Jul 4, 2014

Review - L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara

Patience is a virtue. I should have waited for the waterproof version of this to come out, which has already happened.
Of course, I have my excuse for buying another mascara with regular formula. My excuse consists of equal parts of hope, curiosity and sale. I have pretty much given up on non-waterproof mascaras because every single one of them uncurls my curled lashes right away, but I still have a faint hope to find one that keeps my curls intact yet washes off easily. Plus there are so many good things said about this new mascara with the cutest name and packaging. Finally, you cave in if there is a 40% off sale going on.
So there, you have it - my threefold academic excuse.
I hate to tell you that L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga is another mascara that bites the dust, although it may not be a total loss.


L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara
L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara in Blackest Black
(Another failure with such potentials)









This is what Miss Manga would do for you if you have naturally curly lashes.



L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara
I really like the shape of the brush.
The wand is indeed very flexible so it is easy to work with, and the angled bristles with different lengths do seem to work to quickly add dramatic volume to the lashes.
The triangular shape reminds me of Lancôme Hypnôse Star and the result is similar, too.


I love the intense black color of the Blackest Black shade I chose. I did not experience any smudging or flaking.
However, it is not entirely clump-free. Let's get real. All volumizing mascaras are at least a little bit clumpy. I would say this mascara is "relatively" clump-free for a volumizing mascara. 
The given look is not natural in any way, which is fine by me since it is a mascara that is supposed to give you the "manga" effect.

I just wish, really really wish, it kept the curls of my eyelashes as they were curled. 

This is what I get - somewhat volumized flat lashes.
(I am wearing NEO Lucky Clover contacts in Grey here, in case you're wondering.)


L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga is not a total disaster for me. 
If I add this on top of a mediocre defining waterproof mascara (you might be surprised to hear it is the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill, which, by the way, wouldn't be able to kill anything, only that I should kill the mascara for being mediocre despite of its $32 price tag), I end up with unnaturally huge yet very pretty lashes. 
I can still see why many other girls are raving about L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara, and I hope I would get better results with the waterproof formula. 
(Another mascara purchase in the air? Oh, yeah.)


Have you tried L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara?
Do you have any issue with non-waterproof mascara formulas like I do?




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Join the conversation!

  1. Ooh! Funny I just logged in to write a review about this and yours popped up ;p I bought the waterproof version and it holds my curl but it doesnt give me enough volume.. it works better as a base coat for my maybelline rocket volum mascara actually, so I've been wearing it with that! I actually dislike the brush although it is fun to use..

    Michelle | A Lovely Allure

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    1. I will look forward to your review on the wp version, Michelle!
      How long have your had it, though? Almost every wp mascara performs under when it's first opened. I'd give it a week, yet I'd be happy with a little less volume if it keeps the curls. :)

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  2. AnonymousJuly 04, 2014

    Awww, that's too bad it doesn't hold your curl! I haven't tried this yet, but I want to!

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    1. On the other hand, this mascara would look so nice on you. I can just see! :)

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  3. Ooh I been eyeing this and waiting for a sale! Now I'll wait for the waterproof version instead :)

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    1. They do have the wp version out already and there is a L'Oreal sale every other week, so you're in luck! :)

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  4. Finally, there's someone who isn't a huge fan of this mascara, too. I got this a while back and I wasn't crazy about it either. It clumped up on my lashes. But it does do a good job of making them look big. :/

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    1. I think it is really about the preference. For example, I can't stand the original Voluminous since it uncurls my lashes and clump like crazy, but I love love the wp version. I kind of have a high hope for the wp version of Miss Manga. I will update! :)

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  5. I kind of want to try this now, but definitely in the waterproof formula. I have bad luck with non-waterproof mascara smudging or flaking off. Raccoon eyes are not a good look for me! Haha. Plus, I also have the curl issue. My eyelashes are so straight! T__T

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    1. I don't usually have smudging problem with mascara regardless of the formula. Some say wp version smudge even more on oily skin, which makes sense.
      It is really about the "curl issue" for me. I want to rotate since wp mascara dries out eyelashes, but they I have to clamp my lashes real hard to work with non-wp formula. I don't think that's good, either. So back to wp mascaras! ;)

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  6. Sounds awesome!!!need to give this a whirl

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  7. Sorry this didn't work out to be amazing for you too! I always rely on japanese brands for my HG volumizing, curling and waterproof mascara! I can see that it's given you volume but the curl has been reversed! I always buy waterproof formulas no matter what, I can't risk it not working for my lashes!

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    1. Yeah, I've used some of the highly ranked Japanese ds ones and liked them quite a lot. But I want to stay local when it comes to mascara since I replace them so very often. I hope the wp version to work much better on me! :)

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  8. Ohhh too bad it didn't work for you! this mascara has received a lot of hype here, fellow german bloggers loved it and it is always sold out in our drugstores.. thank you for this honest review, so I think I'd better save my money and maybe wait for the waterproof one :)

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    1. Haha, sold out? Well, it is pretty good for what it is.
      I've splurged on high end mascaras recently, but I am about to conclude that ds mascaras are as good if not better. The GA ETK is a huge disappointment, for example.

