Today Tabs refused to return my tube of Max Volume Flash Mascara ($7), and now we’re not talking…
When I offered to trade for some Sonia K., he turned his back to me, whipped out his iPhone, and sent me this text:
“Sonia = 2008, Rimmel = 3000-and-late.”
I suppose he was trying to say that Sonia K. had better watch her back if she hopes to keep the tabby cat drugstore beauty market happy because the competition got fierce! Rimmel’s been hitting product homers galore.
Max Volume Flash Mascara in Extreme Black
Available in Black and Extreme Black, Max Volume Flash latches on to lashes like they’re going out of style, separating and defining every last one of ’em (even the small stumpy ones). Two to three coats create a full, feathery lash look Mr. Snuffleupagus would envy.
Definition is its strength, however, and I’d say there are other mascaras (Glam Eyes Lash Flirt, for instance) that have it beat in terms of volume, length and ability to hold a curl.
Still, it delivers a noticeable, lovely lash look — dramatic, yes, but not quite divalicious. To put it another way, if Glam Eyes Lash Flirt was Beyonce, Max Volume would be like Kelly or Michelle. 🙂
Nekkid lashes
One layer
Two layers
Three layers
A few more things to consider…
- It dries faaaaaast, so be ready!
- Has a matte black finish once it dries, i.e. it’s not a glossy mascara
- Very minor smudging and flaking after a full day’s wear
- Respectable curl hold that lasts reasonably well
- It’s a cinch to remove (cleanser and water work just fine)
- Even after three coats, my lashes still feel soft and light
I’m saving Max Volume Flash for those days when I want a little more than a natural lash look. Another good job, Rimmel! Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+
You might like Rimmel Max Volume Flash Mascara if…
- …you like drugstore prices ($7!)
- …you want exceptional lash separation and definition
- …you’re fine with merely moderate volume and length
- …you don’t want to wrestle with your mascara when it comes time to remove it
Do you have Justin Bieber Fever?
Have you heard of this kid? He’s the pop icon du jour, and apparently he makes the young’uns go buck wild! Everywhere I turn I’m seeing references to Justin Bieber Fever, like “Oh, no! She had some bad drinking water in the tropics and caught Justin Bieber Fever.”
But enough about Tiger Beat, coverboys. 🙂 Are you ready for Friday, WOOT!? I’m so ready for the weekend… What are you up to tonight?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Kylie says
I got vaccinated against Beiber Fever cuz that shiz spreads faster than mono at an 8th grade Sadie Hawkins dance.
Rachael says
haha. Love it!
.-= Rachael’s last blog post… License to Thrill: I Wanna be a Bond Girl =-.
Karen says
LOL!
Rachael says
I tried that the other day and after a few coats, I didn’t see any difference in my lashes. It just made my already long lashes look longer.
I don’t get the Beiber fever. He’s like 12 and singing about love. Plus we at the local bar we hang out at have a theory about him and all the other teeny boppers that sing on the radio: if you can’t aren’t old enough to vote or even get into a bar. you shouldn’t be played in one. I had my first love too at 12. He didn’t know I existed.
.-= Rachael’s last blog post… License to Thrill: I Wanna be a Bond Girl =-.
Jill says
He is actually 16. But he does look 12! 🙂
Karen says
I don’t think his voice has changed yet. How’s he gonna hit all those notes after he finishes puberty?
Rachael says
He’s gonna lip sync Baby when he’s like 20. If he’s still famous then.
.-= Rachael’s last blog post… License to Thrill: I Wanna be a Bond Girl =-.
makeup morsels says
I think I prefer glam eyes lash flirt since my eyelashes are pretty puny to begin with. I like my mascaras pretty dramatic. As for Bieber, every time he comes on the radio I always think it’s a girl singing right up until I hear the chorus
.-= makeup morsels’s last blog post… Bourjois + The Best Brush =-.
Bonnie says
The first time I heard him, I thought he was a girl too!
Karen says
I hear ya.
