Elizabeth Mott Black Volumizing Mascara – Smudge-Proof, Lengthening Fiber Formula, Hourglass Wand – Clump-Free, Water-Resistant & Cruelty-Free – Safe for Lash Extensions, Long-Lasting, Full-Size 8ml

I used to sigh that I was doomed to be perpetually raccoon-eyed whenever I wore mascara. I tried a number of drugstore brands, even waterproof formulas, and every. single. one. would smudge above and below my eyes within just an hour of wear. I accepted my fate and resigned myself to forever be wiping away the black smudges as discreetly as I could during events and family functions. With some Googling, I then discovered two things: why mascara seemed to work for everyone except me (my perfect storm combination of hooded eyes and oily lids), and the magic of tubing mascaras. And the latter’s painful price tags. For about a year, I bit the bullet and spent over $25 on a certain prestige brand’s blue and gold tube every few months. The darn stuff would get clumpy and become harder to apply in less than two months, every time. I knew mascara was supposed to be replaced frequently to prevent eye infections, but this seemed excessive. Fed up, I searched for a cheaper tubing mascara, and found Elizabeth Mott’s It’s So Big line. And I have to say, I like it even better than the prestige brand. 1. It’s WAY cheaper. More than $10 less. 2. It holds up even better. The prestige mascara I used would usually leave a few black flakes below my eyes as the day went on. I haven’t seen flakes at all with It’s So Big, and I’ve been using it regularly for around two months. 3. It comes in a set of three mini-tubes in addition to a full size, for about the same price. As I was unsure if the quick drying-out and clumping I experienced previously was a universal trait of tubing mascaras, I wanted the best possible bang for my buck. My reasoning was that if I liked the formula but it still dried out and clumped prematurely, I could just open another mini-tube and I wouldn’t be throwing away almost a full-size tube’s worth of product. Additionally, if the formula didn’t work for me at all, I could gift the remaining two tubes to my mother and best friend. 4. It comes off easily with a makeup remover wipe. 5. It’s cruelty free! I’m pleased to say that my first tube is still going strong, with no clumping whatsoever. However, there are some minor quibbles I have with it. 1. I’m not the biggest fan of the brush shape; combined with the less-practical shorter wand of the mini-size tube, I always end up getting some mascara on my brow bone. But a little toner on a cotton swab always cleans it right up. 2. It’s not as volumizing as I’d prefer. However, it has such good staying power that I’m okay with it not giving quite as much ‘oomph’ factor. I can always pair it with a set of false lashes if I want real drama. In short, if you have oily eyes, give this mascara a chance. I did, and it was a big hit. I even gave one of the mini-tubes to my mother to try, and she loved it. We ordered a second pack of the mini-tubes so we’d have three tubes total each and stay stocked for a good while. (Note: I’ve paired this mascara with the NYX Epic Ink liquid liner and a cheap eye primer).

So, let me start off by saying.... I NEVER write reviews for anything! With that in mind, an allergy nurse at my job told me about this product because I have allergic reactions with most other mascaras. I didn’t want to spend the price for this one but holy cow, IM GLAD I DID! I will never buy another brand of mascara. So let me tell you, I put this product to all of the tests that would usually give me running or smudged raccoon eyes, even with waterproof products. 1. I “forgot” I had it on and rubbed my eyes 2. I “forgot” to wash my face before bed after a long night of partying 3. I had intercourse (TMI, but hey, you know what I mean) 4. I took a hot shower and didn’t wash my face 5. I went to work for 10 hours in the hot heat All of these test passed with flying colors. No dripping, no smudging, no raccoon eyes! My lashes were still long and curled even after I woke up the next morning. No darkness under my eyes or anything! And the BEST part... I usually have to wash my eyes a few times to get the mascara off of my lashes and most of the time I still get out of the shower with raccoon eyes. HOWEVER, with this product, I wet my face with warm water and rubbed my lashes ONCE with soap and water and BOOM! All of the mascara clumped up and literally fell off of my lashes. No black smears, no raccoon eyes, no makeup remover needed! Like I said... BEST EVER! You won’t regret buying it. PS- these pictures are of my lashes after 24 hours. I applied in the morning, worked 10 hours outside with some sun showers, took a shower when I got home, and slept all night with out washing it off nor reapplying. This is what my greasy face looked like this morning. However, my lashes were PERFECT! -“I woke up like this” haha :)

