I’ve heard many great things about Innisfree’s Skinny Microcara, particularly on how well it works for those with short, sparse lashes, so when I saw this new release which claims to be an upgraded version of that mascara, I was intrigued. Of course, I do also prefer this version’s sleek packaging compared to its predecessor, so why not, right? Let’s see how it fares.

Claims:

+ Waterproof mascara with distinctive micro skinny brush that coats lashes from base to tip with smudge-proof layer of volume.

+ It is the new version of Skinny Waterproof Microcara Mascara which has better performance on water-resistance and curling ability.

+ The brush length is also reduced from 20mm to 14mm, which makes it easier for people who have single eyelids or inner double eyelids to apply on lashes.

+ With a 2.5mm diameter, the brush helps lift and thicken every single lash without lumping. It is strong against water, sweat and sebum.

Key features:

Stay neat all day without smudging!

Non-aqueous powder strong against tears creates one layer and sebum-protective film polymer creates another layer. The strengthened layering shield maintains clean eyelash makeup without smudging.

Keep eyelashes neatly curled as it permed without drooping!

Heavy ingredients are avoided, ultra light powder that lightly and closely adheres to eyelashes is used for maximum curling time.

NEW skinny brush to apply content neatly without gunk!
The skinny micro brush optimized for Korean eyes meticulously brushes every lash closely from the roots to produce neat eyes without clutter.

Recommended for:

Customers with weak and thin eyelashes.

Customers with more fat on the eyelid and lower lash line who often experience mascara staining on the skin and smudging after time.

Customers with short and straight eyelashes who have difficulty curling them up.

Ingredients:

Cyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Microcrystalline Wax, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Vp/eicosene Copolymer, Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trihydroxystearin, Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Propylene Carbonate, Stearoyl Inulin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, 1,2-hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water.

Volume: 3.5g

How to use:

1. Starting from the roots of the eyelashes, apply by pressing firmly and moving upward in a zigzag fashion.

2. Hold the brush vertically (upright) and reapply to ensure that each strand of the upper, lower and shorter lashes is evenly coated in the front and back.

3. Thoroughly apply on the lower lashes for a more well-defined eye makeup.

*Innisfree Tip:

For some users, the eyelashes may become white due to the features of the eyes. In such cases, lightly apply No-Sebum Powder around the eyes before wearing mascara. This reduces the appearance of white eyelashes and increases the staying power.

My Skin Type: Sensitive (prone to redness), Combination, Acne-prone, Dehydrated

My Eyelash Type: Fairly long natural lashes which tend to shoot straight down and has trouble keeping a curl throughout the day. Lower lashes are shorter and sparser than upper lashes.

Innisfree Skinny Microcara Zero 02 Brown Review:

Similar to its predecessor, the Innisfree Skinny Microcara Zero has very fine bristles, and while I’ve never owned nor personally used the original, I was keen to see how it fares – especially for my lower lashes which have the tendency to smudge when any kind of mascara is used.

Also, considering how my lashes have the tendency to shoot straight down and does not handle heavy mascara well (so far, only Asian-formulated mascaras have proved successful at keeping my lashes curled all day), I was hoping to see a favorable outcome.

So, again, I do not own the original, but I do have a physical Innisfree store nearby, so here’s a comparison picture of the old and new Microcara bristles. As you can see, the latest version is shorter in length (less bristles) – presumably from 20mm to 14mm as mentioned in the product claims. As for the packaging, instead of a simple off-white, the new Microcara is a sleek dark grey. Neither has a distinct scent, so that’s great.

Naturally, my lashes are fairly long (for an Asian?) so I personally don’t have issues with sparse lashes – at least for my upper eyelid. I do, however, have short and sparse lower lashes. Also, unless curled, my lashes do tend to shoot straight down, similar to most Asians.

Another factor to take in it the weather I live in. On most days, it’s very hot and humid, and often, I will sweat easily, which means that unless I wear waterproof or smudge-proof eye makeup, you can bet on me looking like a tired panda by the end of the day.

So with that said, Innisfree’s claims of this mascara being waterproof was truly why I gave in despite usually wanting dramatic, curled lashes all day. Not to mention the curiosity of how my lashes would look with a more natural tint of brown instead of black.

Results-wise, I honestly have mixed opinions on it. While its thin, spaced out, short bristles are indeed great at separating (almost) each individual eyelash and hence works amazing at amplifying that “natural lash” look, it’s only decent at withstanding humidity and sweat and maybe a few tears.

So, yes, unfortunately, it’s not completely waterproof as I could still end up with almost panda eyes if I cry or sweat. However, this mostly happens if I coat my lower lashes with mascara (my eternal problem, unfortunately), so not all is lost! And if I do still end up with a few smudges here and there, it’s fairly easy to rub off of my skin. So it’s definitely not the worst longevity for a mascara out of my past collection, but not the best.

In terms of holding a curl, I’m glad to say that it does not disappoint (that much)! Due to its light formulation, it’s less prone to weighing down my lashes which enables the curl to last longer. However, you definitely need an eyelash curler before using this mascara as it won’t work to curl your lashes on its own.

Also, I do find that this mascara’s curling ability isn’t too consistent, so if you’re really looking for your eyelashes to stay curled all day, I’d definitely advise you to look for an eyelash primer to use before mascara.

Looking at the removal process, it’s neither the easiest nor the most difficult. This mascara won’t come off instantly with say, micellar water, but in general, cleansing oil and bi-phase eye & lip makeup removers will do the job just fine. Just be sure to always be gentle on the eyes, kids!

Overall, the Innisfree Skinny Microcara Zero is a good mascara, but it’s definitely not life-changing – at least for me. I’ll still keep using it as my main mascara until it runs out because I love how it separates my lashes extremely well, but I probably will not repurchase. Furthermore, while it does enable me to apply mascara on my sparse lower lashes with minimal accidental smudging, I find that it’s still a hit or miss in terms of longevity, so the search continues!

Also, just an extra tip/insight: unless you have fair skin or don’t fancy the traditional black mascaras at all, definitely opt for the Black version of this (if you’re interested in purchasing). As this mascara gives off very natural-looking lashes, I find that sometimes the Brown shade makes my lashes less obvious it blends into my medium skin-tone.

However, my friends say it looks just fine, so maybe it’s just me not being used to the lighter tint! In the end, as with all makeup and skincare, YMMV!