Get a “false lash effect” with Yves Saint Laurent’s $30 Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils, the makeup lovahs rave, but EEK! — for that price ($30) I better see fireworks after two coats!
First, I think this pricey princess does kick serious booty in a few important ways… I’ve been testing it in High Density Black, one of the eight colors in the line, and it delivers some of the best pigment I’ve ever seen. It looks deep, dark and rich on my lashes, almost like they’ve been dipped in a jar of India ink.
The clump-free formula eases onto my lashes, and coat after coat they still feel soft and light to the touch (not crunchy at all).
I have naturally thin lashes and like mascaras that add volume; Faux Cils does just that, even fattening up the little stubby ones most other mascaras miss.
Nekkid lashes
With Faux Cils, I almost feel like I’m wearing a false lash fringe.
One layer
It might have one weakness, though… For $30, I expect a little more length. I see a noticeable difference, but nowhere near as much as I see from Rimmel’s $7 Glam Eyes Lash Flirt Mascara.
Two layers
Several reviews on Sephora and Makeup Alley also claim the formula dries out quickly, making it difficult to apply. I haven’t had my tube long enough to observe this yet, but that could be something else to consider.
Three layers
Yes, I think I finally see why it’s much beloved. 🙂 Faux Cils is a solid performer, adding exceptional volume, rich color and excellent wear time, and I feel like it makes my lashes look great. If I didn’t feel like I needed more help with length, I’d probably fall deeply in love (despite the steep price). Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B
You might like Yves Saint Laurent Faux Cils if…
- You’re most interested in lash volume
- You love smooth mascaras that don’t clump
- You prefer easy-to-remove formulas
- You want a long-wearing mascara that won’t smudge or flake
- You’re comfortable paying top dollar
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
lesley says
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:12 pmi recently watched a youtube video on this… and i’m glad you did a review with up-close pictures! i’m all about length more so than volume thanks to my wimpy wimpy wimpy (not hefty hefty hefty) asian lashes.
i think i’ll pass on this one! i recently fell in love with studio fix lash anyway… so… i can wait at *least* one to two more weeks without lemming another mascara 😉
Karen says
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:02 pmHi Lesley,
Dunno how you feel about drugstore mascaras, but one that gives awesome length is Rimmel Glam Eyes Lash Flirt. I reviewed it a couple of weeks ago; let me know if you’d like the link to it so you can see pics (my lashes are wimpy wimpy wimpy too!).
lesley says
April 24th, 2010 at 2:12 amthere’s no rimmel here in norway 🙁 but i did find your review on it! i’ll probably see if some of my friends in the US or UK can send me one xD
my current fave lengthening is CG LashBlast length… but it doesn’t have very much volume factor, so i end up layering mascaras.
Sonja says
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:12 pmYES!!! I’m so happy you reviewed this one, it’s my new holy grail mascara. I’ve been using Diorshows for years and decided I needed a change so it was this one or Hypnose by Lancome (which is ridiculously expensive here, like all things Lancome).
I didn’t experience any problems with length- in fact my lashes were so long that I got mascara smudges near the brows! And the smell, it smells so beautiful!
The only thing I’m worried about is that it’s going to dry up after a month, which would be terrible considering the price (which is about 5$ higher where I live!)
Karen says
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:01 pmI’m worried about my tube drying out too. 🙁 Keep me updated… I hope yours stays in good shape!
Koko says
April 23rd, 2010 at 7:45 pmThis is my HG mascara, I won’t wear anything else at this point. It does dry out fast, but don’t worry you’ll get a solid 2.5 months out of it. The mascara pretty much forces you to change every 2.5-3 months.
Kelli says
April 25th, 2010 at 10:07 amI LOVE this mascara!! though i would really like to get a waterproof version cus I find that it tends to smudge easily and does not hold up very well with water!! (not rain proof at all!!)
But I’ve had it for about a month now and I do find that it seems to be drying up a bit and flakes a little when I put it on! 🙁 so we’ll see how it goes I guess.
Shannon R says
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:22 pmI got a sample of this and it dried out before I could even use it. Not to mention that the sample was soooo small and not even labeled. I can’t believe I wasted Sephora beauty points on it 🙁 I think I’m going to still with Diorshow Iconic waterproof. I wish that the MAC Mascaras all had waterproof options! It’s too muggy here, combined with my oily skin, to go without waterproof.
Karen says
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:00 pmDiorshow Iconic is pretty good. I really like that one for lash separation. 🙂
NINA says
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:33 pmOh that mascara does look like magic! Awesome!!!
Karen says
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:00 pmIt’s pretty darn good! I just wish it cheaper, le sigh!!
Nina says
April 23rd, 2010 at 7:55 pmI know …. if I get that tube, I should pretty much use it everyday to get the most of it before it dries out.
It does mean though that I dont need to do falsies – I totally fail at falsie application. Hmmmm … must think some more. Maybe my birthday present to me part 2. 😀
lexi says
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:39 pmHave you tried Armani’s – Eyes to Kill? I keep hearing that if I’m going to spend $30 on mascara that’s the tube to buy.
Karen says
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:59 pmI have! Overall it’s a great mascara, but it smudges on me. You might want to try it though, cause it’s all sorts of awesome. Here are some pics!
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/armani-beauty-eyes-to-kill-mascara-for-smoother-longer-lifted-lashes/
lexi says
April 23rd, 2010 at 4:10 pmokay that just settles it. I’ll be picking up this baby once my plush lash is gone!
