NARS is no stranger to provocation, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the brand took things even further with the naming of their new CLIMAX Mascara. Suggestive innuendos aside, this self-professed mascara aficionado (me) couldn’t wait to try this one on for size and see if it, well … delivered. You didn’t really think I wouldn’t slide at least one in, did you? Oops … guess that’s two now #multiples
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Usually I’m not a fan of excessive PR packaging, but I’m really liking this case for a couple of reasons: with the inner foam removed, I can use it to store other products + it also makes a great backdrop prop so, win-win!
CLIMAX Mascara (CAN $30.00) | The vibrant red ribbed and lacquered tube is eye-catching, to be sure, but those outer ridges also help provide you with a secure grip on the wand. Even the large brush head is in on the game, boasting ribbed bristles that not only grab even the tiniest of lashes, but effortlessly coat them with product. The formula is a new innovation, made with a Lash Moisture Complex for lashes that never feel stiff or crunchy, while the whipped blackened pigments provide intense colour. Created to mimic the effect of wearing false lashes, this mascara is stated to provide volume, lift and curl, without smudging, flaking, or clumping.
“The eyes are one of the most important focus points because it’s the window of the soul; you say everything through your eyes”
—François Nars, Brand Founder and Creative Director
My mascara expectations tend to run high; I prefer volume first, length second but because my lashes have a pretty good natural curve, maintaining a curl isn’t that critical for me (although I don’t mind if a mascara provides that, just the same). If dealing with a black mascara, I want the colour to be deep; any variation of that i.e.: near-black or charcoal, just won’t do. The mascara also needs to stay put without transferring or flaking away. Lastly, it must be easily removed at the end of wearing without needing any harsh rubbing to do so.
So how did CLIMAX fare against that list? Well, my initial testing didn’t blow me away — mainly because while I did see quite a bit of length, the volume was nothing earth-shattering. In fact, I felt like this would make for a great everyday/natural effect mascara, but not one I’d reach for to create drama. But experience has shown that some mascaras are like fine wines and they need to almost ‘breathe’; exposed to a bit of air, the formula almost appears to thicken, and thus provided the volume I was previously missing. In every other area, it scores well too: deep black ✔️ non flaking/smudging/smearing ✔️ easily removed ✔️ In fact, I’d even go so far as to say that this is now one of the mascaras I tend to reach for the most and that I plan on purchasing once this tube is done.
NARS’ Black Moon Audacious Mascara is one I’ve gone through several tubes of and continues to be a favourite, so I was curious to see how CLIMAX would stand up to that. As stated above, my first impression was a bit disappointing but it definitely pays to persevere, because there’s much to recommend this version. Plus it looks good enough to display and how many mascara tubes can claim that?
Available at Sephora, online & select retailers
Kindly provided by NARS for my unbiased consideration
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