Falsies Washable vs Waterproof: Which Mascara Wins Here

The Falsies Lash Lift comes in washable and waterproof formulas with the same lifting brush. One prioritizes easy removal. The other prioritizes all-day staying power. This comparison helps you match the formula to your life.
| Factor | Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Washabl | Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Waterpr |
|---|---|---|
| Formula Type | Washable, easy removal | Waterproof, maximum staying power |
| Best Weather | Normal days and office wear | Humidity, sweat and tears |
| Removal | Warm water and cleanser | Oil-based remover needed |
| Lash Feel | Softer, more flexible lashes | Slightly drier, firmer hold |
| Ideal User | Everyday easy makeup | Active and emotional lifestyles |
Our Verdict
Choose washable for easy daily wear and gentle removal. Choose waterproof for humid days, workouts and tearful events. Both deliver the same impressive lash lift effect.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.

Best for: Night-out drama with easy removal.
Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Washable Mascara, Blackest Black
- Deepest black pigment in the line
- Double curved lifting brush
- Fiber formula for multiplied lashes
- Washable easy removal
Pros
- Intense black impact
- Washes off easily
Cons
- Bold for daytime minimal looks
- Large brush learning curve

Best for: Daily wearers wanting rich black lift.
Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Washable Mascara, Ultra Black
- Ultra black lash lift mascara
- Volumizing, lengthening and curling
- Double curved brush, fiber formula
- Contact lens safe
Pros
- Rich black without waterproof hassle
- Good curl hold
Cons
- Not for swimming
- Reapply after rubbing eyes
Want the Full Picture?
Mascara on Hooded Eyes: Beating the Transfer Problem
Hooded eyes create mascara's hardest transfer problem: the lid fold touches the lash line when the eyes are open, stamping wet mascara onto the lid and smudging dry mascara off the lashes. The Falsies formulas compared here need the hooded-eye system to perform. First, keep mascara to the upper lashes' outer two-thirds, skipping the inner corner where the fold contact is heaviest. Second, let each coat dry fully, a full sixty seconds, before opening the eyes normally; the transfer happens in the wet window.
Third, set the lid where transfer lands. A light dusting of translucent powder or a skin-toned eyeshadow on the brow bone and fold area gives migrating mascara nothing wet to stick to, and makes any transfer easy to flick away with a clean spoolie. Fourth, consider tubing formulas for the worst cases; the polymer tubes do not transfer once set, which solves the hooded-eye problem at the formula level.
The curl-hold angle matters too. Hooded eyes often come with straight lashes that point into the fold; curling before mascara lifts the lashes away from the contact zone. A heated lash curler holds the curl longer on resistant lashes, keeping them clear of the fold all day. The combination of curl plus quick-dry technique plus set lids beats any single fix. Our volumizing mascara guide covers wand shapes that suit hooded eyes.
Mascara Hygiene: Beyond "Replace Every Three Months"
The three-month replacement rule is real but incomplete; the hygiene practices in between matter as much. The pumping habit, plunging the wand in and out to get more product, forces air into the tube, drying the formula and introducing bacteria with every pump. The correct motion is a single slow withdrawal with a twist, which coats the wand without the air injection. This alone extends both the formula's life and its safety.
The sharing rule is absolute: never share mascara, not even once. Eye infections transfer readily through mascara wands, and the warm, dark tube interior is an ideal bacterial incubator. The contamination signs that mean immediate disposal: a change in smell (sour or chemical), a change in texture (clumpy or unusually thin), and any eye irritation or stye that coincides with use. Do not wait out the three months if these appear.
The waterproof caveat: waterproof formulas' stronger preservatives and solvents make them slightly more resistant to contamination, but they also get used longer because they are "special occasion" products, which means they often exceed the safe window. Date every mascara when opened with a marker on the tube; memory is unreliable and the stakes are eye infections. The sensitive-eyes mascara guide discusses preservative considerations.
Heated Lash Curlers and Mascara: The Combination Guide
Heated lash curlers get passing mentions everywhere but no real testing guidance, so here is the practical version. The mechanism: gentle heat sets the lash curl more durably than mechanical curling alone, similar to how heat sets hair. The order is curl first, then mascara; mascara before heat bakes the formula and can damage lashes. Let the heated curler reach full temperature, clamp at the lash base for ten seconds, and release.
The mascara pairing matters. Tubing mascaras over heat-set curls hold the curl best, since the tubes add minimal weight. Heavy volumizing formulas like the Falsies can drag the curl down; if the curl falls by noon, the formula's weight is the cause, and switching to a lighter tubing formula or a lengthening formula preserves the lift. Waterproof formulas also hold curls better than washable, since their film-formers resist the moisture that relaxes curl.
The safety boundaries: heated curlers should feel warm, never hot, against the lid; any pain means the device is too hot or held too long. Do not use on lash extensions, which the heat can damage, or immediately after lash lifts, where the timing needs professional guidance. For straight, resistant lashes, the heated curler plus tubing mascara is the highest-hold combination available without extensions. Our L'Oreal Telescopic comparison covers lengthening formulas that pair well with curling.