When I saw Benefit’s new BADGal Plum mascara ($19), curiosity outweighed my deep seeded fear of looking like a hot purple mess. I dove right into it, applying three coats and hoping for the best.
The first time I withdrew the wand from the tube I actually said “OooOOOoooh!” out loud in the middle of the store.
As the newest member of Benefit’s BADGal mascara line, BADGal Plum joins the original BADGal (in black) and BADGal Blue.
The richness of the purple on the wand was a little intimidating at first. I didn’t want to end up looking too Prince circa Purple Rain, but upon application Plum actually looks *really* subtle, and not very purple, as a matter of fact. Three coats gives lashes an almost burgundy-chocolate tint.
The color is so subtle that you have to look closely to see it at all. It isn’t the flashiest colored mascara (for a bolder tinted mascara, try Clarins Wonder Mint Waterproof Mascara in Teal), but it does add a little oomph that I don’t see from regular black. I can’t wait to try it with warm, gold-based shadows like MAC Soba (a gold brown) or MAC Ricepaper (a peachy gold).
It started to clump with the third coat, so I think I’ll stick with two from now on. In terms of lash quality, BADGal delivers noticeably thicker lashes but not significantly longer ones. While it’s not waterproof, it doesn’t smudge or flake, and it has enough staying power to last all day.
Happy Saturday, ladies! Right now I’m playing with the Clarins Jazzy Colors collection. I’m going to take some close-up pictures of the So Sublime palette, so I’m setting up my little photography area. After that I may go for a run, but we’ll see. What’s crackin’ today?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Huh, weird. You can barely tell. And I was expecting super bright purple based on what it looked like on the wand.
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Either it doesn’t look plum at all or my eyes have problem. I’ve heard a lot of nice things about Bad Gal but never tried. I remember using a violet mascara before and it was fun! But it was an old tube so it flaked like crazy. I’m just having some fun with a picture program today. That thing is a tone-down and free version of Photoshop. I’ve never used PS before, can you believe that?
Tabs need to teach me something about PS since he’s an expert 🙂
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Awww, a Purple Rain look might be awesome… you could pair it with a raspberry beret! XD Anyway, man, it looks pretty in the second pic, but not noticeable enough in the 3rd. Boo. Although, as a mascara, it does look good on you!
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Hello there,
I will confess to a weakness for colored mascara. Since I “belong” to Karl, I have four different Chanel colors. . I have their purple which they call Vamp. It is a rich burgundy color which brings my green eyes out. I also have Marine which I love. Black and also a green which just came out this spring or summer. Sometimes a makeup artist will try to talk me into brown mascara saying that black is too harsh. But I just tend to gravitate towards the black, anyway. Waiting for Hanna to drop some rain on us. Hope you are having a fun weekend. Louise
it doesn’t look anything like a plum on your lashes. but the mascara looks like a good one. i have given up on coloured ones (other than blue i think) as my lashes are black and no colours will show. lol
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oooh, pretty, pretty. I said “ooooohhhh” too when I saw the photo of the wand. I’m with Louise, I have weakness for colored mascara. I have a Korres blue one right now, and was planning to get a purple/plum for fall. I was eyeing either the Urban decay one, or the Prescriptives one. I had no clue that Benefit had one now! If I can find it at sephora I will try it.
We had a golf tournament this morning, great fun even though we didn’t win/place/show. but the weather was fantastic. the dogs are not going crazy wanting attention (one just nosed me as I’m trying to write). The hubby is waiting for me to finish so we can watch some “John Adams” the HBO mini-series.
From seeing the product on the wand, I thought it would go on a lot brighter. hhhhmmmm not what I was expecting.
Enjoy your weekend! I am aiming to stay cool in this triple digit heat.
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Yeah for purple mascara! Makes me want to revisit my burgandy one, though that one didn’t do much for volume or length but the color is fun. I do love my BadGal mascara in black but I always end up with mascara smudge under my lower lid line. But with the purple one out, maybe I’ll make a switch back.
M-squared and I just came back from the Capitola Arts and Wine Festival. It’s soooo hot out! I hope you are chillin!
Hmm..I was hoping this would look really like plum. It’s kind of a bummer it’s pretty muted. It looks more brown than anything. I remember I had a really great mascara from L’Oreal years ago that was like electric purple, but it looked awesome on.
Too bad the color doesn’t show well. I clicked back and took a look at your Clarin Teal mascara and that thing delivered color like crazy!
I was planning to buy this but seeing the how the color delivers, I think I’m going to have to pass : (
Oooh, I’ve never tried BADGal mascara. I’ve actually never tried anything from Benefit.
On a slightly related note, have you tried Mirinésse? I got a sample of their mascara today, which is in a cute tube and it’s huge for a sample since it’s about half of a full tube, and it says you can sleep in it, and it still won’t smudge, flake, peel or whatever. I tried it today and it made my lashes huge and it looked perfect at the end of the day too. 😀 I wanna try their other stuff but it’s only available in Australia and America right now.
