What it is: Fresh Firebird mascara

Firstly: can you believe how phenomenally long it took me to get this post up? I took the photos a few days after taking them for Fresh Supernova, the other mascara in the Magic Wands duo (review here.) And yet, somehow, my massive procrastination managed to get the better of me…

The lash: one coat, two coats, three — no matter how many you put on, Firebird maintains a very soft, feathery look. When I say “soft,” I mean it in two ways: not only do my lashes look soft and natural, they feel soft and natural, too. Those seeing false-lash-like drama should look elsewhere, but ladies who seek a “my lashes but better” look (like me) will definitely fall for this effect! I’m not sure if it’s from the formula or from the brush, but I’m hoping for the latter. Why? Stop asking questions and read on; I’m about to tell you why!

The catch…es: Firebird’s formula totally takes the curl out of my lashes. Normally, I can “set” the lash in a curl, even with the wettest mascaras — but with Firebird, the curl just won’t stay. It doesn’t straighten my lashes completely, but just one coat takes out about 80% of the curl! And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, Firebird smudges like mad below my eyes (though, most mascaras do on me,) and it’s not as dark as I’d like it to be. I like a really black, patent effect, but this finish is matte and a little charcoal-y.

Ingredients:

WATER (AQUA), IRON OXIDES (CI 77499), GLYCERYL STEARATE, POLYBUTENE, C18-36 ACID TRIGLYCERIDE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, CETYL PALMITATE, PVP, STEARETH-21, PALMITIC ACID, STEARIC ACID, VP/EICOSENE COPOLYMER, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX, NYLON-12, PANTHENOL, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES OIL, HYDROLYZED RHODOPHYCEA EXTRACT, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT, STEARETH-2, PHENOXYETHANOL, AMINOMETHYL PROPANEDIOL, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE

The verdict? I don’t say this often, because at least from my point of view, most products will work for someone… but I just can’t recommend this one. The price ($26 US) is way too high, and while my lashes look gorgeously feathery, the curl is out by noon. Not to mention, half the product’s smudged under my eyes by then!

Try it only if…

• You’re going to be layering it. I do love Firebird under tubing mascara, because the final look makes my lashes look ah-mazing — you get the full, feathery lash from Firebird, and the glossy, black-black, curled, non-smudging finish of the tubing mascara. But for the effort, it’s just not worth it!

Availability: I’m not sure why you’d want to buy Firebird after a review like this one, but hey — be my guest! Mascaras are a very personal thing, so if Firebird works for you, I hate you I’m insanely jealous more power to you.