Anna Sui’s motto has always been to ‘Live Your Dream’, and this wonderful Anna Sui Super Black Volume Up Mascara has indeed fulfilled my dream of having lustrous and thick eyelashes. When I realized my first tube of this amazing mascara was almost drying up, I had a tiny panic attack! The very next day I went shopping with my girlfriends and promptly bought another tube. Find out why this is a can’t-live-without mascara!
Full and Thick Eyelashes
Who doesn’t? This mascara gives my eyelashes the volume and oomph I’ve been looking for for a long time. My eyelashes are of acceptable length but I wish they could be thicker. With the Anna Sui Super Black Volume Up Mascara, ONE coat is all I need to thicken them. I also use #001, which is a SUPER BLACK black color to give the illusion of even thicker lashes.
My eyelashes tend to look a little spidery right after application (as with most mascaras), but once they settle, they look naturally thick and full. When I wear this, I often have friends asking me if I were wearing false eyelashes. ^_^*
Waterproof and Smudge-resistant
Being smudgeproof is another reason why I’m in love with this mascara. Many other brands of mascara claim to be waterproof and smudgeproof but none have lived up to my expectations. I either end up with racoon eyes or tiny flakes of fibre on the waterline. Mind you, these happen even with a respectable eyelash primer like the Smashbox Lash Primer underneath.
There were times when I cried or was caught in the rain, but this mascara didn’t budge. It just sat there happily on my eyelashes, all curled and volumized. You know how some actresses cry and their pretty faces are all smeared with copious streams of black liquid? That will NOT have happened had they used the Anna Sui Super Black Volume Up Mascara.
Easy and fast mascara application
Volumizing mascaras usually come with big, fat bristles, like Benefit Bad Girl and Maybelline The Falsies (Read the review), which to me are a hassle and mess to handle. Thick bristles make it harder to reach those lashes at the corner of the eyes and just make the whole mascara application process so cumbersome. Being overly careful takes up too much of my makeup time!
Anna Sui Super Black Volume Up Mascara has smaller and more closely positioned bristles. I feel like the bristles give my eyelashes a good ‘hug’ every time to ensure they’re all well covered with black mascara magic. Naturally, the smaller bristles make getting to hard-to-each corner eyelashes a breeze too. More importantly, there is no need to reach for a mascara with smaller bristles for the lower lashes because this brush is small and great for precise application. Wheee!!
The slightly curved mascara handle (which is the rose petal) makes a good grip and makes twirling the wand highly manageable.
Pretty and Feminine Packaging
Oh how I adore Anna Sui’s symbolic motifs! Black, butterflies, roses, ribbons, heart shapes… They make everything prettier just with these little embellishments. That’s why Anna Sui paraphernalia replicas are everywhere! They are sold for cheap prices and are in so many forms – combs, mirrors, earrings, necklaces, wallets, clothes… It just needs to be black, plastic, glossy, with some intricate details.
Makes you feel like a princess, doesn’t it? =)
The first few times I opened the mascara tube, there was a cute ‘pop’ sound, suggesting that air and bacteria are blocked out and at their minimum. That cute ‘pop’ sound slowly got softer over a few months and before I knew it, it had completely disappeared.
Signature Anna Sui Rose Scent
Unmistakably Anna Sui is its signature rose scent that is feminine, sweet, and girly. It’s an experience every time I open to use this mascara. Really makes for a great start of the day!
Despite its ability to stay smudge-resistant the whole day, 5 months is about as long as it lasts before it starts to run dry. I continue using it even long after because I’m so in love with the darkness, volume, fragrance that I can deal with a little dryness and clumping. I should throw it out once it hits 6 months though.
Buy Anna Sui Super Black Volume Up Mascara
What Bun Bun says about the Anna Sui mascara:
What is the best volumizing mascara you’ve used?
The most informative mascara review I have ever read! And I’ve read a lot! So I’m taking your advice and I ordered a tube of A.Sui thru Ebay from HongKong! So exciting!! Wearing it for the first time today; so far so great. thanks and keep on writing
Hi Molly! I’m glad you found my mascara review useful. The Anna Sui mascara truly works like a charm and smells like a rose garden! Glad that you like it too! =)
wow , thank you thank you! i have super black n thick eyelashes, but they are not that long, which is weird right! so i settle for em being volumized, cos they STILL somehow look longer when they are! i’ve used tons of diff mascaras…currently on the Elianto’s brown tubed one (forgot the name) and i’m still searching for a SMUDGE proof one. you are totally right, smudge and water is totally diff, and i havent found a smudge proof one. but after this post, i’m going straight out to buy this! THANK you!
Wow, super black and thick eyelashes! Sounds very sexy already! I really love the Anna Sui mascara and I hope you will <3 it as much as I do!
I actually have just fallen in love with another mascara – oops – it's the Lancome Oscillation Mascara that makes my eyelashes thick AND long. I think it will work amazing on your already black and thick eyelashes, with MORE LENGTH! Omg, I must review it soon! =D
Great review! Thanks for the wonderful tips!
Thanks Grace! =) This is my all-time favorite mascara! The sweet fragrance really makes my day every time I open the tube!
Hi. Love this topic about smudgeproof mascara. Makes more sense now. I always get those smudge at the bottom despite the different ‘waterproof’ mascara I check. Do you have a list of smudgeproof mascaras that you recommend?
