Beauty Lash Blast 805 vs LOreal Voluminous Mascara: Which Wins Best
We compare our two top thrill-seeking mascaras: the COVERGIRL Lash Blast Volume in 805 Black, our best overall for bold multiplied volume, against the L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Original in Black Brown, the refined length-plus-volume classic. Different brands, same mission: maximum lashes.
| Factor | COVERGIRL Lash Blast Volume Mascara 805 | L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascar |
|---|---|---|
| Shade | 805 Black, true black | Black Brown, softer |
| Brush type | Oversized volumizing bristle brush | Classic curved volume brush |
| Length effect | Good, volume-focused | Excellent, balanced |
| Volume effect | Maximum, dramatic | Strong, refined |
| Formula feel | Rich, buildable | Smooth, defining |
| Best for | Bold evening lashes | Polished everyday drama |
| Typical price | Check price | Check price |
| Pick it if | You want the biggest, boldest lashes | You want length plus volume in balance |
Our Verdict
Choose Lash Blast 805 if sheer lash drama is the priority, its oversized brush builds the most voluminous, eye-catching fringe, making it our top thrill-seeking pick. Choose L'Oreal Voluminous Original if you want length and volume in better balance with a softer shade that works day to night. Both are proven drugstore icons with thousands of positive reviews, so you are choosing a lash philosophy, not taking a gamble.
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Oily Lids: Which of These Two Smudges Less
Both of these are classic creamy drugstore formulas, and creamy formulas have a known weakness on oily eyelids: the same emollients that make them glide on smoothly also make them mobile when skin oil mixes in through the day. Between the two, the difference buyers actually feel is in how the transfer shows up. Lash Blast 805, with its oversized brush and high-volume formula, deposits more product per lash, which means more product available to migrate to the lid crease and under-eye area on oily skin. L'Oreal Voluminous Original goes on slightly more controlled, so on very oily lids it tends to smudge a little less dramatically, though neither is smudge-proof in heat.
The fix is mostly preparation rather than product choice. An eyeshadow primer or a sheer dusting of translucent powder across the lid before mascara cuts transfer significantly for both formulas, because the powder absorbs the oil that would otherwise dissolve the mascara. Keep the first coat thin and let it set for half a minute before building, since one heavy wet coat stays mobile far longer than two thin ones. And treat the lower lashes as the main smudge source: most under-eye panda effect comes from lower-lash mascara meeting oily skin, so apply lower-lash mascara sparingly or skip it on long days.
If you have tried every prep trick and still smudge by 3 p.m., the honest answer may be a different formula family rather than a different brand. Tubing mascaras form polymer sleeves around each lash that barely budge on oily lids, and our tubing mascara guide explains which ones deliver real volume. For a deeper dive on length-focused waterproof versus washable wear, the L'Oreal Telescopic comparison is worth reading.
Black vs Brown-Black: Picking the Right Shade for Your Coloring
Almost every mascara roundup defaults to black and never discusses shade, but shade choice changes the whole face, especially for fair skin, blondes, and redheads. Stark black on very fair skin with light brows can look harsh in daylight, drawing all attention to the lash line in a way that reads heavy rather than defined. A brown-black or soft black gives the definition without the severity, and on redheads it harmonizes with warm undertones instead of fighting them. This is one of the least covered topics in mascara content, and it matters more than most formula differences for everyday wear.
Within this duel, L'Oreal Voluminous Original is the more shade-flexible pick because the line includes brown and brownish-black options alongside the blacks, so fair-skinned and blonde buyers can soften the look without switching brands. Lash Blast's shade range leans bolder, which suits the product's whole personality: maximum drama, maximum impact. Neither choice is wrong, but match the shade to your life. If your makeup is mostly daytime and natural, brown-black is the underrated winner. If you want eyes that read from across the room, commit to the black.
One practical note on shade and smudging: darker shades show transfer more visibly than softer ones. A brown-black that migrates slightly to the lid crease reads as a soft shadow; a blackest-black that migrates reads as a smudge. So if you are between shades and you have oily lids, the softer shade is doubly forgiving.
Keeping the Curl: What Straight Lashes Need
If your lashes point straight down, mascara alone will not create a curl that lasts, and this is where curler technique matters more than formula. Curl first on clean, dry lashes, then apply mascara, because mascara before curling sticks to the curler and pulls lashes out. For stubbornly straight lashes, a heated lash curler makes a real difference: the gentle heat sets the curl the way heat sets a curling iron wave, and the effect holds noticeably longer than a mechanical curler alone. Pair that with a waterproof or water-resistant formula, which holds curl better than washable formulas because it sets firmer, and straight lashes finally stay up past noon. The volumizing mascara guide covers wand shapes that lift as well as thicken, which helps this lash type most.