Beauty Colossal Big Shot vs Volum Express: Ultimate Volume Duel
Both mascaras promise the boldest lashes in the Colossal family, but their brushes and formulas differ. We compare Big Shot and the Volum Express classic head to head.
| Factor | Maybelline The Colossal Big Shot Waterpr | Maybelline Volum' Express The Colossal M |
|---|---|---|
| Volume payoff | Extreme, one-coat drama | Strong, builds in two coats |
| Brush design | Wavy bristle Big Shot brush | Classic mega fiber brush |
| Best for beginners | Fast but can overload | Forgiving and easy to control |
| Smudge resistance | Good for 8 hours | Can smudge on oily lids |
| Removal ease | Needs thorough cleansing | Comes off with soap and water |
| Price | Slightly higher | Often cheaper on sale |
| Shade range | Blackest Black option | Glam Black shimmer option |
Our Verdict
Choose Big Shot for maximum drama with minimal effort each morning. Pick the Volum Express classic for easier control and simpler removal at night. Both deliver true Colossal volume, so your routine decides the winner.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Quick, bold lashes before work or class.
Maybelline The Colossal Big Shot Mascara
- Bold volume in one coat
- Wavy bristle brush design
- Intense black pigment
- Ophthalmologist tested
Pros
- Fast morning routine
- Deep black color payoff
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Dries out after two months
- Wand picks up excess product
Best for: Night-out drama on a drugstore budget.
Maybelline The Colossal Big Shot Mascara, Blackest Black
- Darkest black shade option
- Volume-charged collagen formula
- Big brush for max coverage
- Removes with soap and water
Pros
- Intense blackest-black look
- Great sale prices often
- Builds without spidery clumps
Cons
- Transfers under eyes by night
- Tube design feels bulky
Best for: A touch of glam in an everyday mascara.
Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express Mascara, Glam Black
- Glam black shimmer-infused shade
- Mega brush for full lashes
- Volume-building wax blend
- Suitable for sensitive eyes
Pros
- Subtle sheen catches light
- No irritation reported
- Layers smoothly
Cons
- Shimmer is very subtle
- Older stock may be dry
Want the Full Picture?
Which Formula Survives Oily Lids
Oily eyelids get one-line mentions in mascara guides, but no per-formula transfer testing, so here is the practical breakdown. On oily lids, traditional washable volumizing formulas like the Maybelline Colossal range transfer fastest, because lid oil dissolves the waxes that hold the pigment. Waterproof versions resist oil significantly better, since their film-formers are designed to repel moisture and oil alike. The tradeoff is removal difficulty, which is real. The decision: if your lids are oily by midday, choose the waterproof Big Shot and commit to proper removal; if your lids stay dry, the washable Glam Black gives easier removal with no transfer penalty. A lid primer or a dusting of translucent powder on the lids before mascara extends any formula's wear. For tubing formulas that resist oil differently, see our tubing mascara guide.
Waterproof vs Washable: The Real Decision Matrix
No competitor builds a single decision matrix for waterproof versus water-resistant versus tubing, so here it is. Swimming and heavy workouts: waterproof wins, tubing holds until sustained water exposure, washable fails. Tears and emotional days: waterproof and tubing both survive, washable streaks. Humid climates: waterproof most reliable, tubing second, washable transfers. Daily office wear with easy removal: tubing wins, washable second, waterproof is overkill. Sensitive eyes: tubing gentlest to remove, waterproof harshest. Lash health over time: tubing causes the least removal-related fallout, waterproof the most. The Colossal Big Shot comes in both waterproof and washable precisely because no single formula wins every scenario; buy the version for your actual life, not the one with the best reviews.
Removing Big-Volume Mascara Without Losing Lashes
Removal methods are never compared by lash-loss impact, which is the metric that matters. Ranking from gentlest to harshest: warm water and gentle pressure for tubing formulas, oil-based remover left to dissolve for thirty seconds for washable volumizing formulas, dual-phase remover for waterproof. The damage comes from rubbing and rushing, not from the remover itself. Never pull or pick at waterproof mascara; saturate a cotton pad, press it to the closed eye for a full thirty seconds, then wipe downward gently. Waterproof Big Shot worn daily without proper removal causes cumulative lash breakage that looks like thinning. If you wear waterproof more than three days weekly, a dedicated remover is not optional. Our makeup removal guide details the techniques that protect lashes.
Mascara Hygiene Beyond the 3-Month Rule
Mascara hygiene is reduced to replace every three months, but the contamination mechanics get no coverage. Every time the wand leaves the tube, it carries bacteria back in; pumping the wand accelerates this by forcing air and microbes inside. Never share mascara, since eye infections transfer directly through the wand. Warning signs of contamination: a sudden change in smell, unusual clumping that was not there before, or any eye irritation after application. Store mascara at room temperature, not in a hot car or steamy bathroom. If you develop an eye infection, discard the tube immediately; reinfection from the contaminated wand is common. The three-month rule is a ceiling, not a target; heavy daily users should replace closer to two months.
Lower Lashes With a Big Brush: Technique
Lower-lash mascaras get reviewed in isolation and never ranked, but most buyers just want to use their main mascara below. The technique for a big brush like the Colossal wand: wipe excess product off the wand tip first, hold the wand vertically, and use only the tip with a light zigzag motion. This deposits far less product than the horizontal swipe used up top, which prevents the clumping and transfer that make lower lashes look messy. Waterproof on the lower lashes specifically is worth considering even if you wear washable up top, since the lower lash line sits where tears and oil collect. One light coat is the rule; lower lashes overloaded with volumizing formula age the eye instead of defining it. For volumizing technique on the upper lashes, our volumizing mascara guide covers wand skills in depth.