Essence • volumizing lash powder • Eyes

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*TOP REVIEWER* Popcornshrimp on 6/15/2013 6:48:00 PM more reviews by Popcornshrimp

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I saw the Two Faced version of this, mascara and cottonish stuff (exactly like this, just in a mascara tube)...totally thought there was something wrong with the "primer" since well...it's like ground up cotton, not the normal wet white primer. A coworker told me that's how it's suppose to be, and when I was browsing Essence (LOVE Essence)....found a giant tub of the same stuff for only 2.50, compared to 28 clams for Two Faced. My first mistake was to dip the brush into the white fluff...way too much product, so I would suggest just side swiping the brush....anyways, I tried it first with L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon black with meh results, which I'm not at all impressed with that mascara by itself. So I went to my go to for va va voom lashes, Lash Blast clump crusher multiple coats, then let dry and then apply multiple coats of Jordana Extreme Lashes...After the lash blast I put this stuff on...then let dry a smidge, then topped those puppies off with Jordana...and good lawdy, looked like fake lashes after a curl once everything was dry. For the last few years mascaras have been really disappointing me, but this, used with the right mascara works really fracken well.

It says not for contact wearers (I had lasik), but this didn't irritate my eyes at all (well if you don't dip the brush and make it look like your lashes have 4inches of snow on them anyways). Fiber infused mascaras irritated my peeps like crazy, always felt like sand in my eyes, this doesn't feel like that...feels like soft boogies if anything, not scratchy.

I will probably repurchase if I ever finish it, but seems like it might take a decade with that HUGE bottle. I'm going to try a different wand from maybe an old mascara with rubbery bristles to better coat lashes than the cheapy eyebrow grooming one it comes with.

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*TOP REVIEWER* SorceressOfTheDark on 6/14/2013 7:20:00 AM more reviews by SorceressOfTheDark

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I can't say enough good things about this product. I picked it up at my local Ulta store while browsing their meager Essence endcap. I really wish they'd carry more of their products for a larger selection. Cruelty-free, minimal cost and I've had luck with the majority of them. Sometimes I think if we'd do a blind test on products with the label removed would the reviews be the same? Or do labels/price/name make us believe that a product is better?
I'm a mascara junkie. It's my favorite part of my toolbox. When I saw this product, I was fascinated that Essence came out with it at such a low price-3.49 USD- I thought that was a steal. Compare that to Too-Faced at 35 USD and now full, longer lashes are available to the mass market at an affordable price.
It will take some getting used to using this product. Use common sense. Don't put it on with your eye open. If you do, of course fibers can fall into your eyes. I think Essence should have put an explanatory diagram with pictures into this packaging and that would have stopped some of the complaints, but a more detailed explanation of how to use a product helps some consumers.
I have tested Essence's volumizing lash powder with 17 different mascaras to see what the results would be like in comparison study. Mascaras vary in performance. Some lengthen, some darken, some give volume, some curl, some give a more spidery effect, some separate, some thicken your lashes, some are wet, some are dry. There are those mascaras that nourish your lashes. Some mascaras make your lashes brittle while others keep your lashes soft. I am writing this in this review because it is important to realize how your mascara behaves before you decide to change its behavior.
If your mascara already performs beautifully and provides you with full, lengthy, thick lashes, then be prepared for an outrageous experience. If your mascara is so-so, and gives you a natural look, then expect your lashes to look much fuller than you're normally expecting. If you have short, stubby lashes, and you use this correctly, then be prepared for a product that will delight you and make you wonder how you ever got along without it.
My instructions for using the powder are pretty explicit:
1. Since the powder comes in a tiny jar with a little wand, it's not very convenient. I take the jar, place it upright in a larger plastic container with the lid off. I then take the wand, dip it in, and circle it 360 degrees until there is a faint amount of fibers on it. Not a huge amount, but enough that I know will transfer to my lashes. I tap off any excess on the side of the jar, and the excess falls off into the plastic container, which I save and then collect for later usage. None is wasted that way. I still keep the original jar in the original packaging along with the wand, but I keep the excess in this small plastic container. You'd be surprised how much excess can tap off the wand that you can pick up with the spoolie just out of this larger container for another time.
2. Coat your lashes with your desired mascara. You have your choices of wands, formulations, etc. The wetter the mascara, the more work you will have in making the powder successful. However, the wetter the mascara, the longer your lashes will become, and also, there will be a longer drying time. If you decide to go with a wet mascara, bear in mind you will need a comb to separate your lashes so you don't have a spider effect. If you use a drier mascara, your lashes will look much more natural, but you will have to work a little more quickly, too. You might still have to use a comb to reduce any clumping, but that's on your mascara's behavior.
3. With your eye closed shut, coat your lashes with the powder. Run the wand through your lashes. The wand will coat both the upper and lower lashes at the same time while your eye is closed. If you wear mascara on both your upper and lower lashes, and you have coated both your upper and lower lashes already, then the powder has now adhered to both sets. Don't open your eye yet. Make sure you can see the white powder on your lashes, so you know the fibers are there. You will get some fall-out. That's a given. Have a tissue/cotton pad handy to quickly wipe the fibers off your cheek.
4. Now with your eye still closed, very gently and slowly apply mascara to your lashes in a sweeping motion to the tips covering the fibers. You will see that the white disappears. Now open your eye. Begin applying more mascara accurately to your lashes in an upward motion to the uppers and downward to the bottom.
5. Comb through if you see any spider-effect or clumping.
6. Tissue/Cotton Pad off any residue. You can also use a hair dryer on the lowest setting if you want really quickly at a distance from your face if you feel you must.
7. You can seal with a waterproof mascara or whatever type of product you'd like if necessary.
By keeping your eye closed until you actually put the first layer of mascara on, you stop any incidence of fibers from falling into your eyes. I also make sure that I remove the residue immediately so I don't breathe it in.
Best effect with no clumping/no spider effect/looks natural: Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For The Mascara; Essence I Love Extreme: E.L.F. Lengthening & Defining; Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lash Extending Treatment; Wet 'n' Wild Megalength; Wet 'n' Wild Megawink.
Fuller, thicker lashes, but needs separation with comb: Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting; Clinique Lash Doubling; Essence Stays No Matter What 24H Volume; Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme; Clinique High Impact; Wet 'n' Wild Mega Volume.
Long, spiky, spider lashes needing comb-thru: Buxom Amplified Lash; Jordana; Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume; L.A. Colors; E.L.F. Wet Gloss Clear.
I remove the product with EA's All Gone and Shiseido's cotton pads with no lash loss. It's become a routine makeup staple for me. Using my mascaras without it makes them pale in comparison. 5 star

