Shiseido • Perfect Mascara Defining Volume • Mascara

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StarStorm on 4/17/2013 12:41:00 PM more reviews by StarStorm

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I love this mascara because it does everything without the cons. It does not smudge at all, holds curls, easy to remove. And of course, it adds volume, lengths, separates. There is a obvious difference in the results when I use this mascara instead of the other ones. My friends even comments on how it stays curled so perfecting without smudges after we had an outdoor hot tub bath. It is amazing! Highly recommend it!

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eliego7 on 3/11/2013 3:46:00 PM more reviews by eliego7

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I received this mascara in a GWP bag. I have been using this sample for the last 3 days and I must say that I'm impressed with the product.

Pros: It defines and volumizes my lashes very well. It holds a curl like no other mascara I've tried before. Unlike many other reviewers, I did not find it had a weird smell, I did not smell anything at all. It stays in place the whole day (I put it at 7am and no transfer or smudge at 7pm). The color payoff is amazing. The mascara is very, very black.

Cons: The price. In Canada, the full size retails for 30$, which is quite expensive for an item that you will only use for a couple months. In addition, the formula is quite wet, so you have to be careful when you apply and you must be willing to retouch with a comb if needed. This also makes layering a little more difficult, but I find that I don't need more than 2 layers with this one, given it's efficiency.

Overall, I think I will purchase the full size, just because it holds the curl in my lashes perfectly, and it makes my eyes look bigger and more awake. The volumizing action and color payoff are also very impressive.

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xxslowpokexp on 12/31/2012 4:06:00 PM more reviews by xxslowpokexp

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I got this product as a sample and I'm so glad I didn't get the full size. This has to be the worst mascara ever. It smells weird and makes my lashes look like spider legs. It's sticky and clumpy. It's also really hard to wash off.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Embeth3 on 12/3/2012 7:59:00 PM more reviews by Embeth3

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

So, I got this as part of a GWP so I didn't buy it but I'm seriously considering doing so once my baby 2mL tube runs out. The product is great but it has a couple of drawbacks as well...
The Good...
Good pigmentation, does not smudge, smear or flake, dries fast and holds a curl better than ANYTHING else I've ever used. Lasts all day too.
I haven't had any problems getting it off with either Dr Bronners bar soap, Jack Black facial cleanser or Shiseido Extra Creamy cleansing foam and I notice a lot of previous reviewers have commented on the scent - I haven't experienced anything like that but I haven't sniffed the tube as such, so YMMV.
The Bad... The brush is not my favourite, it's a tad too long for my liking and I suspect it may be that mine is a much smaller/sample size but it comes out with WAYYYYYY too much product on it, meaning you have to wipe the excess off with a tissue every second go or so. Because of this, it applies clumpily and necessitates a few swipes with a clean spoolie brush to even out the application and get rid of the dastardly clumps.
I only ever apply a single coat but I'm thinking that it wouldn't layer that well... Also, a major waste of product, which kind of annoys me. Hopefully, the full size tube doesn't have this issue but it's about the only thing holding me back from repurchasing right away...

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christaaynguyeen on 10/14/2012 8:02:00 PM more reviews by christaaynguyeen

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I got a sample of this mascara and applied it to my lashes. The mascara smells WEIRD. And made my lashes stick to each other. Ew.... DONT GET IT.

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chuichi on 8/25/2012 5:11:00 PM more reviews by chuichi

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I received a sample of this from a Shiseido counter. I really liked it. I have short Asian lashes and most mascaras do not hold my curl at all. This one gave me full volume and held the curl very well. Only thing I didn't like was that the brush was too big. If the brush was smaller it would've been even more perfect for my short lashes!

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savannah_austin on 6/26/2012 9:00:00 PM more reviews by savannah_austin

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I received a sample of this mascara from Sephora. I have tried a buttload of mascaras - both drugstore and department store. If you are looking for a mascara that will hold curl - this is for you. It really does a fantastic job with that. And I also think it does a pretty good job lengthing, defining and volumizing. However, I cannot get this stuff off. I have used Lancome's Bifacil and washed my face 3 times since I wore it and it's still on. I do not like that. The smell is also horrid.

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austinlady on 3/23/2012 5:12:00 PM more reviews by austinlady

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I received this as a free sample from Sephora for my order and will not be purchasing a full version. Simple reasons, really: it didn't provide volume or length. I put on multiple coats and it didn't look like I was wearing anything. Also it stunk terribly. I hated the smell.

In all fairness maybe it was a bad tube? Either way I won't be trying it again - I'll stick with MAC Zoom Lash until I can find something better.

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beleedat on 3/20/2012 11:28:00 PM more reviews by beleedat

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight   Eyes: Brown    

This does hold a curl, which is my #1 priority in a mascara, but I also like mascaras that are buildable. This is not one of those. First coat looked great -- very black, thick lashes. Second coat -- clump, sticky city.

Back to the store it went.

I've been hunting for a replacement for my discontinued Shu Uemura Basic (RIP) and unfortunately this was not it.

