Everytime I tell you about a high end mascara that does not suck, I feel bad. We all know that mascara needs to be tossed out after 3 months (although I stretch it to about 6 months if its not dried out) so an expensive mascara can be perceived to be a “waste of money”.
However, mascara is a very individual thing and I regret to say that I might have found my perfect mascara in the Shiseido Perfect Mascara Defining Volume er… mascara in BK901 (Black), a brand or product I’d never have looked into were it not sent to me.
Why do I say its perfect? Because in an instant, it makes my lashes look like I’m wearing false lashes, and it holds a curl like nothing I have ever used. Ever since I started using this mascara, I’ve been told that my eyes look pretty, and I have a confession.
You know how they say mascara opens up your eyes and make you look alert, awake and perky? Well I never understood that till now! 😛 I’ll show you what I mean below.
First a quick note about the packaging and formula.
The tube is rather bulky and I find the brush head too big and too long for my small eyes and short lashes. Even if they were to keep the size of the brush head, perhaps they could shorten it a little?
The formula is rather watery and wet and due to the shape of the brush, tends to gather at the end of the brush. If you aren’t careful (and you have to be VERY careful) you’d get mascara all over your lid. It bothered me until I got the hang of it.
I’d wipe the mascara wand on the edge of the tube and be careful to only use the brush in the middle, not at the end where the mascara will be wetter. In the middle, it is less coated and so will apply less messily. You can also gently wipe the brush on a piece of tissue paper to get rid of the excess before applying on the lashes.
One more note: I don’t double dip. With many mascara, I usually dip into the tube once for the right eye and then again for the left. Perhaps due to the wetness of the formula of this one, I find it sufficient to cover both lashes without dipping into the tube again.
When I do get it right, my goodness! I can never believe that those are my lashes I’m looking at! With about 1-2 coats, my lashes look amazing. Long and lush. I’ll let the before and after photos speak for themselves.
In both photos showing the naked lash, my lashes were curled. You just can’t see it. This mascara seems to enhance the curl somehow, and hold it up nicely the whole day without drooping. It is also smudgeproof.
I hate to sound like an ad, but its true and I wasn’t wearing false lashes in the picture (because I still don’t know how 😛 ) I tried not curling my lashes before using the mascara. It still adds volume and length and it helps hold up your lashes, if you press it upwards, but it is less dramatic.
So you see my dilemma? A perfect mascara that gives me the length and volume I need for my skinny short lashes but which has a wet formula that can get messy, big brush and is expensive 🙁 You tell me how? 😛
Pros: Lengthens lashes beautifully, Adds sufficient volume to lashes, Does not weigh down lashes, Holds and enhances a curl
Cons: Formula is a bit wet, Brush is long, Expensive, Hard to remove
I do have another point to raise. Although on the website it says that the mascara can be removed with warm water, it did not work for me. Cleansing oil did not work either. What worked was eye makeup remover.
I use the L’oreal Eye and Lip Makeup Remover which I always have on hand (and which I apparently have never told you about), and it removes this mascara like a charm. With cleansing oil, I’d have crows feet before any mascara was removed 😛 I learnt it the hard way and because I’ve told you, you don’t have to 😛
So there you have it. What is for me right now, the Perfect Mascara. I wish it wasn’t – I’d save money but since it is, I guess I’m going to have to set aside money for this once it starts to dry out. If its any consolation, its wee bit cheaper than quite a few other high end mascara out there 😛
Have you tried the Shiseido Perfect Mascara? I think its been around for a while.
Paris B
Shiseido Perfect Mascara Defining Volume retails at RM89 at all Shiseido counters and comes in 2 colours – BK901 (Black) and BR602 (Brown)
wow… this does look good!
i’m with you on this… i hardly buy any expensive mascaras because i hardly wear them and yes, they get tossed into the bin after 3 months. the ones i have (and usually own) are GWP ones *wink*
don’t remember the last time i actually bought a mascara… the last was probably 5-6 years ago?? hehe.
It does doesn’t it? I wear it everyday and I love it! I hate the removal part though but since I learnt normal eye makeup remover removes it easily I’m not as fussed. Else I was losing lashes trying to get it out with cleansing oil 😛
BUT.. i use my mascaras for 1 year plus and its still not dried out ><!
Its actually a hygiene reason too for not using it too long 🙂 I cap mine to 6 months these days
I hardly buy expensive mascaras too… Even my High Impact mascaras are all GWPs (never opened before the first time I use them). But the results are absolutely stunning on you~
I LOVE gwp mascara – they are just the right size and amount to use and toss after the requisite 3 months 😀 I just don’t buy enough anymore to merit GWPs. Wouldn’t it be great if brands dropped their prices and sold us GWP size mascara? I’d love that 😀
i’d love GWP masacaras too! since mine always dries up before i can even finish it. and i just remember i bought the max factor false lash last week and forgot to use!
Haha! Time to whip it out! Keen to know what you think of the Max Factor one 😀
this is surely a overlooked product lol, never realize it’s there when i visit the shiseido counter. Do you think Shiseido’s The Makeup line is better than Macquillage line or vice versa?
