In all eight years of writing Makeup Savvy I don't think I've ever sat down to write a mascara review. I've put together mascara round-up posts sharing my favourites before, but never a single review. My reason? I believe mascara is one of those things that can look different on everyone as we all have different lash types - from poker straight, to long and luscious and even ones that naturally hold a curl (i.e the lashes I'm most jealous of).
However, Benefit has just dropped their latest mascaras in the form of BADgal BANG! and the hype has been huge, mainly due to it being their biggest individual product launch, ever! Which I guess I was a part of in some small way as I was sent the new mascara the day it launched.
Since then I've been using it as my main mascara and as I felt it may be a product a lot of people are lushing after right now so I thought I'd do a very honest and unbiased review. From sharing my likes and dislikes of every aspect of this mascara to is it worth purchasing!
Available to buy Full-Size (£20.50) from Boots here, Cult Beauty here and Feel Unique here
Travel Sized Mini mascara (£10.50) available from Feel Unique here and Boots here
What Benefit have to say about BADgal BANG! Mascara
BADgal BANG! 36-HOUR (tested on 21 women) FULL-BLAST volumising mascara creates MASSIVE volume without weighing down lashes. The gravity-defying formula contains aero-particles, one of the lightest known materials, derived from space technology. This innovative intense pitch-black mascara layers easily for bigger & BIGGER impact. Its custom big Slimpact! brush is streamlined to reach root-to-tip, corner-to-corner, upper & lower lashes for BIG VOLUME WITH 360° REACH!
BADgal BANG! Packaging
First up, the packaging! Normally I'm not overly fussed about the packaging of a mascara but as this mascara is slightly unique with the studded lid I thought I'd share my thoughts. I personally like the overall aesthetics of the tube from the stud detail to the pink metallic writing. However, for me, there are two drawbacks! While I like the look of matte black packaging I don't like it to be rubberised. Why? It gets filthy! Much like Nars packaging, I expect my tube to look dirty in no time with foundation fingerprints and shimmer/glitter from other makeup products. I'm also not a fan of the pointed top to the lid. Depending on how you hold the brush the pointed top could easily poke you in the hand and it really is quite hard and sharp! While the packaging is far from awful I do think Benefit could have come out without something slightly more user-friendly.
BADgal BANG! Formula
The formula contains aero-particles and while I haven't got a clue what that means I have been impressed with how lightweight it feels on the lashes - your lashes can be heavily coated but you won't feel it's there... which is amazing! However, it's worth noting that this is a wet formula that does require the excess wiped off onto the mascara tube before applying. This isn't such an issue if you take your time but if you are someone that applies mascara in a rush or doesn't care to take time over mascara application then you may get a few black mascara specks onto your cheeks if you aren't careful! Personally, I'm not overly keen on a very wet mascara for that reason and because takes time to dry down. However, I am hoping the formula will slightly thicken up in a week or so! If it doesn't I will edit this section to let you know!
BADgal BANG! Brush
The plastic brush really isn't something I can fault in any way, in fact, I think Benefit has done a really good job! Containing over 300 plastic bristles both small and large in a slight cone shape the brush is able to coat all the lashes with ease. The flexible wand is also that flexible that is moves on contact with the lashes so no pressure is needed which makes coating the lashes a breeze. This reminds me of L'Oreal Miss Manga but even more lightweight and flexible. Really love the wand/brush!
BADgal BANG! Application
Benefit recommend wiggling the slimpact brush from base of lashes to tip. Applying one coat to both eyes and repeating as desired to build bigger volume.
So for my first ever application, I stuck with Benefit's application tips on one eye and then with the other eye I applied the mascara from root to tip in strokes, how I normally would. While the results of wiggling the brush gave instant lengthening and a bit of volume it did transfer onto my eyelid at the base of my eyelashes due to the wet formula! It also gave a pretty spidery effect on the second coat... though it did lengthen my lashes quite a bit! As for my other eye, I went slow and coated my lashes in stroke-like motions which definitely gave my lashes a lengthen look but with much less volume.
Since then I've had very mixed results and from watching a few YouTube reviews of this mascara it doesn't seem to be just me! While one eye may have a ton of volume and look slightly spidery the other may not and look a little, well 'meh'. And this really isn't down to applying the mascara in different ways. In fact, I'm sure I can see this in Benefit's promo image above!
However overall this mascara does give good volume and lengthening but it isn't without clumping or that spider's leg effect. Which I personally don't like however I know some don't mind it! As for its gravity-defying claims, I was sadly disappointed as this mascara really doesn't hold a curl but actually holds the lashes straighter if anything, so anyone with straight eyelashes really should avoid this mascara.
What I do like it that this mascara does come in a mini form for £10.50 which should last a few months and is a good way to try it out before deciding to comment or not!
Finally Thoughts
As an everyday mascara or even a nighttime mascara, this isn't the one for me. The wet formula is too high maintenance, meaning you really have to alter and slow down your application. And sadly the results when you do get the application right is too spidery for my liking and definitely isn't buildable without clumping.
However I do think Benefit are onto something with the lightweight formula, which was totally refreshing to not feel like there was anything on my lashes, and it does offer amazing wear time!
Will you be trying out Benefit BADgal Bang! Mascara?
Fee xo.
