If asked what 1 beauty product most women would not want to be without if stranded on a deserted island, the answer would be a resounding: MASCARA. Finding that one perfect mascara, on the other hand, can sometimes feel like a lifelong quest — especially as there’s now an overwhelming abundance out there to choose from, all making differing claims: lengthening, volumizing, curling, plumping, waterproof, and separating, with just as many combination of all of the afore-mentioned qualities, to add even more confusion to the mix. Then, there’s the “head” and the myriad options that can come in: thick, thin, triangular, curved, bristles, comb, and ball — with several brands also creating combo versions of all these options. Confusing, I know. But we women are nothing, if not determined to find our “holy grail” mascara, and something tells me that I just may have with this latest by Givenchy …
Givenchy Noir Couture Mascara
Givenchy Noir Couture – gorgeous packaging
Givenchy Noir Couture
full ingredients list
Givenchy Noir Couture – tube
Givenchy Noir Couture – embossed cap
Givenchy Noir Couture 4 In One Mascara Created by Givenchy’s Makeup Artistic Director, Nicolas Degennes, this new ‘Noir Couture’ mascara is a “lash wardrobe must-have”. I couldn’t agree more. Formulated with their new Lash Booster Expert Complex as well as being fortified with lash-strengthening vitamins, this product claims to visibly improve the health and length of your lashes over time. According to the company:
“Noir Couture instantly thickens, lengthens and curls your lashes as it strengthens and nourishes them with ingredients like artemia salina, cotton nectar and oxazolidone, a lipid that protects and restructures the lashes. Imagine lashes that look as beautiful undressed as they do dressed – in couture!
TIP: When removing mascara saturate lashes with makeup remover and wait for 15 seconds. Then, gently slide the mascara off lashes from root to tip, being careful not to pull, twist or rub”
Research results:
-Based on a self-evaluation on 32 women after 4 weeks of daily application, 91 % had visibly volumized, curled, and lengthened lashes.
-Based on clinical scoring on 32 women after 8 weeks of daily applications, 102 % recorded lash beauty and strength, surface shine, evenness, and suppleness.
My findings:
It’s true, I love this mascara. To begin with, there’s the elegant and well-balanced heft of the sleek black and silver outer tube. Then there’s the densely packed bristles on the unique triple ball-shaped head and the easy-to-use & hold length of the wand. The product itself is of the deepest shade of black and stays somewhat glossy and true to colour for its duration. As this is not one of the “wetter” types of mascara, you do need to work quickly, as it seems to dry and set faster than some other brands I’ve tried, but you can still build it up without too much effort. The rounded top of the brush makes reaching smaller and/or thinner lashes a breeze, without fear of jabbing yourself in the eye. Wear time was totally amazing, lasting easily 12-hours plus (I gave it the most vigorous test this past weekend at my nephew’s wedding), without any flaking, running (even through crying, it stayed put), or smudging. Removal is quite painless as well, coming thoroughly off with well saturated pads of makeup removal. As the following photos show, the before shot is with absolutely no product, while the after version is with 2 coats of Noir Couture – no combing through.
Givenchy Noir Couture – wand
Givenchy Noir Couture – brush head macro
Final thoughts: I have tried many mascaras over the years, with varying degrees of success. I’ve loved Dior’s ‘Diorshow’ (both the regular & waterproof versions) for the thickening drama, Armani’s ‘Eyes to Kill Excess’ for the lengthening (and thickening), and when Givenchy first introduced their revolutionary ball-shaped ‘Phenomen’Eyes’, I was all over that – in every colour it came in, especially as it seemed to have the uncanny ability of singling out & coating lashes I wasn’t even aware of. What the ‘Phenomen’Eyes’ version lacked, however, was drama to add to that precision – ‘Noir Couture’ gives my lashes that … and more. I couldn’t be more impressed, and if you’re looking for a product that will do it ALL, then you need to give this mascara a try.
Available exclusively through Sephora (I’m guessing for now), Givenchy’s ‘Noir Couture’ Mascara retails for US $32.00/CDN $35.00 and worth every.single.penny.
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