Maybelline Great Lash (Waterproof) : Test 3

The most crucial and critical of all tests. Did Great Lash shiver and tremble with great trepidation as I picked it up from my dresser this morning? It simply has to pass this test in order for it to replace Max Factor Calorie 2000 as my Holy Grail of mascaras. The look I chose on today would be the look I choose on most days. Simple, under-stated, natural, completely free of foundation.

Test Conditions:
Undereye area concealed with my Holy Grail of concealers. The Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1. The area is further set with powder foundation. I'm told powder would prevent smudges. Lashes are crimped lightly once with the Shu Uemura curler.

Application:
This third day of using Great Lash, I am noticing a pattern. The tip of the brush is always overloaded with mascara. That would be where I'd dab onto the piece of tissue today. There was not much "excess" on the bristles itself so I left them alone. I applied about 3 coats of mascara onto each set of lashes. I still love that it coats each lash relatively well and they are still clump-free! Perhaps, it's due to the fact that the bristles are so widely set-apart.

Verdict:
Much to my dismay, by 10am, merely 3 hours of application of Great Lash, I see slight hints of smudges on my undereye. As the day progresses, I maniacally checked my undereyes. Smudges grew more and more. By lunch time, I decided to dab on another thin layer of powder to hide the smudges. These lasted me all the way until it was time to go home. By the time I got home, although the smudges are relatively-few, I'm still rather disappointed. Especially having seen completely smudge-free undereyes for the past few days! Especially having seen completely smudge-free undereyes from Calorie 2000.

It would be totally unfair to blame it on Great Lash. I would have absolutely no choice but to say that my Holy Grail of concealer would be at fault too. Its known for its high-pigmentation, high-emollient factor. However, if Calorie 2000 was able to withstand it, I absolutely could not be blamed for putting such high hopes on Great Lash!

Having said that, I would still recommend this mascara to first-timers out there. It's quite a brilliant basic mascara for lengthening, for coating each lash evenly, yes, even for its smudge-free factor. If you're out for a mascara to carry you through in a normal day, this would be the mascara for you. Good news, no?

Well, here comes the bomb of bad news. It's not available in Malaysia. If you can get someone to get it for you from the US or Australia or maybe even Singapore or Thailand carries it, then you might be able to test this out for yourself.

For now, I'd say it's still a relatively good mascara. Definitely affordable, definitely works if you don't have oily skin and most definitely understandable why it is a Holy Grail with so many around the world. Personally, I would still keep a tube of this as a backup: Realizing my 3-month expiry on my HG mascara is due with no backup tubes, Great Lash would be something I'd whip out to tie me over until I purchase a replacement Calorie 2000.

On a last note, having the same mascara will not produce identical results on every single individual. Other factors to prevent raccoon eyes would be oiliness of lids and undereye areas and condition of lashes since everyone has different type of lashes.

This has been the utmost fun "experiment" I'd done in a long time! I might even carry it a bit further and test it by setting my undereye with Bare Escentuals mineral foundation tomorrow.

Again, watch this space!

Maybelline Great Lash (Waterproof) : Test 2

After the great success I had with Great Lash in the previous test, I absolutely had to subject it to more stringent tests. After sharing my success with Shryh, to my dismay (and hers!), she had absolutely no success at all with Great Lash. Like me, she subjected the tube of 'wonder' to many different types of test conditions and in every single condition, the verdict is a flat thumbs-down, big, fat, NO. So, here's what I found out today.

Test Conditions:
A thin layer of liquid foundation for an even complexion. Light dabbing of powder foundation on the undereye to set the foundation. The rest of the face is left as-is to give it a dewy, natural look. Lashes are crimped lightly with Shu Uemura's eyelash curler. I note that this thin layer of liquid foundation and a light dabbing of powder is good enough to hide my dark circles in the event a concealer is unavailable.

Application:
As with previous test, as soon as the brush is unscrewed from the tube, it's dabbed lightly onto a clean piece of tissue to remove excess. Zig-zag manner from base to tip of lashes to coat each lash. I go over each eye at least three times to ensure I achieve the desired length. Damn these Asian stubby lashes! Oh well, at least I can take pride that they are slightly curly. Finally, a lash comb is used to comb through the lashes to further remove excess.

Verdict:
I applied this early in the day. About 730am. By the time I got home and prepared to shower, it was 630pm. It was a good 11 hours of absolutely smudge-free undereyes! I could not believe it as well but hey, the verdict's the verdict! Talk about stringent test conditions! 11 hours of going through a tough day at work, of yawnings and of yawnings until tears form.

Of course, being the vainpot that I am, I checked my eyes throughout the day. Thankfully, my phone has a mirror on its front panel.

So, Great Lash (waterproof) has passed with flying colours 2 out of the 3 tests I have in mind. The biggest hurdle this little tube has to go through would be tomorrow. I'll be subjecting it to going hand-in-hand with my holy grail of undereye concealer. A concealer that's so emollient that it hydrates as well as it covers.

Watch how it goes!

Maybelline Great Lash (Waterproof): Test 1

This is touted as the Holy Grail of all mascaras for makeup artists around the world. Superstars swear by this humble tube of wonder. It's been around the block far longer than I have in this world. And, when Priceline had a sale on Maybelline products, I simply had to have it. One point that's noteworthy, despite its great raves and reviews from superstars and beauty magazines, it's not sold in Malaysia. Makes you truly wonder how great this is, honestly. Not only that, MakeupAlley reviewers don't seem to be giving this as many thumbs-up as I thought this mascara would get.

Test Conditions:
Undereye area is dabbed lightly with powder foundation to hide undereye circles.
Lashes crimped once with the Shu Uemura eyelash curler.

Application:
Once unscrewed from the tube, I dab the brush on a clean piece of tissue to remove the excess. As usual, I go zig-zag from base to the tip of my lashes. The bristles are rather sparse but I've got no problems with that since I do have relatively sparse lashes. As usual, I brush through my lashes with a lash comb upon completing with the application. Excess mascara has to be removed to ensure as little smudges as possible.

Verdict:
The mascara holds the curl rather well. I do see a bit of lengthening of my lashes. However, if you're after something that will thicken your lashes, you're in for a disappointment. It does coat the lashes relatively evenly with minimal to no clumping at all. This will not give you a dramatic change of looks. But, if you're after a simple, natural everyday look, this will be the mascara for you. There's no va-va-voom factor here at all. Just your regular girl-next-door look.

Most of you know that I have a hate-hate relationship with Maybelline mascaras. Waterproof, my arse would be my tagline most of the time. Surprisingly, this did not smudge at all. And, for that, I am astounded. I'm amazed. I'm left with my mouth gaping wide open in astonishment. I'm dumbfounded.

I've to retract my "waterproof, my arse" sweeping statement for Maybelline mascaras then. I might say,

"Waterproof my arse! (Other than Great Lash)".