“My mind’s telling me no, but my body, my body’s telling me yes…”
– Robert “R” Kelly
Truer words were never spoken — in reference to Chanel’s new Inimitable Intense Mascara in Purple ($30, part of the new Sophisticated Eye collection). The first time the wand graced the back of my hand and I got a good look at the swatch, I feared that the color of this brownish plum would be lost upon my dark fringe. But oh, how I wanted to believe!
The logical part of my brain said I shouldn’t expect much; it said I’d never be able to see the tint on my dark lashes, but the Coco-obsessed part of my brain kept telling me not to worry. “Trust in Coco, Karen. Everything will work out in the end.”
I wanted to believe — both that I’d see a rich purple on my lashes, and that I’d get the same lift and volume (at the base) that I get from the O.G. Inimitable Intense. I wanted my happily ever after, so to speak.
Well, I feel like I’ve given Purple a fair shake, and now it’s time for me to face facts. I’ve worn it a few times over the past week, and while I like like that doesn’t flake, smudge or lose its lift, even after a full 12 hours, the color just doesn’t show up on my already dark fringe.
I mean, maybe from a certain angle…in direct sunlight. Sort of? Okay, not really. For all intents and purposes, it looks like a basic black mascara.
I see you!
You never know until you try, right? I still like the lift, separation and volume it delivers from a single coat, so I’ll save a place for it in my hectic mornings routine, but its tint probably makes this mascara a better fit for blondes and light-haired brunettes than it is for me.
PRICE: $30
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Chanel counters and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
It’s a shame when products like this don’t work well on dark haired/lashed girls! Thanks for the review!
As a blonde-lashed gal, I would love to have darker lashes! This is probably the one time my flaxen lashes might come in handy. 😉
If you end up trying it, let me know if they show up as purple on your lashes!
Karen, you should check out Femme Couture’s lightning lash mascara at Sally Beauty supply – the bright electric blue shade actually shows up amazingly well on my black lashes and it’s a great lengthening mascara! There’s also a navy blue if you’re feeling more conservative, and other fun shades like black tinsel 🙂
Isn’t it disappointing? Purple is my favorite color too! Purple mascara that actually shows up , like YSL Noir Radical, tends to wash out the look, but I still buy it. go figure.
I also have very dark lashes and have found the best purple mascara to be MAC’s limited edition “Wonder Woman” in Victorious Opulash. Not sure if it is still available but if you can get hold of one it will be worth it. The purple is quite vibrant, given a few coats. I’ve had lots of comments from people asking me if I am wearing purple mascara!
my favourite is also purple mascara, and i haven’t found one that actually coated my lashes since Red Earth, I tried the Mac one and it was a bit too sparse and plum,
Hard Candy was so dry I couldn’t even use it, Lancome’s one dries almost black and wipes off pink.. so lame…. the closest one I got was Sephora.