Mascara Review: Maybelline XXL Pro Volume + Maybelline Lash Stiletto Volume

Posted by in Featured, Headline, Makeup | 5 comments

When it comes to mascara, I’m all about the volume. I’ve been blessed in the curl and length department, but my lashes can look a little anemic at times. Thus, my never ending search for the perfect volumizing mascara.

This month Maybelline is releasing 2 new mascara’s that promise to plump and fatten lashes: XXL Pro Volume and Lash Stilletto Voluptuous. I happened upon both of them at CVS several weeks ago, and snapped them up for review. (I warn you in advance: my eyebrows look a fright in these pics, but they have since been tended to! Lol)

First up, Maybelline XXL Pro Volume mascara. The XXL line of mascaras isn’t new to Maybelline, but they have revamped the line by adding a new collection of XXL mascaras. The new collection has a mascara for pretty much every lash need, but I opted for the Pro Volume version.

Now, I don’t normally go for 2-step mascaras, because they just feel like I’m adding an unnecessary extra step to my beauty routine. I can do my makeup in 5 minutes (without a mirror, it I have to!), and swiping something on my lashes twice is not what’s up. However, I decided to give it a go since it promises to give “up to 11x the volume”.

Step 1 (pictured on the left) is a primer that claims to build lashes, while step-2 (pictured on the right)  gives “intense color”. As you can see from the photos, brushes for the two steps are very different from each other. Step 1′s brush is larger, with fanned out bristles, while step 2′s brush is thin and rather standard. But did these varying formulas and brushes make a difference in my lashes? Not so much.

I think my lashes look pretty darn basic, if you ask me. There isn’t any real volume to speak of, and my lashes look rather clumped together. VERY underwhelming performance from this mascara. In fact, I took this mess back to the store.

This brings us to mascara number two, Maybelline Lash Stilletto Voluptuous.

I heard some pretty positive things about the original Lash Stilleto mascara, so I was curious about the new volumizing version. The brush is curved in an s-shape to give m0re volume, much like Lancôme’s Hypnôse Drama Mascara, but at a much lower price.

To tell you the truth, I really didn’t have big expectations for this mascara. Maybelline mascara’s have never been anything to write home about, in my humble opinion, and I didn’t think Lash Stilletto Voluptuous would be any different. Boy was I wrong!

I was very impressed with this mascara! While I do believe my lashes could have been fatten up some more, I think Lash Stilletto Voluptuous did a very admirable job! I don’t think it lengthened very much (which doesn’t matter much to me), it did give my lashes volume and definition. Pretty good lash fringe for under $10, huh?

In fact, I’ve been using it pretty regularly, and I plan to experiment and use it under L’Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara (I’ve found that if you use a volumizing mascara under LTEM, you get FAT lashes). I would totally recommend Lash Stilletto Voluptuous as a basic, everyday mascara!

Will you try either of these mascara?

What is your go-to volumizing mascara?

  • zombiesohmygosh

    OOH thanks I was thinking about whether to get the XXL and this really helped a lot :)

  • Guest

    Well, I think someone with horrible lashes like your’s shouldn’t be reviewing mascaras. …and you certainly were not blessed in the length department. My 7 month old has longer lashes than you.

  • Charityrh

    the person that wrote: “Well, I think someone with horrible lashes like your’s shouldn’t be reviewing mascaras. …and you certainly were not blessed in the length department. My 7 month old has longer lashes than you. ”

    Didn’t your mother ever teach you that if you can’t say something nice not to say it at all?

    Gosh!!!! that is so mean and low life that you have yo make fun of other people.

  • Gloria

    I found this very helpful and thought the rude comment pointless – we are lucky that we have someone trying and giving their opinion. Unfortunately, I bought it already and paid a high price because I live overseas so I paid 18$ and it is absolute junk. I used to use Covergirl Marathon this I thought was great, but now I keep wasting money trying to find a new waterproof that works. I actually use Borghese waterproof which, as years go buy, is less and less waterproof, so I was applying Marathon on top of it. Now I am without a suitable top coat that is nice AND waterproof. Thanks for the review.

  • karen

    did not like the volume mascara–my eye lashes were so stiff they hurt–I have bought many of your products before–thank-you-k