Spend Less Cash on your Lashes! (Lacura Volumising Mascara)

Member Name: jo1976

Product:	Lacura Volumising Mascara
Date:	26/09/09 (131 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, performs well, looks more expensive than it is

Disadvantages: Only available from Aldi, doesn't really add volume

I'm not a regular Aldi shopper but we do have one close to the centre of town so I nipped in there the other day, picking up a few essentials. Along with the bread and milk, I found myself looking at the (small) range of make up items that Aldi now stock, under the brandname 'Lacura'.

I've read mixed reviews of the range in general but needed a new mascara and their Voluminising Mascara seemed worth a punt at just £2.59. I tend to use the lower end of the branded make up market - Rimmel and Max Factor and suchlike, nohing too expensive for my tastes and budget! Even these brands can cost upwards of £10 for a pretty basic mascara so I thought this had got to be worth a try.

Had I not known this was an Aldi product I would have assumed it was a much more expensive brand as it was packaged (over-packaged) in a small card box with more packaging inside to hold the bullet-styled mascara in place. The actual mascara, once I'd rescued it from its packaging, looks surprisingly expensive and quite classy, for a 'cheapo' product. It has a shiny metallic silver casing and the lid is shaped into a flattened out point, as though it is intended to double up as a self-defence weapon if needed! I'd be more than happy to keep this in my make-up bag, although any nosey friends getting up close and personal would soon discover the tiny writing on the side revealing that this is 'specially produced for Aldi stores.'

When I first opened the mascara, I was surprised how small the wand appeared to be although I think I've just got used to the trend for ever-longer wands which make all sorts of wonderful promises about what they'll do to your lashes! Not to be outdone, this mascara also has some promises of its own. Apparantly, it will make my '..eyes look larger and more dramatic.' It also tells me 'Lashes are optimally conditioned without clumping, remaining full and thick all day long. For irresistible eyes and lashes with the perfect curl.' Now I know why they needed to add so much packaging - so they could add all of these promises!

Does it live up the promises though? Well, not really no although I haven't known any mascara perform miracles with my lashes, regardless of the price and the hype. As a basic everyday mascara, this performs perfectly well. It smells pleasant with a fresh but not too obtrusive scent. It is easy to apply and I found that it didn't build up too much on the wand beforehand, so that it was easy to add the right amount without looking like I'd been street-fighting! It does smudge a little more than my usual brands, particularly if I rub my eyes unintentionally but not quite enough for the full-on panda effect! That aside, it seemed to be comparable to my usual brands but for a lot less. I certainly didn't notice any massive improvements in volume or any 'dramatic' effects but it didn't clump on application, gave good even coverage to my lashes and stayed put (mostly) so I'm happy to continue using it.

I didn't have any problems removing this at the end of the day as it came off very easily with both wipes, soap and water and make up remover. I have sensitive skin and wear contact lenses but didn't have any ill effects from using this. I even committed the cardinal make up sin of going to sleep with mascara still on and didn't have any repercussions.

This is the first make up product that I've tried from Aldi but based on this experience I'd be more than happy to try others from the range.

Summary: This is a basic mascara at a basic price