Last year, I nominated the Maybelline The Falsies for my favourite mascara. This year, I haven’t even looked at it because I’ve found one that I really really REALLY love!
In fact, in the past 8 months, I have only used 2 mascaras – Diorshow Iconic Overcurl (which I thought was ok, but weighed down my lashes and destroys a curl) and the one I’m going to tell you about today – Australis Voluptulash Mascara. The latter is the one that’s caught my mascara-lashed heart and has resulted in me begging my friends Down Under to please please stock up more for me!
Australis is a drugstore/pharmacy brand sold only in Australia, I believe and this tube of Voluptulash was gifted to me by a friend who swore up and down that it was her Holy Grail mascara for the simple reason it did not smudge, budge, gave her lovely lashes and importantly, was so easy to remove! She basically sent it over and said “Try it! I love it and so will you!” I did 😀
The formula is a tube formula which basically forms a “tube” around your lashes and makes it very easy to remove with just warm water in the shower. Yep, it’s one of those mascaras that you can quite easily and literally wash off, having black bits come off as you go. Quite icky when you do it, but for some weird reason, so satisfying 😛
The Voluptulash Mascara, as the name implies, is a volumizing mascara that gives you thicker looking lashes. For me and my skinny lashes (my lashes are the only skinny things about me :P) I get nice volume and also some length.
The applicator is a curved comb style brush which is very easy to use, and the bristles of the comb are close enough, yet sparse enough to grab onto lashes and coat them with mascara. Those of you use regularly use Japanese mascaras will be quite familiar with these sort of brushes. Majolica Majorca uses them in their wildly popular mascaras (I can’t use them because they make my eyes feel uncomfortable so the majic of MM mascaras are lost on me) as does other popular brands like Heroine Make, I believe (never tried).
After curling my lashes, I use the inner curve to apply mascara on my lashes. It makes it very easy and application is a breeze, even for the little lashes on the inner corner. I then wait a bit, and then go over with a 2nd layer with the outer corner, which gives it better volume and length. I like that I can use the outer curve to lightly press at the root of the lashes to give it some lift, and the formula is light enough not to weigh down my lashes.
I have the curse of the typical Asian stick straight lashes that stick straight down, so having lashes that actually stand up to scrutiny is quite a feat! Here’s how it looks on me.
If there is one complaint, it would be that the formula is a little clumpy and wet. It does get better the more you use it and once it dries out a little. Also, if you run a lash comb through your lashes, it easily gets rid of the clumps.
I however like this because in real life, it doesn’t look as icky as it does in a close up shot, and also it actually makes me look like I have lashes on. I won’t say falsies, because I don’t get that effect with my short lashes, but at least I have the appearance of having lashes and that’s quite something. The other thing I like a lot is that despite the fact this mascara gives me volume and length, I don’t have all the horrible fibres getting into my eyes like with some other similar mascaras. There are some that irritate me to no end.
To remove, you can use eye makeup remover or as I do it, remove my eye and face makeup, then head to the shower, run warm water over my face for a few seconds, and then gently rub at the lashes. You’ll find black bits coming off between your fingers and your lashes will be whistle clean in absolutely no time at all!
Oh and smudging? Nope. Doesn’t happen. Not even in our humidity. This then, is one of the best mascaras I’ve used to date and the only drawback is that it is only available in Australia. So, if you have friends Down Under or are heading there, head to the local Priceline and pick one up. I think you’d love it as much as I do 🙂
In a nutshell
The Australis Voluptulash mascara is a volumizing mascara that also offers me some length. The formula does not smudge and the comb applicator makes it very easy to apply the product on lashes, even short ones like mine. I do find the formula a little wet initially, so be sure to wipe off excess on the sides before you apply to your lashes or it has a tendency to clump a little. The best part however, is that despite all that, it does not weigh down my lashes and holds up a curl well, and defines my lashes better than many brands I’ve tried. Cleaning is super easy as it is easily removed with warm water in the shower. Definitely one heading for the Holy Grail status.
Pros: Affordable, Lightweight formula does not weigh down lashes, Does not smudge, Easy to remove with just warm water, Comb brush applicator makes it easy to apply to short lashes and to get to the inner corners
Cons: Not available outside of Australia at time of writing, Formula is a little wet and can cause lashes to clump a little
Who will like this: Anyone who wants volume and some length for their lashes, Anyone who wants a no-smudge and easy to remove formula
Did I mention this one’s heading for the Holy Grail pedestal? Well, yes it is! 😀 It’s all I’ve been using for weeks on end, alternated with the Diorshow because I have that one open and don’t want it to go to waste. But when I use them on alternate days, I can definitely see the difference and the speed in which I get what I want with this affordable Australis option. This comes in Blackest Black, is surviving long past the oft-touted 3 month date and still going strong and looking just as good, if not better with each swipe 😀
Have you tried the Australis Voluptulash mascara and do you love it as much as I do?
