Categories: Beauty

Maybelline Define a Lash VS. Avon Super FULL

Ask any woman what the main problem is with any mascara and the most common answer would probably be clumping. When Maybelline Define a Lash mascara first came out, I didn’t give it any thought since I was content with my Avon Super FULL mascara. I have been using the Avon revolutionary mascara for a couple of months and had been impressed with the results. However, last week the Maybelline was on sale at my local CVS drugstore as a “buy one, get one free” item. I also had coupons which made the product practically free for both, so I figured I would give it a fair chance against the Avon. Both mascaras have a new rubbery like brush as an applicator, instead of the traditional bristle like applicator. The applicator’s material is supposed to keep the liquid from clumping up on the brush and on your eyelashes.

Maybelline Define a Lash currently only comes in three shades: very black, soft black, and brownish black. This is a rather limited selection, which may be due to the company waiting to see the response to the product itself. Avon Super FULL comes in a larger variety of shades including black, brown, brown/black, and navy. Though this technically is only one more choice than Maybelline, it has a broader color range for different eye colors and hair colors.

Going by packaging and presentation, the Maybelline mascara catches your eye much faster. The neon green tube is hard to lose among the other commodities floating about in a makeup case. I can easily go right to my mascara if in a hurry. The Avon mascara comes in a stereotypical gray metallic tube, with simple black lettering kept to a minimum. Though the packaging is sleek, it does not catch my attention or leave me wondering about the product. It is something that could be easily passed by if sold on a store shelf.

Maybelline Define a Lash contains 0.22 ounces of mascara and Avon Super FULL contains 0.26 ounces of mascara-not really that much of a difference. The difference really comes though when comparing what you are paying to what you are getting. Maybelline Define a Lash costs anywhere between $6.00 and $8.00, depending on the store and area. Avon Super FULL costs $8.50. The Maybelline can be found on sale at CVS, as stated before, for “buy one, get one free” and also in grocery stores on sale for 10% to 30% off. The Avon goes on sale down to $4.99, which is on rare frequency.

The thing these two mascaras have in common is the general brush style. Though both are rubbery, plastic contraptions, they each have a different feel. Maybelline’s brush is very flexible on both the bristles and the handle. The flexible handle can make it hard to use at first, but you will get used to it after the second or so time around. Avon’s brush is flexible only on the bristles. The handle is straight and does not bend when putting on the mascara. Each brand’s brush requires a light stroke, because the mascara will go on much thicker than with a traditional brush. The mascara itself also tends to be thinner and therefore may take a nanosecond longer to dry than most women are used to. One coat of each is definitely enough, unless you are going for something more dramatic.

The Maybelline comes in washable and waterproof. Avon only comes in one formula, and instead of saying washable or waterproof, it is “smudge proof”. Depending on your activity and level of activity, the Avon stays put on for longer, but is harder to remove at the end of the day. The Maybelline seems to wash off easy with a simple face cleanser, but will need to be wiped out from under your eyes after the face wash. With the Avon, you really need a specific eye makeup remover to make sure it is entirely off your lashes.

Maybelline Define-a-Lash Mascara is available at drugstore, mass merchandise stores, and grocery stores that carry Maybelline cosmetics. Avon Super FULL Mascara is available to order from the Avon website or through an independent representative.

Ingredients for Maybelline Define a Lash:

Aqua/Water/Eau; Paraffin; Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire D’Abeille; Acacia/Acacia Senegal Gum; Stearic Acid; Carnauba/Carnauba Wax/Cire De Carnauba; Palmitic Acid; Triethanolamine; Talc; PTFE; Hydroxyethylcellulose; PEG-40 Stearate; Aminomethyl Propanediol; Panthenol; Methylparaben; Rayon; Sodium Polymethacrylate; Propylparaben; Synthetic Beeswax; Phenyl Trimethicone; Simethicone; Hydroxypropyl Chitosan; BHT; 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol; Polyquaternium-10; Acrylates/VP Copolymer [+/- May Contain: Cl 77491, Cl 77499, Cl 77492/Iron Oxides; Cl 77891/Titanium Dioxide; Mica; Cl 75470/Carmine; Cl 77007/Ultramarines; Cl 77288/Chromium Oxide Greens; Cl 77289/Chromium Hydroxide Green; Cl 77742/Manganese Violet; Cl 77510/Ferric Ferrocyanide]

Ingredients for Avon Super FULL:

WATER/EAU, PARAFFIN, STEARIC ACID ,COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX/CIRE DE CARNAUBA ,SHELLAC WAX/CIRE DE LAQUE ,BEESWAX/CIRE D’ABEILLE,TRIETHANOLAMINE ,VP/EICOSENE COPOLYMER ,CYCLOPENTASILOXANE ,POLYISOBUTENE ,ISODODECANE ,SILICA ,PTFE ,POLYPROPYLENE ,GLYCERYL STEARATE ,HYDROGENATED POLYCYCLOPENTADIENE ,DIISOSTEAROYL POLYGLYCERYL-3 DIMER DILINOLEATE ,SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE ,ACACIA SENEGAL GUM ,HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE ,POLYQUATERNIUM-10,GALACTOARABINAN ,POLYQUATERNIUM-7 ,TETRASODIUM EDTA ,ETHYLENE/PROPYLENE/STYRENE COPOLYMER ,DIMETHICONE ,ETHYLENE/METHACRYLATE COPOLYMER ,PEG-40 STEARATE ,PVP ,BUTYLENE/ETHYLENE/STYRENE COPOLYMER ,ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER ,ISOPROPYL TITANIUM TRIISOSTEARATE ,HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN ,ATELOCOLLAGEN ,SODIUM CHONDROITIN SULFATE ,METHYLPARABEN ,PROPYLPARABEN ,PHENOXYETHANOL ,AND MAY CONTAIN:IRON OXIDES,ULTRAMARINES,BLACK 2