Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara ($7) lured me with its bold claim to boost lash volume by 400%.
400%!
I expected some beasty Snuffleupagus lashes and drooled all over myself daydreaming about ’em.
Super Size Me
According to the product marketing (when is that not a red flag?), Neutrogena’s patent-pending formula contains a touch of olive oil to penetrate and plump each lash core. When used with the included uber brush, the company claims it takes lashes from normal to super-sized.
Exaggerate Much?
I was achin’ for some of that 400%, let me tell you, so I applied three layers of Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara and pulled out my measuring tape, LOL!
Just kidding — no tape, but I did see a visible increase in lash volume. No, the difference wasn’t as dramatic as the 400% figure led me to believe, but I’d peg my lashes at maybe 50% thicker and 25% longer. Not bad at all.
A $7 Alternative to Tarte’s $18 Lights, Camera, Lashes
Bravo to Neutrogena for Healthy Volume’s thickening powers and natural lash look. I think it’s a good drugstore mascara for the price. It holds a lash curl all day long, doesn’t smudge and has a dark, glossy finish.
It reminds me of Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes but costs less than half the price!
Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara
Price: $7
Use: For thicker, longer, natural looking lashes with a hint of gloss
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B
Le sigh! I’m off to work and running late. Please make it slower than yesterday, please make it slower than yesterday, please make it slower than yesterday…
This morning, to ease the pain of having to go to work, I listened to cheesy hits from the 80s.
Eighth grade dance flashback! Don’t make me bust out my Cabbage Patch!
If I can take the day off tomorrow, I think I’ll visit the MAC Manish Aurora collection at the MAC Pro Store in San Francisco.
How’s your week coming along? Any plans for this weekend?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The hardest part of my week is over, TGIF! I’m getting waxed tmrw (eek!)and then going to go stay with my boyfriend this weekend. I haven’t seen him in a few weeks– I’m excited!
By the way, your brows are always perfect! Mine grow like crazy and they don’t look that good even though I pluck every day. Have a great weekend! =)
i almost bought that today when i went to ulta! instead i got colossal and then snuck over to sephora to pick up bad gal plum. i gotta say karen, i can’t buy makeup anymore without consulting you first.
thanks! 🙂
Girl, run to Manish! That collection already sold out online within one day. I saw this mascara around 1000 times but never even tempted to pick it up. The 400% thing is such a far stretch, no mascaras can do that! Anyways, it’s good to know that they try 🙂
Dao´s last blog post..MAC Did It Again: MAC for Manish Arora
How is that mascara with clumping? I really hate hard to apply mascaras.
Looking forward to your haul. I am staying far away from MAC as I can. LOL
I am driving to Marin this weekend for the holiday. One of the perks of working for a financial institution is that I get Columbus Day off. I am wine tasting on Sunday and during the three days I am definitely hitting Sephora.
Have fun in SF. Do you know any of the MAC MUA’s at the Pro store? I wonder if Naomi still works there. She is freaking amazing.
Marisol´s last blog post..TILT 10.9.08
Hi Jessica,
The same for me too! I’m glad the hard stuff is over. Hope the waxing was too bad (!)… have fun with your honey this weekend. 🙂
Hi Holly,
You’re welcome! Lemme know what you end up wearing Bad Gal Plum with. I’m guessing she’ll look great with golds. 🙂
Hi Dao,
It’s pretty, but the colors are kinda bright for me, so we’ll see. 🙂
Hi Hana,
It’s clump free when I use just two layers. If I add a third lil’ beads show up at the tips of my lashes.
It’s an overall good mascara. I hate when stuff clumps, too!
Hi Marisol,
Lucky you! I was trying to sneak off for Columbus day, but unfortch there’s too much to do at my job. Agh!
Have fun wine tasting. Do you have any fave places you like to go? I live relatively close to Napa and have only done it once or twice.
OMG it’s The Jets!!! Lol! Their album was the first one I ever got. I actually have that song on my iPod. I was wondering how that mascara was. I have an unopened Lash Blast that I got free from Ulta sitting on my desk. Thinking about trying it out tomorrow.
Seriously, Drugstores have some great mascaras ! Thank you for the review .
Indian Girl´s last blog post..Eye Slices To Relax Those Strained Eyes
I’m VERY pleased to see a review of this product after seeing it pushed into magazines so much, but very disappointed with the lack of results. D=
Almira´s last blog post..How To: Not Wake Dorm Roomie!
Hi Lehea,
There were rumors around my school that some guy was their cousin, LOL! There were also rumors that a girl in my class had a cousin who danced in MC Hammer’s Can’t Touch This video.
I was not crazy about Lash Blast. I know some people love it, but I have a difficult time with the brush.
Hi Indian Girl,
They do. I think you just have to look around to find the good ones.
Hi Almira,
It’s not the best volumizing mascara that I’ve found, but it’s pretty good overall. The 400% claim is a little ridiculous, I have to admit!
Do you have a favorite mascara?
Hey Karen,
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog! I do hope you try the soup. It’s seriously the easiest thing on earth to make, and I am NOT a cook by any definition. I’m more of a heater-upper.
Good luck!
Oh, and I know you’re supposed to replace your mascara every few months or so, but I’ve been using Maybelline’s Define-A-Lash for like a year now, and I still love it.
Beth´s last blog post..The easiest (and perhaps only) vegan recipe you’ll ever LOVE
Out of curiosity, how would you compare these to CoverGirl’s line of mascaras with the synthetic (some sort of colorful plastic) brushes?
Kristan´s last blog post..Grab bag
Mascara brands always do that.. they claim something that’s exagerrated. Only gals born naturallly long, curled and thick lashes would enhance..
However, as time goes on, I’m liking this more and more. This is for natural look if under three coats. It’s also about techniques.
As you know, I’m a big fan of Tarte’s LCL, so I’ll probably try this out at some point, but right now I’m so enamored of Exceptionnel that it’ll be a while before I buy another mascara! 🙂
LOL. Not related at all to the mascara but I just downloaded “Crush On You” the other day- no lie 😀
Tanya´s last blog post..Latest & Greatest From The Drugstore.