What a huge disappointment. This mascara has been my holy grail for the last seven years! It never gave me raccoon eyes, never flaked, never clumped. It would only come off with warm water, and it never damaged my lashes. You could have it on for two days while you camped and it would look like you just applied it. Well, I got my subscribe and save order three days ago after being out for a week, and I was excited! Yesterday, my right eye began to immediately water as though something was in it. Then it started burning. Then the left eye felt irritated. Maybe allergies? Maybe I had just messed up and put it in my eye somehow??? Idk. Couldn’t be my mascara, my dearest and oldest makeup friend. Right? Wrong! after applying today, like I’m talking immediately after, my eyes started burning and itching. I can barely hold them open. I have to leave the house in 20 minutes and don’t have time to remove my entire face and start over again. I’m so annoyed. Wtf are you doing, Elizabeth Mott? You had THEE perfect mascara. Now it feels like an assault on my eyes!!! My left eye was already kind of sore from yesterday, I am beyond devastated. Outside of the irritant, the formula sucks now. It isn’t buildable at all. If you used this product before, the formula was very visually identifiable— it had substance to it. Now it’s liquid thin and has a different sheen. Huge waste of money if you were loyal to the old formula the same way I was. Very disappointing. :(

Update Ok so the last few I have gotten have been good and this mascara (if you get a good tube) is really that good that I will continue to buy. The good reviews really are because it gives them really good lengthening for those of us with almost nonexistent lashes and yet is also really wearable long-lasting and doesn't flake or smudge so you can wear it all day and night. Especially now that price is more reasonable. Don't believe the reviews that say it doesn't work- what they may not be understanding is you have to layer this on several times (like 25 swipes) "before" it dries- it will build!! It does lengthen more than volumize but it does volumize. Does not smudge or flake- I have oily skin an every other mascara does- can't see how anyone could get this to flake- maybe they are rubbing their eyes or about one of those clumpy dried out tubes that were a bigger problem in 2015 . I swim in this mascara and it looks perfect afterwards! U pdate: they must have transferred manufacturing to China or wherever it was being manufactured just isnt doing the same QC. :( the last several I have purchased have been dry and clumping. It used to be wet and you could build and build without clumps. Now it doesn't matter how careful I am it clumps and sticks and looks like Tammy Faye baker. :( very disappointed. The first two tubes I got were great. The last SEVERAL have been bad- yes I figured maybe I was just getting the random bad tube. I didn't want to believe the great mascara I had found was gone forever. But alas no tubes have had that initial glide and wet clump free lengthening. Original: I have tried dozens of mascaras - I have been on a quest for one that doesn't clump, doesn't make raccoon eyes and yet can build up my short blond lashes and create big black lashes. This is the best mascara ever! It has a wet kind of gel quality that builds and doesn't dry too fast so that you can build up volume and length. It doesn't flake or smudge. I won't be buying anything else. The only thing close is IT mascara which is a close second, but I like this one better. I have tried maybelline (all), cover girl (all), Dior, Lancôme, benefit bad gal, rimmel, tarte, - these all ended up flaky or caused black under eye smudges by the end of the day.

UPDATE: I ordered this again years later after I wrote my original review and it appears they have changed the formula. It's not terrible but is not as good as it once was. It's a little bit drier than the original formula and has some slight flaking and a little bit harder to wash off. This was my original review with the previous formula: I have tried almost every mainstream mascara over the years - and none of them compare the this one. I have normal to oily skin and with other mascaras I have smudges under my eyes by lunchtime - but never with this one. I can also get away with just one coat of it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this stuff!! The price is great and it wears ALL day long. I've even slept in it accidentally and it still looked perfect when I woke up lol. It is also slightly waterproof which is great for outdoor wear and pool season! Plus it also comes off easy!! This is a great product and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves to have perfect lashes all day long. The brush is also designed for getting right down to the root of the lashes. BRILLIANT! The first day I wore it I got compliments. I've even ordered samples for my girlfriends and the customer service has been excellent - they responded within 2 hours or less on both of my inquiries. For anyone writing reviews where they haven't had a good experience it could be in the way they apply their mascara - I use a back-and-forth motion starting at the bottom of my lashes working up and it works perfect every time.