I do! I wrote a post specifically on the difference between smudgeproof and waterproof mascaras, actually. You can find more information there. On top of those recommended in that post, I also like the Lancome Oscillation mascara that I am currently in love with. =D
I have barely there lashes and now I’m super curious about the Anna Sui Volume Mascara. I’ve been using Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara since I discovered it this past summer because it actually gives me the appearance of fuller lashes. Have u ever tried Lash Injection? Does it compare to Anna Sui’s Volume Mascara?
Hi Lola,
Unfortunately I haven’t tried the Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara before. I love fuller lashes too and besides the Anna Sui Volume Mascara, I’d strongly recommend the Lancome Oscillation Vibrating Infinite Powermascara! After my Anna Sui one dried up, I went on to other mascaras which were okie, but you know, didn’t wow me as much as the Anna Sui one did. Then came along the Lancome Oscillation Mascara and it’s the mascara that I use almost everyday now! =)
Hi BunBun,
Have you tried the other Anna Sui mascaras yet? Wonder what they are like?
I recently ordered via ebay for some Shisheido Majolica Majorca mascaras..Waiting to arrive…Cant wait to test them out!
Hmmm nope, I haven’t tried the other Anna Sui mascaras. The brand doesn’t have a lot of mascaras, at least not from what I see at the counters in Singapore. I remember seeing just a volumizing one, a lengthening one, and maybe an eyelash primer.
Oh you ordered Majolica Majorca mascaras? Honestly, I’m not a fan of mascaras from MM. The comb-like wands just don’t work for my sparse lashes and the normal ones are not dense enough. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. But maybe they’ll work wonders for you! Keep me posted yea?
Hi Bun Bun,
A really lovely name to call to ??
My eyelashes are quite fine & short, which would you recommend i go for? Volume or Lengthen?
Is it more natural looking if it has Brown color?
Haha, thanks Mavis! I like the name too!
It really depends on what kind of look you want – dramatic, natural, in between? For me, as my lashes are of decent length but don’t have as much volume, I always go for volumizing mascaras. Lengthening mascaras don’t do much for my lashes, and can sometimes backfire when they pull down the lashes, thus losing the curl. But if your lashes are short, you can try a combination of both volumizing + lengthening mascaras. It’s a method recommended by Asian makeup artists and it works for lashes that lack length and volume.
Also, I would suggest opting for black mascara instead of brown. If your objective with using mascara is to open the eyes and make them look bigger and brighter, black is your best bet.
Hi Bun Bun
Have you tried the heroine make mascara yet? they didnt smudge on me though they require their ‘special mascara remover’ to completely remove them. I’m using the long n curl btw
I haven’t, but I’m always impressed with the ease of use of their eyeliner portrayed in their videos. I’ll probably give the mascara a try one day, but I need to stop buying mascara for a while. I have like, 8 tubes to go through at once. Lol. Thanks for recommending it LF! How is the special mascara remover like? Is it oil-based or water-based? Does it sting the eyes?
Hi Bun Bun
It is oil based and looks exactly like a mascara. http://www.sasa.com/SasaWeb/eng/product/viewProductDetail.jspa?itemno=102474302002
It melts away all my mascaras (not only the heroine make ones) i need to repeat 2 times at most, without tugging at my lashes. for me, i just brush it on, proceed to remove makeup from other parts of the faze (I’m using water based cleanser), watch tv.. etc. It does not sting, at least not for my eyes. I’ve tried simple eye makeup remover, http://www.simple.co.uk/products/kind-to-eyes-eye-make-up-remover-125ml-40.aspx and it stings like I’m shopping onions… -_-”"
Ohmygoodness YES! The Simple eye makeup remover stings like nobody’s business!! It got into my eyes despite me being very careful with it and for all that trouble and pain, my eye makeup didn’t budge much. Horrible experience.
Have you tried the Biore eye & lip makeup remover? It’s my favorite and a fool-proof makeup remover for even the toughest of eye makeup.
Hi Bun Bun
Totally agree with ur comment with simple. I don’t know why there are good reviews on it either. The Biore one u meant the one in pink bottle? No i havent use that, but when im in a lazy mode, i sometimes use their makeup remover wipes. It workd for me as well. I only need to use 2 sheets at most. I’m avoiding oil based makeup remover coz i used to use Biore oil makeup remover (the blue bottle) and it gave me milia seeds around my eye area.
Oh shucks! Really?! I’m using the blue bottle one for the face! I want to change to something else too becoz I’m bored. Do you have any recommendation? And yes, it’s the pink one I’m referring to. I’ve gone through at least 7 bottles already!
By the way, I can’t believe there are good reviews on the Simple remover. Maybe they’re sponsored or something. It’s the worst product I’ve ever used. There, I said it. As honest as the day is long.
I’m currently using bifesta (Cleansing Express) and Bioderma interchangably. Bifesta is selling in all watsons outlet. and they are all 300ml, less than S$20 per bottle, way cheaper than biore (Blue bottle). Bioderma from what I know, it is only available in Guardian, and super ex, (S$30+ for 250ml). I always get my aunt to bring some 500ml bottles, at ard EUR12 for me when she’s back from paris (she stays there n comes back annually). HK and TW sells that too… In HK, their retail outlet sells the bigger bottle at the same price as the small bottle in SG. Bonjour n guardian/watsons sells it cheaper thou
Orh… Bifesta… Yeah, yeah I’ve heard about that one… I went to google Bioderma. It looks very… clinical. Hahha. I’ll go try it out! Thanks for the recommendation!