This is the first I’ve tried from the brand so I don’t know if their other mascaras are as good. But really, do I want to try another? Not really. When you find your HG, you stick with it 😀 I just have to keep pestering friends in Australia to stock this up for me everytime they see a sale 😀
Paris B
Australis Voluptulash Mascara Price: A$10.95 Availability: Priceline and other pharmacies
YAY! It’s my HG too! I was using Clinique’s years ago but I found this to be so much cheaper and so much easier to obtain.
For the benefit of your Australian readers, Big W is now having $3 off all Australis makeup so this makes it a very affordable $7.48. Needless to say, I’ve cleaned the shelves off the Big W near home stocking up on this 😛
Yay! Thanks for introducing me to this one! Bestest mascara ever 😀
My HG too! I introduced this to Geek and I’m so glad she introduced it to you because seriously, how good is it?? No budge, no smudge, nothing.
The only complaint I’d have of this is that if I apply too much, it can make my lashes look stiff and spidery. But other than that,I love it. Will be using it for KBBW 😉
Haha so it’s YOU I really have to thank 😀 I remember you reviewed it earlier and said how good it was for your lashes and yeah, for those sort of prices, this is amazing stuff! I guess we’ll be seeing Voluptulash twins or maybe triplets at kbbw 😛
Will it leave a shadow in the under eye area? I’m assuming not since you’ve said it doesn’t smudge right? I’m still looking for a non-waterproof mascara that doesn’t do it! I might check this out the next time there’s a sale on ^_^
Regarding the clumping, have you tried wiping off excess mascara on the wand before application? I find that doing that helps almost any mascara not clump!
Nope! No smudging and no shadow at all 😀 I don’t believe this is waterproof and it’s super easy to remove AND its on sale now at Big W in Australia apparently, so no better time to pick one up and see how it fares for you 😀 I do find wiping off excess on the side helps reduce the clumping, but if I’m over enthusiastic and try to apply more, it can clump then too 🙂
I’m going to have to try this! It’s available here in NZ as well, and Farmers are having a promotion I think — spend $20 on Australis and receive a free perfume.
I tried out a GWP size of Clinique’s High Volume which has a very similar brush. The formula sounds similar to what you’ve described here, AND it smudges under my eyes. Sad, because it seems to help curl my lashes! Maybe I’ll layer some waterproof mascara at the base of my lashes.
Oh nice! I’d love to know if it works as well for you as it did for me and my friends 😀 Many brands do these comb style brushes which I like. I find them easier to use for my lashes maybe because it’s not so big and “bushy” LOL
I still prefer Heroine Make’s mascaras because I take ages to apply mascara and I sometimes come back home for a quick shower before heading out again so I need a mascara that doesn’t wash off in the shower!
Heroine Make’s long&curl layered under their volume&curl is the bomb!
I haven’t tried Heroine Make but I”ve heard a lot of good things about their mascara. Yep, this will wash off if you wash your face in the shower (you will have to rub at it a little to dislodge it) so probably not a good option if you will wash your face, but if you don’t, it stays on 🙂
“The magic of MM is lost on me” is exactly how I feel! I have seen raves about their mascara but they just don’t work for me. I have always loved Maybelline’s mascaras so I’ve never really tried many other brands but now I think I might! 😀 Thanks for sharing!
MM mascara makes my eyes feel heavy and very very uncomfortable! It’s really horrible. So I’ve given up on them (also they’re a real pain in the butt to remove!) Maybelline mascaras are great stuff for the prices, I’d agree. Some hits, some misses but generally ok. If I’m going drugstore, they’re the ones I depend on 🙂
Very nice! I like how it separates your lashes and gives volume. Boo hoo hoo, too bad it is only available in Down Under. Hehe, I shall jot this down in my shopping list. Who knows what traveling luck might bring eh? 😉
Yes, put it on your list. Who knows when an opportunity may arise to allow you to get it 😉
Heh. I had been wondering what Australia-only stuff to get when I’m down there next month. And I don’t even wear mascara.
Good to know, I guess..?
LOL Erm. Vegemite? 😛 I’m currently obsessed with these vinyl kitchen gloves because my hands don’t like latex gloves so yeah. If I’m Down Under, I’d cart home a box 😉
I have got one. But it is not waterproof, which is a quite sad. The formula is good though.
That’s true, it isn’t waterproof but that would defeat the whole washing out under the shower thing right? 😉 I don’t mind really coz it doesn’t smudge at all despite the humidity here unlike some other mascaras that claim to be waterproof.
I stocked up my mascara when I was in Aussie land in June but I didn’t get this one! My current favourite is the Cover Girl Clump Crusher and Maybeline One by One. Will sure try this when I’m back there again in Dec. Hopefully by then I would have gone through my stock pile of mascaras!
I haven’t tried the Cover Girl and Maybelline ones you mentioned, but yes, do try this when you’re there next. I take so long to go through mascara. Use them for months at an end haha