Beauty Maybelline Falsies Guide: Apply, Layer, and Remove Them All
An educational guide from the Beauty AMZ research team. No hard sell, just what you need to know.
Why the Falsies Line Endures
Maybelline launched Falsies to give drugstore shoppers a false-lash look without glue. The original Volum Express became a bestseller through its spoon brush and kera-fiber formula. Lash Lift later added the lash-extension effect that salons charge fifty dollars for. The line stays relevant because each formula costs less than a coffee shop visit. New brush shapes keep the franchise fresh without raising prices.
When to Replace Your Tube
Mascara expires three months after opening, faster than any other makeup. Old formula breeds bacteria that cause styes and infections. Signs of expiry include a sour smell, dry clumps, and extra flaking. Pumping the wand pushes air inside and dries the tube faster. If you cannot remember the open date, replace it. Your eyes deserve a fresh tube.
Recommended Products
These are the products our research team rates highest in this category.
Best for: Straight lashes that need visible lift.
Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Washable Mascara, Very Black
- Double-curved lifting brush
- Fiber-infused lifting formula
- Volume that lasts all day
- Ophthalmologist tested, lens safe
Pros
- Real lift without a lash curler
- No clumps, smears, or flakes
- Removes easily at night
Cons
- Needs two coats for drama
- Wand is large for small eyes
- Can smudge on very oily lids
Best for: Bold black lashes with a lifted curl.
Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Washable Mascara, Ultra Black
- Deepest black pigment in the line
- Same double-curved brush
- Root-to-tip grab and lift
- Suitable for sensitive eyes
Pros
- Intense black for evening looks
- Lifts and lengthens in one pass
- Gentle on contact lens wearers
Cons
- Darker color shows flakes more
- Wand learning curve
- Sells out in peak seasons
Best for: A flared, winged lash look on a budget.
Maybelline Volum Express Falsies Push Up Angel Washable Mascara, Blackest Black
- Push-up wing brush shape
- Sweeps lashes outward for wings
- Styling formula holds the lift
- Washable, soap-and-water removal
Pros
- Winged lash effect from a tube
- Cheapest in the Falsies family
- Holds the curl all day
Cons
- Wing effect needs practice
- Formula dries fast in tube
- Not waterproof
Best for: Classic falsies volume for everyday wear.
Maybelline Volum Express Falsies Volumizing Washable Mascara, Blackest Black
- Patented spoon brush
- Kera-fiber volume formula
- Up to 8x more volume claim
- Flexible wand lifts and separates
Pros
- Classic volume at a low price
- Separates without clumping
- Great for lower lashes too
Cons
- Older formula, less lift
- Can flake by evening
- Brush picks up a lot of product
Best for: Humid climates and long wedding days.
Maybelline Volum Express Falsies Volumizing Waterproof Mascara, Very Black, 2 Count
- Waterproof falsies volume
- Two-tube value pack
- Spoon brush plus kera-fiber
- Contact lens safe
Pros
- Survives humidity and tears
- Two tubes cut the per-unit cost
- Same volume as the classic
Cons
- Needs oil remover to take off
- Heavier feel than washable
- Can dry lashes with daily use
Ready to Choose?
See our top product picks for maybelline falsies, or jump straight to the head-to-head comparison of the two most popular options.
Mascara Hygiene Beyond the 3-Month Rule
"Replace every three months" is where hygiene guidance stops, but the details matter more. Never pump the wand; the pumping motion forces air into the tube, drying the formula and introducing bacteria with every stroke. Instead, swirl the wand once inside the tube. Never share mascara, even with close family; eye infections transfer directly through shared wands, and no amount of wiping the wand clean makes sharing safe. Do not add water or saline to revive dried mascara; the added liquid breeds bacteria in the nutrient-rich formula. The signs of contamination are specific: a gasoline or chemical smell change, unusual clumping that was not there before, and any eye redness or itching after application. Any of these means immediate disposal, regardless of the calendar.
Store mascara at room temperature, not in hot bathrooms where heat accelerates bacterial growth. For the full Falsies lineup, the Lash Lift versus Volum Express face-off compares the formulas.
Mascara for Sparse, Aging Lashes
Thinning lashes with age need a different mascara strategy than full young lashes. Conditioning formulas with flexible polymers suit sparse lashes better than stiff volumizing ones; the flexible film coats without clumping the few lashes together into spidery clusters. Tubing mascaras deserve special mention for aging eyes: the polymer tubes add visible length to short, sparse lashes without the smudging that traditional formulas cause on hooded lids, and they remove with warm water alone, sparing fragile lashes the rubbing that waterproof removers demand. The application technique shifts too: wiggle at the base for definition, then pull straight through without overloading the tips, since heavy tips on sparse lashes look clumpy rather than full.
Avoid waterproof formulas for daily wear on aging lashes; the removal friction costs lashes that are already sparse. Reserve waterproof for the occasions that truly need it. The lash lift mascara guide covers the false-lash effect technique for special events.
Lower-Lash Mascara: The Fine-Brush Options
Full-size wands overwhelm lower lashes, smudging product onto the under-eye within hours. The dedicated lower-lash approach uses fine, small brushes that deposit precise product: purpose-built lower-lash mascaras with micro-wands, or the tip of a standard wand used vertically with a light hand. The technique is blotting the wand first to remove excess, then touching just the tips of the lower lashes rather than coating from base to tip. Waterproof or tubing formulas outperform washable on lower lashes because the under-eye area's natural moisture dissolves standard formulas fastest; this is the one zone where waterproof earns its place daily. One coat is the limit; second coats on lower lashes clump without adding visible benefit.
If lower-lash mascara always smudges regardless of formula, the cause is usually under-eye moisture rather than the mascara; a light set with translucent powder on the under-eye area before mascara solves most transfer. Skip lower mascara entirely on days when the eyes water.