Mascara: Collection 2000 Volumax Mascara

I used to use Collection 2000 mascara all the time. They're very much a budget brand, this mascara cost me about £3.49. Collection 2000 is available from Boots, Superdrug, Tesco, Asda, etc.


As it's a budget brand, I've got aims to work through as many of their mascaras as I can. However, most of them just aren't that good! This one seems to be one of the better ones that I've come across though. This comes in the usual Collection 2000 colours (blue & silver) with a matte tube. Each mascara in the range has a slightly different tube so you can identify them easily. I think is available in three colours: Black, Brown and Ultra Black. I'm reviewing the one in Ultra Black. I usually pick the Ultra Black option for Collection when it is available as their plain black mascaras can be a little weak in colour.


Again, a black mascara pictured on a black wand! I think it is interesting to see all the variations in shapes of mascara wands though! This is pretty much what a "traditional" mascara wand looks like to me. The stiff bristles (rather than the rubberised ones) and a slight tapered shape to the wand. It does a good job of coating all my lashes and it's not difficult to get the outer edge or lower lashes. It was a little more difficult to coat my very inner lashes, but only marginally so. The formula seems somewhat unremarkable to me. Not thick, gloopy, runny or anything. Just average. The wand doesn't pick up too much of it.


Naked lashes!


It certainly does add plenty of volume, but definitely not the 5x it says on the tube! Most mascaras are going to add the illusion of extra length as they colour in the lighter tips to your lash hairs. This one is no exception. After two coats this mascara has given quite a good effect, my lashes were volumised, longer and nicely separated. Until the mascara dried, anyway. As it dried, it stuck my lashes together. Combing through really didn't make that much difference (but I don't have a snazzy metal lash comb). However, it doesn't hold the curl in my lashes at all. My lashes will usually stay curled without any problem, but with this mascara they just straightened right out.

Overall, it's not bad. I'll probably use this tube a few more times but it's not one I'll bother replacing. If you're looking for a good mascara on a budget, I'd suggest the ELF Mineral Mascara for the same price, even if it is not as volumising as the Collection 2000 mascara.