Those who have been here long enough would know how much I love my SUPER Holy Grail mascara – one that I’ve been using for at least 6 years and probably depleted more than 10 pieces. Recently, I’ve strayed and bought Clinique High Impact Mascara. It was included as one of the items within a Christmas Holiday Set from Clinique.com.
Since I’ve been using it for a while, I thought it’s time to share this review with you. Read on to find out why I use Clinique High Impact Mascara as often as I use my Super Holy Grail mascara.
If you are new here and like to find out what my Super Holy Grails are, you can get a free pdf copy of my TOP 11 SUPER Beauty Holy Grails.
What’s so SUPER about these holy grails is that my love for them didn’t fade at all after so many years.
More about Clinique High Impact Mascara
Clinique has more than 10 types of mascara with each creating different effects, be it waterproof, curl, length or volume. Today’s review is on Clinique High Impact Mascara which is said to be able to produce “lusher, plusher and bolder lashes for a dramatic look.”
Clinique goes on further to say that Clinique High Impact Mascara would create “instant drama for lashes” and “kicks up the volume and length of each and every lash.”
So let’s use their marketing claim as a basis and see if this mascara lives up to it. Yes, Cinique High Impact Mascara better give me thick, long and dramatic lashes!
5 Things to Love about Clinique High Impact Mascara
1. Applies Neatly, No Clumps
I have to commend Clinique High Impact Mascara for being able to coat each lash evenly and cleanly without leaving any clumps! Each lash receives the right amount from start to tip.
By far, this is probably the best mascara for producing such an even application. You can probably get away by telling others these are your naturally-born lashes and they won’t doubt a thing.
2. So Natural-looking
Clinique High Impact Mascara offers a light to medium coverage. I tend to wear it for casual outings or when I don’t want to look like I have a lot of makeup on. Another bonus is how soft the coated lashes feel, almost like my own natural lashes.
One thing to note – the miniature mascara seems to produce lighter coverage than the actual-sized Clinique High Impact Mascara. I happened to have both and was surprised that the results differed even though they are the same product.
3. No Obvious Smudges
My face tends to get oily by mid-day and it is very common for mascara to smudge on my lower eyelids. In fact, only one mascara succeeded in being totally smudge-proof and you can read more about it below.
> MUST-READ: Best Smudge-Proof Mascara | Integrate Real Glamour Volume Mascara
How about Clinique High Impact Mascara? It is 100% smudge-proof on my upper eyelids and probably 95% on the lower lashes. What this means is that my upper lids remained smudge-free after a long day out, while my lower lids may occasionally receive faint smudges. These light smear probably won’t be noticeable by others unless they place their face centimetres away from mine and scrutinize my face.
Smudge-proof is not the same as waterproof. In fact, Clinique High Impact Mascara is not water-proof and not marketed as one. So please don’t wear it on rainy days!
4. No Overpowering Smell
Some mascara has such strong chemical smell and vapor that rushed up the nose and stings the eyes. Clinique High Impact Mascara has none of that and somehow, this led me to think that it may be more gentle in its formulation than other mascaras.
5. Free of Potential Allergens
Those who are highly sensitive to allergens would be happy to note that Clinique High Impact Mascara is allergy-tested and 100% fragrance- and oil-free. It has also been ophthalmologist-tested.
What’s not so Hot about Clinique High Impact Mascara?
1. Difficult to reach corner lashes
The ease of application or lack of is what turned me off. I do need to spend more time in coating my outer corner lashes – both upper and lower. Most of the time, I would end up smearing my outer lids.
I think the fault lies in the design of the brush head. It was thick and straight throughout, unlike my SUPER Holy Grail mascara that tapers and curves towards the end.
The end result? Un-coated lashes on the outer corners, and smudges that needed to be wiped off.
2. No Dramatic Curls
By right, we should curl our lashes before applying mascara. The mascara should then help hold the lashes in their curled position. With Clinique High Impact Mascara, I find that it doesn’t do well in holding the curled lashes. I would need to curl my lashes again after application to see some degree of curls.
It was a very natural and subtle curl that thankfully lasts the whole day. But if you are looking for a dramatic 90-degree curl, then this one won’t do the job.
3. Where’s the Drama?
Clinique said this mascara would produce “lusher, plusher and bolder lashes for a dramatic look.”
I beg to differ.
I don’t find my lashes looking longer or fuller. Clinique High Impact Mascara offers at most medium impact in terms of volume and curl. The length is probably unchanged as this mascara doesn’t contain any synthetic fiber to artificially lengthen the lashes.
Recommendation – Who would love Clinique High Impact Mascara?
Despite its weaknesses, I do find myself reaching out for Clinique High Impact Mascara quite often. I like it that it’s not over-the-top but yet obvious enough to aesthetically enhance my appearance. In fact, I use it as often as I use my SUPER Holy Grail mascara – just that I use them for different occasions.
To sum it up, if you ignore Clinique’s marketing claims and treat this as a mascara for casual to smart-casual outings, you may end up liking this mascara. All in all, I would recommend Clinique High Impact Mascara to anyone who likes an allergen- and clump-free formula, and one that produces natural-looking lashes. Rating: 4/5.
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