When I was a kid, every slumber party I went to started with 16 Candles, progressed to crank calling cute boys from class, and ended with us playing light as a feather, stiff as a board.
For the game, one of us would lie down on the floor. Then, a bunch of us girls would lift her, using just two fingers on each hand, while chanting, “light as a feather, stiff as a board,” over and over again. I have no idea why this was considered fun, but we got the biggest kick out of it and did it all the time.
Ah, to be young and easily amused… 🙂
MAC’s new Studio Fix Boldblack Lash mascara ($14) reminds me of that old game. Launching April 28 on counters with the new Fashion Flower Collection (NOTE: it’s available now online), Boldblack will join the MAC permanent line.
MAC describes it as a dramatic, blacker-than-black mascara with a long-lasting formula lighter than a flower petal.
I’ve been batting two coats on my fringe for the past few days, and while I like how long my lashes look and how feather light they feel with it on, Boldblack also leaves them stiff and crunchy — hence the whole “light as feather, stiff as a board” thing.
A few things I like about Boldblack…
- It’s a true black (it doesn’t have any blue undertones)
- Delivers dramatically longer, separated lashes
- Resists smudging
- Relatively affordable for a department store mascara
- Feels as light as a feather
Before
After two coats
Before (left) and after two coats (right)
And some things I don’t particularly like about Boldblack…
- It leaves my lashes stiff and crunchy
- Doesn’t hold the curl from my Shu Uemura lash curler very well
- The brush tends to deposit too much product on my lids
Boldblack Lash has a few things going for it, but it doesn’t rock my world. I prefer mascaras that soften my lashes and maintain a curl better, but I give it props for rich color, lengthening power and price.
If you’re on the market for a straight-up lengthening mascara in a true black (and you don’t mind stiff lashes), Studio Fix Boldblack Lash might be worth a shot.
PRICE: $14
AVAILABILITY: Coming soon to MAC counters (April 28); available now online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I definitely prefer mascaras that leave my lashes soft. And I can tell when other people are wearing crunchy mascaras, too. What is your favorite mascara Karen?
It depends. I tend to skip around a lot. These days I’m liking YSL Faux Cils and Ultraflesh Panthera:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/30-yves-saint-laurent-volume-effet-faux-cils-mascara-for-a-false-lash-effect/
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/ultraflesh-panthera-mascara-makes-lashes-roar-like-a-jungle-cat/
Crunchy lashes is a pet peeve of mine, so I think I’ll be passing on this one.
Me too. Gimme soft lashes any day!
I prefer mascaras that leave my lashes soft too, so I’ll pass on this one. Thanks for the review.
Sure, Gio!
I’m not a mascara person. It’s just a step I always seem to skip. xP
Mascara rocks! Try it sometime!
Karen! thanks for another great review! your undereye area looks so glowy in these pics.. what did you use?
Hi Annie,
Thanks! I’ve been trying a few new techniques. For these pics I used my good ol’ MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, and I buffed it in with a MAC 224 tapered brush. 🙂 Let me know if you have any questions…
Crunchy lashes = grumpy eyeballs! Pass for me. Thanks for always giving us the straight scoop Karen. 🙂
LOL, grumpy eyeballs indeed, Alka! What is your mascara of choice these days?
I don’t mind crunchy lashes, after all, not many can tell they are crunchy, but I def need a mascara that can hold curl. Hence….pass!!!
Curl hold is super important!
I’m still a Hypnose devotee and the only thing that could get me to switch (so far) would have been Faux Cils if it hadn’t dried out so quickly. I’m sure I’ll give it another shot to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. 🙂
Btw, the flower in your hair look is cute. Also, did you guys ever actually pick someone up with the light as a feather thing? We did it a few times as kids, too. It just never worked, so we gave up.
Thanks for reminding me… I need to get another tube o’ Faux Cils!
I think we picked up one girl, but there were like 20 of us and the gal we picked up was rail skinny. Did you ever crank call people? Ahh, the days before caller ID!
