Yo, is Cyberdyne Systems engineering mascaras now? Because everything about Lancome’s new Grandiose Mascara ($32, available in one shade, Noir) says, “BEHOLD! I am from the future, primitive bipedal creature, and I am here to rewrite mascara history as we know it! I mean…as you know it, because I already know it, of course, so I’m referring to you. As YOU know it… That’s what I meant to say. Oh, never mind!”
The wonderfully weird curved neck and tapered tube, the black rose silhouetted on the side — it’s as if an advanced artificial intelligence developed what we humans were too daft to figure out.
It’s all very sci-fi, if you ask me. 🙂
The purpose of this mascara’s programming is pretty obvs. The funky brush. Lancome says they spent three years developing a brush that could grab every last lash — even the hard-to-reach buggers that hide in the inner and outer corners — and coupling it with a formula for a dramatic, fanned lash look with lots of length, volume and curl.
Inside the box, there’s even a fairly detailed schematic demonstrating wand positions and brush flips, which may or may not leave you feeling as though you’re about to attempt brain surgery (or build a cabinet from Ikea).
Right off the bat, I will say that I do think this mascara delivers the goods. I say that because I immediately notice a difference in lash volume, length and lift after a single coat, and my lashes are naturally pretty average. Not particularly long, curly or thick.
Despite my lash curler slightly relaxing the curl (boo), my fringe still looks long, lush and lifted (yay!). The lashes actually get so long that the ends brush up against the lenses of my glasses, which is a rare feat round these parts.
And after a full day of wear, about 10-12 hours, my lower lash line remains smudge-free, and I don’t see any flakes. All good things.
That said, I think this stuff could use some minor tweaking in the definition and separation departments. You might want to keep a lash comb handy when you wear it, because I’ve noticed that my lashes will group together in twos and threes unless I run a comb through them. Also, things do start to get a little messy after more than two coats.
As for that swan-neck wand, eh, it’s OK. It’s easy enough to use, and it does seem to reach into the corners well, but it doesn’t blow me away.
In other words, I wouldn’t call it a revelation. Don’t expect your side-swept bangs to be blown back or anything. 🙂 I think I could just as easily get into those spots with a regular brush and wand.
PRICE: $32
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Lancome counters, Sephora and online at neimanmarcus.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+ (sure, it’s got game, but it’s also expensive, and that brush seems kinda gimmicky)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Thanks for a great review Karen. I wondered about this mascara. I wonder if it’d smudge on me since I always use a waterproof formula.
Hi Agata,
I had no issues with smudging with this at all. That’s neat that you can use waterproof all the time — I can only do it every once in a while, because it seems to do a number on my lashes.
From time to time, when I get a sample of a new mascara, I will try a non waterproof version to see if it works or is it just in my head that I need waterproof formula. Then I realize I am not crazy and it really smudges on me after a few minutes.
very interesting wand! your lashes look great!
Ooooh, I’ve been eyeing this mascara, thanks for your review. I really like the Lancôme defencils mascara….how does this formula compare?
I tend to like Lancomes mascaras, I might be skipping this one though!
I think I’ll skip this one!
Interesting innovation! I need to try this to see if it will work on my lower lashes.
Hey Karen! I so wish Grandiose didn’t smudge on me, but it was smudge city on me unfortunately. I did like how it defined my eyes nicely though and did lengthen/volumize. Unfortunately I had to return it as it was too smudgy for me to keep it.
Lancome has some good mascaras! Thanks for this review. I’m not sure whether I want to try it or not, I generally stick to drugstore mascaras. Hate spending a lot on something I will toss out in 3 months!
For a moment there I thought Tabs had been sitting on the wand 😉 Interesting mascara, I’m kind of eager to try it.
Oh, the wand is a definite negative for me. I won’t even buy anything with a curved head (yeah, I’m looking at you, Hypnose Drama). I just find them so much more difficult to use than the regular, straight on. I can only imagine the mess I’d make with a curved *wand* – HAHA! It looks like they put a lot of time and effort into the development so I’m sure lots of people will appreciate it. You know I’d spend all that R&D money on a drag queen lash in a tube formula, though. 🙂
Great review! I like that this doesn’t smudge or flake so I might try it. I’ll be sure to keep my lash comb handy
Personally, I had the worst experience with this mascara. In fact, I returned it, and I never return mascara. It glued three, four and five of my lashes together, so I had to spend forever with a lash comb separating them again. It flaked. OK, probably because it took so long for me to separate my lashes. After about 3 hours of wear I went to ladies room and noticed I had major raccoon eyes going on. I looked like I had been crying or something. I tried it on at least three separate days. I tried pulling the wand out slowly, quickly, I tried wiping the excess on tissue paper. I tried powdering under my eyes before I applied it, in the hopes that it would keep the raccoon eye away. Nope, it just did not perform for me. I have a moderate amount of really fine lashes. But like all mascaras YMMV.
I love the packaging of this mascara so much – it’s almost like a cartoon mascara or something – so cute! 😀 That being said, I don’t think I’ll be able to go for it, as I pretty much only wear waterproof mascaras. Maybe they’ll make a waterproof version someday?
Thanks for the feedback!
Their mascara is my favorite and I most likely would have bought this. So thanks for saving me $30+ dollars:)