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
Jessi says
April 26th, 2011 at 10:55 pmI 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?
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Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 8:57 amIt 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/
Heidi says
April 26th, 2011 at 11:05 pmCrunchy lashes is a pet peeve of mine, so I think I’ll be passing on this one.
Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 8:56 amMe too. Gimme soft lashes any day!
gio says
April 26th, 2011 at 11:22 pmI prefer mascaras that leave my lashes soft too, so I’ll pass on this one. Thanks for the review.
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Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 8:56 amSure, Gio!
Vijaya says
April 26th, 2011 at 11:38 pmI’m not a mascara person. It’s just a step I always seem to skip. xP
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Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 8:56 amMascara rocks! Try it sometime!
Annie says
April 27th, 2011 at 4:22 amKaren! thanks for another great review! your undereye area looks so glowy in these pics.. what did you use?
Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 8:56 amHi 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…
Alka says
April 27th, 2011 at 5:50 amCrunchy lashes = grumpy eyeballs! Pass for me. Thanks for always giving us the straight scoop Karen. 🙂
Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 8:54 amLOL, grumpy eyeballs indeed, Alka! What is your mascara of choice these days?
Kajal Couture says
April 27th, 2011 at 5:55 amI 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!!!
Kajal Couture recently posted … New MAC Sponges and Accessories
Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 8:54 amCurl hold is super important!
Kim says
April 27th, 2011 at 6:06 amI’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.
Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 8:54 amThanks 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!
Kim says
April 27th, 2011 at 1:01 pmNo 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!
Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 1:29 pmI 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!
Kim says
April 28th, 2011 at 8:54 amOMG, 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!
Beatrice says
April 27th, 2011 at 6:45 amI 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
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Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 8:52 amOh, I know what you mean! I don’t like it when they look all lumpy and clumpy… blah!
Nina says
April 27th, 2011 at 7:12 amim curious, and in the market for a new mascara. i threw out my current tube of lashblast. 🙂
Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 8:52 amIf you like Lashblast’s wand then you might really like this!
Nina says
April 27th, 2011 at 12:32 pmoh yay! and yes i do! 🙂
Chris25 says
April 27th, 2011 at 8:15 amI am not really a fan of MAC mascaras. I love Smashbox Bionic. It lengthens, defines, and never makes my lashes hard.
Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 8:51 amI tried that before and remember liking it. Does it smudge on you?
Chris25 says
April 27th, 2011 at 11:51 amNope, it stays put, but I do wait a few seconds to let it dry.
Tracy says
April 27th, 2011 at 9:02 amI 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! 🙂
Rachael says
April 27th, 2011 at 9:24 amI 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…
Crystal says
April 27th, 2011 at 9:39 amoh 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!
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Karen says
April 27th, 2011 at 10:02 amOh, I know. That happens to me with MAC Smolder — it’s turns blue on me. 🙁
Brian McDowell aka Roulette says
April 27th, 2011 at 9:55 amThat’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.
Victoria says
April 27th, 2011 at 11:24 amI need to know what’s on your face right now — you look so glowy and gorgeous!
Melissa says
April 27th, 2011 at 12:20 pmI’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??
Melissa says
April 27th, 2011 at 12:21 pmI’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!
Jillian says
April 28th, 2011 at 3:21 pmHey! So I take this really isn’t one of your favorites, but is it worth a try?