Elaine says
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:46 pmHey Karen,
I’m one of those people who obsesses about mascara – it needs to thicken, lengthen, and separate – and I’ve been hard pressed to find a mascara that does all three. Avon’s Supershock Mascara is my new staple, and it only costs around $8. This is the first mascara I’ve ever used where I didnt use a lash brush on after… and I literally dont go a day without it. Plus I have super-sensitive eyes and it’s one of the only ones that doesnt make my eyes water… I’d highly recommend it!
Karen says
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:57 pmHi Elaine,
Good to know. I’ll add that one to my mascara wish-list. 🙂
How’s your Friday going? Got any exciting plans for the weekend?
Lindsay says
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:04 pmI love this mascara! I wish I wasn’t allergic to rimmels…
.-= Lindsay’s last blog post… MAC Pret-a-Papier Swatches =-.
Madelynn says
April 23rd, 2010 at 4:46 pmI am trying SO hard to get myself to spend the money on this. Been doing the internal battle for months, haha. I’m afraid that once I get it, I can’t go back!
Devi says
April 23rd, 2010 at 5:31 pmThis mascara looks pretty good. If it weren’t for the steep price I would be grabbing a wand. What other mascaras would you recommend for volume?
Kate & Zena says
April 23rd, 2010 at 6:21 pmOuuuuuuuuuuch, $30 for a mascara? Uh, noooooooooooo for me. I’ll stick to my Almay. Me and my Almay are BFFs.
Zena sends a very weary “hello.” She’s a wee bit tranquilized. We had thought a thunderstorm was about ready to terrorize my neck o’ the woods and tranq-ed her….but there’s no thunder or storm. So she’s like lallygagging between being asleep and awake.
Rachel says
April 23rd, 2010 at 7:43 pmCovergirl LashBlast all the way. Have you tried the new Fusion LashBlast? It’s replaced my Loreal Voluminous Lash. I used to buy Lancome mascara, but it just got too expensive, and I like to stick with the three month rule! Thanks for reviewing so many products. It helps add to my makeup obsession!
Rica says
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:54 pmI’ve never really splurged on high-end mascara, because I don’t think it’s necessaries. Well, except for Fresh Supernova and Firebird, even then, I buy travel size because they’re cute and I never really use them up in 3 months.
I guess it’s because I’ve never tried high-end mascara before, except for Fresh. I saw your Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara review, it seems like a better option, great effect! I’m also REALLY interested in MAC Opulash, it seems like it’s gonna be great. But I’ll have to wait till it comes to Canada in May. I feel like I’m gonna splurge on a full size high-end mascara some time LOL
.-= Rica’s last blog post… Tag: My Favourite Things =-.
Ditte K. says
April 24th, 2010 at 5:01 amI think it looks fantastic in the first 10 minutes. And then it feels like the lashes fall down 🙁 And it dries out after about 2 weeks.
Allie says
April 24th, 2010 at 7:16 amThis is my favorite mascara ever. Every other mascara I use now I compare to this one. The only one that has come close to it is Hypnose Drama by Lancome.
Natalie says
April 24th, 2010 at 1:08 pmyaaaa this is what i have now i love it tons, but no matter what mascara i use my lashes droop at the end of the day, you did recommend clinique’s mascara to me though!
any drugstore versions i should try?
but yea this mascara rocks my socks!
Thais says
April 24th, 2010 at 6:38 pmHi Karen. Every time I read your mascara reviews, I can’t help but think that your lashes are pretty much like mine: decent lenght, but somewhat straight. Have you ever tried using Shiseido mascara base underneath your mascara? If not, try it, it will change your life forever. It holds a curl like no other, adds extra lenght, and makes any mascara look fab. 🙂
Sanayhs says
April 25th, 2010 at 11:34 amI’ve a tube of this, and it dried out wickedly fast. 🙁 Until then, it was fabulous!
.-= Sanayhs’s last blog post… A Dab Of Drugstore To Hide My Woes =-.
Holly says
April 25th, 2010 at 12:07 pmYou MUST try this over Max Factor 2000 calorie, best mascara combo in the world, I know it adds up to a mega pricey lash but so worth it!!
Lise says
April 25th, 2010 at 1:30 pmHi Karen,
I like your review! I have also used this mascara and I thought it was great, it really added some glam to my lashes. I also really liked the smell, I had never used a mascara before that was scented and this was a pleasant surprise! I do have to mention that this mascara indeed dries out rather quickly… I had mine for over a month but I didn’t use it that much but although there was still plenty in the tube, the ‘performance’ of the mascara decreased. I’ve bought another YSL mascara (Singulier) and it works even better =) It has the same nice smell, is a little bit more fluid but you can apply several coats of it and the effect just gets more intense until you really get stunning lashes! You should def try it, it’s the better version of faux-cils, so it seems…
Kristi says
April 25th, 2010 at 7:33 pmLOVE this mascara! I wear it in Burgandy and it really makes the green in my eyes stand out. When Dior discontinued DiorShow in Plum I was so bummed, but this stuff runs circles around it! Definitely worth the price tag!
Mae says
May 21st, 2010 at 3:58 pmThe effect is really nice, but I think I’ll stick with my Eyes to Kill… each tube has lasted for months and I LOVE how my lashes look and feel! Sounds from the comments like this one dries out really fast (which was also the case with DiorShow when I tried that).