Beauty Sky High Blackest Black vs Waterproof: Which Mascara Wins
Sky High comes in washable Blackest Black and a waterproof version. Both lengthen dramatically, but they suit different days. Here is how to choose.
| Factor | Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High - B | Maybelline Sky High 2-Count - Blackest B |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | Washable Blackest Black | Waterproof |
| Length and volume | Excellent | Excellent |
| Smudge resistance | Good, sets well | Superior in humidity |
| Removal | Easy with cleanser | Needs oil remover |
| Lash health | Gentler for daily use | Can stress lashes |
| Best for | Everyday drama | Swimming, tears, humidity |
| Price | Around 9 to 13 dollars | Around 9 to 13 dollars |
Our Verdict
Choose Blackest Black washable for everyday wear. It removes easily and treats lashes kindly. Choose waterproof for beach days, weddings, and humid climates. Its staying power is unmatched when it matters. Many users keep both and switch by occasion.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Adding warm dimension, especially flattering on brown and blue eyes.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High - Burgundy Haze
- Burgundy Haze shade
- Warm reddish-brown
- Lengthening fibers
- Flex Tower brush
Pros
- Makes eyes pop
- Softer than black
- Unique shade
Cons
- Subtle effect
- Not for drama lovers
Best for: Everyday black mascara with Sky High length.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High - Cosmic Black
- Cosmic Black shade
- True soft black
- Bamboo-infused formula
- Buildable length
Pros
- Natural-looking black
- Great everyday shade
- Easy to wear
Cons
- Less intense than Blackest
- Similar to original
Best for: Humid days, weddings, and anything requiring bulletproof lashes.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof - Very Black
- Waterproof formula
- Very Black shade
- Smudge-proof wear
- Number 1 in Mascara
Pros
- Survives everything
- Bestselling mascara
- Great price
Cons
- Needs oil remover
- Can dry lashes
Washable vs Waterproof Sky High: The Real Decision
The Blackest Black washable and the Very Black waterproof lengthen identically, the difference is entirely about your day, and the decision matrix makes it concrete. Choose washable for everyday wear, office days, and any day you will remove makeup gently at night, the easy removal preserves lashes over months and years. Choose waterproof for weddings, beach days, emotional events, workouts, and humid climates, anywhere water, sweat, or tears threaten. The removal cost is the honest tradeoff, waterproof demands the press-and-dissolve routine with oil-based remover, every aggressive removal breaks a few lashes, while washable comes off with regular cleanser. Many long-term users land on the rotation, washable most days, waterproof for the days that earn it, which gives the best of both without the cumulative lash damage of daily waterproof. The Burgundy Haze shade adds a third option for washable days, a softer reddish-brown for daylight. Our Sky High mascara guide covers shades and application technique.
Burgundy Haze: The Brown-Adjacent Option
Burgundy Haze deserves its own discussion because it sits in the under-covered territory between black and brown. The warm reddish-brown shade flatters green and hazel eyes spectacularly, the red tones contrast the green in a way black never does, and it is softer than black on fair skin, blondes, and redheads. In daylight it reads as a rich, interesting alternative to black, noticeable as a choice rather than a default, while in evening light it deepens toward black. Who should try it, anyone bored with black, warm-toned makeup wearers whose blush and lipstick lean peachy or terracotta, and green-eyed buyers who have never seen what the right mascara shade does for their eye color. Who should skip it, cool-toned makeup wearers may find it clashes, and anyone wanting maximum drama should stay with Blackest Black. The shade is washable-only, which positions it as the daytime adventure shade, special enough for interest, easy enough for daily removal.
Removing Sky High: Washable vs Waterproof Methods
The two formulas need completely different removal approaches, and using the wrong one causes the damage. Washable Sky High, warm water and your regular cleanser, or micellar water on a pad, dissolves it with minimal rubbing, the bamboo fibers release easily, which is the formula's underrated advantage. Waterproof Sky High, saturate a pad with oil-based remover, press over closed eyes for a full 30 seconds, then wipe downward, letting the dissolver work instead of your fingers. Ranked by lash impact, washable removal is dramatically gentler, which compounds over years of daily wear, while waterproof removal, done correctly, is acceptable occasionally but costly daily. Never scrub either formula, never pick at waterproof with nails, and never sleep in waterproof "just this once," dried waterproof plus pillow friction breaks lashes efficiently. If you wear waterproof often, alternate with washable days and consider a nighttime lash serum to support the follicles. Removal is half the mascara equation, and the washable formula wins it decisively.
Oily Lids and Sky High: Keeping Length Intact
Oily eyelids are the enemy of lengthening mascara, since migrating oils dissolve the formula and drag it under the eyes. The prevention routine, prime the lids with a light dusting of translucent powder or eyeshadow primer before mascara, which absorbs oil at the source. Set the under-eye area, powder catches transfer before it sets into concealer. Choose the formula strategically, the waterproof version resists oil migration far better than the washable, making it the better pick for oily-lidded wearers even on non-water days, with the removal tradeoff accepted consciously. Blot at midday, a quick press of blotting paper on the lids removes oil before it reaches the lashes. The Flex Tower brush's separating action helps here too, defined separated lashes transfer less than clumped loaded ones. If smudging persists through all of this, tubing mascara is the final answer, its polymer film ignores oil completely. Most Sky High smudging complaints trace to oily lids, not the formula, fix the canvas and the length stays put. For shade comparisons, see our best Sky High shades reviewed.