There was a time when I thought I’d found my Perfect Mascara and I declared my search ended. As fate would have it, another quite perfect mascara entered my world. Unfortunately, it too is a terribly pricey mascara – don’t you hate it when that happens?
This new contender for the “Perfect Mascara” throne is the RMK Separate Curl mascara which weighs in at a hefty RM125 a tube. And I thought the Shiseido one was pricey 😛 Unfortunately, it is a really good mascara on many counts.
The RMK Separate Curl mascara is a curling mascara that is waterproof and helps your lashes curl and stay curled all day. It delivers on its promises and the only real complaints I’d have about it is the price and the packaging.
The formula is a little wet, but the stopper in the tube is really wonderful because the brush exits without too much mascara gooped on it. The only goopy bit is right at the end, which you can easily wipe off. Also, there isn’t too much formula on the brush and this means that it does not deposit too much product on your lashes and weigh it down.
RMK Separate Curl Mascara curved brush
The brush is a typical bristle brush, that is slim and curved, so you get shorter bristles on one side, and longer bristles on the other. The bristles are lovely. They grab my short lashes very well, and separates them without clumping. I can’t use this straight on my lashes and expect them to hold up a curl like a dolly’s lashes. I do have to curl my lashes first. The size of the brush is a good one for those with small eyes or short lashes … like moi! 😀
Then I fit the curved side of the brush against my lashes, wiggle it and coat my lashes with 1 layer of mascara, and then touch up the sides that might not be caught at the first go. I find this method allows the curved brush to coat my lashes and hold up the curl better. Following RMK Makeup Artist Toru-san’s method of mascara application, I don’t do my 2nd layer immediately, but let it dry and go on to do my eye makeup before coming back to mascara again.
When I apply my 2nd layer, I use the longer bristles to brush at the lashes, to generate length. When you apply your 2nd layer on dry lashes, your curled lashes will not droop.
Left : No mascara, Right : With RMK Separate Curl Mascara
Like the Shiseido Perfect Mascara, I never fail to get compliments whenever I wear this one. It does a great job at helping lashes stay up, generates some length, gives me good volume and give an open-eyed look that helps you look fresher and perkier. Heaven knows, we all could do with looking fresher and perkier some days eh?
It stays on all day, does not smudge, does not budge at all … even when the time comes to remove it. Removal is a bit of a pain, just like the Shiseido one. After a lot of trial and error, I found that it removes best with a regular eye makeup remover. Oil cleansers don’t do much for this one for some strange reason.
The packaging is a little plain and is a fingerprint magnet, but I forgive all that for the excellent formula and brush that it contains. I know they say you are supposed to toss your mascara after 3 months but I don’t usually follow that rule. For pricier mascaras, I find they can last you easily for 6 months or even a little more, provided they don’t dry out.
Pros: Waterproof formula lasts all day without smudging, Holds a curl very well, Gives good volume for my lashes and some length, Brush is slim and fits well for small eyes or short lashes
Cons: Shiny tube attracts fingerprints, Pricey
This was one of the products I reviewed for the Cittabella magazine feature, and was picked by RMK as their top beauty buy. I don’t think I’d have picked this one out on my own, because I’d have balked at the price.
Now that I’ve been using it for about 2 months I must confess that my perfect mascara now is a toss up between Shiseido’s Perfect Mascara or this RMK Separate Curl mascara.
Now do excuse me while I go buy a lottery ticket… I’d need all the extra financial boost I can get to keep me in expensive mascaras 😛
Might you have dipped your toes into the pool of high end pricey mascaras? Do you find them better or longer lasting than drugstore brands? Or do you think pish-posh! A mascara is a mascara! Perhaps you too have tried this RMK mascara and would like to share your views?
Paris B
The RMK Separate Curl Mascara retails at RM125 each at all RMK Counters
Lee says
June 6, 2011 at 8:44 amI used this mascara a few years ago when it first came out! It holds the curl + lengthen, I must say it’s one of the very few great one among the mascaras I have. And that you are loving, it just proved that it is a great one 😉
Drugstore mascara…? No way…used once, smudge like hell, did nothing to my lashes…that’s it. However, MaxFactor is not a drugstore brand here is it?
