Remember how I crowed with glee about finding my “Perfect Mascara” from Shiseido and then howled with despair at the cost it would cost me to upkeep that perfect lash? Ah guess what? I found a reasonable replacement in the ZA Cosmetics Impact Lash Mascara! It might interest you to note also that ZA Cosmetics is one of Shiseido’s sub-brands too so that might explain something 🙂 That said, I tried the ZA Cutie Curl mascara many years ago. I binned it quite quickly. Hated that one 😛
I’d been trialing this mascara for quite a while now to be very sure about how I felt about it. It comes in a typical mascara tube with a light pink and black colour scheme. I can’t be too sure about this but I think ZA has in fact re-branded themselves quite recently, turning their brand colours to pink when it was blue before. I had never quite paid much attention to this brand for various reasons. Mainly because it just never caught my attention! But I just last week bought a sparkly lipgloss from them so I’m keen to see how that will fare 🙂
But today its about this Impact Lash Mascara in the Volume formula and what I think of it.
This is their Volume formula which is supposed to “Lavish eyes with thick, sumptuous lashes”. The brush is curved and although it looked long, it is actually quite a good fit for my eyes. It is supposed to be have been designed for Asian eyes and it suits mine which are quite flat.
The bristles, as you can see, aren’t very long nor are they placed too close to each other. For some reason though, it works for me. They manage to catch most of my lashes in one sweep and the effect is quite dramatic, at least for me, because my lashes are quite non existent to start with.
But enough talk. Let me show you photos 😀
See why I’m happy? This ZA mascara just turned my lashes from nothing to something 😛 This is about 2 coats on my lashes.
I do have one gripe. Some days, when I apply the mascara, it applies a little clumpy. Other days, it applies easily. This is, I guess the difference between this and the Shiseido Perfect Mascara or RMK Curl mascara or even Paul & Joe Curly mascara which has no problem with clumpiness whatsoever. But then those are also more than double the price of this one. Stands to reason.
I’ve found that to avoid this clumpy problem, I brush the mascara wand lightly on a piece of tissue before applying to my lashes and then the problem is taken care of.
One additional benefit (other than price) for me is that this mascara is much easier to remove than the Shiseido Perfect Mascara. I can remove it quite easily either with eye makeup remover or cleansing oil and warm water. It lasts all day without smudging and another very important point for me – does not weigh down my lashes! If anything, it holds them up in a curl all day long and that makes me very happy.
In a nutshell
An affordable mascara that delivers sufficient volume and length to define my lashes. It is easy to apply and stays on all day without smudging. Removal is easy with regular eye makeup remover or cleansing oil and the formula does not weigh down my lashes. I am quite happy with this mascara and will definitely consider a repurchase.
Pros: Affordable, Holds my lashes in a curl all day, Does not smudge on me, Adds volume and some length
Cons: Formula can be a little clumpy sometimes
I have read of people having problems with flakiness. I did not experience this. I wore this, and watched Real Steel where I teared up and sniffled a little – its a feel good movie ok? I felt good 😛 – and it was fine. Unlike Majolica Majorca which I cannot use, I had no problems with this one.
Did you watch Real Steel? When I first saw the trailers I was a bit blah about it. But I went to see it anyway, for want of something better and I loved it!
I know everyone loves Hugh Jackman in it but I liked Dakota Goyo who played 11 year old Max Kenton. Adorable little boy with an earnestness in his eyes that made it real (and his complexion!). Critics say its a tired plot but I say so what. It was a feel good movie and I felt good. I love rooting for underdogs which this movie is all above, and I enjoyed the robot fight scenes very much. So I say watch it, don’t expect too much, and you might even enjoy it as I did 🙂
As for the mascara, give it a go. You might be surprised too 🙂
Have you tried the ZA Impact Lash Mascara? It comes in 3 formula and I don’t know how the others fare yet. Would like to know what you think if you’ve tried this 😀
Paris B
ZA Cosmetics Impact Lash Mascara comes in 3 versions – Volume, Length and Wide Eyes and retails at RM32.90 at ZA counters at most leading pharmacies. Watch out for discounts!
I learned something new today. I did not know that ZA was a sub brand of Shiseido. I always thought it was American. 😛
Hehe! I don’t think its available even in America 😀 Its the name – so misleading!
i didnt know ZA has got ‘connection’ with Shiseido. now i’ll never look at ZA the way again. the price is affordable too.. =)
Hehe… did it suddenly become more desirable? 😉 They are less cute than Majolica Majorca (another Shiseido sub brand) but for me, I prefer ZA mainly because I don’t do cute very well 🙂
OOOO! I’m now itching for a new mascara, but I’ll wait. I still have 2 that are currently in rotation, teehee.
