Finding a mascara that doesn’t let you down in one way or another is a real challenge, and I often feel like Goldilocks complaining ‘this one’s too clumpy’, ‘this formula is too wet’ but can never seem to find the one that’s ‘just right’.
Maybelline is the brand where I’ve probably tried the most of their mascaras, including the Sky High, which did impress, and Great Lash, which was less than ideal. But now the brand has brought out a new lash product that’s proving popular on social media.
The new Maybelline New York Falsies Surreal Mascara, which can be bought for £2 from Superdrug using a money saving hack, is the latest launch from the beauty brand, and the hashtag #maybellinesurrealmascara has already racked up 4.3million views on TikTok - but is it any good? I tried it out to see if it could become my new go-to cosmetic product.
READ MORE: Debenhams' £24 beauty box contains nearly £200-worth of makeup products
The Falsies Surreal mascara comes in a lilac tube with mirrored detail and purple font, and is priced between £9-12 at varying retailers like Superdrug, Boots, Amazon and Savers.
Inspired by salon lash extensions, this mascara is made with hybrid-fibre technology which promises to add up to 36 per cent more length and 10 times the volume, adding up to 3mm to your lashes.
Unscrewing the top, it has a unique Extended Helix Brush made of long twisted bristles to catch and coat every lash from root to tip offering that extra volume.
I have naturally very lightly coloured lashes, so I’m always looking for a mascara that will cover from root to tip without leaving a light line on my lash line, and the Maybelline mascara definitely delivers on that front, the brush really catching every lash with each brush through.
I found the formula to be drier than expected, which makes it ready to roll, because some more ‘wet’ formulas require a few uses before they’re the perfect consistency. That said, it does make me worry about the shelf-life of the product, as I’m concerned that it could dry up prematurely. That said, it’s formulated with ‘lash caring oils’, such as argan oil, marula oil and rice bran oil, so hopefully that won’t be the case.
It’s said to be a buildable, clump-resistant formula that lasts up to 24 hours, and while I did find it was buildable up to about two and a half coats, it does then begin to get that clumpy look as a result of the fibres.
However, the length and volume that this mascara gave to my lashes was, as the name suggests, surreal. I did as many coats as I dared to achieve a dramatic look, and have to say they looked thicker and fuller than when using other brands like No7 or Rimmel. I found it to be more volumising than lengthening but it was certainly a huge difference compared to my lashes with nothing on them.
When it came to removal, the mascara was easy to take off, but I had noticed some product transfer onto my skin, so it’s perhaps not a very durable product when it comes to all-day wear.
Meanwhile, there have been some real mixed reviews from shoppers across the Boots and Superdrug websites, with more than 50 five star reviews across the sites, and nine one star ratings.
One shopper said: “I love this mascara so much, I wear it everyday to go out and even without an eyelash curler it makes my eyelashes look so long that people think I’m wearing false lashes.”
Another added: “I had previously used lash sensational but this mascara is my current favourite! It keeps my lashes curled which is surprising since no other mascaras hold it up as much as this does and it makes them look very thick and defined!”
“After seeing all the hype about this mascara on social media, I was excited to try it myself. It did not disappoint but I have given 4/5 because of a minor negative point. The liquid is quite rich and dense and can clump a little if you’re not careful. You actually need very little on the brush (great, by the way) to achieve a stunning eyelash.”
But others didn’t get on with it quite so well, with one adding: “Not that great really, I prefer lash sensational. This one doesn’t grip your eyelashes very well and just makes them look clumpy but thin at the same time.”
Another wrote: “I love the mascara, it's good for length and volume but the only bad thing is it flakes a lot and I have a lot of flakey bits around my eyes.”
There is only one way to find out if this mascara is your new favourite, though, and that’s to try it out for yourself. Usually £11.99, it’s currently £9.59 at Boots and Amazon, but even cheaper at Savers for £8.98.
The mascara is still full price at Superdrug, but there’s a way to get it for less than £2 with a deal from money-saving site TopCashback. New members of TopCashback who sign up through this link will be able to shop the Maybelline mascara at Superdrug, and receive a maximum of £10 cashback on their qualifying order.
You will have to pay full price for the product initially, with the refund appearing in your TopCashback account within seven days, making the product £1.99 if you don’t mind waiting. You can shop the TopCashback Superdrug deal here.
READ NEXT:
- Fashion fans rush to buy 'perfect and flattering' £39 Marks and Spencer Spring dress after seeing it on Holly Willoughby
- Boots praised by mature women as they try £7 anti-ageing cream that 'makes skin look younger in a week'
- Marks and Spencer's 'slimming' £20 bodysuit is 'flattering' and hides the tummy under Spring dresses, say reviewers
