In defense of a "bad" mascara: Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lengthening Mascara
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 9:41AM Before I post my reviews here I usually look for what other people are saying about the product. Sure I already have my own opinions to share, but I don't want to think or feel in a vacuum. It's like reading a movie review with all the spoilers - I just want to know if everyone else liked or disliked what we collectively experienced!I suppose it's always nice to know that someone else felt the same way you did about something.
So I was reading reviews about the Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lengthening Mascara (~P600) before I started writing this post. I was truly surprised that almost everyone seemed to dislike this mascara with a passion.
The other bloggers (not local ones) are saying that this is super clumpy and flaky. It's is clumpy, true, but only because it dries super fast. The workaround is simply applying it as quickly as possible. I haven't observed any flakiness after using it for two weeks; it could be that I'm using a fresh stock. Only time will tell just how flaky this can get but for now I haven't observed anything out of place.
I like this mascara because of two things: how it lengthens my lashes like whoa and how it never smudges or smears. Swear. This isn't waterproof which makes it easy to remove with just cleansing oil or warm water. Still, the mascara stays fresh even when I'm wearing it to a grueling day out.
I also like that my lashes stay curled all day with the Overtime. The wand is also easy to use - it's thin which keeps me from poking my eyes and getting the mascara on my skin, and it separates the lash hairs nicely.
The Revlon Overtime lengthens ridiculously well (as well as the Majolica Majorca Lash Expander actually) but provides a bit more volume. Behold:
Tip to prevent clumpiness: brush up in precise, quick strokes. No need to dip again per eye, just coax the lashes upwards while separating each clumpy hair with the wand. Keep the strokes to a minimum so as not to get too much product in.
It looks good to me! So yes, the Revlon Colorstay Overtime Mascara is something to reckon with. The clumping problem does take a bit of practice to solve, but hey for a drugstore mascara it doesn't hurt to compromise a little. Get this if you're looking for something that won't smudge and will lengthen your fringe to new heights. Like I mentioned above, it can lengthen like a Majolica mascara and stay put like Fairydrops. If you don't want to spend P800+ on one tube then this is a nice alternative. :)
Reader Comments (18)
Looks good! By the way, thanks for you older post about how you apply your mascara. Your tips are amazing! They make my lashes look false ones (in a good way)! But, I still need to perfect it and learn to do it faster. Hihi.
Oh, I love that headband! It's so cute! May I ask where you got it? :)
*look like false ones. Sorry for the typos!
I've been hearing raves about Maybelline's The Rocket mascara. I looked it up on youtube and it will look like as if you're wearing falsies too. Have you tried it?
Looks good. I prefer your eyelashes with the Fairydrops mascara though.
Once again, you've written a thought invoking post hehehe. In doing a product review, do you read other reviews at all before writing your thoughts on it? One measure of how i love a product is if i still keep on looking it up online eventhough I am already using it . I love how others would hate it while i find it as a holy grail
anyway speaking of mascaras, i swear by etude house proof 10, it's super smudge proofcause it forms tube like thingies on your lashes, but it's super easy to remove, just wash with water and you won't end up ever with panda eyes
also have 2 tips on how to apply mascara: 1)to ensure that your lashes get equal coatings, blink your eyes, allowing your lashes to touch your mascara , this will prevent you from getting spider lashes. Once the lashes have been coated, apply a final coat by wiggling your mascara wand ever so slightly while applying it
i also use lumigan to lengthen my lashes, and it works
beautyholygrail.blogspot.com
Thanks Liz for this post. It's very useful for low-maintenance ladies like me; your blog serves as my guide in completing a to-buy list of makeup products. The mascara on you looks good in all the photos, especially on the black-and-white shot, where it enlivens your eyes :-)
I agree! when I bought mine and used it for the first time, it clumped up easily, then I thought to myself : "oh bummer, money wasted on this" BUT then, I tried to use it again and there's actually a technique, you have to apply it fast, since it actually dries really fast. One swipe is enough for me (I layered them the first time I applied it) and it worked wonders.
some people have this wrong connotation that if the product clumps/flakes, there's something wrong with the product, but sometimes, it is about how we apply it.
I love how it doesn't smudge just like what you said, and it actually lengthens my lashes just the way I like it, and if you're going to ask me, I'm going to buy it again.
