The Strangest Mascara You've Ever Seen | Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara Review

What is the weirdest mascara you've ever tried? I feel like in comparison to Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara other mascaras are just average. Have you ever seen a mascara with a metal wand that doesn't even look like a brush? I'm a makeup freak and a person who loves Neogen products - Real Vita C series gave me a hope that pigmentation issues can be solved, and white truffle series saves my skin every time my skin gets dehydrated. I couldn't do anything else than test Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara and share my experience with you.

About the brand - Neogen

I did it so many times, but let's start the story again. Neogen is a brand which you can often see on Kherblog. It was one of the first K-beauty brands I've tried. I'm sorry to my ex-boss if she reads this, but I used to take a more extended break and go shopping for Neogen instead of eating dinner. Nothing has changed - I still skip dinner breaks to perform the treatment and go home earlier. My history with Neogen started three years ago, but this brand is not that young. Neogen is a brand that mix technology and nature to create products. It's sister-brand RE:P is probably the first K-beauty Vegan brand with Leaping Bunny Certificate - if you search for a certificate, you'll find that Neogen's and RE:P's mother-company - Outin Futures - got certificated. Neogen has its youtube channel with useful skin care tips called NEOGEN DermaTV. In 2018 Neogen released new moisturizer in collaboration with Joan Kim (fun fact: you can find the photo I took in Joan's video). What's the difference between Neogen Dermalogy and Neogen Code9? Both Neogen lines are high-quality series at affordable prices, but Dermalogy products are similar to cosmeceuticals while Code9 is a fashionable and trendy line.

The History of Mascaras

I want to mention the history of mascaras because it's a key to understand Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara. Why do we even have lashes? Lashes have an important function in our lives - they protect your eyes from the dust. We know that the history of mascaras starts in Ancient Egypt, where people applied Kohl to shade the lashes. I always thought that Maybelline created first mascara, but in fact, Eugène Rimmel created first mascara. According to Face Paint: The Story of Makeup by Lisa Eldridge, the first mascara got created in 1860 by Eugène Rimmel. It was a mix of petroleum jelly and coal dust. In 1917 Maybelline Cake Mascara came out. It doesn't look like anything you can find today on the market. Can you imagine a mascara with a toothbrush and in a solid form? Old ads are telling us that Maybelline Lash-Brow-Ine Mascara was available in two different formulas - liquid and solid. Would you imagine using the mascara from the tube? Max Factor has invented one for professional makeup purposes, but in 1958 Max Factor release the product which is very similar to what we can find today in Neogen's product - Max Factor Mascara Wand. The same year - Helena Rubinstein released first mascara that looks similar to Max Factor's metal mascara wand.

Neogen is not the only brand with a metal wand brush. I do not know if there are any similar mascaras to Neogen's in South Korea, which is an accurate joke because I stick to K-beauty mascaras lately. But I'm aware that brands like Hourglass and Oriflame have similar mascaras in their offers.

Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara - Packaging

Mascara comes in a box that fits the aesthetic - long, black and gold. Inside the box, you can find one of the most elegant mascara packagings I've ever seen. Usually, mascaras look cheap and plastic, while Neogen gives me this bold feeling. The second part of this mascara is made out of thick glass.

Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara - Texture

It's hard to say anything about the texture, it won't be gunky because the wand is tiny and it takes less formula than normal brushes.

Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara - Scent

I do not know what do you expect, but it smells like a mascara, there's no scent of flowers or anything - it's just another mascara.

Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara - Wand

I wanted to try metal wand mascara for a long time. First of all, metal wands seem to be easier to disinfect, so why can't we make them a thing? It is important for me because I'm living with a person who has Demodex and I'm aware that people use makeup testers at shops - I've never tested a mascara at the store and I even took my own mascara with me before makeup classes because I DO NOT TRUST PEOPLE! Being an esthetician (even during the internship) makes you aware that Dr House was right - everybody lies. People sometimes don't know about their skin and eye diseases just like not every makeup artist is a real makeup artist that knows the key point of makeup - keep yourself and your client safe! Some makeup stores do not disinfect makeup as well and that's the problem! I'm aware that this mascara will be used at home only by me, but I like to disinfect my mascara wand. Also, think about it - wouldn't it be better to have one wand and just switch the mascara for a lower cost? Wouldn't it be better for the environment?

I'm aware that this metal wand might be scary, but the application process isn't that bad. There are different types of makeup wands available. The metal brush in Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara looks similar to micro-wand. Innisfree Skinny Microcara and Kiss Me Heroine Micro Mascara Advanced Film use non-metal micro wands. The metal wand in Neogen's mascara isn't that tiny - it's a bit too wide for my eye, but it's a thin wand and it makes application easier for me. I've got small eyes and my eyelashes are straight, almost not visible so I love a very dramatic look, but usually dramatic eyelashes equal mascara smudges all over my eyes. I guess micro mascaras are popular in Asian countries (Innisfree and Neogen are Korean brands, while Kiss Me is a Japanese brand) because there are differences between Asian and Caucasian lashes. There are even researches on this topic! To make it simple - Caucasian eyelashes are lifted and more curly than Asian eyelashes - flat and straight. But life is not that simple and I'm sure that each one of us has friends who have different roots, because of the migration of people we all have different genes - thanks to my genes I got tiny eyes with almost straight eyelashes and when you put fake eyelashes on my eyes - it just doesn't work, my eyelashes are going to get even lower under the weight of fake eyelashes. The wand in Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara seems to be like a hope for my eyelashes - I can finally grab them well without smudging mascara all over my eye. By the way, smudging is a huge problem of mine - my eyes are smaller and I usually open my eyes to the level where mascara can easily transfer to the area under my eyebrow.

Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara - Ingredients

Isododecane, Polyethylene, Isobutylmethacrylate/Bis-Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Acrylate Copolymer, Microcrystalline Wax, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Water, Dextrin Palmitate/Ethylhexanoate, Iron Oxides(CI 77499), Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ceresin, Crambe Maritima Leaf Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydrolyzed Swiftlet Nest Extract, Hydrolyzed Rhodophycea Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, BHT, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Propylene Carbonate

I'm not a fan of makeup formulations. I had cosmetic chemistry at med school where pigments was a part of my studies and I've decided to not go through all the ingredients because I don't feel like I can do it. All I can say is, why there's Hydrolyzed Swiftlet Nest Extract? I would never suspect to see Swiftlet Nest in any form in a mascara. Not only Neogen's mascara but any mascara.

Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara - My experience

I switch mascaras a lot because when you wear eye contacts it's hard to find ideal mascara. The reason why I bought Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara was mostly the price, I didn't even notice the metal wand at first, but what was my reaction to the wand? I was truly happy - I wanted to try this type of brush after watching some youtube videos. The brush might be a bit too big for my eye, but it's very comfortable to use. I didn't poke my eye, I wasn't even scared of using it. This mascara is helpful when you need to apply thin layers of formula on your eyelashes because the wand is so thin that it's impossible to get too much formula on the brush. The brand suggests making upward movements to apply the mascara well. And it all sounds great to the moment of application. I like the wand, but the formula doesn't work for me. I've tried to do upwards movements, I tried the zig-zag technique and I guess I know what's the problem. Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara is a mascara that lengths the eyelashes, even if the brand says it lengths, volumize and curl lashes. It should also stay in your eyes for 33 hours. I can believe that it can stay for such a long time on your eyelashes because I struggle to remove it with micellar water every single time - this mascara needs to be removed with an oil cleanser. It's a waterproof formula so what do we expect? Back to the main topic, my eyelashes are thin and I started to focus on volume a lot. One coat is quite okay as long as you use upwards motion, in this case, the zig-zag technique is not the best idea. I'm aware that for many people one coat is not enough so I've decided to add a 2nd coat. What would you expect? Longer and fuller lashes? Not with my eyelashes! It does look like my eyelashes are longer, but when I open the eye - my eyelashes are not going with the same direction as my eye. They decided to stay flat. And don't they look a bit like spider legs with the two coats on? Actually, I feel like my eyelashes look like spider legs with every mascara. I treat this mascara more like a gadget and a makeup "news" that isn't really new because that's an old classic in revamped form. I believe some people might love it, but for my eyelashes? I will stick to Missha Volume Boost Cara. I have to mention that Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara has refill options - that's a great idea which I haven't seen before with makeup. It's clever because I have a friend who doesn't use any other makeup brush than her favourite one and if she can't find a mascara she likes - she just switches the brushes. If your eyes are sensitive - don't worry, my eyes had no bad reactions to this mascara, but I'm aware sensitivity to the product is individual.

Neogen Code9 Extra Clear Eye Remover

It's not all, Neogen decided to release eye remover designed to remove Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara from your eyelashes. Sadly, I couldn't find it at any online store (and I'm not sure if I can order to my country from Neogen's website. This eye makeup remover should work with waterproof formulas.

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isododecane, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Water, Juglans Regia (Walnut) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Sapindus Trifoliatus Fruit Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Propolis Extract, Milk Protein Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dextrin, Arginine, Calcium Carbonate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

The main focus here is on the oils. Juglans Regia (Walnut) Seed Oil is an oil which I haven't seen before. I'm aware of the use of peanut oil in skincare, but walnut? It's a source of linoleic acid and it should be a good oil for sensitive skin. Majority of the oils in this formula are having more linoleic than oleic fatty acids. Neogen focused on moisturizing and preventing irritation in the eye area. Isododecane is a solvent that helps remove the mascara, it might be weird because the Maxicara itself has it too. Isododecane has wide use in cosmetics.

Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara - Price & Where to buy it?

I have mixed feelings about this mascara, it's not a product I'm going to repurchase, but I recommend you the experience of using a non-typical mascara. Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara (4ml) costs $44 on Jolse, while refill costs $39 on Neogen's website. Neogen also sells Neogen Code9 Extra Curl Metal Maxicara and Neogen Code9 Extra Clear Eye Remover (50ml) for $59 - the eye remover costs $15 in a normal sale. Akoco sells the same set as Neogen for $29.99. It's a quite rare product and only a few online shops have it.

Overall, the mascara didn't work for me, but the wand stays with me and I'm sure I'm going to test it with other formulas.

What's your favourite mascara?

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