Is the ColourPop BFF Mascara Your Best Friend or Worst Enemy?
This review is not sponsored, nor is my opinion bought or paid for, so don’t get it twisted. My review is based on my preferences for mascara. When I purchase mascara, I consider the packaging, brush type, formula, and longevity. I also look for mascaras that can hold the curl in my short, stubborn lashes.
I've dreamed of owning red mascara since I was a kid, soaking up every cosplay makeup tutorial on YouTube. When I saw the BBF Mascara on Target shelves, I knew ColourPop was calling to me. I picked two shades, Left on Red and Blue Ya Mind. Cute names, right? After owning these mascaras for six months, I have organized my thoughts, feelings, and concerns. Let me spill tea on the pros and cons of these mascaras so you know which one to skip and which to throw in the bin.
REVIEW
First things first, I’m going to give you a rundown of product details.
1. Price: $9
2. This mascara is 7 grams (0.24oz)
3. It is certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny.
4. The tube is a straight cylinder with ultra-cute hearts, smiley faces, and stars on the cap.
5. The ColourPop website describes the mascara brush as a “twisted nylon fiber brush.” However, the brush is an hourglass shape with fine bristles to get between the lashes to create a volumizing and lengthening effect.
Packaging
The packaging has a hand-drawn element that I find endearing. The illustrations on the tub invoke nostalgia. The computer may have produced these sketches, but they conjure memories of doodling while pretending to pay attention in math class. The plastic tub is sturdy and has some nice weight. It doesn’t feel like it will break if you accidentally step on it. The font doesn’t suffer from weirdly-tiny-font-itis, so even farsighted makeup lovers can reasonably read what’s written on the mascara. The ingredients are not listed on the tub. That’s neither a pro nor a con, but it’s something to note. ColourPop did include the ingredients on its website.
Brush
I find the brush to be somewhat stiff. Perhaps that is a side effect of the brush type. The bristles do comb through my lashes, leaving them lengthened. However, the bristles aren’t especially soft, so extended contact with the eye can become irritating. The brush isn’t anything to write home about. It does a perfectly serviceable job of depositing the product on the eyelashes.
Formula
My biggest issue with the BBF Mascara is the formula. It is a thicker formula that prioritizes buildability and pigment. It was a little clumpy out of the tub, which I found slightly disappointing. The composition of Blue Ya Mind, a cobalt blue, is the better of the two. It is a vibrant blue, and the bluest mascara I have tried in recent memory. I’m pleased with the pigment, but it can look faded in certain lighting.
Left on Red, a true red color, harbors the issue for me. I don’t know if I purchased a bad tub, but my mascara was gasping for moisture before the first application. It took more than three coats to build the color, which irritated my eyes. My lashes were so heavy that they didn’t receive the promise of lengthened lashes. Once the mascara is built up, it does have a beautiful color pay-off that adds a punk vibe.
Longevity
The notable pro of the BFF Mascara, other than the vibrant pigment, is the lasting power. This mascara does crumble when applied but doesn’t flake off with the wind. I wasn’t brushing away mascara chunks every couple of minutes. The longevity of the product meets the baseline for a decent mascara. However, the performance isn’t superb.
Conclusion
The ColourPop BFF Mascara is an okay product wrapped in pretty packaging. Multiple applications of the product are necessary. The build-up weighs down the eyelashes, nullifying the lengthening effect. Blue Ya Mind is a vibrant cobalt with a solid color payoff. Left on Red is an eye-popping red, but the dry formula leaves much to be desired.