I feel like I haven’t done a real review of a product in forever and a half. Sorry about that. Sometimes life gets in the way. But today! Today I have a review for you. These days it seems like Maybelline is the authority on drugstore mascaras. We are testing one such product today with a review of Maybelline’s Volum’ Express The Rocket Waterproof mascara in Very Black. I’ve always wondered why calling it “black” doesn’t ever seem to be good enough, but I digress.

From the Maybelline website:

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT

Explosive Volume In Rocket Time! 6X Bigger, Smoother. Now, the most explosive, beautiful lashes ever! Maybelline's Volum' Express The Rocket Mascara's patented Supersonic Brush with micro bristles loads on big, sleek volume instantly. The fast-glide formula keeps lashes smooth. Zero clumps guaranteed!

I will admit I’m not quite happy with this. While it promises to give you zero clumps, it tends to err a little bit on the spidery side when you start to layer it on. The website does recommend to NOT let it dry between coats, so I’m under the impression that it is clumpy in general. As well, although it claims to be “volum’” mascara, I didn’t see a great improvement in volume. Length, yes. Volume, no. It also says that it makes your lashes smoother? I have yet to see a mascara that makes my eyelashes smoother (Do you know of any? I'm fine with being wrong.).

The applicator (Supersonic Brush) is really big. Cumbersomely so. I have a hard time reaching the smaller lashes on the inner corner of my eye with the bulky brush. The bristles also don’t go around the tip, so the brush can only be used horizontally, not vertically, which would probably make getting to those smaller lashes easier. Overall, not my favourite.

I usually choose waterproof mascaras because of their staying power. It is very rarely that I can find a non-waterproof formula that will last me through an entire workday without giving me the dreaded panda eye. If one thing can be said about the Rocket, it lasts forever. A little too long, truth be told. At the end of the day, it’s a little bit tricky to get off because it is well and truly stuck on there.

At the end of the day, I’m going to use this mascara up, but I won’t be repurchasing it. From what I’ve heard from other bloggers, it’s a love-it-or-hate-it product. Unfortunately, I didn’t fall into the love-it category. Oh well. We’ll try something different next time.

Have you used the Rocket? Did you like it? What’s your go-to mascara?