Don't forget to check the beauty sale pages at Macy's here and
Nordstrom here for new beauty deals plus free shipping!


Friday, August 2, 2013

Review: Maybelline Limited Edition Great Lash Mascara in So Very Berry

If you caught my post earlier this week about these Limited Edition Great Lash colored mascaras, then you know that ever since 2011, when Maybelline first started releasing these colored mascara collections, I have not purchased them. That's not because I'm not interested--I wore blue mascara through much of my teen years in the 80s when the "first wave" of colored mascaras hit drugstores--but it's just that I don't care for the Great Lash formula.

But darnit, I couldn't pass up one of the new shades for 2013: So Very Berry. There are six shades in this range and I ruled out most of them for personal reasons. Teal, blue and green are out, because they're too close to the blue I rocked in junior high (I just can't go there, again). Pink and purple? Nope and nope--I can't do most shades of pink and purple near my eyes (unless I'm going for the "jaundiced" look). But So Very Berry? Now that could work! Based on the color represented on the tube, I thought that this could 1) bring out the green in my hazel eyes and 2) be subtle, yet still a bit exciting and different. So here we go!

Maybelline Limited Edition Great Lash Mascara in So Very Berry
(retail: around $5.99 at Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens)

Going from memory alone (it's been a while since I used the original Great Lash Mascara), I believe that the brush in these colored mascaras is the same as the original formula:


What first struck me when I opened the tube was that the color on the wand actually looks like more of a rust-brown than a berry:


Two coats of Great Lash So Very Berry:


Keep in mind that the above photo is an extreme close-up. In person, when viewed from a normal distance, So Very Berry actually looks like a plain ol' brown on my lashes, and I can barely tell it's brown in real life. In this photo it does look a bit more "berry-ish" if you look at the tips of my lashes. The formula is, well, let's just say it does nothing to enhance my lashes. I have short, fine lashes and this mascara doesn't pump up the volume or length (but I wasn't expecting that, based on my past experiences with the Great Lash formula).

Now let's try So Very Berry over a coat of white primer:


For this experiment I used the primer end of L'Oreal Double Extend Waterproof Mascara:


Two coats of L'Oreal Double Extend Primer (I wanted to get my lashes really white):


Two coats of So Very Berry over L'Oreal primer:


Clumps aside, the color IS enhanced, and of course my lashes look longer and thicker (and clumpier) thanks to the primer. But again, in person, when viewed from a normal distance, this mascara just looks brown to me.The only time I could tell that this was a berry-colored mascara was during removal. On my cotton pad, So Very Berry definitely looks like a berry color. On my lashes? Not so much.

FINAL VERDICT: If you normally wear brown mascara (I wear black) you might be more perceptive when it comes to the subtle berry color of this mascara. But for me personally, this looks like a plain ol' brown mascara on my lashes and I get no berry color from it at all when viewed from a normal distance. The formula is just how I remember the original Great Lash to be--if you're looking for anything but definition, you might find it lacking. Over a white primer, it does tend to clump up a lot, but I certainly don't fault the mascara for that, since it's not formulated to be worn over a L'Oreal primer. Also, this is not a waterproof mascara, and even so much as a watery yawn sent this formula streaming down my face. Seriously, it runs like crazy when it's wet and I felt like I was a vampire on True Blood when I was washing it off (for those who don't watch True Blood, the vampires cry blood instead of tears). 

Do you own any of the Maybelline Limited Edition Great Lash colored mascaras? I have heard from quite a few of you that the blue is the most visible on the eyes--I'd love to know if you agree!

The products featured in this post were purchased with personal funds. For more information, click here.
SHARE:

36 comments

  1. Great review...out of all the colors, this is the one I would've bought but now I think I'll pass. I agree, Great Lash is not the best formula, I never liked it but a lot of people swear by it. Thanks! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Carol! You're right--a lot of people swear by this formula and I'm convinced they all must have real nice lashes to begin with! Unfortunately I don't, so it just doesn't work for me. :(

      Delete
    2. I don't know... my lashes are pretty good to start with and this is definitely not my favorite formula. I bought this in purple, teal and blue. I got them mainly to use for a pop of color along my lower lashes. It works but I have to use at least 3 coats and use a corresponding liner to get the color intensity I want.

      Delete
  2. Today I bought the pink and teal shades. The pink is super bright and colourful. I only wore the teal on my bottom lashes so far, but it's really pretty too. If they go on sale or they come out with coupons soon, I'll be going back for more.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm thinking I might pick up the green one just because, and find some white eyelash primer. I think it'd look nice on the tips of my lashes maybe, for a pop of color.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I seriously cannot understand how Great Lash has won all those awards and is the #1 selling mascara or whatever. Due to the hype I had seen about it, I tried it back in my early 20's and threw it out after the first or second use because it was so awful!

    All that said, the teal one does interest me though...I just have such a weakness for all things teal!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you Pink! How this has won awards is beyond me. It's awful. I personally think part of the issue is the brush. It does nothing to separate lashes. You have to use a good spoolie afterwards or a eyelash comb. I am not buying it for sure.

      Delete
    2. I agree Pink. This is such a dated mascara, and the brush BLECK. I think that is part of the problem with this product. I won't be buying it! Not with so many other good drugstore mascara's available.

      Delete
  5. I used to use the L'Oreal primer in highschool but now I've found the Dior primer and it (in addition to being about 3x more $$$) is about 10x better. It gives that same length but with some more volume and definition. If you haven't tried it yet, I think you'll love it--even if you're not nouveau let's-spend-some-money!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't know why or how this always gets such high praise. Of all the mascaras out there this one is one of the worst. That said I will probably pick up one of the colors because I think they're fun lol

    ReplyDelete
  7. I got the purple and green last year (I don't look particularly good in most blues and there is a blue in their regular line, so I skipped the blue and teal). I like the green a lot! The purple is just kinda eh.. I haven't tried it over a white primer though...

