I'm back at Uni on Saturday so I won't be around much (see my extended profile!)
I'm back at Uni on Saturday so I won't be around much (see my extended profile!)
Member since:05.04.2002
Reviews:50
Members who trust:49
Well, I attempted to try and diversify the opinions which I write, but I am feeling pretty uninspired today, and I’m not sleepy, so I figured I’d go back to what I do best, and write you a review on a product which has been in my make up bag for a couple of months, and has yet to get a mention.
Mascara. To me, probably the most important part of my make up routine. I like my eyes, and like my lashes to look long, dark and dramatic. You know what I mean – seductive, flirtatious eyes, being fluttered at dark tall handsome strangers. I’m an utter mascara junkie – I’ve never bought the same one twice, and am constantly striving for longer, sexier lashes. I’ve tried Christian Dior, Philosophy, Boujois, YSL, Chanel…you name it, and I’ve bought it! So when I saw this
Max Factor one for only £7 in Boots (much less than my usual £15 odd quid I’m prepared to spend), I decided to give it a chance.
2000 Calorie Dramatic Look mascara is advertised as giving 200% more volume to lashes, and being touch proof and smudge proof. Now, with my hay fever and constantly dry eyes, I am always rubbing my eyes, so anything, which promises to be smudge proof, is guaranteed to catch my attention. I don’t need waterproof mascara – I’m not much of a crier (except for 2 days every month when I cry buckets!), and I don’t swim that often. Sounds great, but what’s it like?
2000 Calorie comes in a navy blue tube, carrying the name and Max Factor logo in gold lettering, and the size info (9ml) The tubes about 4 ½ inches long, and about 1/3 inch thick. The mascara wand unscrews from the main body of the tube, with the brush itself being about 1/2cm thick, and tapered at one end. I find this is the best-shaped brush for applying mascara, as it gets into the corners of the lashes, and also separates them well.
This product comes in a choice of 4 shades – Black (01), Black Brown (02), Brown (03), and Navy (04). If you’re a fan of brightly coloured mascara’s, you’re not going to be a fan of this one! I always stick with black, so I purchased the 01 shade.
The mascara is easy to apply due to the shape of the brush. After one application, my lashes looked darker and thicker, but not an awful lot longer. Now, I tend to pile mascara on, and after a few more applications, I felt really pleased with the way my lashes looked – longer, thicker, and very defined. It was much better than a lot of the other mascara’s I’d tried, but still not as perfect a look as I want.
Did it stand the smudge/touch test then? Well, I stays put when I’m at work, and believe me that’s an achievement! When I’m working I end up rubbing my eyes due to the smoke, my eyes often water, and often, if I’m doing a 12 hour shift, my make up will have to stay put for around 14 hours at a time, without being touched up. This mascara stood up to these conditions very well, with the minimal amount of flaking (and I mean minimal – there was a tiny black smudge under my eyes after a 12 hour shift, but not noticeable to anyone but me.)
I’m not entirely sure whether or not my lashes were given 200% more volume, as I have no apparatus, which measures the thickness of them! They did look thicker though, and I was pleased with the overall result, particularly its staying power.
I use my facial cleansing wipes to remove this product, and find it easy-ish to remove. As long as you use make up remover suitable for the eyes you should be fine, but I don’t think water would do the job.
The downsides? Well, I couldn’t find anything on the Max Factor official website, so I went on a hunt through the web about animal testing. What I seemed to find, was that, whilst the company claim not to test, whether they actually do or not remains to be seen. It may be that whilst they themselves don’t test, companies, which they get their supplies from, do. However, it was clear that MF is not 100% cruelty free. I didn’t know this until I was doing my research for this op, and it would definitely affect my thoughts on buying this product again.
Overall, I think, for the price, this is a great product, as it’s cheap and does its job damn well. I can’t say how long it’d last for, as I always chuck out mascara after 3 months (this is VERY important – nasty bacteria can start to grow in your mascara tube, so always chuck after 3 months!), but it certainly lasts me that long. Another tip I would say is not to ‘pump’ the wand up and down in the tube, as it encourages the bacteria’s growth, and can also make mascara go dry and gloopy (God, I sound like Cosmopolitan!)
Like I say, I never buy the same mascara twice, so my buying this again is unlikely (plus the uncertainty over the animal testing policies.) However, I do recommend it to people who want great looking lashes, without spending too much on them.
This product is available at Boots, Superdrug, and various supermarkets.
PS/ If anyone can recommend a mascara which will make my lashes look massively longer, and isn’t tested on animals, please let me know!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Not for wall-flowers. Dramatic defining, lengthening and thickening effect. Easy to remove. Disadvantages: Not waterproof, but then it wouldn't be so easy to remove.
Sep 3rd, 2002
very helpful by (100%):
