L’Oreal Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara: Thickness! Volume! Then an Unexpected Surprise
Mon, 10/26/2009 by Karen | Posted in: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Makeup, Product Reviews
Man, oh, man! There’s just so much I love about L’Oreal’s Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara ($5). Two coats transform my eyelashes from toy car to monster truck, and at just five bones, it’s also pretty cheap.
Before
After two coats, WOWZA!!
Before
In yo’ face … IN YO’ FACE!
At first, I was seduced by the color (a deep black), and then teased by its ability to hold a curl all day long. But things didn’t stop there; my infatuation grew once I saw its ability to thicken and seemingly lengthen, too.
L’Oreal claims their makeup gurus engineered it to plump lashes with — brace yourself for marketing speak — “revolutionary lash-pumping technology!” and “hydra-collagen.” (The lingo always sounds corny, doesn’t it?)
Too good to be true
Alas, my love affair wasn’t meant to be. The fire fizzled when I saw flakes at the end of the day. Black smudges made unexpected and unwelcome appearances, BOO!
Without a portable, purse-sized chimney sweep, I think I’ll have to pass. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: C
Onward to Tuesday!
So how was your day? I hope it passed with flying colors.
I’m looking for inspiration this afternoon… What was the best part of your day? 
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Share this Entry
1. Rae said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hmm… it it just me, or is that tube highly unattractive?
I’m actually kind of tempted to check this out — I layer a tubing mascara (Fiberwig’s my weapon of choice at the moment) over flaky, smudgy mascaras, and it seems to do the trick!
Rae’s last blog post… The subtle fantasy edge of Halloween
2. sarahPUFFY said, on October 26th, 2009:
I had the same problem – great volume, great colour…but it flaked off so much in my eyes that I had to take the stuff off in the middle of the day. It was dreadful. I may try it again in the waterproof version (waterproof = always better), but if it still flakes I’m gonna have to give this a FAIL…
sarahPUFFY’s last blog post… FOTD with H.I.P Shadow Duo in Roaring
3. sarahPUFFY said, on October 26th, 2009:
I had the same problem – great volume, great colour…but it flaked off so much in my eyes that I had to take the stuff off in the middle of the day. It was dreadful. I may try it again in the waterproof version (waterproof = always better), but if it still flakes I’m gonna have to give this a FAIL…
sarahPUFFY’s last blog post… FOTD with H.I.P Shadow Duo in Roaring
4. Marina said, on October 26th, 2009:
hi, Karen!
I would never get this mascara. I am thinking about new mascara by YSL but it’s $30 so maybe MUFE or Max Factor “False Lash Effect”. Still DiorShow is my fav. I am sure I wrote it here lots of times
It’s almost 4 a.m. here and I am still not sleeping. So I can’t wait till the end of my “day”
Marina’s last blog post… Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2010 Makeup Collection
5. Tiffany said, on October 26th, 2009:
Don’t you hate when you think you have found something great and then it fails?
The best part of my day was cuddling with my dog; when you scratch his back he rubs up against you like a cat
6. amy said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hmm this mascara made your lashes a bit spiky, which is too made because it looked and sounded promising. The packaging is beautiful though.
amy’s last blog post… EOTD MAC Soft Sparkle Eye Pencils Night Sky, Iris Accents Product Pictures, Swatches on Eyes and Review
7. Kristen said, on October 26th, 2009:
Karen, I had the same reaction when I tried this mascara. I was in awe of my lashes after just 2 coats, but I noticed that the wand picks up too much product. I had to swipe the wand on the tube’s rim for a full minute before I could get anywhere near my eyes.
Still, I wore it for about 2 weeks straight, thinking I’d found my new favorite mascara, when one morning I pulled the wand out of the tube and found a gunky, sticky mess. After just 2 weeks, the mascara got so thick, clumpy, and sticky, it was impossible to even wipe off excess on the rim of the tube. It can only be described as goopy and messy.
If only they could get the mechanics of the formula and packaging right, this stuff truly would be one of the best mascaras on the market.
Kristen’s last blog post… Mad Men: Betty Draper goes to Rome
8. Citrine said, on October 26th, 2009:
I was seriously going “OMG I am getting this for sure” when I saw your before and after then there was the surprise…Boo for L’oreal, I actually sort of like the tube.
9. Karen said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hi Rae,
Yeah, it isn’t the most alluring of tubes.
I think the brush kinda kicks arse, though. If you try it let me know what you think!
10. Karen said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hi sarahPUFFY,
Yikes! Glad to know I wasn’t the only one who had trubs with this. It’s too bad, as it had so much potential.
11. Karen said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hi Marina,
Girl, why are you up so late?! Somebody loves the night life!
12. Karen said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hi Tiffany,
Aw, I’m kinda jealous! I’ve been having dog envy lately! My neighbors have the cutest lab and now I want one too. Le SIGH.
Did you get all of your studying done?
13. BeckBeck said, on October 26th, 2009:
@sarahPUFFY – the waterproof isn’t great. It goes on clumptastic and isn’t easy to straighten out. That’s the one automatic fail for mascaras for me, if they’re too much work to de-clump.
14. Karen said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hi Amy,
It was kind of a bummer, boo!
How was your day?
15. Karen said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hi Kristen,
Yikes. I hope they find a way to evolve this mascara — it could kick some serious booty if it wasn’t so darn flaky!
