Mascara Monday : Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara Review

I realize it’s been ages and a day since I did a Mascara Monday post, but that’s mostly to blame on the fact that I’ve been renewing my love for old faves recently. That is however until I got the chance to try the newly released Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara*. Greatly hyped, Velvet Noir promises to be ‘ultra-volumizing’ with ‘super-concentrated black pigments’ that are also smudgeproof – sounds pretty amazing right? I definitely had my doubts which is why I was so eager to try it!

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara was inspired by his earliest memories of his mother, who would shave fibres off velvet ribbon to make her own couture false lashes. How committed is that to getting the perfect lashes!?

The product itself starts on a high note when it comes to packaging; The geometric hexagonal slick black tube is stunningly chic all on its own. In classic Marc Jacobs form – you feel like you are getting your money’s worth by packaging alone, which is great in the sense that nobody likes dropping a ton of cash on something that looks like it could be bought at the drugstore for under a tenner. Call me vain, but if I am spending my hard earned coin on something designer created, I want it to look designer as well.

The idea behind Velvet Noir is to bring the drama of false lashes – to make your lashes extra dark, and as thick as possible. The hourglass-shaped fibre wand helps get the brush nestled right up to the roots of the lashes, from outer to inner corner. I noticed instantly that the amount of product deposited in the first couple of swipes built incredible volume yet I didn’t struggle with clumpy or spidery looking lashes at all. I find volumizing formulas like this, which tend to be a thicker mousse-like texture, generally struggle with definition of the lashes but in this case I was so pleasantly surprised! Instead of chunky, glued together lashes, I got separated, fluttery, “where do you get your lash extensions?” lashes (yes, I got that question TWICE the first time I wore this mascara!).

You’ll see in my before and after pictures that I do have fairly long lashes to begin with so length isn’t usually my goal with mascara, but my lashes tend to look a little wimpy and fine on their own. The after picture clearly shows the rich dark formula has made me look like I have way more lashes than I do, not to mention it’s holding the curl I put in my eyelashes beautifully. The formula stays super soft on the lashes the way my previous holy grail mascara, Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes does, and yet it doesn’t flake or smudge (not even on my brow bone like some of my waterproof formulas even do!)

So, if it’s not obvious already – I adore this mascara. I am beyond impressed with how well it performs, and how much it lives up to its promises. The only negative I can find with it is that at $33 CAD it’s going to sting a little when it comes time to buy again, but it’s totally worth it in my opinion. Few mascara’s have impressed me as much as this right from first try, and I think we all know I am the most critical of mascara beyond any other products I try. It’s just that fantastic folks!

Have you tried Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara? What is your favourite mascara currently?