Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils mascara {review} & a budget friendly alternative

I recently received from Influenster the Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils mascara for review purposes which had me excited because I’m always looking for new mascaras to try out.

First off, it comes in a nice gold tube and the first thing that caught my attention after opening it was the smell. It’s hard to describe but it had a very pleasant smell unlike other mascaras, but not too strong to bother you. It definitely doesn’t smell like your average mascara. It has a nice, light scent to it.

The brush is great! It grabs every single lash and gives it volume, length and curl. You only need about two coats to get a great look on the eyelashes, using more can make them clumpy. Overall, it’s a really great mascara and definitely worth the splurge of $32. Even if I hadn’t received it for reviewing purposes, I probably would’ve purchased it. It’s great for special nights or events, and depending on where you work, maybe even great for work. Most of us work in an office and wear minimal makeup so I probably wouldn’t waste such a great mascara for daily use. I highly guarantee this mascara!

This is how the mascara looks on after two coats.

Budget friendly alternative

Now, because I know we can’t all splurge on mascara, I have found for you guys the budget friendly alternative. Although I would still recommend purchasing the YSL mascara because it’s so good, I would definitely keep this alternative for daily use.

I’ve been using this mascara for several months now and I would dare to say that the look on the eyelashes is very similar. While the YSL mascara gives a little more volume, this one is a great equivalent. I use this one every day and usually use the YSL mascara on the weekends or when I go out to events, dinner with friends, etc.

The mascara I’m talking about is L’oreal’s Voluminous^® Butterfly Mascara in Midnight Black. Its brush is also great because it grabs all of the eyelashes and gives them volume, length and curl as well. Like I said, I would definitely use the YSL mascara but use the L’oreal one every day so I don’t waste such a good mascara just for the office. This mascara retails for about $9 and you can purchase it at any drugstore. See why I say it’s a budget friendly alternative?

In this picture I’m using the L’oreal mascara. See how it gives a little less volume than the YSL mascara, but still better than your regular/average mascara out there.

Have you tried either one of these? Do you like them? If not, do you plan on trying either one? 

Disclaimer: I received the YSL mascara from Influenster for review purposes, but as usual, all opinions are my own.

Some pictures obtained from the internet.