Maybelline “the Rocket” Volum’ Express Mascara Review

My two favorite mascara brands to try are Maybelline Volum’ Express lines and Majolica Majorca. I am waiting to order the new 2013 Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Edge Master, that will debut in Japan January 21, 2013 (very soon)!

But meanwhile, I decided to buy Maybelline’s new “the Rocket” mascara in 401 Very Black, 8x the volume (not waterproof).

I love the colors of the mascara packaging. To be honest, I chose the non-waterproof mascara because I liked the hot pink on metallic blue packaging better than the light blue on metallic blue packaging (for the waterproof mascara). Well, also because the waterproof mascara is only 6x the volume, while this one is 8x the volume!!

About the Product (according to the package):

• Clump-free
• New patented Rocket brush – evenly spaced bristles give 8x the volume, from root to tip, quickly
• Ophthalmologist tested
• Contact lens safe
• Safe for sensitive eyes

When you open up the packaging, there is a little plastic cap that you have to unscrew from the mascara to use it. You can just toss the cap.

Here is a close up of the mascara brush before it’s dipped into the mascara…

… and the brush after it has been dipped!

Look at how much mascara the brush holds!! The bristles are so much shorter now that it is loaded with mascara.

How To Use (on packaging): “For best results, apply the Rocket brush against your lashes from root to tip, until your lashes take off to an explosive level of volume.”

What I love about this mascara is that it is virtually effortless to achieve really thick and dark eyelashes. Usually with other mascaras, I have to do numerous coats! But with “the Rocket,” I only need a few coats to get the look I want.

Another great thing about the brush design is that the tip of the brush is a lot smaller than the rest of it. You can use the main part of the brush for your longer lashes and easily touch up with the tip of the brush to get your shorter lashes. A lot of the times, it is hard for me to get every single lash on my eye, especially the ones towards the inner part of my eyes. But with this brush, it makes applying mascara a cinch.

The color that I chose for my mascara, “Very Black,” really is, “very black.” No joke. The blackest of black! You can’t get any blacker! I also love that the look of the mascara is smooth and not dry and flakey.

One downside that I do see with this mascara is that if you apply too much (or too many times at once), you may end up with too much mascara!! It would be nice if the mascara brush didn’t unload so much onto your lashes with every swipe, but I don’t know. I guess it could be arguable whether or not this is a good or bad thing. I just want to note that you need to be careful that you don’t “over-do” it.

Lets now look at my before and after photo. I have zero eye make up on. Nada, zip! So here is a test of the mascara with only two coats. So quick and easy~

To Remove: Use soap and water or an oil-free eye makeup remover.

I realized that with this new mascara, I no longer have to really use my eye makeup remover. Instead, my new routine is to wash my face first and gently massage my eyes until the eye make up is gone. Then I will go in with the eye makeup remover to get rid of any excess eye makeup that may have gotten caught in my lower eyelashes (there really isn’t much to get rid of though).

Overall, this mascara is great, its affordable… and I love it! Below is an overview of key points mentioned above and also some things that were not mentioned.

Maybelline “the Rocket” Volum’ Express Mascara Rating: ★★★★★

• it does everything that it says it should do, provide massive amounts of volume
• goes on smooth and not flakey, and it is pitch blackkkk!
• very cheap and easy to obtain
• comes off like a charm, no hassle and no eye irritation
• my eyelashes don’t get heavy with this new formula and stay standing nice and tall all day long
• ophthalmologist tested, safe for contact lens wearers, and safe for those with sensitive eyes
• you have to be careful not to accidentally apply too much mascara
• easy to apply on short hard to reach eyelashes

 Find the mascara on Amazon for $13, NEW Maybelline Volum’Express The Rocket Mascara 401 Very Black!