NARS Notorious Mascara Review: Before & After Photos

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There’s a brand new mascara from NARS and I’ve been testing it ahead of its launch. NARS Notorious Mascara is designed to give lashes length, lift, volume and definition, and after trying it in the Brown shade, I have to say I’m rather impressed with the results.

Mascara is one of those products where I think the wand can make such a difference, and the slim wand on this one immediately caught my attention. I found it really easy to use and, as someone who can be a little clumsy with mascara application, I loved how much control it gave me.

Here’s my full NARS Notorious Mascara review.

What is NARS Notorious Mascara?

NARS Notorious Mascara is a new high-performance mascara designed to deliver lift, length and defined volume, while keeping the lashes feeling lightweight.

It features a wavy-bristled brush with multi-length bristles and a pronged tip, designed to grip and coat individual lashes, including the smaller lashes at the inner corners and along the bottom lash line.

The formula uses what NARS calls 3D Film-Flex Technology, with polymers that coat the lashes and help lock them into place while allowing the formula to remain flexible.

NARS claims up to 16-hour smudge- and flake-resistant wear, as well as clump and humidity resistance. It is also ophthalmologist tested and designed to remove easily with mild cleanser and warm water.

The mascara comes in two shades: Starstruck Black and Infamous Brown.

NARS Notorious Mascara Review

The wand

The slim wand was the first thing that really stood out to me. It has a pronged tip designed to grip every lash, and it’s super easy to control. The size makes it really simple to get right into the roots of the lashes. I found I could work through each lash quite precisely, including those smaller lashes at the inner corners.

I’m not always the most accurate when applying mascara, so I really appreciated this. I found it much easier to apply without getting mascara all over my eyelid!

The different lengths of bristles also help to separate the lashes as you apply, rather than simply coating them all in one go.

Application

I found NARS Notorious mascara really easy to apply. I started at the roots and worked the wand through to the tips, and it immediately gave my lashes more definition. I could also go back in and build it up without the lashes becoming overloaded.

I think this is one of those mascaras where the brush does a lot of the work for you. It allows you to get right into the lashes and coat them individually, which is particularly good if you like a more separated, defined finish.

NARS Notorious Mascara Before & After

Now let’s talk about the results. I think you can really see the difference in my before and after photos. My lashes look longer, more defined and beautifully separated, and there is a really nice lift too.

What surprised me most was the lift because I didn’t use a lash curler before applying the mascara.

I love that slightly more open, lifted effect, and I think the combination of the wand and formula does a really good job of creating it.

The lashes don’t look overly coated or clumpy either. Instead, they remain separated and defined, which gives them a lovely fluttery effect.

This is the result from one coat.

NARS Notorious Mascara in Infamous Brown

I’ve been testing the Brown shade and I really like it.

It gives the lashes plenty of definition but has a softer effect than black, so I think it’s a lovely option for everyday makeup.

It’s definitely brown rather than simply being very close to black mascara with a slightly softer finish, which I think will appeal if you like a more natural-looking lash.

There is also a Black shade, which I’ll try soon and update the photos here.

Does NARS Notorious Mascara smudge or flake?

This has also been a real winner for me. I’ve been really impressed with the wear time and, importantly, it didn’t flake, smudge or move around.

My lashes stayed looking lifted and defined throughout the day and I didn’t end up with mascara underneath my eyes, which is always a bonus.

NARS describes Notorious as humidity-resistant and long-wearing, and based on my testing, I would agree that it has really good staying power. Despite this, it’s not difficult to remove. I used my regular cleansing oil, and it came off easily. I love a mascara that stays put when I’m wearing it but doesn’t require lots of rubbing when I want to take it off.

NARS Notorious Mascara Review: My Verdict

I’m really impressed with NARS Notorious Mascara. For me, the easy application is a big part of its appeal. The slim wand gives you plenty of control and makes it really easy to get right into the lashes, and I found I could create a really defined look without making a mess.

The results are exactly what I want from an everyday mascara: length, separation, definition and lift, without clumping. I also really like the fact that I didn’t need to use a lash curler to get that lifted effect.

I’ve been testing Brown, which gives a softer, more natural-looking finish, but I’m definitely interested to see how the Black shade compares. Stay tuned for that.

Overall, this is a very easy mascara to use and I think the combination of the clever wand, lovely lash definition and impressive staying power makes NARS Notorious one to watch.

NARS Notorious Mascara FAQ