@Cyndi : I think its the packaging – they should make the body brown for the brown ones!
@kahani: Yep I might use it this way to make it work!
@purplerose: Somehow, L’oreal mascara never caught my eye. I’ll take a look next time there’s a sale.