Have you ever tried using a lash primer? It might help bump up the volume!
Glosslizard says
So sad, I’m like… Beiber who? Rimmel is currently making me almost rethink my scary expensive mascara habit! Almost. The Armani Eyes to Kill waterproof is on its way though…… mmmmmmm!
Just bought my tickets for Iron Man 2 for tomorrow night! Wheeee! 😀
Karen says
Hi Glosslizard,
Nice! I love the flirty, fringy look of that one.
I had no idea that Iron Man 2 as out already… where have I been?!
Ashley says
I just threw mine out after the 3 month mark. It was too clumpy for me 🙁
Karen says
Hi Ashley,
Ahh, well. Think of it this way — at least you got to throw it out just in time for a new tube (some beauty experts believe you should get a new mascara every three months).
Kate & Zena says
Ugh, Beiber. I never heard of him until and I cringed throughout that entire song. I wanted to gouge my eardrums out. Just nooooooooooooooooo. What happened to the kind of singers that dominated the 90s? That was music I can enjoy (yes, I’m anti-Hilary Duff, Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus. I can’t STAND them). I was a total Backstreet Boy, N*Sync and Britney Spears gal. I like (and still have) their older albums but the newer Spears ones fail. Which reminds me, I need to find Britney and download that one to the ‘Pod. My dad had to reformate my computer a week or two ago and now I have to redownload all my songs. Did I mention I had like 2,000 songs? I’m that into my music.
Why do I have a feeling I’m going to be up until 2 AM getting the rest of my songs downloaded? Ugh.
Karen says
Hi Kate & Zena,
I can’t lie, I’ve rocked out to Miley’s Party in the USA a few times.
I do like pop stuff from the 90s, though. Here’s one to heal your ears:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fndeDfaWCg
Kate & Zena says
Oh, I love that one! That one’s a classic.
Lindsay says
Dang, I was hoping it would be a glossy black finish.
.-= Lindsay’s last blog post… MAC Superglass Swatches =-.
Karen says
Hi Lindsay,
This one’s very matte. Maybe try Lash Flirt?
amy says
ahhh nothing beats Rimmel Glam Eyes mascaras! But I am glad that Tabs loves Volume Flash so much. He is such a beauty whore.
.-= amy’s last blog post… A Little Bit of Paradise FOTD Chanel Les Ombres À Paupières Quatuor Birds of Paradise 15 =-.
Karen says
Hi Amy,
Isn’t he though!? LOL!
YJ says
I love how drugstore brands are stepping up the quality of their products!
.-= YJ’s last blog post… Blingblingbling! =-.
Karen says
Hi YJ,
Agreed. It seems like the bar has been raised for drugstore stuff in the last few years. 🙂
Karen4 says
This one looks like a winner, but I think I’ll stay with Rimmel’s Sexy Curves full volume and curl waterproof mascara. I was in a hurry the other day and didn’t curl my lashes. Put this on, and voila! Curl, volume with one coat, and absolutely no smudging. Doesn’t flake or make lashes stiff. Comes off with makeup remover–I use Almay makeup remover pads. Love it!
Karen says
Hi Karen4,
Hmm, I think I’m the only person Sexy Curves doesn’t work for. I just couldn’t figure out how to work the brush!
gio says
That looks like a nice mascara but I was hoping it would have a glossy finish. 🙁
.-= gio’s last blog post… Looks: Spice up natural eyes =-.
Karen says
Hi Gio,
Yeah, me too!
Scientific Housewife says
Bleh, I can’t stand Justin Bieber!
Karen says
Hi Scientific Housewife,
He’s kind of funny to me. I just don’t get it…
Nina says
Thats the one I got to use for tomorrow …. but if Glam Eyes is better, I just might drag the Hubs to a CVS to get a tube. Im liking Max Volume though because it IS really light on the lashes. Heavy mascaras make me feel like closing my eyes from the weight LOL.
Bieber looks like a girl … I mean I can see why hes so popular bec of the androgyny and stuff, but even his voice sounds like a girls voice! Give me Adam Lambert any time !!!