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*TOP REVIEWER* SparkleBunny37 on 5/13/2013 9:36:00 PM more reviews by SparkleBunny37

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Essence is a European drugstore brand that offers some pretty unique products, including their Volumizing Lash Powder. Essence calls this product "artificial mini fibers for a false lash effect." I picked up this lash booster at Ulta for about $3.50. Each jar of Volumizing Lash Powder contaisn .6 oz (1.8g) if fibers. This product was made in Germany, Essence's home country. Essence products are not tested on animals, a practice outlawed in the European Union. Essence products can be bought at Ulta in America; Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada; Priceline and Target in Australia; and drugstores throughout Europe. This product is not safe for contact lense wearers.
Packaging for Essence's Volumizing Lash Powder is a little too simple, it could use a redesign. These lash fibers come in a plastic jar with a black screw on cap. No sifter, no nothing. The product name and Essence logo can be found on the front of the jar. Some warnings can be found on the back. Essence was kind enough to include a nice little spoolie with this product. Ok, so what exactly are you supposed to do with the spoolie, exactly? You can't dip it into the fibers, because they go everywhere when you pull it out. You can't run the spoolie over the top of the fibers, the opening of the jar is too narrow. The packaging is just such a pain to work with, that alone keeps me from reaching for Essence's Volumizing Lash Powder.
Essence's Volumizing Lash Powder consists of millions of miniscule, loose, white lash extension fibers. You're meant to apply a coat of mascara, a coat of these fibers, then another coat of mascara, all in quick secession. It isn't as easy as it sounds though. I think I made it clear that its hard to get the fibers onto the brush, but it can also be quite difficult to apply Essence's Volumizing Lash Powder to the lashes. No matter how carefully I tap off the spoolie I still I end up with so many of these little fibers falling into my eyes and onto my face. All the itchy, oh it is so unpleasant. As promised, Essence's Volumizing Lash Powder gives the look of more fullness, but they add a very minimal amount of length. The length this product does provide doesn't last very long at all, mainly because they cause the tips of my lashes to point downward, and eventually they flake off. One other problem that this product presents is that it can run your mascara pretty easily if too many of the fibers get into your tube.
Essence's Volumizing Lash Powder does give the lashes more volume, I give it that. However, I feel like there are a lot of flaws to this product that overshadow it's effectiveness. The packaging was poorly designed, though the included spoolie is nice. The fibers are very loose and irritating to both the eyes and skin. The fibers cause flaking after a few hours and weigh my lashes down. I don't think I'll be reaching for Essence's Volumizing Lash Powder, its just too messy and impractical to use everyday. Kudos to Essence for putting it out there though. It was a bold move, I can't think of any other brand in this price range that offers a similar product.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lygophilia on 5/3/2013 12:07:00 PM more reviews by lygophilia

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I was intrigued by this product and thought for $2.49 it might be some sort of miracle product for my lashes, but sadly it was not. I found that this product is just too messy, irritated my eyes, and cross contaminated some of my mascaras, ruining them as they became thick and goopy from this product.

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victoriamarin12 on 4/1/2013 12:20:00 PM more reviews by victoriamarin12

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

I love this<3

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Sroupas on 3/27/2013 8:34:00 PM more reviews by Sroupas

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Other    

I cannot live without this stuff. Not only does it volumize- but it declumps.

