My Cheap Favorites: Review and comparison of Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara in Black and Covergirl Lashblast Volume Waterproof Mascara in Very Black

Disclosure: Affiliate links.

Covergirl LashBlast Volume has been around for a long time, but I find that it can be hard to find reviews of products that were released before beauty blogging exploded, so I hope this is useful for someone. Plus, I said I would review it in my favorite cheap makeup post, so it's about fucking time. Even though mascara is the one product that I've used since I was about 14, and I don't really go out without it, I find it relatively difficult to review. Mascara is one of those things that seem to perform vastly differently on different people and that people have wildly different opinions about. I've said it before, but Maybelline Great Lash, which you always hear recommendations for, doesn't do shit for my eyelashes. And there are divided opinions about the stuff I'm reviewing here, Covergirl Lashblast Volume. These things make mascara reviews tricky. So, as always, I'm just going to tell you about my needs and preferences and experience with this stuff, and let you decide if it seems right for you. Rather than telling you IT'S THE BEST BUY IT NOW.

This particular mascara is especially difficult to review, because there's nothing exactly remarkable about it, despite its being one of my favorite mascaras out there. That's probably why I've put off writing a full review of it for years. The fact that there's not much to say is why I like it, I guess. It's a good, everyday mascara, that makes my lashes look thicker and longer, but doesn't do anything crazy. It also holds a curl well (both versions), by which I mean that when I brush my lashes upwards with the mascara, they stay that way, since I don't actually use an eyelash curler. From a normal viewing distance, it just looks like I have naturally decent lashes without any goop on them. This is an illusion, because in reality I have short, sparse, invisible eyelashes. It's easy to use and not messy, so it's the mascara I grab when I don't want to have to think about anything. Probably the strongest recommendation for this mascara that I can give you is the fact that, despite trying many dozens of other mascaras over the years, I have bought at least one tube of Covergirl Lashblast Volume annually for almost a decade now--and in several of those years I bought multiple tubes. I keep coming back to it. It's reliable.

I figured, to add some interest to this post, I'd compare the regular and waterproof versions, because they're not exactly the same. That's normal. It seems that most mascaras have very little in common between their regular and waterproof formulas, so if it's the formula you like, you might be disappointed if you switch from one to the other. If it's mainly the brush you're into, you'll be safer. Here's a comparison of the ingredients of these two mascaras.

Covergirl LashBlast Volume Mascara (non-waterproof):

Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Triethanolamine, Acrylates Copolymer, Synthetic Wax, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Propylene Carbonate, Polyethylene, Oleic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Benzyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Trisodium Edta, Simethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Iron Oxides. may Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Ultramarines.

Covergirl LashBlast Volume Mascara Waterproof:

Petroleum Distillates, Polyethylene, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Trihydroxystearin, Propylene Carbonate, Pentaerythrityl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Tall Oil Glycerides, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylparaben, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Ultramarines, Talc.

You can see these lists do, indeed, have very, very little in common. The lack of water in the waterproof version is interesting. I wonder if that means it will resist bacterial contamination better?

Considering the extremely different ingredients list, these two mascaras actually do perform similarly, though I slightly prefer the non-waterproof option. It seems to provide a bit more volume and length with less effort, though the difference is minor (and in fact, when I look at the photos below, I can't really see a difference). Both of them are great for not clumping, much like their younger sibling, Covergirl Clump Crusher by LashBlast (reviewed here). I prefer how both of them work about a week or so after I've opened them and they've started to thicken up a bit.

They both, of course, have the same fat, plastic brush. If you hate spiky plastic brushes, you might want to avoid this one, though I have found that since the spikes are short and not too sharp, I don't end up stabbing myself in the eye like I do with some others (Benefit They're Real, for instance). The downside of the blunt ended brush with short bristles is that it's hard to get all the tiny lashes in the corners of my eyes or to get right to the roots of my lashes, especially on the back/top side of them (which I always coat, because they are blond, and they will look two-toned otherwise).

Here are my eyelashes bare, then with the regular Covergirl Lashblast Mascara, and then with the waterproof version:

Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara in Black

Covergirl Lashblast Volume Waterproof Mascara in Very Black

It's worth noting that the Black shade is not very black, unlike the Very Black shade. Um, as you might expect. Black is almost a dark grey/charcoal color, which is going to be a little more subtle. I think that when you compare the two photos above, you can see that the Black looks a little softer, and it's even clearer in these swatches:

I always like to have a waterproof mascara on hand, because my eyes are very watery. If it's a cold or windy day and I have to stand at the bus stop for even 5 minutes wearing non-waterproof mascara, I am guaranteed to end up with black streaks on my temples. This Covergirl stuff lives up to its waterproof claims. It is not, however, oil-proof--as it shouldn't be, because how would you remove something that neither water nor oil would melt? But be warned, during a very long and very awkward work dinner a few weeks ago, I went to the bathroom and saw that my waterproof mascara had transferred slightly to my eyelids, because the sweatiness of having to make nice with my professional nemesis in front of a foreign colleague was apparently more than any mascara could handle. I haven't noticed it smearing during normal circumstances, however.

If you want a good, everyday, no-frills mascara, this may work for you too. I don't think it's just my stubby lashes it improves. I first bought it on the recommendation of a friend with gorgeous, fluttery, thick eyelashes, after I asked her what she used, back in 2007. It doesn't make my eyelashes look like hers, but it did enhance both of our natural assets, as unequal as they are. Another thing that probably contributes my buying this stuff so frequently is that are often excellent sales on it on Amazon, so I don't think I've spent more than $4 for it in years. Keep an eye out on Amazon, if you're interested.

It's a bit unusual that I've stuck with the same product for quite this long, even if I do alternate with trying new mascaras. It seems to me that people are more loyal to their mascara than to other types of makeup. Do you stay with what works, or are you fickle about mascara?