No wonder you gals kept at it – I’m sure one success would have been enough for us to keep trying, too! Our board always seemed to droop in the middle. 🙂
You’ll laugh, but I still don’t have caller ID. Whenever our phone rings, we’re all like “who could be calling…. darn phone…”. HAHA!
I have a vague recollection of that happening with our group, too, LOL!
Have you ever seen The Craft? They take light as a feather/stiff as a board to a whole new level.
I could live without caller ID, but not call waiting. Remember how it used to be when you wanted to talk to your friends on the phone? You actually had to be at home! Our phone was in the kitchen, and my mom would totally spy on my conversations. My dad was weird about the phone, too. Even though we had call waiting he’d go on these tirades about phones only being for “emergencies.” I’d be like, dude, I need to figure out what to wear to the school dance! That’s an emergency!
OMG, I am so laughing about your phone story! We had one line too but luckily no one ever really called for my parents so I could visit with my friends for ages (darn right about that school dance!). 🙂
One of my friends actually had a party line when we were young. It used to drive us nuts because not only did we have to fight her family for phone time, we had to make sure some old fogey from across town wasn’t on it. Sometimes we’d pick up quietly and listen in to the old ladies gossip. Small town, not much entertainment! HAHA!
I can’t remember ever crank calling cute boys but I do remember calling boys and hanging up if their moms answered because we’d be so embarrassed. Ah, youth. 🙂
It’s been ages since I’ve seen the Craft but, yes, I do remember!
I usually don’t mind crunchy lashes (since I’m not constntly petting my eyes all day) I just hate when they LOOK crunchy. Like I deep fried my lashes. (ew lol) but unless I think a mascara is going to be amazing, I’m usually a creature of habbit and use the same things lol
Oh, I know what you mean! I don’t like it when they look all lumpy and clumpy… blah!
im curious, and in the market for a new mascara. i threw out my current tube of lashblast. 🙂
If you like Lashblast’s wand then you might really like this!
oh yay! and yes i do! 🙂
I am not really a fan of MAC mascaras. I love Smashbox Bionic. It lengthens, defines, and never makes my lashes hard.
I tried that before and remember liking it. Does it smudge on you?
Nope, it stays put, but I do wait a few seconds to let it dry.
I might give this a try as I like the brush which kind of looks like CG LashBlast. No smudging is a win for me!
You look so cute with the flower in your hair! 🙂
I use the regular studio fix mascara and black and love it, I never have problems with smudges or flakes, and it coats really well and never feels stiff. The only problem i have is getting it off….grrrr…
oh boy since you said its a true black without blue undertones i might have to try it. i hate it when eyeliners or mascara’s have that bluish tent to them!
Oh, I know. That happens to me with MAC Smolder — it’s turns blue on me. 🙁
That’s too bad about it being stiff, one of the reasons I love Love LOVE (and recommend to everyone!) Black Fix Studio Fix Lash is because it dries soft and because of that you can layer and layer and layer and layer if you like and it never flakes/smudges.
I will try one anyways, becasue I have been DREAMING of a blacker version in this formula.
I need to know what’s on your face right now — you look so glowy and gorgeous!
I’m only 15 and just started wearing mac but for the longest time I thought mac was the most expensive makeup brand to buy from. 14 dollars only?!?!?!?!?? Whoa. I always thought they were like 30. Too bad it makes your lashes stiff. Do you have a fav mac mascara?? Is the zoom lash one good? Oh and are the pigments and paint pots good too??
I’m only 15 and just started wearing mac but for the longest time I thought mac was the most expensive makeup brand to buy from. 14 dollars only?!?!?!?!?? Whoa. I always thought they were like 30. Too bad it makes your lashes stiff. Do you have a fav mac mascara?? Is the zoom lash one good? Oh and are the pigments and paint pots good too?? Thanks for the review!
Hey! So I take this really isn’t one of your favorites, but is it worth a try?