Now I’m looking forward to trying the Inimitable Intense, again…just to make sure it is good enough before I burn cash! xxx
Happy Monday PB 🙂
ParisB says
June 6, 2011 at 2:50 pmHappy Monday Lee! I love this mascara but really hate the pricetag. Some drugstore mascara work quite well, but I find that they seem to dry out faster and rarely last me past 3 months whereas high end mascara lasts a lot longer. Max Factor isn’t a drugstore brand here but its got drugstore prices 🙂 Heard a lot of good things about Chanel mascara but never tried them. Not very sure why.
Hanny says
June 6, 2011 at 10:18 am^.^ pretty!!! But with my current budget, I’m sticking to drugstore mascaras. For me, they do the job very, very well.
ParisB says
June 6, 2011 at 2:51 pmGood to know that! I’ve had some luck with drugstore mascara too. Just not many make the cut since I can’t use the Majolica Majorca ones everyone raves about.
xin says
June 6, 2011 at 10:59 amit does separate really well! i think the most expensive mascara i have used would be a lancome, it worked well but i thought it was too pricey to repurchase when i can live with another cheaper brand :p
ParisB says
June 6, 2011 at 2:54 pmMy very first mascara ever was a Lancome. It was excellent! But they discontinued it. Bah! I repurchased during their warehouse sale but got a dried up one. Never bought another since 😛
Amex says
June 6, 2011 at 11:11 amHmm RM125 for a mascara? Too hefty a price tag methinks. I’m partial to the Japanese drugstore brand mascaras. They do just as well for me and don’t smudge nor flake.
ParisB says
June 6, 2011 at 2:55 pmI’m going to try the Kiss Me Heroine Make mascara! I hear those are really good (and much cheaper!) but I cannot use Majolica Majorca although they are also very good. My eyes don’t like MM stuff 🙁
lyn says
June 6, 2011 at 11:33 amThat looks like a good mascara but the only thing that turns me off is difficult removal, not to mention the price. I’ve lost quite a few precious lashes (already sparse enough) from stubborn mascaras 🙁
ParisB says
June 6, 2011 at 2:56 pmWith a regular waterproof eye makeup remover, it was a cinch to remove but with cleansing oils, it was just too much bother. But ouchies at the price 🙁
Denise says
June 6, 2011 at 11:51 amI’d try to stick with cheaper, drugstore mascaras, if they work. I don’t think I can (nor can my boyfriend, for that matter) forgive myself for indulging in such a luxurious cosmetic purchase. Maybe when I win the lottery, or get a much nicer paycheck 😉
ParisB says
June 6, 2011 at 3:00 pmLOL! I know what you mean. I’d have to win the lottery to keep me in luxurious mascara too (no matter how lovely they are for my lashes!) I will however possibly repurchase the Shiseido (because its cheaper and works very well and lasts a long long time) 😉
Rainy Days & Lattes says
June 6, 2011 at 1:21 pmLooks like a very luxurious mascara 🙂 Reminds me of the YSL ones!
ParisB says
June 6, 2011 at 3:00 pmKnow what? I never tried the YSL ones! And they’ve pulled out of here. Bah!
Mal says
June 6, 2011 at 4:06 pmyour lashes look gorgeous with the mascara! makes me feel like buying one too. oh but sigh! being a student, i probably cannot afford mascaras that cost so much at the moment. ):
ParisB says
June 7, 2011 at 9:47 amNot to worry Mal. I’m working and I too find it hard to shell out that much on a mascara! There are lots of good ones in the drugstores. No need to go that high end… unless budget permits of course 🙂
Jamilla Camel says
June 6, 2011 at 4:26 pmYou’ve sold me! I’m off to the Selfridges site!
ParisB says
June 7, 2011 at 9:47 amLOL!! I hope it works for you Jamilla!
Lisa says
June 6, 2011 at 10:31 pmThank goodness there is a good selection of mid-priced performing mascaras out there that don’t cost a bomb as this. I prefer to spend this amount of money on a good blush or a lipstick or powder etc… but no no… not on a mascara.
ParisB says
June 7, 2011 at 9:50 amLOL!! psst. I feel the same most of the time. Its terribly hard to suck it up for mascara that you just know WILL finish and WILL have to be tossed at some point.
