Recessionista's Fabuless Pick of the Week: L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Last month, while attending a New York Fashion Week event, I approached a total stranger because I was so bewitched by her lush, super-sized lashes. I asked her what mascara she was using - and I half expected her to say DiorShow, Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes or some pricey, unheard-of formula that you can only get in Europe or Japan (because that always seems to be my luck). So imagine my shock when she responded, “It’s L’Oreal Voluminous. I’ve been using it since I started wearing makeup, and I haven’t found anything else that I prefer more.”

Voluminous Mascara? Where have I been? I wore Voluminous in college, when drugstore was all I could afford. But once I got myself a jobby job, I traded in mass market for prestige (for the most part) and dropped Voluminous like a bad habit. This chance encounter with Voluminous’ new BFF made me feel salty and snobbish for forgetting my humble beginnings. So I recently picked up a tube of Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black and hoped the old spark would ignite. The verdict: lashes so hot, they could start an inferno!

L’Oreal Voluminous not only pumped up the volume of my sparse lashes, the mascara took my fringe to new heights…all without clumps. And unlike so many mascaras on the market nowadays, the Voluminous brush doesn’t grab too much product - which is great because I hate having to wipe off excess product and helplessly watch as half of the tube’s content goes in the trash, on a tissue. Another thing I appreciate about Voluminous is that - after it dries - my lashes don’t feel rock hard and brittle; they’re still soft and flexible, yet the color stays put and doesn’t migrate under my eyes after a long day.

Moral of the story: don’t forget your roots. Oldies can still be goodies…and this goodie is great, because it costs less than $8! Stranger in NYC, thanks for inspiring me to reconnect with an old friend.

Reunited and it looks so good
Reunited 'cause we understood
There's one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited
'Cause we're reunited - hey, hey

L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black is sold at drugstores and mass market retailers. And right now, drugstore.com is having a special promotion: buy any L'Oreal cosmetic item and get 50% off the second. So take my advice and take advantage of drugstore.com’s beneficence.

And just in case you were wondering, that yummy sparkle on my eyes comes courtesy of MAC's new Sugarsweet collection. I traced the inner corners with the Lemon Chiffon Shade Stick to give my peepers some sparkle and make them pop!