Beauty Revlon Mascara Showdown: So Fierce vs Ultimate vs Volumazing
Three Revlon mascaras, one bold-lash mission. We compared the So Fierce, Ultimate All-In-One, and Volumazing on volume, versatility, and value.
| Factor | Revlon So Fierce Eyes Wide Open Mascara, | Revlon Ultimate All-In-One Mascara, Blac |
|---|---|---|
| Volume power | High, wide-awake volume | Medium, balanced |
| Versatility | Volume-focused | Volume plus length plus definition |
| Price | Mid drugstore | Low drugstore |
| Best for | Dramatic eyes | One-tube simplicity |
Our Verdict
Choose So Fierce Eyes Wide Open for the closest Big Bad Lash drama with wide-awake volume. Choose Ultimate All-In-One if you want one tube that handles volume, length, and definition. Choose Volumazing for maximum volume per dollar spent.
Sensitive Eyes: The Ingredient Watch List
Nobody gives an ingredient watch-out list for sensitive eyes beyond generic fragrance-free advice, so here is the drugstore mascara version. The common irritants in mascaras: fragrance, which many drugstore formulas include; fibers, which add length but shed into eyes; and certain preservatives. If your eyes water, itch, or redden with mascara, the formula is the problem, not your technique.
The sensitive-eye protocol: choose a fragrance-free formula, avoid fiber mascaras, and consider tubing formulas, which form polymer tubes that do not flake into the eyes. Remove gently with no rubbing; irritated eyes plus aggressive removal is the fastest path to chronic redness. Replace mascara every three months without exception; old mascara grows bacteria that irritates even non-sensitive eyes. If you wear contact lenses, insert them before mascara and choose a tubing or non-fiber formula, since flakes under lenses are miserable. Our sensitive-eyes mascara guide covers the gentlest options in depth.
Mascara Hygiene: Beyond "Replace Every 3 Months"
Mascara hygiene is reduced to one-liners everywhere, so here is the full version. The three-month rule exists because the dark, moist tube is an ideal bacterial environment, and eye infections from old mascara are real. But hygiene is more than the calendar. Never pump the wand; pumping pushes air into the tube, which dries the formula and feeds bacteria. Instead, swirl the wand inside the tube to pick up product.
Never share mascara, not even with family; eye infections transfer directly. If you get an eye infection, discard the mascara you were using; reinfection from the same tube is common. Do not add water or saline to dried-out mascara to revive it; that introduces contaminants and changes the preservative balance. The signs a mascara has gone bad before three months: a gasoline-like smell, clumpy application that was not there before, or any eye irritation from a previously fine tube. With three Revlon mascaras in a rotation, label the open date; it is easy to lose track of which tube is how old. Our volumizing mascara guide covers wand and formula choices if you are expanding the collection.
Waterproof, Water-Resistant, or Washable: Picking by Day
No competitor builds the waterproof vs water-resistant vs tubing decision matrix as a daily guide, so here is the practical version for a mascara wardrobe. You do not need three mascaras for three formulas, but knowing which to reach for matters. Waterproof for swimming, heavy sweating, weddings, and anything involving tears. Water-resistant for humid days and workouts. Washable or tubing for desk days, when easy removal beats all-weather armor.
The cost of defaulting to waterproof everything is removal difficulty every single night, which over months thins the outer lashes from cumulative tugging. The smart wardrobe is one waterproof for event days and one washable or tubing for daily wear. Among these three Revlons, pick your daily driver by brush and your event pick by staying power, and let the calendar decide which tube you open. Your lashes last longer when the formula matches the day.
Matching the Mascara to the Lash: Sparse, Straight, and Fair
No competitor covers mascara for sparse, aging lashes beyond a single blogger's take, so here is the drugstore version. For sparse lashes, the brush matters more than the formula: a smaller, precision brush like So Fierce's deposits product on each lash without clumping them together, which is what makes sparse lashes look fuller. Big, fluffy brushes overwhelm sparse lashes and create spider legs.
For straight lashes that point down, curl before mascara and choose a water-resistant or waterproof formula; washable formulas weigh the curl down by noon. The heated curler trick works here too: warm the curler, test on your wrist, and the heat sets the curl. For fair skin, blondes, and redheads, the brown-vs-black question nobody answers with specifics: black mascara on very fair lashes can look harsh for daytime, while brown-black gives definition without the severity. All three of these Revlons are black, so fair buyers should apply one thin coat for day and build for night. The tubing mascara guide explains the smudge-proof tubing option for fair lashes that need all-day definition.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Maximum volume on a budget
Revlon Volumazing Mascara, 901 Blackest Black
- Volumazing formula for thick, full lashes
- 901 Blackest Black for intense definition
- Creamy formula coats evenly
- Ophthalmologist tested
Pros
- Big volume at a low price
- Deep black color payoff
- Easy to find refills
Cons
- Not waterproof
- Can transfer on oily lids
- Dries out faster than premium tubes