*Influenster sent me this product complimentary for testing purposes*
Here is what Marc Jacobs says about this mascara:
"Experience ultimate volume and the look of thick, false lashes with Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara. The lash-maximizing, curvy brush places the most volume at the hard-to-reach center lash line, and the defining tip styles lashes for major drama. The super-concentrated black pigment delivers the greatest visual impact, and the Flash Volume Complex™ creates instant, smudge-proof length and volume in three strokes or less. Velvet Noir gives you the thickest lashes in one sweep. Apply Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara on its own, or layer with O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara (sold separately). Pair it with Feather Noir Ultra-Skinny Lash-Discovering Mascara and Lamé Noir Ultra-Glittering Mascara (sold separately) to style your lashes for every occasion. "
I do agree that the mascara adds a lot of length and volume to your lashes. In that regard, it is amazing. Sadly, there are a couple of bad things about this mascara that negate the positive. The first issue I have is that too much product comes out on the brush. If you don't scrape the excess off, this will clump up badly. I have gotten a bad case of spider lashes thanks to the stuff. Even when you do remove excess product, you have to apply it carefully because it can still clump a little. Especially if you use it on the lower lash line. One eye can look fantastic, and the other will look horrible. Even if you use the same precision. That alone makes me dislike Velvet Noir.
You can get an idea of how finicky and irritating this product is from the picture. One side looks pretty good and I can't see any clumping. But on the right side, well, that is a little different. I applied the mascara the exact same way on both sides.
Secondly, I am not a fan of the brush. It reminds of mascara wands from a decade ago. Something about it just looks old. I tend to like the more rounded, fat wands. I feel like the brush is one of the main reasons I have to be careful when applying it and why it just doesn't work for me. Maybe I am just crazy. I am not one of the many women that would list mascara as their "can't live without product." That doesn't apply to me, so maybe I am just slightly ignorant in the ways of mascara. But it shouldn't be a difficult thing. But with Velvet Noir, it is.
The one thing I do love is the packaging. It is sleek and it has a unique shape. Rather than being square or round, it is a hexagon. I think that is cool, so that might make me a little weird. It looks like it would be a heavy tube, but it is lightweight and easy to hold.
I would never pay $39 for this mascara. Actually, I would probably never pay that for any mascara considering how many budget friendly ones are available. I can't recommend this one. I know a lot of people have been raving about it, so if you happen to come across a sample, it might be worth it for you to try.
My next review will also be about a product I received through Influenster, so stay tuned. =)
