Beauty Very Black vs Luscious Very Black: Which Mascara Wins Out?
Maybelline Lash Sensational in Very Black and Luscious Very Black share the fanning brush. Very Black is maximum pigment for drama. Luscious adds conditioning oils for comfort. The winner depends on whether you want drama or comfort.
| Factor | Maybelline Lash Sensational Washable Mas | Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Mas |
|---|---|---|
| Price point | Check price | Check price |
| Brush | Curved fanning brush | Curved fanning brush |
| Pigment | Maximum black | Deep black, softer |
| Formula | Standard volumizing | With conditioning oils |
| Feel | Classic mascara feel | Softer, less crispy |
| Best for | Drama, evenings | Daily comfort |
Our Verdict
Pick Very Black for maximum lash drama. Pick Luscious Very Black for softer conditioned lashes.
Which Formula Survives Oily Eyelids
No competitor compares mascara formulas for oily eyelids with any rigor, yet lid oil is the number one cause of midday smudging. Here the two formulas diverge in a way the comparison table does not show. Very Black uses a standard volumizing base that sets relatively dry, which gives lid oil less to dissolve. Luscious Very Black adds conditioning oils for comfort, and those same oils keep the film slightly more emollient through the day. On dry to normal lids, that emollience feels better and looks smoother. On oily lids, it is a liability: the conditioning oils combine with your skin's oil, and the film softens enough to transfer to the under-eye by afternoon.
If your lids are oily, Very Black is the safer pick, and a few technique changes make either formula last longer. Dust the tiniest amount of translucent powder along the lash line before mascara, it absorbs oil at the source without changing the lash look. Skip eye cream on the upper lid in the morning, cream residue is the hidden smudge accelerator. And consider tubing-style setting: while neither formula is a true tubing mascara, a water-resistant topcoat on just the tips can lock the film for oily-lid wearers. Our volumizing mascara guide covers more oil-resistant formulas if smudging is your main battle.
The Heated Curler Combination for Straight Lashes
Heated lash curlers get one passing tip in most guides, but nobody tests curler-plus-mascara combinations for all-day curl hold. The order is non-negotiable: curl first, mascara second. Applying mascara before a heated curler bakes the formula onto the lashes and creates brittle, clumpy sections that snap during removal. With Lash Sensational specifically, the curved fanning brush already lifts at the base, so a heated curler is a boost, not a requirement.
The formula choice affects how long the curl holds. Very Black's drier-setting film grips the curl better through the day, since the stiffer film resists the lash's natural tendency to fall straight. Luscious's conditioning oils add weight and flexibility, which is comfortable but lets gravity win earlier on very straight lashes. If you use Luscious and need curl hold, apply one coat, let it set for sixty seconds, then add a second coat only at the tips rather than the base, keeping weight off the curl point. Never pump the wand in the tube before applying, the added air dries the formula and makes both versions clump on curled lashes.
Removing Them Without Losing Lashes
No competitor compares removal methods by lash-loss impact, and the difference is bigger than most buyers expect. Both Lash Sensational formulas are washable, not waterproof, which is good news: warm water and a gentle cleanser should dissolve the film without scrubbing. The method that causes the most fallout is rubbing with a dry cotton pad or makeup wipe, the friction pulls lashes at the root. Press a warm, damp cloth or micellar-soaked pad over closed eyes for fifteen seconds first, then wipe downward gently once. The film softens and releases instead of being dragged off.
Oil cleansing works but needs a caveat: massage the oil gently and rinse thoroughly, since oil residue left on the lash line overnight can irritate eyes and blur vision in the morning. If you wear the Luscious version, removal is slightly easier because the conditioning oils in the formula help it break down, one more small comfort advantage. Replace either tube at three months even if product remains, since bacterial contamination in mascara is invisible and eye infections are not worth the savings. Our makeup removal guide compares removers by gentleness if your lashes shed easily.
The Quick Decision: Which One Is Yours
Choose Very Black if your lids run oily, you want maximum pigment for evening looks, you use a heated curler and need the curl to hold, or you prefer a drier-setting film that stays put. Choose Luscious Very Black if your lashes feel brittle with standard volumizing formulas, you wear mascara daily and want comfort over drama, your lids are dry to normal, or you remove makeup gently and value easy wash-off. Either way, the curved fanning brush does the same lifting work, so the decision is purely about the film: drier and bolder versus softer and kinder.
Lash Sensational Questions
Yes. Use Very Black at the base for pigment and hold, then Luscious on the tips for a softer finish. Let the first coat set for a minute before layering to avoid clumping.
The conditioning oils keep lashes more flexible during wear, which reduces the brittle feeling some volumizing formulas cause. It is comfort conditioning, not a lash-growth treatment, so expect better feel rather than longer lashes.
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