A couple of years ago I was a lash extension fanatic.  I would get my lashes done every month for about a year until I realized that that $50 or so I was investing in little hairs could be better saved for my future condo (which I finally put a downpayment on last year).  I then decided to just purchase expensive mascaras as they would be better bang for my buck, plus I kind of missed the act of applying mascara.

Fast forward a few years and I’m no longer the mascara snob I once was.  I will just as often reach for a drugstore mascara as often as a department store one. In fact, I don’t think I even own a full-size department store mascara right now.

CoverGirl, a mascara favourite of mine after trying their Lash Blast Clump Crusher, released a new addition to their Lash Blast line late last year, Bombshell Volume, a double-ended mascara in a pink tube.  When I saw the colour of the tube, I was sold, and then I saw it was called Bombshell, and I was like done, I need this in my life.

The product claims to give you 10-times more noticeable lashes versus bare lashes, and the two-step process combines extreme volume with an intensifying top coat for big, sexy lashes.

Okay, so if you have seen this product in stores, you would have noticed how giant the tube is.  Seriously, pick up two of them and you won’t need to use the dumbbells at the gym.  Side one’s brush is very similar to the original Lash Blast wand, and side two is more of your typical mascara wand.

The first time I tried it I wasn’t blown away.  I had big expectations for this because of its two sides and CoverGirl’s history with mascaras.  Then, I reversed the steps and found that my lashes looked way better.  They looked more voluminous and long doing step two first, then step one.

Alright, so as much as I liked this mascara, this stuff is the most difficult mascara to remove that I have ever come across.  Seriously.  I had to use my Shu Uemura cleansing oil at night and in the morning to remove the stuff, on top of my regular makeup remove.  It’s like cement on your lashes.  It’s also quite messy to apply as I often get mascara on my lids, which isn’t a huge deal because you can just wipe it off, but if you aren’t careful it can wreck your whole eyeshadow look if it dries.  It’s because of these factors that I find myself not reaching for it.  It’s not worth the effort to remove, especially since there are other mascaras out there that give me the same effect.  Maybe if it was mind-blowing holy-grail status would it be worth the removal process, but it’s not. There are other mascaras out there that perform the same way that don’t give me a pain in the side to take off.  With that being said, this stuff must be waterproof, as I did give it the tear test and it held up perfectly (although sometimes waterproof doesn’t also mean tear-proof – learned that one the hard way).  It didn’t even smudge a little bit.

Overall, I liked this mascara, especially when you reverse the steps, but I don’t find myself reaching for it often because it’s such a pain to remove. Unfortunately that seemed to be the general consensus on CoverGirl’s website as well.  I do like the other items from the Bombshell line, including the cream shadows, the liner, and the lipsticks, but this mascara, meh.  It could be a winner, but the removal process is something I just can’t get over.

One more thing, this Sunday marks the pinnacle of awards season, the Academy Awards!  Join @BeautyBlitz and @JennFalik on Twitter as they co-host the P&G Beauty #RedCarpetGlam Twitter Party, providing commentary on the Academy Awards Red Carpet with insights about beauty and hair styling tips and tricks. Great prizes will be available! Make sure you follow both of them and join the party between 7 and 8 p.m. EST this Sunday.

Have you tried CoverGirl’s new Bombshell mascara?  What were your thoughts?

Disclosure: I am a #BeautyUnited blogger. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events. The opinions on this blog are my own.

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