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This may be a controversial take, especially as a beauty editor, but if I were stuck on a desert island and needed a hypothetical beauty product to help get me through, mascara would be the last on my list. My lashes are poker straight (which is common for Asians) and can be hard to hold a curl. When I had lash extensions, it was absolutely marvelous, but it’s a beauty commitment I’m not ready to return to, as my nails and hair are already high maintenance!
Anyway, I’m not a mascara-hater, but I haven’t had the best of luck—many of my favorites, like Marc Jacobs Beauty’s Velvet Noir, and CoverGirl’s Total Tease, have been discontinued. It takes something special to get me and my lashes’ attention, these days. Luckily, I’m happy to report that I’ve been wearing mascara almost every day, and I have Rihanna to thank, or, specifically, the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara ($19).
Fenty Beauty, Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara — $15.00
How it works
Hella Thicc aims to give you what it states in its name: thickness and va-va-volume. Ever since it rocked the beauty industry with its debut in 2017, Fenty has become known for its innovative formulas and packaging. Both Hella Thicc’s tube and mascara brush have a distinct tapered design. The octagon-shaped tube allows for a solid grip (much like the Flyliner Longwear Liquid Eyeliner). Meanwhile, the mascara brush is tapered and thinner compared to the brand’s Full Frontal mascara, which has a fluffy, oval brush.
While there are no specific ingredient callouts (there don’t seem to be any plant-based oils for hydration, or things like that), it is made to be transfer-resistant, sweat-proof and humidity and water-resistant.
My honest review
For anyone looking for a dupe for Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir, this one is something to consider, especially since they both fell under the same beauty incubator, Kendo Brands. Kirbie Johnson, who co-hosts the beauty podcast Gloss Angeles and is a die-hard Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir fan, says that while it’s not an exact “dupe,” it’s a decent alternative to the beloved Velvet Noir. I’d have to agree—the formula is very pigmented and it brought ample lift and drama to my lashes.
The wear was also impressive; after going out to dinner with friends, my lashes still looked good by the end of the night with no sign of transfer or clumping. One thing that I did notice was it does have a more spidery look, but if you don’t prefer that, you can use a lash comb to separate and remove the access. If you crave a super black mascara that will bring out your eyes and give you intense volume, pick up Hella Thicc on your next beauty shopping trip.
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