Hi Karen!
I’m staying in this weekend – haven’t been feeling well. My friend (who I am staying with) is taking care of me. I want to do makeup, but I feel so out of it! Have a good one!
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I love BeneFit! The names and products are so cute 😀 I’m currently lemming for Erase Paste. Have you tried it?
I’m using Distinguish Mascara by Shiseido in Deep Bordeaux and it looks quite purple on my lashes, if you wanna give it a try.
Hugs! :3
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hehe i’m sucha loser
i thought you put actual grapes in that picture *shakes head* until i realised you just added pictures of grapes ..but other then that, the mascara looks PRETTYFUL! i think i’ll go check it out next time i go to benefit 🙂 hehe have a good day karen !takecaree!
That’s a pretty color, but on me Bad Gal migrates like a flock of geese in October! I also agree that I’d like a more violet shade of plum/purple, so I will wait until tomorrow when I go to check out Chanel’s Exceptionnel mascara in Smoky Violine! Yay!
Hope you’re having a good weekend! 🙂
Hi Trisha,
Yeah, it’s super subtle. It doesn’t look anything like it does on the wand.
Hi Dao,
How fun. Are you enjoying it? Photoshop is a very powerful program… you can do a lot with it.
Tabs was acting like a crazy nut this morning, running all over the house and just being a pain in the butt.
Hi Mariah,
Ha ha! You’re too funny with your Prince references!
Hi Louise Gray,
Yeah, I want Marine and Jade. The Exceptionnel ones are coming out in different colors (have you tried it yet? the brush is kinda tricky), but I’m sort of on Chanel lockdown as of late, boo hoo.
Are you staying dry?
Hi Jojoba,
Mine are black too… one thing I’ve found that seems to help is to “prime” them first with a black mascara, and then put the coats of the colored mascara on top. If you really want it show then don’t be shy about packing it on!
Hi Amanda,
LOL! I was just oogling at the Korres display on Friday. My friend *swears* by their products and I just haven’t gotten around to doing it. What stuff do you like from them?
How was the golf tourney? El Hub got invited to do one next week but I don’t think he’s going to go. I’m terrible at all sports involving projectiles (did I ever tell you about the time a golf ball flew right by ear and missed my noggin by less than an inch?).
Give the puppies big hugs for me. 🙂
Hi Marisol,
Yeah, me too. It’s nice for a lil’ something different, though.
It was really hot yesterday, but today is much nicer. I think later on I’m going up to Sushi Boat because I’ve got a serious jones for the Dragon Roll. How’s your weekend been?
Hi J-Money,
The smudging seems to be a common issue. They did a revamp of the line a few years ago; hopefully they addressed it.
I got some Dallas blush the other day and thought of you.
Anyhoo, I got your invite in the mail and have to mail it back to you. But you already know I’m going. 😉
Hi Brittany,
That’s so cool! I have been desperately wanting a really amazing electric purple to wear on days when I just want a lil’ pop of color.
Hi Shockingpink,
Yeah, in that picture the three layers of the TEAL TERROR are no joke. Gawd I love that stuff!
Hi Ellery,
OoOOoooo! I haven’t tried it, but now that you’ve used the magic words (“makes my lashes huge”) I will have to hunt some down. Very intriguing, indeed.
Benefit has some fun stuff. I think a lot of people like the line because it makes makeup accessible doesn’t take itself so seriously. The cream shadows are to die for, I tell ya.
Hi Tokyostargirl,
I hope you’re feeling better today. Sometimes I go through those spells too. Maybe a lil’ gloss might help out… it’s doesn’t require a lot of effort but it always makes me feel better.
Take care!
Hi Eru,
I tried it awhile back. I think the MUA packed too much on me because it looked very obvs and *very* pink. I see that you hauled awhile back. How are you liking your Some Kind of Gorgeous?
I will def. have to look into Deep Bordeaux!
How’s school going?
Hi Jana,
LOL, if there were grapes in that pictures I’d eat them. They are one of my favorite types of fruit (I love fresh fruit), and I like them when they are cold and very sweet.
Are you a big Benefit fan?
Hi Glosslizard,
Have fun checking out your Chanel mascara. It’s great once you get the hang of it. 🙂
I’ll be with you in spirit…
Another item to add to my makeup must see list. The color is puuuurty!
Hi Lehea,
It’s fun — subtle, but fun. 🙂 Do you wear brown mascara?
Nope never tried it. Kinda curious now though. Would that look okay even if I have brown eyes?
I just googled the mascara and this page came up, hah! Go figure, Hi again Karen!
Anyway. I want some, since I heard that purple-based mascaras can make eyes look brighter.
Anyway, now that I know it’s really worth while, I’ll definately try to pick some up. Thanks <3
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Hmm. I have bright green eyes, and I like for their color to really “pop,” so I wonder if this mascara would work for me …
Is Benefit cruelty-free?