Although I’ve been trying lots of new indie and prestige mascaras lately through Ipsy Plus, I hadn’t tried a new drugstore mascara in a couple of years. I had a bunch of discounts and CVS Extrabucks, so I decided to try Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect.
Almost 5 years ago, my favorite mascara was L’Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Intenza (I wrote about it here) that had plastic teeth and a curved wand that fanned out in two directions. It also had a volumizing and lengthening formula that worked so well for me.
Of course it was discontinued a couple of years ago. Since then, I’ve primarily been using Benefit Roller Lash, Benefit They’re Real, Benefit Badgal Bang, and MAC Upward Lash – all with wands with plastic teeth. Although I like all four of them, I am always looking for something better.
The reason I chose Maybelline Lash Sensational was the wand. Though different, it was most similar to the L’Oreal wand that I liked so much. The Maybelline Lash Sensational wand has short plastic teeth on one side that are good for unclumping/combing through lashes while the other side of the curved wand has longer plastic teeth that are farther apart that are good for depositing the mascara. In fact, Maybelline Lash Sensational’s wand has 10 different layers of teeth. Whether that’s necessary or a gimmick, I don’t know, but I find the wand quite easy to use, in contrast to many curved wands. I usually hate curved wands (though there are so many of them these days), but the gradual curve of this wand seems to fit my downturned eyes quite well.
The formula has been a good surprise. The mascaras I’ve been buying lately are more lengthening than volumizing. The Maybelline Lash Sensational Washable formula is neither too thin nor too thick. I find it equally volumizing and lengthening. It doesn’t clump, and if a couple of lashes stick together initially, the short teeth on the other side of the wand separate them easily.
Does it give the fan effect that I was looking for? I would have to say yes and no, though that could be the fault of my lashes. Since I started using RapidLash (reviewed here), my lashes have grown really long in the center of my eyes whereas the outer lashes haven’t grown as much. I probably should try to just apply RapidLash to the inner and outer corners of my lash line, but that’s too hard. So I use the tip of the wand to apply mascara to my outer lashes to lengthen them more so they look more fanned. Nevertheless, I think my lashes look pretty decent with Maybelline Lash Sensational.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Washable Mascara doesn’t flake or come off on my skin. It lasts all day. Although it is “washable”, I use micellar water to remove it. It’s easy to remove.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Washable Mascara comes in 3 shades: brownish black, very black and blackest black. There’s also a waterproof version that I haven’t tried. The price for 0.32 oz. ranges from $5.49-8.99. It’s seems to be cheapest at Target and a couple of others and most expensive at Ulta, Walgreens and CVS where it’s sold at the MSRP.
Good Morning Allison, thanks for this review. I don’t wear mascara often due to dry eyes. With that being said, I do want to start wearing it again. My sisters always use Maybelline mascara. Not sure which of the many types they use. Got to try this one as the not clumping would be wonderful.
I’m kind of lucky, Sandy, that in spite of dry eye, I can still wear mascara. I remember several years ago, I went into Lord & Taylor in Boston after having my hair colored at Vidal Sassoon, and I wasn’t wearing any mascara coz it would end up all over my face during the several washings. The woman at the Estee Lauder counter gave me such a hard time about not wearing mascara because of my blonde eyelashes. So I guess I wear mascara almost every day. This one from Maybelline is definitely the most impressive for me since L’Oreal discontinued Voluminous Butterfly Intenza. And for around $6, it is a great deal – you don’t have to feel guilty if you don’t wear it all the time.
I remember liking this too and should really repurchase! I also like Maybelline Total Temptation and the original L’Oreal Voluminous mascara.
I’ll check out both of your recommendations too, Shireen. It’s so hard to find the perfect mascara!
I haven’t tried this one from Maybelline yet but I have almost grabbed it a few times when at the store. I’ve been loving the Maybelline Colossal Big Shot Mascara.
I’ve used the original Lash Sensational and liked it a lot. I didn’t know that they had a curved brush version. I’ll watch for a sale on it since the formula worked well on me.
I’ll have to look at the brush for the original Lash Sensational. With my discount coupon and CVS Extrabucks, I only paid a couple of dollars for it. But it’s cheap at Target, around $5-6. This is the first drugstore mascara I’ve liked in a few years! I’m happy!
This is my favorite drugstore mascara, I’ve repurchased it several times!
I’m glad that I’m not alone. Your lashes always look fantastic so good to know that Maybelline Lash Sensational works for you too.
I haven’t tried this one, but it sounds good, and your lashes look fantastic!
I think I’ve used one the mascaras from this family (not sure of the name, but it was in a similar tube) and quite liked it. Lately I’ve had terrible luck with drugstore mascara, so I’ll have to remember this.
I hadn’t had much luck with any of the mascaras other than my faves lately, so I was surprised that I had such good results with this one from Maybelline that I chose pretty randomly. Nice when that happens!