The Beauty Diary by Rebekah Scanlan: Fenty Beauty Vs MCoBeauty in battle of new mascaras
A nifty double-sided brush has sent the internet into a spin, with YouTube beauty blogger Chloe Morello declaring it the “bomb”.
It was battle of the new mascaras this week when two major brands with varying price points both released products.
Fenty Beauty dropped its highly spruiked Full Frontal Mascara on January 16 while affordable Australian brand MCoBeauty also released its Biglash Maximum Volume Mascara in Woolworths, one of five new products in a collaboration with Love Island’s Tayla Damir.
Created by singer Rihanna, Fenty Beauty is known for revolutionising the industry. The 31-year-old launched the cosmetics company in 2017 and instantly set the bar for diversity standards with the Pro Filt’r Foundation which had 40 all-inclusive shades (now 50).
After adding concealer, eyeshadows and lipsticks to the product range in 2019, the brand revealed a mascara was hitting shelves globally this week and before it was even on sale #FentyFever was sky-high.
I NEED the new fenty beauty mascara. I NEED IT OMG.
— ã‚¢ã‚ラ (@nur_aqirah) January 11, 2020
Are you referring to the day the Fenty mascara comes out?? Cause if you are then me too... but if you’re not then please forget this exchange ever happened LMFAOO https://t.co/rCD5OQdWeT
— it’s almost CHRISTMASSSSS (@_Beyoncesweavee) January 13, 2020
I’m going to get this fenty mascara if it’s the last thing I do! 😠pic.twitter.com/6ctcyg66yz
— Modupe Arowolo (@Dupsyrolo) January 14, 2020
Australian YouTube star and beauty blogging royalty Chloe Morello even shared several tutorials with the new product, declaring it “bomb”.
MCoBeauty’s newest product had a similar affect here on Aussie shores, with Tayla revealing on Instagram the response had been “crazy”.
The brand is well known for being super affordable and great quality among beauty fans. I’ve raved about many of its products, including a $5 cheek and lip tint and a highlighter palette that is a dupe of Charlotte Tilbury’s $120 Glowgasm Face Palette.
In the past, MCoBeauty has partnered with some well-known faces such as Sophie Monk whose range of lip glosses were so popular, they sold out in 25 minutes.
So when both Fenty and MCoBeauty revealed they had new launches of similar products in the same week — my interest was piqued. It was like Rihanna had come to town to take down our local celebs and there could only be one winner. But who?
Luckily for me, both landed on my desk for testing purposes, and you all know I’m game to put myself through anything in the name of journalism. If you don’t believe me, just check out my thoughts on Gwyneth Paltrow’s much-loved wellness trick — vagina steaming.
Missed a column? Catch up on all The Beauty Diary action here.
FENTY BEAUTY FULL FRONTAL MASCARA
Available at Sephora
Price: $39
If you’re someone who likes to go big with your lashes some days, and light and feathery the others – then Rhi-Rhi has got you covered. Fenty Beauty’s first foray into mascara is just like everything else in the brand’s product line, bold, brave and totally bloody brilliant. And it’s all thanks to a nifty and unique double-sided brush.
“I like to get every single little lash to expose them all. I wanted to make sure this mascara lets you do that. You get volume, lift, and curl all with one product and this amazing brush,” Rihanna told The Beauty Diary. Okay, she totally didn’t. It’s the quote emblazoned all over her press kit but hey, I can dream.
The dual “flat to fat” brush has traditional fluffy bristles on one side, and shorter, flat bristles on the other. While it looks a little confusing to begin with, I decided to follow all the Insta-tutorials and use the bigger side of the brush to coat my lashes, then fan and separate them out with the skinny edge.
After, my lashes looked amped up without looking too extra. I did find a few tiny flakes under my eyes throughout the day, but nothing that smudged and while the formula is also made to be buildable, I defo only need one coat.
MCOBEAUTY BIGLASH MAXIMUM VOLUME MASCARA
Available at Woolworths and mcobeauty.com
Price: $22
This new mascara says it will “plump up” your lashes and leave them looking so good, people will think you’re rocking falsies. With promises like that and the fact my make-up bag is already stuffed with MCoBeauty goodies, I had such high hopes for this.