"Hello gorgeous! Where have you been all my life!" No smudging, super silky application with long thick lashes that seem to come out of no where! Seriously... I am buying more just because if I ran out I would cry! I have decent lashes... but we all know that for most woman if you were stuck on a desert island and only had one make up item you could have been stranded with.... mascara would be that one item! So it is as important as any one make up item could ever be. I love false lashes, but don't have the patience for them or skill for that matter. Love the look though.... I wanted a mascara that could do that for me (not too much to ask, right?) well, this does! Also I have a terrible problem with most mascara and that is it smudges horribly above and below my eyes where my lashes hit. My husband is always taking his fingers to my eyes and trying to help me get rid of my black eye look. This stuff does NOT smudge! It stays put. My eyes pop and makes me look awake and beautiful...I'm impressed every time I use it with the application, not needing multiple layers, silky feel, brush works great, no smudging, long thick lashes. I don't wear a lot of make-up... no shadow, just a great color liner above my eye nothing on the lower, so my mascara really completes my look.... hence the need for it to perform. Which it does.

I was looking for a CRUELTY FREE, good mascara, read the reviews and decided to try this one. I was not disappointed! It is very good, easy to apply, has absolutely no clumps but applies to each eye lash in a very attractive manner while making the lashes look really long, and stays in place a long time without smearing, even over night, and has not caused ANY irritation! I am especially glad, since I have recently started reacting to some cosmetics and have had to return other brands of mascara that I reacted to - absolutely no reaction with this one. Last but not least, I am SO GLAD this is cruelty free and bears the PETA logo, as I will absolutely not buy anything that is not cruelty-free - why should innocent animals suffer for my vanity? This is the best mascara I have ever used, and I will be buying more soon to make sure I do not run out! Edited review on Jan 6, 2026: Unfortunately I have to revise my rating and review: I have been using this mascara for several years now, it has been my go-to. However, during the last year or more, I have noticed a definite decline in product quality, issues with the containers (several of the large ones stopped working long before the mascara was used up - the part that scrapes off excess mascara from the brush came lose. I therefore started buying only the small travel size.) My second last order of the travel Trio had one container that was unusable - the brush could not be pulled out, and there was a "plasticky" looking grey goop that was eventually forced out - utterly unusable. I decided this was a fluke / glitch, and decided to give it another chance. Ordered another travel Trio pack which came today, tested all 3 tubes right away, and this time 2 out of the 3 are unusable!! Same thing, brush can only with difficulty be pulled out, and there is dried up goop emerging, again completely unusable. I am downgrading it to 2 stars instead of 1, since when the container works it is a good mascara. I am really sorry and disappointed. I am returning this, and will not order any more. If Elizabeth Mott improves their manufacturing so that the mascara comes in containers that work, I would be very happy, but for now, I will have to search for another good, cruelty-free, irritation-free mascara out there... Very disappointed.

The mascara itself is AMAZING. I love the brush, the texture of the mascara, and the way it dries. It goes on very smooth and once it dries it stays on- no smudging. Then it washes off very easily with water- not into a muddy mess, but it kind of just flakes off with water (which is why I think it doesn't smudge). I bought this primarily because it was cruelty free and had great reviews, but loved what one customer wrote about being a guide in Alaska. I was leaving for a hiking trip the week after this arrived and wanted something to help me look my best, but not be ridiculous to have on a week long hike. This did a great job then and it still does today! The only negative I had is that on said hiking trip, the wand broke on me. It may have been because it had been out in freezing temps and didn't like the pressure I applied to it, but still, I was very disappointed for the wand to break after less than a week in my possession. HOWEVER I contacted Elizabeth Mott when I got home, requesting a new wand, and they sent me a whole new tube!! The customer service says it would take a few hours to respond to my email request and they responded in less than an hour and a new tube arrived within a day or two. The whole customer service experience was so surprisingly pleasant, I look forward to purchasing other Elizabeth Mott products. Great job guys!