Yup! You just won’t bother to consider it right? 😀 Maquillage is quite hit or miss for me. The colour items tend to be much sheerer and shimmery while Shiseido’s Makeup line is stronger. I do like Maquillage (the one palette I have) but the more recent ones didn’t quite attract me due to the high shimmer. I’ll be honest. I haven’t tried much from Shiseido at all but Maquillage strikes me as catering to the younger crowd while Makeup is more universal 🙂
Wow.. that looks nice, but its pricey. ‘My fake lash’ is Loreal Double Extension user and extremely happy with it. Despite daily wear, the tube lasts for at least 6 months. Plus, they got discount regularly.. tube costs 39.90 after disc. Love it!
Eh I think I’ve tried that L’Oreal one too 🙂 Its great finding a drugstore masacara that works coz they always go on sale 😉
Hi, I have tried this mascara and love it. However, due to its cost, I alternate between this one and the Fibrewig mascara which I find comparable to the Shiseido Perfect Mascara. Fibrewig cost about S$22 from watsons. I’m able to remove with warm water for both mascaras as both are fibre based.
Thanks for sharing Addy! You’re absolutely right about the cost – boo! I have tried Fibrewig but it did nothing for me and weighed down my lashes 🙁 Perhaps now I’m older and wiser I can try again 🙂
expensive mascara does not smudge on me but is tough to remove. i hv recently found my HG mascara from Helena Rubenstein. Curl up every single lash of mine nicely with just one coat. For diiner, i will layered 2-3 times to give the effect of fake eyelashes. 😉
I’ve heard so many good things about Helena Rubenstein mascara! I made a mistake once and bought Elizabeth Arden (don’t ask why!) but I’ll try a HR mascara soon 😀
Ooooo..another treasure unveiled 😉 I am a mascara fiend (some say whore -_-) and have tried mascaras from high-end brands to the lesser known ones. In my experience, high end mascaras normally does the trick for me and most delivers what they say in their ads. The only thing is the price and the fact it has to be tossed into the bin after 3-4 months. Sigh.
Hope brands would make em in travel sizes so that I can try many many more…hahaha!
p/s: btw, have you tried Smashbox’s bionic mascara? Super duper awesome!
YES! I’ve tried Smashbox’s Bionic mascara and its a great little everyday mascara for me. Doesn’t give me that beautiful false lashed look this one does, but it is so natural no one thinks its my own lashes. Been meaning to review it for ages. I wonder if its dried out already -_- and yes I must agree with you. Most high end mascara do it for me too 😉
Hi Paris,
glad that u’ve finally found your perfect mascara….it really does wake up your eyes..
i also found mine, it’s Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting and really2 glad coz its travel size!!! just like you said, they are just the right size and amount to use and toss after the requisite 3 months
oho! I haven’t tried the EL one – glad it works for you! 😀 Wouldn’t it be great if all mascara came in travel sizes? 🙂
I must try this! I’m always on the hunt for perfect mascara. A bit pricey though 🙁
Very pricey 🙁 But I think this one’s worth it if you use it everyday 🙂
Looks great! How about majolica majorca’s for a lower end option? They are mfg by shisedo too.
Hey! I didn’t think about them coz I could never use their eyeshadows. I’ll try their mascara next time and see how it fares in comparison 🙂
No i’ve never tried this product and I think I might! Sounds promising!
How good are your lashes at holding curls because mine suck and I always try to buy waterproof versions!
Is there a waterproof version of this or is it already waterproof or is there just those two?
My lashes don’t hold a curl at all. They are your typical Asian lashes. Stick straight so this mascara is great for me. Its smudgeproof, and it only comes in 1 formula.
I found my perfect mascara too.. I normally use Shu mascara, but Chanel Inimitable mascara won me over! Even my mum asked me if I were wearing falsies! 😀
Ooh that sounds lovely! Maybe I should take a peep at Chanel the next time the high end mascara bug bites 😉
Yeah!! My biggest mascara splurge ever, but so totally worth it 😀
ooh, I forgot to mention in my review post but I too dip once only for both eyes. but then I’d get greedy and double dip then get clumps :-/ So yes, very wet formula. *sighs* I know what you mean about expensive mascaras. I’ve always been so against expensive mascaras and there are drugstore ones that work really well but I LOVE my MUFE Smoky Lash. But I totally hate the price
Hey, I was checking out the link to the official page and I think you may have been looking at the wrong product!
The one that washes out with water is the Perfect Mascara (which is the one you linked): http://www.us.shiseido.com/sc/product/view.asp?S=50094, but the one you were using is Perfect Mascara Defining Volume (which is not washable with warm water): http://www.us.shiseido.com/sc/product/view.asp?S=10253.
I like those that will wash out with water cuz I find they don’t smudge easily on oily skin. Waterproof ones tend to run in oil. Have you tried the washable one before?
Ah you could be right. Thanks for the correction and that might explain why its so hard to remove. I’ve not tried the one that washes out with water. I like those too. However the Perfect Mascara Defining Volume that I have does not smudge or run so its quite good for me overall 🙂
hi paris, how much is this Shiseido perfect mascara?
Erm… I believe its at the end of the post? Its RM89.
I just got this and tried it today. I must say, you’re right! I love this, and it’s going straight into my essentials pouch. While it is not as volumizing as MUFE, I really must admit Shisedo Perfect is such a beautiful mascara, divides my lashes so well, and very lengthening. Really enjoying it already. haha. Great recommendation.
There is a new Perfect Mascara Full Definition do anyone try before?
I tested it but it felt heavy on my lashes. If I do try it again, you may see it here on my blog 😉