16. Karen said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hi Citrine,
I know, right? I was in love for like eight hours, LOL!
17. Tavia said, on October 26th, 2009:
Sounded to good to be true, indeed. I’m still in love with Lancome’s mascaras, for me they are really good. Here it’s 5 am and as usual I don’t sleep. I stay all night long awake and I’m going to sleep only at 10-11 am:D….
Tavia’s last blog post… A few rules to follow for a complexion without wrinkles
18. Paris B said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hi Karen – the ones you get look a bit different from the one we get here (here’s ours) It does give good volume and i don’t get the flakies but I do get a bit of clumpiness
Paris B’s last blog post… How many credit cards do you really need?
19. Barbara said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hmm, I actually love this mascara and haven’t found it to be flaky at all. It’s my new fave, so I’m sorry to hear about all the bad experiences. I haven’t used it in over a week, though, so I hope it hasn’t gone all clumpy on me! I’ll test it again tomorrow…
20. Blovet Beauty said, on October 26th, 2009:
the effect is not too bad but i dun like the packaging.
Blovet Beauty’s last blog post… 100th Follower Giveaway
21. Karen said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hi Blovet Beauty,
It would be so fab — too bad it flakes so much!
How was your day?
22. Karen said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hi Barbara,
Let us know if it still works for you!
23. Karen said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hi Paris B.,
Interesting! I wonder if it’s the same formula.
24. Karen said, on October 26th, 2009:
Hi Tavia,
Wow, so many night people up in here!
Do you work the night shift? Or are you a student?
25. Catherine said, on October 26th, 2009:
Aww man! I got all excited about this too! LOL. If it doesn’t last on you, there’s probably no way it’ll last on me (since even the UD 24/7s smudge on my bottom lashline). Almost perfect though.
Catherine’s last blog post… (Not So) Short Video Update – MotoJewelry, EkiLove & other stuff
26. Christy said, on October 26th, 2009:
I got this and initially I liked it, but I probably wouldn’t get it again. I don’t get the smudging or flaking, but I just find it doesn’t hold curl at all. I liked how thick and long they got, but I really need something that doesn’t weigh my lashes down.
Christy’s last blog post… MAC Holiday Mineralize Kits: Pinkazoppin! & Fun In The Sun Swatches
27. Kajal Couture said, on October 26th, 2009:
Aw, you had me until the flaking. I guess sometimes you do get what you pay for, right?
Kajal Couture’s last blog post… Shades of Pink…Eyeshadow that is
28. gio said, on October 27th, 2009:
I was excited about this mascara and I like how it looks on you but it’s too bad it is so flaky
gio’s last blog post… Product Review: E.L.F. Studio Powder Brush
29. Tiffany said, on October 27th, 2009:
Hey Karen! At least you have tabs to cuddle with! I studied my booty off yesterday and have to do the same thing today
But them tomorrow it will all be over!
30. Glosslizard said, on October 27th, 2009:
Hee hee! I’m picturing a teeny little Mary-Poppins-esque chimney sweep dancing merrily out of your purse to mop up mascara flakes! Ah, if only!
Yesterday was rough, the best part was going to bed!
31. Dao said, on October 27th, 2009:
I have this mascara, too! While I love the length, volume, and curl, I hate the brush. It is so chunky and messy to use. Did you try the new L’Oreal Telescopic Explosion yet?
P.S: love that “in yo face” line! I imagine you saying that to Tabs
Dao’s last blog post… Organize It: Cataloging Your Mineral Pigment Sample Stash
32. vnssa906 said, on October 27th, 2009:
drat, while reading the posting i got super excited… thought i found my new mascara! but of course, it was too good to be true…
my hunt will continue for an awesome mascara that will curl, lengthen, thicken and won’t irritate my eyes…. any suggestions girls?!!?
33. Megan said, on October 27th, 2009:
I love and hate this mascara for the exact same reasons! Flakes all over the place
Megan’s last blog post… Brag Monday #2
34. jeannie said, on October 27th, 2009:
You had me wanting to run out and buy it until I read through the whole review. Darn! I wanted monster truck lashes!
jeannie’s last blog post… world’s prettiest panties
35. Rebecca said, on October 27th, 2009:
Oh, it looked so… perfect! But I can NOT deal with flaking and smudging. I have a pretty long school day and I don’t want to look like a raccoon by the time I get home. (Which has happened many times before D:)
Rebecca’s last blog post… Skin Saving Superhero: Dior Hydraction Serum
36. amy said, on October 27th, 2009:
My day (yesterday) and today has been well! Thanks Karen!
amy’s last blog post… LOTD Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in 76 Ming Swatch on Lips and Review
37. Louise Gray said, on October 27th, 2009:
Hey Girl,
After paying big bucks for Dior Show Iconic, I have four words for this: The price is right!!! I’m a gonna try this one on for size. Louise
38. Karen said, on October 27th, 2009:
Hi Louise Gray,
HOT! I hope this works out for you. Let me know if it flakes.
39. Karen said, on October 27th, 2009:
Hi Amy,
That’s good. Can you believe tomorrow is Wednesday? This week is going by so fast!
40. Karen said, on October 27th, 2009:
Hi Rebecca,
I hear that. I can’t even count the times I’ve looked in the mirror and found raccoon eyes at the end of the day!
What are you studying in school? Are you in college?