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nick18 on 2/22/2012 3:54:00 PM more reviews by nick18

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

So I went to nordstroms and the sales lady there gave me a sample of this mascara and I actually really like it and just btw Im a mascara addict and perfectionist it really did everything and really made my lashes stand out. There was no flaking or smudging the only thing I didnt like was the smell but when I put it on I didnt smell it so it was fine.

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*TOP REVIEWER* KathleenS on 12/8/2011 7:44:00 PM more reviews by KathleenS

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

Yes, this is hard to get off. It is tenacious stuff, BUT, this is HG mascara. I have lived on sample mascara tubes from GWP and freebies - haven't we all - and have tried all of the national drugstore brands as well as most of the HE ones through samples. This however is very special. I got a tube of this as a sample and let me tell you I will, from now on, be buying it in full sized tubes. It lengthens and thickens and keeps the curl perfectly (I use their curler too, BTW). I never thought my lashes could look like this.

Mascara is the one cosmetic I don't leave the house without. I never thought it was worth it to buy HE but now I do. It is expensive but totally worth every penny. They have a lifelong buyer in me.

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beautyluv11 on 11/2/2011 10:57:00 PM more reviews by beautyluv11

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Honestly this is not my favourite mascara. It makes my eyelashes stick together and it makes blobs of mascara on my lashes.

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*TOP REVIEWER* PaleIsTheNewTan on 10/29/2011 10:15:00 AM more reviews by PaleIsTheNewTan

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I absolutely love this mascara, with only one caveat that has forced me to deduct one star. I received a sample tube in a Murale GWP, and immediately went out and bought a full-size tube after using several times. While this doesn't beat my HG, high-end DiorShow Unlimited mascara, this comes equally close to Clinique Naturally Glossy, YSL Faux Cils, and FusionLash XL - if not in effect, but in quality for sure.


The packaging is standard Shiseido - thin black tube, dull white writing. Any mascara that describes itself as Perfect is going to get my attention, and/or make me a skeptic, but this almost lives up to it's claim. The wand is a standard, fuzzy wand, and the real stuff seems to be in it's formula.


I have very long, very straight, and very blonde lashes with decent volume. This gives me both a tonne of length and volume. While the black colour isn't a carbon, it is rich enough to be dramatic. One coat gives me defined lashes, while a second coat gives more volume and puts my lashes on the level of some more natural falsies. I also have NEVER had a mascara hold my curl this well. It's a drier formula than I'm used to, but it still glides on like a dream without clumping.


Which leads me to one caveat - this is absolutely, nearly impossible to get off. Bioderma Sensibio, Caudale Cleansing Water, along with Rimmel Eye Makeup Remover take this off in flakes; a cleansing oil is a must for this, though this may be a option for those who fight with transferring mascaras. All in all, a great mascara, if not HG (for me.)

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shocker212 on 10/2/2011 11:03:00 PM more reviews by shocker212

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I got this mascara as a sample. I've never used high end mascara's before. I normally stick to drug store brands, o I didn't know what to expect. Let me tell you it is AMAZING!! It lengthens, defines, and volumizes my lashes. Like the name says. hahaha. Also my lashes are not brittle either. It definitely holds a curl very well. After about 8 hours of wear a little of it transfers onto my bottom lid, but not a big problem for me. Not too sure if I should run out and get it because it is a whopping $23 without tax. Definitely the best mascara I've every used!

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*TOP REVIEWER* 2000wattsmile on 9/22/2011 10:04:00 AM more reviews by 2000wattsmile

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brown, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This stuff is the real flippin' deal. It does everything--it's smudge/water-proof, volumizing, defining, thickening, it holds curl and it's as black as a raven. Completely lives up to its name. It holds up to crying, sweating and showering, so to echo the posters below, you are going to need a serious remover. Update: the formulation of this mascara is pretty sticky. It randomly picks up lint and makes my top eyelashes stick to the bottom ones when I blink, which is annoying. Deducting a lippie.

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erikawithakkk on 6/13/2011 5:55:00 PM more reviews by erikawithakkk

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I had never tried shiseido mascaras before, but once i started working for them, i decided why not. I have long, straight lashes, not too full, a little sparce. I always curl my eyelashes, even throughout the day. This mascara works best with 1-2 coats; it makes my eyelashes thicker, longer, and most importantly (for me) holds the curl all day, even once I remove my make up its still curled! It has never flaked or smudged on me, and it is harder to remove if you're not using a good make up remover. If you prefer easy removal mascaras this is definately not obe of them. But if you want something that will definately not flake/smude and keep your lashes full and curled all day, this is it!
I use the nourishing mascara base underneath- i find that it works a lot better and glides through easier with it (since the mascara is a wax base)
I also apply the mascara right in top of the base, before it dries.

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*TOP REVIEWER* missvox2 on 5/25/2011 10:58:00 PM more reviews by missvox2

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight   Eyes: Brown    

This is a super mascara, its does everything. I got the Black Noir BK901. It held my curl, volumized, defined at the same time. I finally can see my lashes. Also this is a super budgeproof/waterproof mascara--wears like Teflon. You need an oil based makeup remover for sure.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No