This post is first and foremost a review of Clinique’s High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara ($19.50)…
…but before we get to that, I just need to say, DUDE. Seriously, if you are not a morning person, I get it. I totally get it. Weekday mornings?! Ugh, mine are almost always rough — rough like that sketchy off-brand toilet paper El Hub always buys, even though I’ve told him about a billion times that “Charmin Ultra Soft is the only way to go.” (Note to self: stop asking that man to buy toilet paper.)
When my alarm sounds, I open my eyes and start mentally ticking off the things I want to do that day (good grief, why is that list always so hella long?!). Oftentimes, even before I get out of bed, a sense of panic has set in…
But ya know, gotta get up. Gotta get going. Can’t hide under the covers, as tempting as that sounds sometimes.
You know how it is. Some mornings you’re faced with a choice — a choice between indulging your inner grumpy goat and letting her wreak havoc, or doing everything in your power to have a GREAT FRICKIN’ DAY!
I usually shoot for the latter (not always successfully, mind you), and most of the time when things work out fairly well, I seem to have followed a morning routine very similar to this one:
- I get out of bed right when the alarm goes off, versus hitting the snooze button and falling back to sleep. If I hit the snooze, even if it’s just for 10 more minutes, I may get up feeling groggy.
- I have my first cup of coffee and quickly get a little food in my tum
- I get my booty in motion by either walking or running on the treadmill for at least 20 minutes, during which time I’ll listen to some upbeat music and/or mull over what I want to accomplish that day.
- I primp and do whatever I can to feel cute — taking a shower, fixing my hair, applying makeup (this morning I filled in my brows, applied under-eye concealer, some High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara on my upper and lower lashes, and lipgloss) and picking an outfit that isn’t likely to be 1) mistaken for workout wear or 2) ratty pajamas.
More often than not, when I follow this routine, I have a pretty good day.
How about you? What’s your “good day” morning routine like? 🙂
Now, on to Clinique’s High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara…
Clinique’s High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara has actually been on counters for a while, but I only just recently gave it a try. With its oversized brush, it’s designed for dramatic lashes with extreme thickness and volume, and safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. It’s also available in two shades — 01 Extreme Black, which is the color I’ve been wearing, and 02 Black — both available now at Clinique counters and clinique.com.
So, my natural lashes? Well, let’s just that they don’t stop traffic. They probably wouldn’t even stop a slow-moving Radio Flyer Red Wagon, LOL! They’re mediocre at best — not too long, thick, full, nor curly. Just…there.
Mascara is an everyday must for me, and the more extreme, the better. So, yeah, I was all over this stuff as soon as I read the name on the tube — Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara.
What’s the lash look?
Two or three coats deliver thick, glossy fringe, without any clumps or crispiness, but I’d be hesitant to call the look, “extreme.” More like “lush, but not dramatic. Like something I’d wear if I wanted a natural look, but FYI: my idea of natural lashes is what a drag queen would wear on her day off. 🙂
Also, it doesn’t lift a lash curl as much as I usually like, but since it isn’t billed as a lash-curling mascara, that’s no big whoop.
Staying power and removal?
As long as I don’t rub my eyes or futz with them, I get about 8-10 hours without a smudge or flake.
That’s good.
Removal’s also easy. I don’t even have to use a separate eye makeup remover. My regular, and always dependable, Neutrogena Gentle Cleanser and warm water does the trick.
You might like it if…
If you’re into super dramatically thick and curly lashes, you won’t find ’em here. Extreme, it ain’t! (she said, pouting a little), but if you just want natural-looking length and thickness and a soft fringe, fringe feeling soft with a natural-looking length and thickness, I think Clinique’s High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara does a pretty good job.
Time for a quick walk!
Here are a few songs I listened to on the treadmill this morning. They really helped set a good tone for my day. 🙂
Counting Stars, by One Republic
Happy, by Pharrell Williams
Little Bird, by Annie Lennox
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Hope you’re hangin’ in there today.