Amanda says
June 6, 2011 at 11:43 pmNo matter how good a mascara is, if it’s too pricey, it often turns me off. I think I will stick to my drugstore options… But for girls with short lashes like me, I usually buy those with lengthening effect.
ParisB says
June 7, 2011 at 9:51 amHey, if a drugstore option works well, there’s no reason to change 😉 I have found some good affordable mascara in pharmacies too and I go back to them again and again
milktea says
June 7, 2011 at 12:10 amoop! *smack forehead* Not bought Citta Bella June 2011 yet! Must buy before out of stock! 😉
ParisB says
June 7, 2011 at 9:51 amLOL! You crack me up 😛
Jess says
June 7, 2011 at 8:10 amParis, Paris, Paris… why??? You know, you created immense lemming with your review?
I’m always on the look for the PERFECT mascara, although I’m pretty much satisfied with the Koji Make Long & Curl Mascara that I’ve been using most of the time since I detected it about half year ago.
Will definitely check this out on my travel to Taiwan, since I’m planning to get some items from RMK anyways! Remember the primer? 🙂
ParisB says
June 7, 2011 at 9:53 amuhoh… *hides* If you do plan to check out RMK anyway, you might as well check out their mascara. Definitely one of the best I’ve ever used which is saying quite a lot 😉 I haven’t tried Koji but everyone’s raving about Heroine Make so I’m going to give that one a go! 😀
Elle Linda says
June 7, 2011 at 10:28 amHi pretty ladies..has anyone tried the new custom eyes revlon mascara? It comes with two modes of lashes look, right? The price is not that ‘hi-end’ kinda thing..=P. As for RMK, looks good but for RM125…well guess havta think twice before trying@purchasing it since I’m working & studying simultaneously…=(
Oh yeah, do you guys think that it’s worth to get the eyelash curling at the salon?? Does it really help in somehow enhancing the look of our lashes (with or without fake eye lashes) ? Thinking of giving it a try at the salon… Thanks Paris B and friends…
ParisB says
June 7, 2011 at 10:32 amHi Elle – I’m actually trialing the Revlon CustomEyes mascara 🙂 Will have some thoughts up soon but for preliminary thoughts, I do prefer the Revlon Fabulash formula. I’ve never had an eyelash perm so I hope someone can help you. I’m too scared to let anyone near my lashes – what if they all fall out?! 😛
Issa says
June 7, 2011 at 11:07 amoh, I found my HG mascara for now and it is not that expensive… I am loving Maybelline’s Magnum Volum express…. I just cannot afford expensive mascaras!
ParisB says
June 7, 2011 at 7:47 pmOh I quite like some Maybelline mascara too! Glad you found your present HG 😀
Lanaa says
June 9, 2011 at 9:56 pmNice effect, but for the price, DEFINITELY NOT worth it.
I recommend buying Clinique which is about RM70- 80 (in my country). It is THE best. Works really well with eyelash elongation and volume plus doesn’t make my eyelash fall out like most drug-store brands. Its also easy to remove. Unfortunately right now I don’t have enough money for it so I went for a Nivea mascara instead. meh…
BTW, you’ve got Max Factor in M’sia? I didn’t know that…at one point when I was in KL I almost bought majolica majorca…Looks good with the types of brush and I like the products presentation…how was it when you tried it?
@ Lyn : a little advice on mascaras(from personal experience), If you choose to wear mascara at a time where you know you won’t be sweating much, I urge you to you use a non-waterproof Mascara.
And for waterproof mascara removal – I use a Nivea Waterproof eye make-up remover (Don’t think thats available in M’sia). I think theres the L’oreal one, or some other brand.
Soo Yin says
February 8, 2012 at 9:30 amHi hi…found this post (and the Shiseido one) when I was searching for mascara reviews on your site! Sadly, the Shiseido Perfect Mascara was out of stock at a few counters, so I ended up buying this at Parkson @ Pavi over the weekend, and I totally love it. It definitely holds the curl, and I’ve been getting compliments on how natural it looks on the lashes. Thanks for sharing! =)
Paris B says
February 12, 2012 at 5:08 pmSo happy that you love the RMK mascara too! I would have a hard time choosing between this or the Shiseido 🙂