Beauty Great Lash Washable vs Waterproof Mascara: Which to Buy
The pink and green tube comes in two formulas, and the choice affects your whole routine. Here is how Washable compares with Waterproof.
| Factor | Maybelline Great Lash Washable Mascara, | Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Check price | Check price |
| Removal | Soap and water | Needs oil-based remover |
| Smudge resistance | Good | Excellent |
| Best for | Daily wear, office | Humidity, events, sports |
| Lash feel | Soft, flexible | Slightly firmer hold |
| Sensitive eyes | Very gentle | Gentle, harder removal |
Our Verdict
Choose Washable for everyday wear, because easy removal protects your lashes and saves time. Choose Waterproof for humid days, workouts, weddings, and any tear-risk event. Most Great Lash fans keep both and switch as needed. At this price, owning both costs less than one prestige mascara.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Great Lash fans wanting bigger, bolder lashes.
Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara, Very Black
- Heart-shaped volume brush
- Lash-doubling formula
- Thickening and curling effect
- Bolder than the original
Pros
- Most volume in the line
- Fun shaped brush
- Still very affordable
Cons
- Can clump if rushed
- Brush takes practice
- May be discontinued, stock varies
Best for: Natural lash and brow grooming without color.
Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara
- Clear gel formula
- Sets lashes naturally
- Doubles as brow gel
- No color, just polish
Pros
- Perfect no-makeup days
- Great brow tamer
- Cheapest in the line
Cons
- No lash color payoff
- Limited availability
- Basic hold
Best for: A subtle blue lash twist for blue or brown eyes.
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, Royal Blue
- Fun Royal Blue shade
- Same trusted formula
- Subtle color pop
- Washable removal
Pros
- Makes eyes pop
- Subtle, not costume-y
- Same low price
Cons
- Not for conservative looks
- Limited shade stock
- Blue suits fewer people
The Classic Revisited: What Great Lash Still Does Well
Maybelline Great Lash in Very Black and the Clear formula have survived decades, and the honest assessment is that the classic still earns its place for specific buyers. The small brush is the secret: it reaches every lash including the inner corners and lower lashes that big volumizing wands overwhelm, making it ideal for small eyes, short lashes, and precise application. The formula is a straightforward washable mascara, which means easy removal, no lash stress, and suitability for sensitive eyes that react to complex volumizing formulas. What it does not do is modern drama: buyers expecting false lash volume will be disappointed, since the formula builds natural definition rather than bulk. The Lots of Lashes variant adds a heart shaped brush for more volume while keeping the classic formula's gentleness. The Clear mascara is the underrated half of this page: it grooms brows, sets them in place, and defines lashes for no makeup days without any pigment. The value proposition is real: at the classic price point, the cost per wear is among the lowest in the category, and the small tube gets used up before it expires, unlike oversized prestige tubes. For buyers who want modern drama, our Falsies buyer guide covers the volumizing end of the Maybelline range.
Clear Mascara: The Minimalist Multi Tool
Clear mascara is the most underrated product in the category, and the gender neutral and minimal makeup angles go completely unaddressed. Clear formula defines lashes with a subtle sheen, grooms and sets brows, and tames flyaways in a pinch, all without visible pigment. For minimal makeup wearers, it provides the finished eye look without the made up signal, and it survives close inspection in a way pigmented mascara does not. For men, it offers lash and brow definition with zero color, addressing the shade matching problem by eliminating shade entirely. Application is forgiving: the clear formula shows no clumps and needs no precision, making it the best first mascara for teenagers or makeup beginners. It also serves as a brow setter over pomade or pencil, locking brow products in place through the day. The limitations are honest: it provides no volume, no length, and no curl hold, so it suits the natural look exclusively. It can also serve as a lash primer of sorts under pigmented mascara, though dedicated primers perform better. The hygiene rules apply equally: replace on schedule and never share. For buyers ready to step up to pigmented definition, our Voluminous buyer guide covers the classic next step.
Budget vs Prestige: The Honest Performance Gap
The budget versus prestige mascara debate needs an honest performance breakdown rather than brand loyalty. What prestige reliably buys: more refined brush engineering, better formula consistency across batches, and elegant packaging. What it does not reliably buy: longer wear, since many drugstore formulas match or beat prestige on longevity; more volume, since the volumizing arms race is led by mass brands; or better hygiene, since the three month rule applies universally. Where the gap is real is in specialty formulas: tubing technology, sensitive eye formulations, and lash conditioning ingredients appear in prestige lines first. Great Lash at its price demonstrates the core truth: a simple, well executed formula with a good brush outperforms a mediocre prestige mascara every time. The smart money approach is to spend on the specialty need, such as tubing for lens wearers or sensitive formulas for reactive eyes, and save on the everyday volumizer. Minis and travel sizes are the economical way to test prestige before committing to full prices. One caveat: counterfeit mascaras are a real problem online, and the eye infection risk from fakes is serious, so buy prestige from authorized retailers only. For the prestige volumizing benchmark, our BADgal BANG buyer guide shows what the higher price tier offers.