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*TOP REVIEWER* winterfairy on 3/23/2013 6:50:00 AM more reviews by winterfairy

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Black, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Good for making your lashes thicker. Cons - messy, a bunch of fall-out on my cheeks.

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rawortley on 3/7/2013 9:57:00 PM more reviews by rawortley

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I really like these things. I already have a black fiber brush/mascara kit for awhile. Thank God I have ben blessed with pretty long lashes already but it just makes me want them even longer BUT tonight IDK what made me think of it but this can also be used to make the fuzzy nails. Of course there white fur but it works just the same and seems to look just the same as I see on internet pics. I am a big fan of the whole textured nails and have tried them all but this until tonight and its pretty awesome so basically u spend like3 bucks and if u dont like it for your lashes u still have something u can use on your nails!

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Wheeze on 12/29/2012 8:01:00 PM more reviews by Wheeze

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Blue    

After reading the reviews here, I decided to give this product a go. However, after trying it on merely one eye, I've decided that it's a definite "no". Messy, irritating to my eyes, and I can achieve better results by layering a primer under a volumizing mascara.

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*TOP REVIEWER* morphinization on 12/7/2012 3:05:00 PM more reviews by morphinization

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This stuff is great! I picked it up on a whim after having used a similar product with black fibers. It's great for making your lashes thicker and longer, just put it inbetween layers of black mascara and make sure all the white hairs are covered. I just put it in the bottle and twist and then put it on without tapping (laziness) and then I get a bunch of fall-out on my cheek, but strangely enough after wiping most of it off I FEEL like it gives the same effect of a loose translucent powder. Don't think it does, probably the white hairs making me see things lol.

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hobosmiles on 11/2/2012 7:10:00 PM more reviews by hobosmiles

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

After buying Too Faced Better Than False Lashes and becoming obsessed, I realized I'd need a substitute and fast- it's wayy to expensive to love that much! After searching, I finally found a substitute in Essence's Voluminizing Lash Powder! Too Faced comes in a mascara container with a mascara wand, the consistency is similar to spider webs... lol. The Essence one comes in a little jar with a seperate wand. The jar is so full that the wand doesn't fit! Also, dunking the wand in results in a crazy amount that just ends up on your cheeks!): My solution?- I dunk the tip of the wand it, and tap over a post it note. After tapping, all excess falls off. I then lightly swirl this in the powder on the post it note. When finished I just bend the post it and pour back in the bottle! My technique for layering this is pretty simple. For the first coat, use a dry, lengthening mascara. You want it to be just wet enough so that the fibers stick, but not so wet that it just clumps and falls down. After waiting for the fibers to dry, coat with a wetter, more fluid mascara. Using one like that traps in the fibers and evenly coats them.

I'd recommend everybody try this. It has a learning curve, but it's so ridiculously cheap and the results are visible!(:

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gweester on 10/28/2012 1:37:00 AM more reviews by gweester

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Blue    

I love this. I had been wanting to buy Too Faced better than false lashes, but the cost is out of my price range. Today I found the essence volumizing lash powder, and at $3.49. I had to try it. As soon as I got in my car I tore it open and tried it. My lashes looked amazing. It plumped them and make them look longer.

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*TOP REVIEWER* mirageangelhope on 10/22/2012 10:40:00 PM more reviews by mirageangelhope

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

I'm amazed that no one has reviewed this product before now.

This actually works.I wasn't expecting it too like this but for three dollars I thought I would give this a try.Everyone needs to buy this product.
Your supposed to put on mascara and while it's still wet apply the powder and then apply another coat of mascara to set it.It takes a few minutes for the volume of your mascara to build up.

I would think that this process is easier if you have a wetter mascara to begin with I tried this with 2 mascara with varying degrees of succeed the maybelline one by one and l'oreal's voluminous both in waterproof.I found that it worked better with the one by one, that maybe because the l'oreal is already super volumizing that it might be harder to notice the difference .
Some times you will get flaking from mascaras that don't ever flake I haven't found the reason for this yet.
THE ONLY PROBLEM
Is the packaging makes this product much more difficult to use .It comes with a disposible mascara wand with this white cotton look a like powder.The power is in a tightly packed tube so you can't put the wand all the way down the tube without making a huge mess.If you just put the wand in the top, half of the wand won't have powder because the tube isn't wide enough
I suggest finding a more suitable container for the power for better results and less mess.
Update
I\ve tried it with 6 other mascaras and wanted to let you know how they worked in case your fav mascara didn't end up looking that great
The bad ones

It look terrible with they're real mascara by benefit and my biggest lashes by prestige.They caused a clumpy mess.
Full in soft wasn't much better
Okay
Sexy curves was to dry to get alot of the power to stick
The colossal did give tons of extra volume but it made my lashes go all over the place needed a comb to get them to look more normal.

okay some flaking: e.l.f. 3 and 1 mascara

The best one
Lashblast fusion
It look amazing with lashblast fusion by cover girl.

11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No