These sound really nice!;)
I definitely look for high impact mascaras since my natural lashes are completely unimpressive. The bigger the better is my motto for lashes! Might have to give this one a try.
I like it! I’m def into high-impact mascaras. The bolder, the better!
So what’s your go-to best dramatic mascara, if i may ask? 🙂
I have this Clinique mascara and although I do like it, I agree that it’s definitely not an ‘extreme’ look and I’m not 100% certain that I’ll repurchase it, as that’s obviously not what I was after from it. I’m thinking about trying Bare Minerals’ Lash Domination next, have you tried that one by any chance? x
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The mascara that I’ve been loving lately is Urban Decay’s Lush Lash mascara. It gives me some lash drama without drying out my lashes, and it never smudges on me. I also love the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara, but it doesn’t add a lot of oomph.
Those are some great song choices, Karen! Happy is my jam right now. That song always puts me in such a good mood. 🙂 Speaking of songs, I bought Sleigh Bells’ new album last week. It’s a fun album, but I don’t know if I like it quite as much as Treats. Still definitely worth a listen, though!
Snap! I’ve just been looking at/wearing Clinique’s waterproof version! I wish waterproof mascara would come off with warm water at he end of the day 😛 (yes, I know how silly that sounds)
I’m definitely with you on the ‘don’t press the snooze button’ thing. You think you’re getting more sleep, but then you wake up feeling terrible!
I love dramatic lashes, my natural lashes are just so so. I’ve been loving the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara lately. It can get a bit clumpy, though.
I love Clinique’s High Impact mascara, but actually didn’t know there was an extreme volume version! I’ll definitely have to check it out!
Hi Karen!, I love your blog posts on mascara since I’m on the lookout for a good waterproof mascara that will last me through a cry worthy wedding to a dip in the pool! I know I am setting my standards pretty high but with summer coming up I would really appreciate if you could suggest a very good waterproof mascara that you have tried that could survive the wettest conditions? thank you again for your reviews :).
I love this mascara! I’m currently loving the Laura Mercier Full Blown mascara, but it really just volumizes.
I think it would be hard to find motivation to seize the day if I worked from home like it sounds like you do, so I commend you for it, Karen!
The mascara looks fab.. I really liked the brush.. 🙂
Clinique’s mascaras are quite good, especially for the price! I used to use High Definition Lashes on a regular basis. I’m a little addicted to my Chanel now, but Clinique has some solid performers.
This mascara is fab and I read a lot of reviews before buying it when they launched in India. I must say that the mascara tester performed better in the store than the mascara that I bought..LOL. It clumped, weighed the lashes down with that super goopy formula and acted completely berserk on my long lashes. Not a taker for sure. Nice review though.
I have a sample of this mascara and I still have yet to open it cuz I’m working my way thru other mascaras.. but I’m excited and HAPPY to try 😉
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I must say I’ve never been crazy about Clinique mascara for that reason. You know me… all about the drag queen lashes. 🙂
Your treadmill songs made me laugh (the first 2) because they are tops on the list of current songs that one of my boys LOVES and sings constantly, while my other boy and I grumble about how much we dislike them. HAHA! When I hear them, it always makes me smile because of the situation they “create”. 🙂
I really like this mascara! It was the first non drugstore mascara I tried. Brings back memories lol
I actually 100% agree with you on this mascara. I have short, stick-straight medium-brown lashes. (I’d kill for my boyfriend’s gorgeous long, black, curly ones!) I wanted BOLD lashes, as I am definitely a lash girl. I deemed this “everyday, work, natural.”
I suggest Sumptuous Infinite mascara by Estee Lauder. I think they could improve the brush a bit, but this definitely provides dramatic, long lashes and no under eye smudging.
I’m not impressed. What do they mean by High Impact? Blackening?
Probably going back to DiorShow…
I’m not sure I really like this one! Doesn’t look voluminous enough for my tastes!