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm one of those that has always hated Great Lash, but I do like the fun colors. I remember in the 90's when they had royal blue all the time and I just thought I was SO awesome. Now I just might get a bright or complementary color and tip my lashes with it after using my normal mascara. I'm so glad you reviewed this one, my green eyes had this on my radar, but I might have to pass for one of the brighter colors.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The color is more visible on your lower lashes, I think. But yeah, it just looks brown to me.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes I had the same idea with the white primer (and I used the almost the same L'oreal mascara- the one with the red end instead of blue). I bought both the pink and teal, and although I haven't tried the pink I do think the teal is alright in terms of color payoff. But like you said, it runs like crazy and the formula is hands-down blehhhhhh. My eyes teared up and I blinked and suddenly my entire bottom eyelid was teal.

    Does anyone remember when NYX made colored mascaras? I never tried them, so I wonder how they were...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great lash was my "first love" of mascaras, when I used it I would get my lashes a little wet with a q-tip and it went on like a dream. its been a long time since I've used it though and I wonder if I'm adventurous enough to try a colored one haha

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have the Violet color and am so unimpressed. I still haven't tried it over white but my try it today. I don't have much to lose since I lost my receipt and I am stuck with it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have yet to encounter a Maybelline mascara that I like. Even if they work, they stink so bad I can't stand it. I'll pass ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LolMG! FALSIES SMELLS THE WORST! im a fan of quite a few maybelline mascaras but not great lash and definitely not falsies.

      Delete
    2. I can't stand Great Lash, like a lot of others. BUT I seriously am in love with The Colossal (bright yellow tube with metallic purple lettering). It gets incredibly thick without clumps on me. But the reason I replied to you is the smell: not bad at all! It actually has a slight rose scent to it!

      Delete
  14. This review is SO helpful! I've always hated Great Lash but wanted to try these over my regular mascara. I was also interested in this shade but now I'll pass. And after seeing your comment about how water-soluble these are, I'm not going to pick up any of them.

    And can I just say that trying this over white primer was a brilliant idea!?

    ReplyDelete
  15. I bought the purple one last year and it did nothing on my darker lashes and the formula was really disappointing as well. Shame! I like the Great Lash Lots of Lashes formula though.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It's a bit wimpy as a wine color, isn't it? I bought the teal and the purple before and the teal was OK, but the purple was about as effective as smudged eyeshadow. Cool idea to put it over the L'Oreal base, though.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I picked up the berry, pink, and purple. I was actually really happy with the berry being a more "pink-brown" because I have been wanting that shade without having to import Japanese lash products to get a hold of it. I wore it all day yesterday and didn't experience any problems with running (yay b/c i have VERY oily skin). Overall, they are about what I expected and I am not disappointed, but won't be running out to stock up on them.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am not nor have I ever been a fan of Maybelline mascara's. But I love the blue and purple one and will certainly pick this opne up. I did see them at Walgreens at Walgreens yesterday thinking.."Oh I have the ones I want already", but going back because didn't know they had this Berry color. I will be adding it to my collection.

    ReplyDelete
  19. never have been a great lash fan. didnt do too much for me. I see that Wet n' Wild had colored mascara out as well. That was a couple months ago but I still them here and there at Walgreens.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am not one for colored mascaras and I won't be getting any of these limited edition one but I do wear Great Lash and I have never had any problems and disappointments with it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I make my own colored mascara, because I think Great Lash is garbage. Right after using my regular mascara, use a brush and a pigment, and paint the lashes before they dry. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I find that the blackest carbon black mascaras are the only ones that truly make an impact. The colored ones seem to make my lashes look even punier.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I do agree about the blue - my lashes vary in color between blonde and brown, and I find the blue shows up across the board, though not in a tacky way. I also didn't mind the formula much when applying - though this is my first experience with the Great Lash formula and I didn't yet try to wear the mascara for a whole day. My lashes are also OK in both the length and volume department, so having a mascara that only paints color onto them without doing anything else isn't a loss for me.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Ahhh, seems like Maybelline is just sticking with the exact same formula for years. I wonder how did they come up with that "America's best mascara" title when so many people hate it.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks for the review on this mascara, G. I was curious about it but now won't be buying it. I'll stick with the WnW colored mascaras. They may not have great formulas, but at least they were only a few bucks.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love them , i have the blue one and the pink and I will buy all of them :) look how it turns out on my lashes :D https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=391977300902514&set=a.216231731810406.35326.215205901912989&type=1&theater&notif_t=photo_comment

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great Lash is the worst mascara I have ever used, so I am not tempted by these colored ones. I like the colored mascaras I tried from Hard Candy.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I JUST bought the blue and teal one a few hours ago on clearance for $2.97 at Target. I agree with most of your readers, Great Lash is terrible! I took pics earlier (for a blog post review later) and they are just awful. eeeks!

    ReplyDelete
  29. That's a pity; I love the Great Lash formula (the BIG one is my favorite) and when I got this mascara in green it was the bomb.

    ReplyDelete

I love and encourage comments here at Nouveau Cheap, and I do not censor comments unless they violate my comment policy, which you can view here.

Please refrain from comments that contain:
• Links to your own blog or website
• Advertisements or referral links

Thanks very much for your help in keeping this a spam-free zone.

© 2009- Nouveau Cheap. All rights reserved.
BLOGGER TEMPLATE MADE BY pipdig