Karen says
Hi Nina,
That’s true! I love how even after three layers the lashes feel soft. 🙂
Have lots of vacation fun for all of us working today!
Nina says
So we went out to walk downtown Austin and find lunch and I found a … tadaaa … CVS. I got Glam Eyes as a back up for tomorrow. LOL. He says im a beauty addict. 🙂
Were having fun … lotsa walking and swimming. 🙂
Suji says
TGIF!
Karen, do you know of any glossy mascaras that hold a curl? I have straight, short lashes (it’s the half asian in me) and I like the glossy wet look.
Karen says
Hi Suji,
TGIF INDEED!
Re: glossy mascaras, try Clinique High Impact Volume, Stila Lash Visor or Elizabeth Arden Ceramide.
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/stila-lash-visor-waterproof-mascara-stands-up-to-stair-steppers-and-sweat/
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/elizabeth-arden-ceramide-mascara-review/
There are a few recs in this post too:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/makeup-tipshow-to/whats-your-favorite-high-gloss-mascara/
mkdallas says
Tabs: “Gimme some gravy or you’ll never see the mascara again!” Is it wrong that I want to make farty noises into his belly fur, even though he’s not my kitteh? This looks great on you; really like the definition on the 1 & 2-coat photos. Im always trying to find something that defines and legthens, but doesn’t add volume…more of a natural look. How does it compare to L’Oreal Voluminous, if you’ve tried that?
Karen says
Hi mkdallas,
I’ve tried Voluminous before — this one seems just a smidge less on the volumizing front. 🙂
And it’s not wrong that you want to make farty noises on Tabs’ belly fur. That urge strikes me all the time!!
Jackie says
LOL! This entire post just cracked me up! Thanks for making my day Karen lol.
Thais says
Karen, have you been using any lash growth products? Your ‘nekkid lashes’ appear to be longer! If so, please share the secret! Cheers! 🙂
Martha says
Let’s have a moment of silence for all the victims of the Bieber Fever epidemic.
Karen says
LOL… maybe somebody will develop a vaccination.
Catherine says
LMAO! So thank you for finally explaining who the hell this kid is. I’ve seen his name all over the place but I was like “buh who…?”
So… as much as Beiber kind of reminds me of G-Dragon (he’s a 21-year old kpop star that looks like he’s 16 [just like me! minus the kpop star part]) and I’m assuming that a lot of Westerners see G-Dragon in the same way (at least his voice has dropped and he can actually sing and dance though) is anyone else not super creeped out by the overt sexualization of him and the girl in the video? I know it’s supposed to be a song about love, not sex, but the costuming and dramatic poses would have fit right in to any BSB vid and it makes me want to start laughing hysterically but at the same time makes me cringe. I just don’t find anything about him attractive and trying to put myself in my 12-year-old shoes (or 16) does not help at all! I still would have thought he looked 12 and started laughing hysterically. I mean who can take that seriously?!
Then again, I was probably the least boy-crazy girl I knew growing up, so that may have something to do with it. But seriously?! He looks like he’s 12 and he clearly hasn’t gone through puberty yet! o______O;;;
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… tokidoki Kabuki Brush =-.
Resha says
I need to try this mascara! am i buggin or does this have tiny fibers in it? it looks like it from the pic…(which i love, btw) either way, i must have this! thanks for reviewing 🙂
.-= Resha’s last blog post… MAC Superglass Swatches & Review =-.
Emily says
I have Beiber Fever unfortunately.
It’s an unfortunate disease and the prognosis is bad.
Yasmin says
I use lash flirt & this and they are great together! First I use lash flirts longer bristle side to get the length, then I use this one, then I use the shorter bristle side on lash flirt to finish it off. Love it!
Connie says
thanks for the review! I may just give this a try. I do quite like Rimmel mascaras though they don’t really hold up my stick straight asian lashes too well.
.-= Connie’s last blog post… Review: Kji & Co Emergency Lash RX =-.