Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Velvetising Mascara – Review & Looks

The Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Velvetising Mascara has long been on my coveted list of products to try. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it and it sounded like everything I wanted in a mascara, but the fact it’s not an easy brand to pick up and get ahold of easily in the UK has deterred be from picking it up on a whim like I do other high end mascaras. However last month the stars aligned, I was gifted a build your own beauty box, and this was one of the options within the box. Of course, when I saw it was an option – it was immediately the first item that I picked up.

My last mascara was close to an end and I was tossing up between which to try next – as I was going away a few times over the next month I opted for this one – as it’s mini size made it the teeniest bit more travel friendly.

The story behind this mascara intrigues me – Marc Jacobs said that he used to watch his mother scrape the top of black velvet off with a knife when doing her make up and mixed it with mascara to create fluffier, volumised lashes. I’ve never heard of that before – but that sounds like a trick I’ve got to try at some point.

The mini size of this mascara doesn’t have the same hexagonal faceted tube and is instead a plain, straight up and down, but in the same glossy black finish that all of MJ’s makeup arrives packaged in. The price point of this mascara is about average for a high end one – £22, which surprises me as I consider Marc Jacobs makeup to be towards the top end of high end – so was expecting something more in the region of £25-£30 mark.

The brush on this is my favourite kind, it’s a bristle hair brush, but it’s also an hourglass shape. It’s actually very tapered too, being heavier towards the end than it is at the start. This makes for a really dramatic outer corner when applied, whilst it still manages to grab tiny lashes in the inner corner, whilst giving it lift and curl that hourglass brushes seem to do so well.

The formula texture is a little strange, I was expecting this to be more dry in formula but it’s actually quite sticky. Personally I’ve found most formulas that are sticky are impossible to work with, the more you layer them the clumpier they get. This one however is layerable, it just takes time and you have to be careful to make sure there’s not too much product on the wand on second (and third!) coats as otherwise it all gets too sticky.

I’m a big fan of the colour of this mascara however, its a super deep black and the name of velvet seems approriate to the finish it has. It’s not a glossy looking mascara, but it’s not completely flat looking either. Once dry the lash feels really light – not crusty or sticky and I can almost imagine it’s the way velvet pile could feel if it was mixed in with a mascara. Both the wand and the formula work really well on the bottom lashes too, giving a fanned out effect if gone in with a light hand to apply.

The final look on the lash is pretty – it’s deep and dark, the lash has volume and it’s a really comfortable and long wearing mascara that removes easily at the end of the day with just about any cleanser. It almost reminds me of a tubing mascara as it seems to breakdown just as easily.

Velvet Noir Mascara Application

Whilst I have thoroughly enjoyed using the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Velvetising Mascara and will use it til it’s demise – it’s not my favourite formula and I can’t see myself repurchasing it in future. I’ve tried mascaras that I like just as much as this – if not more –  that take just a little bit less effort and care in application. But it was a great to finally give it a try and I can see why others really like this mascara too!

Let me know in the comments if you have any favourite items from Marc Jacobs Beauty and let me know what your current favourite mascara is below!

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Velvetising Mascara received as part of a beauty box, but was under no obligation to review the mascara individually.

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