Promising volume and length, the Loreal Noir Balm mascara makes big claims at a low price tag. Is it the new best thing from the drugstore?

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Goodness it has been a hot minute since I tried out a new mascara from the drugstore!

I’ve fallen in the pattern of using my established favorites but when news of L’Oreal’s new Noir Balm mascara delivering great results broke I had to see for myself.

Mascara is in general a product that I think the drugstore does very well and L’Oreal in particular has a history of offering fantastic options. Be it the Butterfly, Lash Paradise or the long-time favorite Voluminous variation — there really is no shortage of existing products in their lineup that significantly enhance your lashes.

At $9.99 a pop you simply can’t argue with the price, though — and I also really love that the Loreal Noir Balm mascara has a fully vegan formula. Furthermore, i’s formulated with 99% natural ingredients and that’s a comforting piece of information as we all work to incorporate cleaner products in our beauty routines.

Loreal Noir Balm Mascara

Before getting into the before/after of how it works, let’s take a look at what L’Oreal themselves claim about their newest mascara:

Creates fuller and more voluminous lashes
Flake, clump and smudge resistant
Flexible applicator that defines lashes
Paraben and mineral oil free
Made with 99% natural ingredients

Considering all that sounds pretty fantastic I went ahead and picked up the mascara from Ulta and have enjoyed playing around with it over the last couple weeks. See it in action below!

Loreal Noir Balm Mascara Review I Dreaminlace.com #Makeupaddict #drugstoremakeup #beautyblog — Shop at Ulta

The Applicator

I’ve been really into my bristled mascara wands recently so it was kind of fun to play with a plastic one again. What I do like about the Loreal Noir Balm mascara applicator is how easily it can be used to define and separate your lashes.

WET Formula

Upon first application, I found that the Noir Balm mascara has quite a wet formula and loads quite intensely on the wand. I strongly recommend using the brim of the mascara tube when applying to wipe off excess product before going in on the lashes. This will help prevent any unwanted mess.

Lengthier Set Time

Because of the more wet formula, I found that the mascara takes some extra time to set. This makes complete sense but it’s also something to be aware of as you move on in your daily routine – especially if you’re getting dressed after applying. No one wants mascara stains on clothing!

ON THE EYES

Lengthening and Volumizing

As you can probably tell from the above before/after photos, the Loreal Noir Balm mascara does make a rather dramatic difference in the appearance of lashes. The wet formula coupled with the defining applicator help create extended length. The product does also layer well without excess clumping.

AVAILABLE IN TWO SHADES

Currently, the Noir Balm mascara is available in both jet black and a deep brown.

LET’S TALK PERFORMANCE

With steep competition at the drugstore and beyond, the Loreal Noir Balm mascara really needed to step up to the plate for me to consider it a worthy purchase. Does it manage to stand out in a oversaturated market? Well, not really…

I was super impressed with the immediate results the mascara is able to deliver but over time everything goes south. The extreme length it creates falls flat just a couple hours in. Additionally, while I agree the product does not “smudge” I found that the Noir Balm mascara did get quite flaky as the day rolled on… and those flakes can create smudges if you’re not careful.

The flakiness prompted me to try wearing the mascara over my favorite lash primer in hopes that would resolve the issue but sadly it did not.

WHERE TO SHOP:

Loreal Noir Balm Mascara Rundown

The Pros

Lengthens lashes to extreme heights
Layers nicely without clumping
Affordable price
Readily available at drugstores, Target, Ulta and grocery stores
Vegan formula
Made with 99% natural ingredients

The Cons

Flaky throughout the day
Lashes fall flat after just a couple hours
Wet formula can be messy when applied

OVERALL GRADE: B-

There are quite a few things I like about this mascara. I really love that its a vegan formula and made with natural ingredients. I also find the immediate results quite lovely! If you’re going out to dinner for few hours, the Loreal Noir Balm mascara will work for you. The lengthening effect is really wonderful but sadly it doesn’t hold up beyond a few hours.

To give the mascara the best shot at success, I wore it day-to-night for several weeks through different conditions. Warm weather outdoors, workouts, trips to the pool at my gym and of course long days at the office. No matter what my agenda was for the day, I’d notice speckles of black mascara springing up around my face.

It’s possible L’Oreal will be able to revamp the mascara to correct this issue but in the meantime — I’d suggest going with another option from their full line of alternative mascaras.