Let’s breakdown the new Pat McGrath Dark Star mascara and see how it compares to her original FetishEyes formula.

On the mascara front, it’s been a busy month. Hourglass dropped their Unlocked Instant Extensions Lengthening mascara – which is quite the mouthful of a name. Urban Decay debuted the Lash Freak mascara and then Dior came calling with a revamped version of their legendary Iconic Overcurl mascara. (Which will become widely available this fall!)

And then there’s Pat McGrath, who in a recent Zoom masterclass unveiled her new mascara: Dark Star. 

At a time when we’re all wearing face masks with nothing but our eyes open to the public, it seems almost meant to be that summer is the season of mascara releases this year. No? Our noses and lips may be tucked beneath a mask during the pandemic, but our eyes are on full display as our #1 feature. 

Pat McGrath Dark Star Mascara 

Today? The Pat McGrath Dark Star mascara is the topic of discussion. It’s the second in her growing cosmetics line and came out with protective masks to match. Pat’s original FetishEyes mascara is one I fell in love with this spring, hooked on its ability to build an an insane amount of volume to my somewhat sparse lashes. FetishEyes is still very much relevant, but her sister mascara, Dark Star, adds something new to the conversation for those days when you’re in a bit of a rush. 

Dark Star v. FetishEyes

In her masterclass on eyeliner and mascara, Pat McGrath and her team of makeup artists reflected on the differences between Dark Star and FetishEyes. Both mascaras will bring a lot of volume to your eyes, but they also have somewhat different uses. 

FetishEyes is said to be a layering mascara, that you take time with. And having used it quite regularly in my routine, I’d have to agree. Those mornings when I’m looking to sweep something in my eyes quickly – I opt for something else. It’s a dramatic mascara that takes time to apply, but the results are oh so worth it. 

Dark Star was designed to be more ‘instant’ and deliver full, voluminous lashes – fast.  

JET BLACK, THICK FORMULA

Pat McGrath’s Dark Star mascara has an undeniably jet black and thick formula. It fully coats your lashes, adding mega volume with hold that lasts all day.

SMUDGE-PROOF

While I wouldn’t define the mascara as entirely waterproof, it is water/sweat resistant (hello, it’s 93 degrees out today). I wore Dark Star for over a week straight in high heat and humidity without any problems looking like a raccoon at the end of the day. What a relief!

DRAMATIC EFFECT

At this stage in the game, I don’t think understated and Pat McGrath Labs go together. So it comes as no surprise that the Dark Star mascara delivers a really dramatic set of lashes that will make your eyes truly pop. 

FAST TO APPLY?

While I do think Dark Star applies more quickly than FetishEyes, the bristled brush and thick formula do require you to put in a little bit of effort. You’ll definitely want a mirror when wiggling and sweeping this through your lash line to ensure everything separates.

DARK STAR & FETISHEYES SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON

An obvious difference?

Pat McGrath’s Dark Star mascara is much taller than FetishEyes. Of course, the differences don’t stop there. Specifically with the wand, you can see that Dark Star’s wand is more angular, narrowing towards the center. Its bristles also vary in length, where the FetishEyes wand has a more uniform shape. 

Dark Star Mascara Rundown

PROS:

• Thick formula and shapely wand deliver mega volume
• Smudge-proof
• Long-wearing formula that holds a curl all day
• Beautiful, dramatic lashes, not for the faint at heart
• Heat and humidity tested and approved!
• Moderately priced at $30, aligning with other mascara favorites
• Available for purchase in bundles for added savings

CONS:

• Plastic packaging
• Not as instantaneous to work with as I expected

OVERALL GRADE: A-

I do really enjoy the Dark Star mascara and will continuing reaching for it again and again! It brings lots of drama and fullness to my lashes, to the point where I wish I had somewhere more exciting to wear this other than the grocery. The *minus* comes in because while I love the effect it has on my lashes, Dark Star isn’t as quick/easy to work with as I expected after hearing from the Pat McGrath Labs team in a masterclass. (Or maybe I’m just slow?)

The formula is thick, wet and needs to be worked into your lashes for optimal results. 

Of Pat’s current two mascaras, it’s actually really hard to pick a favorite. Both Dark Star and Fetisheyes deliver a lot of volume, last all day long and don’t smudge or smear everywhere. If she were to come out with a third mascara, I’d really like to see what she could come up with for a more narrow wand. A defining mascara would be great to see! 

Want Pat’s Mascara Tips? Checkout this post where I spill Pat McGrath and her team of makeup artists’ expert tips on eyeliner and mascara.

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Kelly

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