Review: Rimmel VolumeFlash ScandalEyes Mascara in Black

Continuing my review of the Rimmel London items I received recently, today I'd like to share my thoughts with you about this mascara:

Rimmel VolumeFlash ScandalEyes Mascara in 001 Black

(retail: around $6.50, 0.41 oz)

VolumeFlash ScandalEyes Mascara first hit drugstore shelves here in the US last December. I'm sure some  of you have tried it by now but, in case you haven't, let's take a closer look!

Keep reading for my full review...

From Rimmel:

Mascara doesn't know when to stop. With Rimmel's oversized brush and innovative formula, be prepared to say hello to lashes you never knew you had. Shaped, plumped, and exaggerated to perfection. Don¿t settle for anything less.
 
The MaxDensity brush, that's 50% larger and thicker, covers your lashes with attention - from corner to corner. Bristles now flex in to deposit mascara and out to comb through clumps, so volume will scream. With scandalous eye opening volume, this mascara should need a license.
 
Watch false lashes become a thing of the past, as Scandal Eyes Mascara becomes the ultimate beauty weapon in your make-up bag. This Rimmel revolution has 3x the collagen for plumper, sculpted lashes, 3x the keratin for strong and healthy lashes and...3x the attitude to guarantee scandalous behaviour!

For lashes so luscious it's almost criminal! Unleash the wand of Rimmel London's new Scandal Eyes Mascara. Start rumours, make heads turn and if anyone asks...you did it!

As with all "jumbo" wands, I like to show you a comparison next to CoverGirl Lashblast, so that you can get some perspective as to the size:

As you can see, the bristles are not the plastic variety; they're traditional nylon bristles.

 

Now for some before-and-afters!

BEFORE: no mascara

AFTER: two coats of Rimmel VolumeFlash ScandalEyes Mascara 

(I did not curl my lashes in any of these photos)

 

As you can see, I have nonexistent lashes. Seriously, I really can't see my lashes at all without mascara and, because of this, I tend to favor volumizing mascaras and even prefer that my mascaras give me a little "clumpage" just to thicken them up a bit.

What I loved: Two coats of this mascara gave me awesome length, decent volume and amazing definition and separation. I would say that this mascara really excels in the seperation, definition and lengthening departments and I have never had an issue with this mascara clumping or flaking. I found the brush extremely easy to work with due to its tapered end (it's a cinch to coat your inner and outer lashes) and after two coats, I didn't feel the need to go back for a third, which was much appreciated. There's no strong or irritating fragrance to this mascara--it smells pretty standard as far as macaras go. And since this is not a waterproof formula, it removed easily with my regular facial cleanser and/or makeup towelettes. No eye makeup remover was required for removal. 

What I didn't love: For a volumizing mascara, I'm afraid this didn't quite give me all of the volume that I crave. Like I mentioned earlier, I actually prefer a bit of "clumpage" to my mascara to bulk up my puny lashes, and this is definitely a clump-free mascara. I realize that aspect of this mascara would normally go in the "What I love" category, but I'm weird about mascara. What can I say? Anyway, the only other thing I didn't love about this mascara was that it dried rather quickly for me. Once I'm done with applying one coat to my upper and lower lashes and I'm ready to start on my second coat, I find that my lashes are pretty much dry, so it's a little bit of a challenge to apply that second coat. Again, I realize this may be a positive thing for some of you but for me it falls into the negative category because I like my mascara to still be a tiny  bit wet when I'm applying my second coat.

One last thing I'd like to add: For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while, you probably can recall that I've never had luck with Rimmel mascaras when it comes to staying power. In all other aspects, Rimmel mascaras tend to work well for me, but there is an ingredient in Rimmel mascara formulas that just doesn't work with my particular chemistry and therefore most Rimmel mascaras tend to fade from my lashes in under six hours. After about eight hours, the oils in my skin basically "eat" this mascara up and it can almost look like I'm not wearing mascara at all. So how did VolumeFlash ScandalEyes work for me in terms of staying power? A little bit better than other Rimmel mascaras I've owned, but I did see fading and a bit of smearing under my lower lash line at the six hour mark. I wanted to put that out there because I always tell you exactly how a product works for me, but I also want to be clear that this is a problem that seems to be pretty unique to me in particular, because I know many, many people who don't have this issue with Rimmel mascaras at all, and they can get a full day's wear without any fading or smearing.

FINAL VERDICT:  If you are already a fan of Rimmel mascaras and you're looking for a mascara that can provide excellent length, separation and definition without clumping or flaking, I think you might want to give this one a shot. If you're like me and need mega-volume and even a bit of clumping from your mascara, this one might not fit the bill because the brush and the formula really do allow for clump-free application. The brush on this mascara is very easy to work with in spite of its "jumbo" size, but do keep in mind that the formula dries rather quickly, which could be great if you're a one-coat type of person, but not so great if you prefer your mascara to stay a bit wet during your second coat. All in all, I would consider a purchase if it weren't for my pesky chemistry issues and the fact that the oils in my skin eat up certain mascaras (this one included) before the day is over. I can see this being a great weekday mascara for many of you because of its easy application and easy removal.

Are you a fan of Rimmel mascaras? Do you already own VolumeFlash ScandalEyes? I'd love to hear from you!

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.