I learned that mascaras tend to get clumpy because of too much product picked up by the wand, so to remove that just roll the wand on a tissue and it would be much better. :) I don't have clump problems with my mascaras because I always go over my lashes with a clean mascara wand to separate them. But I do have a problem with smudges, so I'll definitely give this one a go.
Wow, I've never read any reviews about this mascara yet but it seems you gave justice with your review. Good thing it works well with you. I hope you can provide a before photo so we can really see the difference but it looks promising most especially on the second photo (closed eyes) your lashes are really lengthened! Amazed! Thanks for sharing this review and for the tips. I'm currently using the Maybelline Magnum, which do you prefer this one or magnum? TIA!
So as me. I was now in hunt for mascaras since I have to stop using mine (Avon) because I just read that the life span of a mascara it just 3 months while the Avon mascara that I own is almost a year old and I'm still using it! Kaya pala the roots of the upper lash got slightly itchy after an hour or so of wearing the mascara. My bad, I just knew about that :(
Mascaras, as we all know, have different consistencies. Getting the most and best out of it is thru roadtesting. We will surely experience love-hate relationship with it. But at the end of the day, if you're patient enough, you will know how it works. Good job for this review, Ms. Liz! :)
Mascaras seems to be most varied in reviews among blog post. I guess it boils down to ones preference. I like that it lengthens your lashes in the picture but I for one do not like clumps. I have long lashes already so a lengthen-er is not what I need in a mascara.
@ Madel i agree with you, i like the effect of the fairydrops on her previous post as compared this one.
I am currently using Covergirl Lash Blast mascara, but I would still like to experiment after I used up my current one. Fairydrops is most likely what I would buy unless I see a L oreal Voluminous in carbon Black.
I just tried this the other day at the mall and I must say I was impressed too! it was only a little bit clumpy, yes, but I'm sure quicker application would've solved it nga. It stayed on from 2pm till past midnight w/o straying to my undereyes or disappearing the slightest. I have a couple of mascaras to go thru pa but I'm itching to get this or majo's lash king na.
I also look around the blog-o-sphere before I buy something. But there are things to consider: the skin type and skin condition. It is good to take note of the opinions of people all over the world but the most important opinions are the ones from people who are in the same weather or climate as you are. Plus, you have to really read through the review to tell if they even considered to change the technique they use with the product to make sure that the product really sucks.
Liz, I like the way you made the mascara work for you. Plus, you gave the tips to make it work. I did not have good experience with a Revlon mascara (the one in a metallic silver-green tube). But I blame it on the wand. So I just have to make it work with a spooly (is that the spelling?).
I still think Fairy drops is better though.
Thank you for another review! Most of the mascara I've tried tend to smudge or smear even if they claim they are waterproof. One of my fave is Maybelline's Hyper Curl Volume Express but it usually leave black markings under my eyes after a whole day. My skin is oily and I tend to sweat A LOT. This would be another product I'll be putting on my list!
When it comes to mascaras I would always choose Maybelline; they never fail me. I havent tried Revlon's mascara yet but I noticed your lashes are getting longer,or is it just the mascara you used?
I absolutely LOVE mascaras that aren't waterproof but does not smear. I think this mascara is worth a try. You got me at the part when you said it doesn't smudge or smear. :)
I'm not one to use mascara that much because I don't like the clumps I get when I do use it. I hate it when my lashes stick together and even a spoolie is no use. All effort in doing the perfect eye makeup down the drain plus it's so frustrating cleaning up mascara-muddied undereyes. That being said, I still do occasionally put on mascara. Currently, what I have is a gifted Mary Kay Ultimate mascara. It does not heavily clump but it smudges after some time.
This mascara from Revlon does say that it's lengthening but I can see from your photos that it adds volume as well. Something like this I think I would want to use for more made-up days, especially since you mentioned that although it is not waterproof, it's smudge- and budge-proof. So plus points for that.
I watch makeup tutorials by Ana Victorino and one thing that I got from her and I wanted to share is this. You can avoid getting clumps on the tips of the lashes and achieve a more natural look by quickly and gently pressing the ends of the lashes right after mascara application. I've tried it. It's messy but it works. As for the "regular" clumps, I'll have to figure it out yet, maybe a change in technique OR Fairy Drops.:-)
wow i dont know that it flaky, but still good at you, super lenghty ng lashes mo, I love how it effects in the end, evenit's pricey than the other brands.