However, its delivery was a little flat. While the brush is jumbo and Tayla herself looks like a long-lashed goddess in her promo snaps, the stubby brush actually made it difficult to apply, especially the lower lashes.
Instead of giving my fluttery-ones a false look, I thought they were actually pretty natural looking. The product description says the formula is buildable, so I tried whacking on another layer — but it was still just a bit meh. If I was going for a more subtle look, I’d be down, but it promises to mimic falsies and it just doesn’t. I guess Rihanna won this round.
MORE AMAZING MASCARAS FOR EVERY BUDGET
RIMMEL LONDON MASCARA LASH ACCELERATOR ENDLESS BLACK
Available at Woolworths, Priceline, Chemist Warehouse
Price: $19.95 RRP but it’s currently on offer for $10 in Woolies
A black mascara, that’s lengthening and good for your lashes? Sounds too good to be true – but Rimmel London have combined its best-selling lash serum with a mascara and hello.
Once applied, my lashes looked long and fluttery but without being cakey and fake. And on days I went make-up free, I noticed they felt soft and nourished. My only criticism of this is that it transfers a little and nobody’s a fan of the panda look.
But I do have oily skin and I notice mascara transfers easier on me than other people.
MARC JACOBS VELVET NOIR MAJOR VOLUME MASCARA
Available at Sephora
Price: $39
I’ve banged on about this to you guys in the past but that’s because it’s bloody brilliant. It’s non-clumpy, gives my lashes volume without being too heavy and it goes on in just one sweep. It doesn’t smudge throughout the day and the packaging is super sleek. Yes, it’s a little on the boujee side price wise but if you love something, it’s worth parting with the cash.
TOO FACED DAMN GIRL! 24 HOUR MASCARA
Available at Mecca
Price: $37
Everyone raves about Too Faced’s infamous Better Than Sex mascara. In fact, there are 86,000+ glowing Google reviewers who hail it as a game-changer. It’s so loved and adored by lash lovers it was the brand’s only eyelash product until very recently when they released Damn Girl.
And call me crazy, but I think it totally trumps its predecessor. The formula is a light, whipped up mousse that is unlike anything else I’ve ever used and it somehow manages to give my lashes a lift. Woah!
My only bug bear is the brush is a little on the big side, which I touched on above with the MCoBeauty, but I forgive its clunkiness because it’s so damn good. The finished look is thick, curled lashes that don’t look like spiders legs. It’s defo worth every cent.
KAT VON D GO BIG OR GO HOME MASCARA
Available at Sephora
Price: $33
If you’re after a more dramatic look, THIS is the product for you. It gives extreme volume and length, giving a false-lash look that you’re going to get addicted to fast. The only downside is it’s a tiny bit flaky but they wipe away really easily and don’t turn into black smudges.
MAYBELLINE FALSIES VOLUMISING FALSE LASH MASCARA
Available at Chemist Warehouse and Priceline
Price: $19.95 (but on offer in Chemist Warehouse regularly for $10)
An oldie but a goodie! This classic has spent a long time in my make-up bag because I just keep going back to it. The brush is curved which grabs all my lashes, even my little ones, and it never flakes or smudges. If you’re on a beauty budget, this is your new bestie.
WANDER BEAUTY MILE HIGH CLUB VOLUME AND LENGTH MASCARA
Available at Sephora
Price: $40
If you like your long ones feathery and fluffy, you better join the mile high club pronto. This mascara is a zero-effort lover’s dream, coating even the smallest of hairs and lengthening it perfectly.
It’s all thanks to the formula, which strikes the perfect balance of wet and dry (if that makes any sense at all?) meaning it gets all the way to the root and ends without ending up on your face. Not even after one of my sweaty gym sessions or a long day at work.
I also love the squeezy tube which means you can get to every last drop of product – which is a good thing as it costs a cool $40.
CLARINS MASCARA SUPRA VOLUME
Available at Clarins.com.au, Adorebeauty.com.au, David Jones and Myer
Price: $42
The first time I wore this mascara I was complimented on my lashes — so it’s now in firm rotation among my favourite products. What I like about it is it’s easy to create a subtle, fluttery lash look or go bold by building it up. It doesn’t go clumpy and the classic brush reaches even the smallest hairs on my lash line. It even has that signature fresh scent I love with Clarins products — it really is gorgeous.
This column is not advertorial content. Every review is independent, honest and ad free.
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