GIORGIO ARMANI EYES TO KILL MASACARA - PRODUCT REVIEW

I have heard for almost a year about the glory that is the Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara; however, it is not sold at any of the Sephora or Ulta stores in the two counties in my area.  I searched high and low and finally found it at Nordstrom.  Eureka!  The downfall of so much hype about something though is that it doesn't always live up to your expectations, but when it does it is glorious.

The Packaging: Mmmm, carbon colored.  This super tech-chic packaging makes whipping this stuff out easy in just about any location.  Its low profile carbon color scheme does not scream, "Give me attention," and instead lets the eyes do the talking.  One of the first things that I noticed about this packaging is that the product name "Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill" is not simply printed onto the tube.  Instead it is stamped in, one with its mascara universe, so you don't have to worry about the name wearing off over time.  It will forever be Eyes to Kill.  The diameter of the packaging is pretty standard.  The mascara wand itself is quite lovely.  The firmness of the applicator stem is perfect for a steady application while giving you just enough bend so it gives in to the delicacy of your lashes.

The Brush:  I think Cinderella put it best with, "So this is love, mmhmm mmm hmmm."  For me this is the perfect brush.  Fine bristles allow for full application of the mascara formula on each lash while keeping them separated so you get a more natural looking lash when all is said and done.  The brush picks up the perfect amount of product so you don't glop it on or find yourself having to comb through your lashes later to separate the gunk.  The brush applicator itself is the same width from brush top to base which helps to get into those hard to get lashes in the inner corner of your eye.

  

 Application: The highlight of the Eyes to Kill undeniably has to be the quality of black this mascara carries.  Not to get too Dr. Seuss on you but it is not blue-black, it is not brown-black, it is not grey or charcoal or onyx.  This black is black - the absence of color - black.

The Eyes to Kill is labeled as volumizing from Giorgio Armani and I find that statement could be true if you applied it more than once.  In these pictures I only applied it one time for top and bottom.

This mascara formula is not the waterproof formula, though it is offered in the Giorgio Armani mascara line.  I didn't plan ahead and wore this to a funeral recently and it actually lasted through a few hours of crying leaving me without ANY raccoon eyes.  I was shocked, to say the least, since this is not the waterproof formula.

The Calculations: This mascara runs around $30.00 per tube.

The Verdict: So did Eyes to Kill live up to the hype?  Paying $30.00 for a mascara is hard for me to justify in most cases but this one I will be repurchasing; the depth of black is amazing, separation of lashes is perfect, and durability is just what the doctor ordered.  It's a mascara I actually look forward to putting on every morning.  The brush takes the struggle out of having to go back and fix lashes that have married together and covers from base to tip, front to back.  Love, love, love!