Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and the product featured was provided for review.
Touted as "the most volumizing" mascara from Yves Saint Laurent, the brand new The Shock Volumizing Mascara ($39 CAD) promises clump-free volume in a single stroke. Today I will be sharing my review and some comparison swatches so you can see if this mascara is worth the buck. To read on, click......
Packaging:
With a high-shine lacquered black tube and a shiny rose gold cap bearing the YSL logo, The Shock Volumizing Mascara is equipped with a sizeable bristle wand in a curvy design. The middle of the wand is tapered, giving the applicator an almost hourglass shape. I found the wand just a tad big for my eyes but the tapered area does a good job at coating most of my lashes.
Formulation:
Hands down the best-smelling mascara, the Yves Saint Laurent The Shock Volumizing Mascara is delicately scented with a fresh and floral fragrance. The mascara has quite a thick formulation that's slightly clumpy. Because of the viscous texture, the mascara sets very quickly; I wanted to go in for a few more strokes to perfect things but I was unable to do so without disturbing the previous coat. Also, the thicker texture gave the tips of my lashes a blunt, slightly unnatural appearance. It's not very apparent in the photos below but it's definitely noticeable in person.
Availability:
Yves Saint Laurent is available online and in stores at Sephora, The Bay, Holt Renfrew, and Nordstrom in Canada.
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| Yves Saint Laurent The Shock Volumizing Mascara in "1 Asphalt Black" |
With a high-shine lacquered black tube and a shiny rose gold cap bearing the YSL logo, The Shock Volumizing Mascara is equipped with a sizeable bristle wand in a curvy design. The middle of the wand is tapered, giving the applicator an almost hourglass shape. I found the wand just a tad big for my eyes but the tapered area does a good job at coating most of my lashes.
 |
| Yves Saint Laurent The Shock Volumizing Mascara in "1 Asphalt Black" |
Hands down the best-smelling mascara, the Yves Saint Laurent The Shock Volumizing Mascara is delicately scented with a fresh and floral fragrance. The mascara has quite a thick formulation that's slightly clumpy. Because of the viscous texture, the mascara sets very quickly; I wanted to go in for a few more strokes to perfect things but I was unable to do so without disturbing the previous coat. Also, the thicker texture gave the tips of my lashes a blunt, slightly unnatural appearance. It's not very apparent in the photos below but it's definitely noticeable in person.
 |
| Yves Saint Laurent The Shock Volumizing Mascara in "1 Asphalt Black" |
The product provides a good amount of volumizing and lengthening, yet it still does a good job at keeping the individual lashes separated. I have naturally straight lashes that require a lot of hold and The Shock did a good job at maintaining my curls. Where it falls short, unfortunately, is the wear. Within just a few hours, I noticed some minor flaking and by the end of the day, there were significant flaking and smudging. Therefore, the longevity is quite lacking, and this was just on a cool, rainless day. I can't even imagine how it would perform in hot humid weather.
All in all, this mascara was not a win for me. Although the formulation is separating, volumizing, and lengthening (not to mention that beautiful scent), the application is challenging and the wear is disappointing.
Yves Saint Laurent is available online and in stores at Sephora, The Bay, Holt Renfrew, and Nordstrom in Canada.
