REVIEW: SuperEnchant Mascara

SUPERENCHANT MASCARA

Avon's SuperEnchant Mascara saw its introduction to the public in Brochure 7 of the 2011 campaigns.  The mascara formula is made up of 100% naturally derived mineral pigments, and features a Botanical Extracts and Royal Jelly to give beautifully conditioned lashes that are full and soft to the touch*.  Claiming to make your lashes look up to 44% longer** and have 400% more volume*** with a brand new hourglass-shaped brush, SuperEnchant seemed a little too good to be true, so I had to try it out for myself!

Okay, so, I got my demo mascara, and to be honest, when I first saw the brush, I was a little bit unconvinced.  It was such a weird shape, and I wasn't really sure what the point was to it.  Sure enough, on first use, I proceeded to smear a mass of black across my eyeshadow with one of the fat ends of the brush.  Not clever, and not pretty.  The shape took a lot of getting used to, and even now, I'm still not 100% convinced it works that well for me, but truth be told, if you're patient with it (which I generally am not!), it does work really well.  I've also noticed that the shape helps to slightly curl your lashes, as well as surround them for coverage, so teaming this mascara with an eyelash curler is probably the way forward.  In short, it's a strange shape, but you'll get used to it.

Now for the formula.  I myself have delicate, but long, lashes that are blonde at the tips and dark at the roots.  I have to really avoid touching my eyes because my lashes are so delicate they come out if I so much as think about rubbing my eyes if they get itchy!  After fighting with the brush for a bit, I did notice that the mascara coated my lashes well, if it was a little clumpy in places.  I later discovered that leaving this mascara for too long makes it more sticky, which I suppose is down to the mineral and jelly formula used to make it condition your lashes.  Giving it a good shake before using it usually helps, but you really need to remove as much as of the excess mascara as you can before even trying to put it on, which can be a bit annoying if you're in a hurry.  Some mascaras can feel stiff when you touch your lashes, but this one doesn't, it feels just like touching your lashes normally, which is a nice sensation, especially if your significant other is a fan of the 'butterfly kiss'.

While the first time round I didn't really notice any significant lengthening of my lashes, I did notice that they appeared fuller than normal, which is a good thing.  When I actually took the time to do the mascara properly, I did notice a slight lengthening effect, so I guess this mascara is probably best used when you have a lot of time on your hands to really do it properly.  The mascara isn't heavy, and with 100% natural pigments, I feel safe in the knowledge that it's not going to burn my eyelids off with constant use!

As for the conditioning effect, I have to be honest, I haven't really noticed any difference.  My lashes are still as delicate as ever, though I think I may have a reason for this.  I have only been using SuperEnchant every so often, when I have the time to really take care of my lashes, or when I need a really full look for photographs and the like.  As such, the conditioning effect is probably a cumulative one, taking effect when used pretty much constantly.  As I just don't have the patience for a slow-use mascara most of the time, I have been using  my SuperShock mascara because the flat, short bristles are better for me to do my mascara quickly and efficiently.

Verdict:
A good mascara - light, soft and it definitely helps to add volume, length and curl, but it's a high maintenance mascara, which doesn't suit my rush-rush approach to life.  It's well worth having in your make-up bag for a dramatic evening look, but I suggest not making it your only mascara.

Score: 4/5


* Consumer Study, 147 people
**  In Vitro Volume Test Study
***  Clinical Study, 21 people
Details in Avon's 2011 Brochure 07, pages 24-27