Beauty Loreal Superstar Mascara Guide: Two Step System Tips Inside
An educational guide from the Beauty AMZ research team. No hard sell, just what you need to know.
What Voluminous Superstar is
Voluminous Superstar is a two-step mascara system from L Oreal Paris. Step one is a super-volumizing white primer. Step two is a fiber-rich black lengthening mascara. Together they create superstar lashes with dramatic volume and extension. The system comes in waterproof and washable versions. It delivers a false-lash effect at a drugstore price.
How the two steps work
The primer coats each lash in a volumizing base and smooths the surface. Its white color ensures full coverage you can see. Applied while damp, the fiber mascara bonds to the primed lashes. Tiny fibers extend the lash tips for visible length. The combination multiplies both thickness and length. The result looks like lash extensions without the appointment.
How to apply the system
Curl lashes first for extra lift. Apply the white primer from base to tips, coating every lash. Immediately, before it dries, apply the black fiber mascara over it. Wiggle at the base and sweep upward. Work one eye completely before starting the other. Add a second mascara coat for evening drama. Let lashes dry before blinking hard to avoid transfer.
Tips for maximum impact
Dust translucent powder on lashes before primer for extra grip. Focus primer on the outer corners for a winged lash effect. Use the mascara tip vertically on lower lashes. A lash comb after drying separates any clumps. Pair with tightlined upper lids for the fullest lash line. These small steps multiply the drama.
Common mistakes to avoid
Waiting too long between steps lets the primer dry and repels fibers. Globbing on primer creates a clumpy base. Pumping the wands dries out both formulas. Sleeping in the waterproof version weakens lashes over time. Sharing the duo spreads eye infections. Replacing every three months keeps eyes safe and results fresh.
Recommended Products
These are the products our research team rates highest in this category.
Best for: Maximum-drama lashes that survive the day.
L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Superstar Mascara, Waterproof, Blackest Black, 0.41 Fl Oz
- Two-step primer plus fiber mascara system
- Super-volumizing white lash primer
- Fiber-rich Blackest Black mascara
- Waterproof smudge-proof all-day wear
Pros
- Dramatic volume and length
- Stays put through everything
Cons
- Needs oil remover
- Two steps take practice
Best for: Bold everyday lashes in classic black.
L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Superstar Mascara, Waterproof, Black, 0.41 Fl Oz
- Same 2-step primer and mascara duo
- Slightly softer Black shade
- Waterproof long-wear formula
- Builds volume and extension
Pros
- Great for daytime drama
- Reliable waterproof wear
Cons
- Less intense than Blackest Black
- Primer step is mandatory
Best for: Daily volume lovers who value easy removal.
L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Superstar Mascara, Washable, Blackest Black, 0.41 Fl Oz
- Washable 2-step primer and mascara
- Removes easily with soap and water
- Same volumizing fiber technology
- Smudge-proof daily wear
Pros
- Easy removal nightly
- Same dramatic volume
Cons
- Can smudge on oily lids
- Less bulletproof than waterproof
Ready to Choose?
See our top product picks for voluminous superstar mascara, or jump straight to the head-to-head comparison of the two most popular options.
Lash Primer Interactions: Why This System Works
Most lash primers warn against pairing with tubing mascaras, but the Superstar system is designed as primer plus color, so the interaction is engineered rather than accidental. The white primer base grips the lashes and builds the fiber foundation; the black topcoat seals it. The primer must dry fully, sixty seconds minimum, before the color goes on, or the two layers merge into gray.
Never substitute a third-party primer under the Superstar topcoat; the formulas are calibrated to each other and mismatched primers cause the flaking the system is famous for avoiding. If the primer step feels like too much for daily wear, the color coat alone still performs as a solid volumizing mascara, just with less drama.
Removing the Two-Step System Without Lash Loss
The waterproof Superstar is the hardest formula in this guide to remove, and scrubbing is how lashes get lost. Soak a cotton pad in dual-phase or oil-based remover, press it over the closed eye for a full minute, then wipe downward gently. The waiting dissolves the layers; the wiping should require almost no pressure.
Never pull or pick at the primer base; it is designed to grip, and force removes lashes with it. If residue persists, repeat the soak rather than increasing pressure. The washable version in this guide exists for anyone who finds the waterproof removal too aggressive for daily use. Compare volumizing alternatives in our volumizing mascara guide.
Two-Step vs One-Step: Honest Comparison
The two-step system delivers measurably more volume than any single coat of regular mascara, because the primer physically builds fiber before the color defines it. The price is time, an extra sixty seconds plus drying, and complexity that punishes rushing. One-step mascaras like the ones in our Monsieur Big guide get you eighty percent of the drama in half the time.
Choose the system for events, evenings, and photography, where maximum lashes matter. Choose one-step for daily wear, when the time cost outweighs the volume gain. Owning both and choosing by the day is the practical answer, not brand loyalty.
Common Mistakes That Ruin the System
Pumping the wand introduces air that dries the formula and breeds bacteria; twist the wand inside the tube instead. Applying the topcoat over wet primer creates gray, clumpy lashes, which is the number one user error. Overloading the primer, more than one coat, makes the base too thick for the color to cover smoothly.
Letting the primer dry too long, past two minutes, makes it flake when the topcoat goes on; the window is sixty to ninety seconds. The system rewards precision and punishes improvisation, which is why rushed mornings should default to the single-step alternatives.