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  9. Aww, too bad this didn't work out for you :( Personally, I love this mascara, but I do have a natural curl to my lashes to I can't contribute to whether or not it holds the curl. However, it does do great things for me when it comes to volume and I don't have any trouble with flaking of smudging. Really curious to see what you think about the waterproof formula!

    Marianna | www.impressionblend.com

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    1. I think I would have really liked it if it wasn't for the curl issue. Since I don't have much of smudging issue with mascaras in general, I'd love to rotate regular ones and wp. I still hope! ;)

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  10. I wholeheartedly agree with you that the GA Eyes To Kill mascara is mediocre. I'm still bummed I paid so much for it. Thanks for your review on this L'Oreal one too. Saves me some money :-)

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    1. I mean, it is a nice defining mascara that is satisfactory to be fair, but it has to be frigging amazing for $32 a tube, right??! Since it is in the wp formula, I gave it some time..but no, it IS mediocre. I will review it eventually... ;-/

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  11. I agree with you... I don't think it's too bad. The color is pretty nice. The thing is that I usually like it when my lashed look REALLY long and with a lot of volume. I Also don't like clumps. I hate them! I just started following you on Bloglovin, Twitter, GFC and Facebook! I really liked your blog and makeup tips and would love for us to stay in touch:D! If you also have an Instagram account we could follow each other there too:D! I hope you come by my blog sometime and like it too.

    Stay in touch!

    xx

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    1. Well, I don't blame a product that fulfills its claims. Miss Manga does provide big lashes for sure. ;)
      BTW thanks for finding me and following me on different gears. Your favors have been returned! :)

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  12. *puts money back in happy wallet* Thank you Lena! I was considering trying this one as well as GA! :)

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    1. LOL. Glad to help you there!
      I still have two more unopened high end mascaras so I still hope they will prove me wrong, but I do think drugstore mascaras are as good. I still love my original Voluminous wp so much! :)

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  13. I have to wear tubing mascaras; I use an emollient eye cream so wp versions smudge like nuts, and then I wear contacts and my eyes tear sometimes so non-wp formulas also don't work, LOL. So there's not a lot of options out there for me, but thankfully I do like my HG a lot (Clinique High Impact Curling mascara). Mascara is frustrating, isn't it? So many things! Curling, smudging, volume, length...ugh.

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    1. I know what you're saying, Larie. Probably for the same reason, I find regular mascara stays better on my lower lashes. I find some of those Japanese mascaras are like bullet-proof, but they are royal pain to remove as well. I always think I'd just stick with my HG, but the temptation and perpetual curiosity problem! ;-/

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  14. AnonymousJuly 05, 2014

    The packaging is very very cute! *-* I want to try this mascara :)

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    1. It is! I think this would work well for you. :)

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  15. I am lucky in the lash department in the sense I have decent length and volume on my own, I just need a mascara to darken and add a little extra umph. This one seemed interesting, maybe it's just because I'm on an anime kick and cute advertising gets me every time. I like what it did accomplish on you (sans curling) I wonder if mascara is just always going to be better to layer a couple of kinds and that's how it is.

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    1. I guess some decent defining mascaras will just be find for you. Jealous! ;)
      I used to use regular formula only and didn't even know what a lash curler and a waterproof mascara can do for my lashes. Once I learned, there was no turning back! LOL
      I just wish I could find a decent non-wp one so I can rotate, because wp mascaras are pretty harsh on my lashes.
      This mascara does clump and volumize big, in my views. I just layered this over the GA again and it was the manga effect, alright! :)

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  16. I've heard nothing but meh things about this mascara, and I'm glad I read your review before taking the plunge.

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    1. I still hope the wp version would be better since I usually like mascara from the same line, but on the other hand, I have more than a few new mascaras unopened..so ;p

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  17. Hah! Oh, Lena - I love the way you phrase things sometimes. "Not a total disaster for me" is such a ringing endorsement :P

    I've been reading a lot of raves about this recently, so thank you for this review! Mascaras that drop a curl like this one are a total no-no for me, so I'm glad I didn't have to test this one myself to find out.

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    1. ;D
      I still want to try the wp version, isn't it crazy??! I usually don't mind a little clumping cause I think that's how a mascara works to volumize quickly..
      But this uncurling issue is quite big because I have to literally clamp my lashes to make them stay somewhat curvy, which beats the whole point of "oh, non-wp mascaras are gentler on your lashes".

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  18. I'm really liking the Clarins waterproof for curling. Gave up on L'Oreal mascaras a long time ago because they all smudge like crazy on me! I figured the Manga wouldn't be any different. -___-

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    1. Oh, I think Rae recently reviewed on it, right? I think the tube looks even prettier than YSL for example. The formula looks too clean, though. I need some dirty clumping for volumes. LOL
      If other L'Oreal mascara smudge on you, yeah, probably you're right. I think it is the same hydro-fudge formula for most of them.

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