I Tried the New NARS Notorious Mascara and Now I'm Tossing My Favorite False Lashes
Our take
The relentless pursuit of the perfect lash is a familiar one, a cornerstone of the modern beauty ritual. We've all been there, navigating a landscape of promises – volume, length, curl – often falling short of the desired effect. This recent review of NARS’ Notorious Mascara, declaring it so transformative that false lashes are rendered obsolete, resonates precisely because it taps into that shared frustration and the yearning for a genuinely impactful, yet effortless, enhancement. The writer’s experience mirrors a broader cultural shift toward prioritizing natural beauty, amplified by strategic, high-quality products. It’s a reaction, perhaps, against the increasingly synthetic and often unsustainable nature of lash extensions and elaborate falsies, a desire for a polished look that feels authentically *you*. This aligns with a larger trend we’ve observed in our community, a preference for foundational pieces that elevate, rather than mask. We’ve seen this reflected in the enduring appeal of [Duchess Sophie’s Summer Style Formula Makes Late Summer Dressing a No-Brainer], where consistent, reliable choices build a timeless aesthetic, and in the discerning selections highlighted in [I've Tried the Lot—These Are the Charlotte Tilbury Products *Actually* Worth the Hype], which emphasizes investment in true icons.
The power of a single, well-formulated mascara shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s a gateway product, a relatively low-risk entry point into the world of makeup, and its impact can be disproportionately large. A truly exceptional mascara, like the one being lauded here, streamlines the entire beauty routine, instantly elevating the eyes and creating a more polished, put-together appearance. It speaks to a desire for efficiency and a conscious curation of one’s beauty arsenal—choosing fewer, higher-quality items over a multitude of mediocre ones. This echoes the growing consumer demand for products that deliver on their promises, a sentiment reinforced by articles like [Red Nails Are Timeless, But This Is the Key to Making Them Look Even Chicer This Summer], where expert advice underscores the importance of technique and quality ingredients in achieving a truly chic result. The reviewer’s assertion that the mascara surpasses the need for false lashes suggests a significant advancement in formula technology—a feat that merits attention and consideration within the beauty industry. It’s not simply about achieving longer lashes; it’s about achieving them with a natural, healthy-looking definition.
Beyond the immediate product review, this development speaks to a broader evolution in the beauty industry. We're seeing a move away from overtly dramatic, attention-seeking looks toward a more refined and nuanced approach. The focus is shifting from masking imperfections to enhancing natural features, a trend that aligns with the growing emphasis on self-acceptance and authentic self-expression. The rise of "clean girl" aesthetics and the popularity of minimalist makeup routines further reinforce this sentiment. A mascara that can deliver significant results without requiring layers of product or complicated techniques perfectly embodies this ethos. It’s about achieving a polished look with ease and grace, a concept deeply resonant with our audience who value both aesthetics and intentionality. This isn't about chasing fleeting trends; it's about cultivating a timeless, confident beauty that feels intrinsically aligned with one's personal style.
Ultimately, the claim that a single mascara can replace false lashes is a bold one, but the enthusiastic response to NARS’ Notorious Mascara suggests it may be more than just hype. It prompts us to consider: as beauty technology continues to evolve, will we see a further decline in the popularity of artificial enhancements, and a greater emphasis on products that celebrate and amplify our natural beauty? The industry's future might lie not in creating illusions, but in perfecting the art of enhancement, empowering individuals to feel confident and beautiful in their own skin—one impeccably defined lash at a time.
I wear and test enough mascara to have very little patience for a mediocre formula. A smokey eye is my default whenever I do my makeup, which means my lashes have to work a little harder than most. I want obvious length, clean separation, and enough definition that they don’t disappear behind a wash of my Patrick Ta brown shadow. Volume is welcome, but not if it turns my lashes into five chunky little spikes.
Naturally, the new NARS Notorious Mascara—that comes in both a black and brown—caught my attention. The formula promises lift, length, volume, definition, humidity resistance, and several hours of wear, which is a fairly ambitious résumé for one tube. The formula itself isn’t reinventing mascara—film-forming polymers, waxes, and conditioning oils are all familiar players—but I’m less interested in a flashy ingredient list than I am in whether the product actually performs.
My test was simple: Could it give me the long, fanned-out lashes I like without flaking and hold up all day? I put it to the test, as did Beauty Director Hannah Baxter. While I’m focused on length and separation, she’s especially picky about the brush and wants a "defined, weightless-looking lash." Here's how it went.
What Is the NARS Notorious Mascara Formula Like?
Notorious isn’t a tubing mascara, but it does borrow some of the same appeal. A water-first base carries flexible film-forming polymers that coat the lashes and help lock them in place, similar to the way a tubing mascara wraps around each hair. The difference is that Notorious pairs that flexible coating with a blend of waxes meant to build actual body and volume—something I find I often don't get enough of from traditional tubing formulas.
Those polymers also explain how the mascara can resist humidity without being waterproof. The coating is designed to remain intact in muggy air, but it isn’t meant to repel water completely. Once you wet your lashes with warm water and cleanser, the film softens and washes away. (I found that water even does most of the job.) Argan oil and jojoba round out the formula to help keep all that hold from feeling dry or crunchy.
What Is the NARS Notorious Mascara Brush Like?
A mascara's brush matters just as much as the formula, and I like that NARS didn’t go unnecessarily huge with it. The slim, slightly wavy shape has bristles in different lengths, so it can comb through the lashes to provide separation while still laying down enough product to build them up. It also lets me get right at the roots without covering my eyelid in mascara, which is especially helpful when I’ve already spent time perfecting my smokey eye.
Hannah was equally particular about this part. “Shorter bristles that can reach all the way down to the base of my lash line are a must,” she says so she can get soft definition without any heaviness. She especially liked how the varying bristle lengths helped coat every lash. The pointed tip also makes it easy to reach the tiny hairs at the inner corners or place more product exactly where you want it.
How Does the NARS Notorious Mascara Apply?
Notorious is a very wet mascara, which gives me plenty of time to comb through my lashes before it sets. The brush fans them out beautifully and creates the kind of clean, separated style I always want, though I do have to give it an extra beat to dry.
It layers without much clumping, but even after a few coats, the effect is more long and lifted than super voluminous. I’d still happily take a little more volume, but the separation is excellent. Hannah had similar luck with the hold: Two coats kept her lashes curled through some of New York’s most humid summer days. She noticed only the faintest shadow beneath her eyes by the end of the workday, but "that was likely more due to rubbing my eyes or something equally mindless," she notes.
Is the NARS Notorious Mascara Worth It?
The biggest surprise for me came at the sink. For a mascara designed to hold up in humidity, it came off far more easily than I expected. I didn’t have to keep rubbing at my eyes to remove every last trace, which is a huge selling point for me. The skin around the eye area is delicate enough, and I’m always trying to be gentler with my lashes.
I still wish the formula gave me a little more volume, but I love how long and fanned out the look is. The easy removal is what really pushed it into regular-rotation territory for me. Hannah was even more immediately sold: "Overall, this is quickly becoming my new go-to mascara for summer and into fall for minimalist, flirty eyelashes."
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