NEW Product Review! L’Oreal Air Volume Mascara

Hi friends!

If I were to choose one product category where I’m the least brand loyal, it would definitely have to be mascara. It doesn’t really matter if I loathe, like, or love the current one I’m using: there’s an almost 100% chance that I will buy a completely different mascara the next time around. Perhaps it’s because the (recommended) shelf-life is so much shorter than other beauty products, but when it comes to lashes I just feel this deep-seeded need to try them all!

That being said I do try my fair share of mascaras from L’Oreal. It’s a category they do quite effectively in my opinion, and their front-and-center placement at the drugstore makes for easy and quick access. So after being properly impressed by Lash Paradise and Bambi Eye, I promptly scooped up their latest launch – the L’Oreal Air Volume Mascara – back in late 2020. I’ve been testing this one extensively, particularly over the past three weeks, so in today’s review I’ll give you my well-considered thoughts and opinions.

Let’s get started!

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THE DEETS ON THE L’OREAL AIR VOLUME MASCARA

Blow away the rules of volume with air volume mega washable mascara. In a consumer test, 84 percent of women said volume feels light as air on lashes. Air whipped formula creates weightless volume lasting up to 24hrs.

Ready to blow away the rules of volume? L’Oreal Paris introduces Air Volume Mega Mascara, a new evolution of mega lash volume that inflates and puffs up lashes, just like a hot air balloon, yet feels light as air (84% of women said volume feels light as air!*) How does this happen? With a new ingenius formula and packaging, Air Volume defies the rules of gravity and volume. The Air Volume formula is air whipped to create a lash multiplying effect with more volume that is weightless on lashes. This weightless mega volume and wear locks in for all day wear, lasting upto 24HRS. The key to the mega volume impact and longwear is in the lashing-building team of the the airy formula and double-bristle brush. The unique high charge, cushiony bristle brush captures, separates and coats every lash from the root to the tip for thick and full lashes. The short bristles catch and load lashes deep at the roots while the long bristles dispense the intensely black formula evenly for fully blown out lashes. The pink metallic balloon-shaped packaging protects and seals in the airy formula. Lashes are inflated and puffed up to dramatic levels of buildable volume upon each application. Hate raccoon eyes? Air Volume is smudge and flake resistant. Blow aways the rules of volume and drop the weight with Air Volume Mega Mascara.

*In a consumer study

– L’Oreal Website

 

MY THOUGHTS ON PACKAGING

The pink metallic color and balloon shape of the tube definitely makes this mascara more eye-catching on the drugstore shelves, but I do find the claim that it “…protects and seals in the airy formula” to be a bit dubious. The very first thing I noticed when I opened the tube was that there’s barely any resistance when pulling out the brush. This means that the brush gets quite overloaded with product, and more air comes into contact with the formula, which may cause drying over time. It’s also proven to be quite messy; gobs of product seep out from time to time, and I’ve had to repeatedly clean off the tube opening. Not the worst thing ever, but it’s annoying and shows a lack of attention to detail.

RATING: 3.5 / 5 ⭐️

MY THOUGHTS ON APPLICATION AND BRUSH

I love the large size and denseness of the bristle brush on the Air Volume Mascara. I always prefer natural bristles over plastic spikes or combs as I find they really help the formula to cling to the lashes, and build volume up. That being said, this formula definitely needs to built up if you want a full, volumized lash look. One coat gives you something quite dainty and almost natural-looking, which is really not my jam when it comes to mascara; I prefer something more dramatic and volumized. But once you layer that second coat on, the appearance of the lashes really transforms from natural to dramatic. See the side-by-side photos below.

If you value a formula that builds up instantly in one coat, this one is not for you. But if you prefer a more customizable formula that can give you different looks depending on how much you apply, then you may want to look into this one. Personally I don’t mind layering on two coats to get the volume I want; I find the experience similar to the Lash Paradise in that way.

RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️

MY THOUGHTS ON VOLUME

I wouldn’t call the formula overly wet or overly dry; it’s definitely somewhere in the middle. Does it feel weightless on the lashes? Hm, I’m not entirely sure. They make a big deal about the “air-whipped” formula that “…inflates and puffs up the lashes.” Yea, I don’t know anything about that; it sounds like a lot of marketing crap to me. But I can say that it doesn’t clump up or appear overly chunky on the lashes. I don’t curl my lashes (I probably should) so I can’t speak to whether it holds a curl or not. Is it as volumizing as the Lash Paradise? Again, I’d say it’s very comparable if maybe ever-so-slightly less volumizing. It does a pretty job at defining and lengthening as well.

RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️

 

MY THOUGHTS ON WEAR

I haven’t noticed much smudging or flaking when I wear this mascara on my upper lashes, but then again most mascaras don’t really smudge on me. (For reference, my skin is usually quite dry and that includes the area around my eyes as well.)

I normally always, always use the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara for my lower lashes since I know it doesn’t budge, but for experimentation purposes I tried applying the Air Volume there on one occasion. Unfortunately by the end of the day I noticed a faint black halo on my under-eyes; for the record, I had set my concealer with powder earlier in the day. So I’d say steer clear of using this on your bottom lashes. Otherwise I find the wear to be very good.

RATING: 4.5 / 5 ⭐️

MY THOUGHTS ON PRICE

L’Oreal Air Volume Mascara retails for $13.99 but you can find it for cheaper at places like Target and Walmart. It’s a solid-performing mascara for the price; there’s really nothing wrong with it (besides the packaging). I just wouldn’t get too caught up in those “defying gravity and volume” claims. (Always take product and marketing copy with a grain of salt, kids). However I’m not really sure why it’s $3.00 more than the Lash Paradise considering they perform in a very similar way. I wonder if it’s purely because of the newness…who knows.

RATING: 4.5 / 5 ⭐️

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I like this newest mascara launch from L’Oreal. It’s buildable, it delivers on volume, the wear is good (on the top lashes anyway), and it’s easy to remove at the end of the day. I just wish the packaging wasn’t as messy and clumsy. However, if I were to recommend either the Air Volume or the Lash Paradise, I’d say go with the latter. It’s slightly more volumizing and even cheaper in price.

Have you tried the L’Oreal Air Volume Mascara? If so, what did you think? I’d love to know!

xo, and be well, Erica

 

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