Like most women in the world a black mascara is a staple in my makeup bag and something we must never run out of, no matter what.

MAC Cosmetics have always been a brand I have looked to for the latest makeup trends and of course their high quality cosmetics and skincare that is used by makeup artists and celebrities alike. That is why when I was looking for a new mascara I thought of MAC. I have never been to MAC before for their mascaras so I thought it was about time I bought one and see what the fuss is about. Unfortunately I have read a few bad reviews on MAC and their mascaras, this seems to be one of their downfalls in their makeup range and something they can't seem to get right, sometimes though you have to bite the bullet and purchase something for yourself to see if everyone is right, after all what is wrong for one person might be right for you.

The mascara I choose out of all of MAC's range is called X. X is priced at £12.50 for 6.5g and can be brought from a MAC store or MAC online at maccosmetics.co.uk
X is described as building dramatically longer, thicker and glossier lashes. The oval shaped soft fibres brush delivers maximum results. X will never clump or smudge and it is designed to be long wearing without flaking. X contains Panthenol that helps to condition the lashes; it is easily removed and comes in two shades, black and dark brown.

Like all of MAC's packaging this mascara comes in a matte black tube with a black screw off lid with MAC written in silver around the edge at the top, to me the packaging looks sleek.

Taking off the screw off lid and taking a look at the brush, MAC was right, it is oval shape and quite a thick brush, which I like as you can create volume and drama. The bristles look long, stiff and spaced out to help with clumping; to me the brush looks like Dior Show, which is a mascara I love and their brush is fantastic so I thought I was in for a treat. When I took the brush out I noticed there wasn't a lot of mascara on the brush like you sometimes get with other mascaras but I did notice the part where the mascara comes out of and remaining mascara gets left behind was a little slack and not as tough as I would have liked, because of this the packaging feels a little cheap.

Applying this to my lashes took little effort but some effort is needed to create your desired look. The first thing I noticed was how soft the brush is and how it just glides through my lashes; sometimes a soft brush can be a bad thing as clumping can occur but I didn't find this even with several coats. The first coat of X mascara was very light, almost like I have nothing on, second coat was almost the same, to create my desired look, which was still natural looking took several coats before letting the other coats dry. For it to look natural you have to get the wand to the base of your lashes and give the wand a wiggle all the way up to the tip this way you are coating all your lashes evenly. Another trick I felt I had to do to get my look quicker was to use the tip and coat my lashed with mascara before brushing through, When I finished my lashes did look longer and glossier, which is always a plus.
Eventually with loads of coats you can create you desired look, which lasts well throughout the day. There was no fall out and the mascara stayed put throughout the day while staying soft and not crispy but unfortunately your desired look does not. My curl dropped half way through the day and my lashes seemed to droop.

I continued to apply this mascara every day but gradually the packaging is annoying me more and more, every time I take the wand out I have to wiggle it out slowly otherwise the brush is coated in mascara, which I have to scrape off on the sides of the tube.
Because X is a soft mascara you have to be careful not to rub your lashes by accident, and if you have runny eyes stay away as this will be on your cheeks more than your lashes, defiantly not a wedding mascara. Even when your mascara has been on for a few hours and you know it is dry it is easily smudged.

I am disappointed in this mascara from MAC that happened to cost me more than other brands that I use and like and that deliver better results, I needed so many coats to make it look like I have something on, easily smudged even when dry and the packaging is terrible.
I will continue to use this only because of the price I paid and I don't like waste. But I will not be re-purchasing, or purchasing another mascara from MAC.

As MAC is a multi-million pound industry I can't see why they can't produce higher quality mascaras and packaging like their rivals?
Everyone was right after all, stay away from MAC's mascaras.