Well these are permanent (thank goodness) so lots of time especially with the year end sales and discounts abounding 😉
I think I’ve tried the volume one in the old all black tube and admittedly, it’s not bad for a drugstore brand but you’re right, it gets clumpy. I’m still hunting for a good mascara and am itching to try the P&J one now 🙂
Oh you will LOVE P&J 😀 Or try RMK 😀 My Shiseido Perfect Mascara is starting to smell a bit weird and I’m not sure why 🙁
Oh yes! I love Real Steel! Yes, the boy makes his robot comes so real ^_^ Back to ZA, does this wand gives you strong weird smell like Maybelline’s? I’d love to try one. 🙂 By the way, Watson is having Xmas sale, guess ZA products less 15% 😛
Yay for Max! 😀 I didn’t find any smell in this mascara actually and with that 15% off its a good time to buy! 😉
I, err, don’t use mascara *hangs head in shame* Well, I don’t use it often. 😀 Might give it a go if it comes waterproof formula though 🙂
I can’t remember if this one is waterproof but it is definitely resistent to water! 😀 And you know what it means that you don’t use mascara? You have long enough lashes! *jealous*
thank you thank you paris for a cheaper solution! i shall try this out too, and it looks great on you! btw, guess what im doing now as i read your blog (and in no way was that supposed to sound gross ok)
Ok I’m terribly late but what are you doing?? o_O And don’t say you are on the throne 😛 I hope you like this mascara as much as I do 😀
i was languishing with viral fever of 40 degrees. and still reading your blog! lol hows that for perserverance
O.M.G! I hope you’re feeling better now. Lots of these things going around lately
I love the old Cutie Curl Volume! Gives me enough volume, doesn’t flake and holds up curl the whole day. Currently I’m using Impact Lash Wide Eyes. It comes in a comb wand, like Majo Majo Lash Expander, but it is straight instead of curvy like Majo Majo’s. So far so good. Doesn’t clump, it gives a nice volume and length and holds up curl. 😀
I just couldn’t like the Cutie Curl – no idea why 😛 But this one works well enough. The Lash Wide Eyes sounds good too! I can’t use Majolica Majorca eye products so this would be a good option (plus its cheaper! yay!)
Never tried this, but my fav for long,voluminous black lashes is Maybelline Falsies, Rimmel Lash accelerator, and Borjouis Volume Clubbing. I always get asked on my lashes whenever I wear these babies 🙂
Long time back, Loreal has this mascara called Longitude( around 2000 to 2001 I guess) undeniably its one of the best of the best mascara! too bad they have d/c the mascara.
Ah never tried any of the ones you mentioned (horror! 😀 ) But I do love it too when people notice my lashes, mostly because mine are so short and skinny they are barely noticeable if I don’t have a good mascara on 🙂
bwah!! now you tell me! I just received my MUFE Smoky Lash Mascara. Totally addicted to it… My 3rd tube not inclusive of 2 that went missing in postage 🙁 Which means 5th tube that I paid for! So pricey….. T_T
I have to try this MUFE one some day! It looks amazing on you. I just got the Benefit Get Real and I’m not really holding out too much hope for it because the brush is HUGE but we’ll have to see 🙂
Ooo, it sure does provide volume! AND it holds a curl? Impossible. 😛 I’m liking the look of the brush and how it curves since I have a flat eye shape as well and large brushes make applying to the outer corners so difficult.
It works! And the curve works too! 😀 Best of all, its easily accessible to you 😀
Za is an overseas-only Shiseido brand, if I’m not mistaken.
Ah! This I didn’t know! o_O
I used to love the Cutie Curl mascara, affordable and does a decent job for it’s price. I think it’s already discontinued with this new launch of mascara? I love the lengthening one, i think the formula was better than the volume one.
Not sure if it’s just me, but I find that most of the volumizing mascara tends to be clumpier than the lengthening counterpart.
Yes I think ZA reformulated and renamed their whole range. Its now all pink and girly when it used to be blue and yellow before. I have more problems with lengthening mascara because of the fibres in them. They usually irritate my eyes.
I’ve got mine in Length but I will said it is just fair in performance. I need a coat of Clarins Double Fix Mascara to prevent the fiber keep falling out. However, it holds curl and create dramatic lengthening results onto my lashes thou.
I have problems with lengthening mascara too because of the fibres 🙁 I shall bear this in mind if I try the Length one – thanks for drawing my attention to it!
Hope this’ll work on me! Saves money to spend elsewhere! lol! 🙂
thanks for the review PB! I am keen to see how the ZA impact mascara wide eyes will fare. I heard that the results are dolly and luscious lashes!
on a side note, ZA new york is not found in new york at all.. noticed that they did not indicate ZA new york on the packaging anymore.
You’re right Stacey! I think they went for a change of image so now its just ZA Cosmetics and not ZA New York! I used to be conned by that until I learned it was actually Asian LOL 😀 I read another commentator’s mention of the Wide Eyes mascara too and am now very curious 😉
Apart from mascara…….
I like that Real Steel too!! Yeah…I think the little boy is really talented, he brings out the character and show his enthusiasm very well. And their father-son relationship is a touching one. I was not expecting much frm the movie, but the effect was good, I cried towards the end, but I felt good….
Oh good! I was not the only one shedding tears 😉 I think it was a lovely movie and unlike other movies I couldn’t bear to tear my eyes away from the screen. Loved the robotic action too!
Now I want to tryyyy! Evurl woman!
At least its a cheap treat 😉
Hi Paris!
First time commenting 🙂
I’m using this Volume formula too!!Chose this as I have naturally long lashes to begin with and the first time I used it, the result was marvellous. And then it got more and more clumpy with each use 🙁 I think it dried out a little each time I use it?
Thinking of combining it with the Wide formula, enhance the volume and then widen the lashes to enlarge the eyes. Apparently all three formulas can be used together but not at one go of course. Give it some time to dry out after each application. But the Watsons outlet I went to ran out of stock can you believe it??! The shelves were almost empty!
Hi Grace – Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this mascara 🙂 Mine does get a bit clumpy with use too but I just wipe it down and it seems fine. Your combination sounds like a hit! Thanks for sharing it.
You should try the wide eyes version of this series! I have gone through 2 tubes of them andhave 2 backups of it.. lol. That says a lot cos I hardly find mascaras that work for me and dont take forever to remove such as the Majorlica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus:) The comb brush is fantastic and give my lashes definition which doesnt happen often enough for my thin asian lashes.