Beauty Monsieur Big vs Waterproof: Which Mascara Should You Buy
The original Monsieur Big and its Waterproof sibling promise the same dramatic volume. The difference is staying power versus easy removal. Here is how they compare.
| Factor | Lancome Monsieur Big Volumizing Mascara | Lancome Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Up to 12x | Up to 12x |
| Water resistance | Smudge-proof | Fully waterproof |
| Removal | Easy with cleanser | Needs oil remover |
| Best occasions | Daily wear | Swim, events, humidity |
| Lash feel | Soft, flexible | Slightly drier |
| Price | Same range | Same range |
Our Verdict
Buy the original Monsieur Big for daily dramatic volume with easy removal. Buy the Waterproof for beach days, weddings, and humid climates. Many fans 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: Travel and trying the formula cheaply.
Lancome Monsieur Big Travel Size
- Travel-size Monsieur Big
- Same volumizing formula
- TSA-friendly
- Try before full-size
Pros
- Affordable trial
- Perfect for travel
- Same performance
Cons
- Runs out fast
- Worse per-ml value
- Tiny handle
Best for: Mascara maximalists wanting extra drama.
Lancome Cils Booster XL Primer
- Lash primer base coat
- Boosts mascara volume
- Conditions lashes
- White fiber formula
Pros
- Mascara looks dramatically better
- Lashes feel conditioned
- Extends mascara wear
Cons
- Extra step
- White cast if over-applied
- Adds cost
Best for: Defined, natural lashes on the go.
Lancome Definicils Travel Mascara
- Lengthening travel mascara
- Separates and defines
- Natural daytime look
- Compact size
Pros
- Beautiful separated lashes
- Great for work looks
- Travel friendly
Cons
- Less volume than Monsieur Big
- Small size
- Not waterproof
Lash Primer Pairings: What Works With What
The Lancôme Cils Booster XL primer in the comparison above raises a question most guides dodge: which primers pair safely with which mascara types. The core rule is that primers are built for traditional mascaras, and they can genuinely interfere with tubing formulas, whose polymer tubes need direct contact with the lash to form properly. A white fiber primer under a tubing mascara often prevents the tubes from sealing, causing flaking that buyers blame on the mascara. So the pairing logic runs: traditional volumizing mascaras like Monsieur Big plus primer is the intended combination, while tubing mascaras should skip primer entirely.
Within traditional formulas, the primer still needs the right technique. Apply the primer, wait 30 to 60 seconds until it is tacky but not wet, then apply mascara: too soon and the formulas slide, too late and the primer has set into a dry base that the mascara cannot grip. One coat of primer is the maximum; two coats create the clumps the primer was supposed to prevent. And the primer ages like mascara, so a tube open longer than three months is adding bacteria, not volume. For buyers deciding whether the primer step is worth it at all, the honest answer is that it matters most for sparse lashes and least for already-full lashes, where the difference is barely visible.
Mascara for Sparse, Aging Lashes
Lashes thin and shorten with age, and the standard volumizing advice assumes a lash density older eyes no longer have. The formulas that flatter sparse lashes share three traits: conditioning ingredients that keep fragile lashes flexible rather than brittle, smaller brushes that can reach every lash without depositing clumps on skin, and washable or tubing removal, since harsh waterproof removal snaps the few lashes that remain. Heavy fiber mascaras are the worst choice here, because the fibers add weight that sparse lashes cannot support and the fallout irritates aging eyes.
The routine matters as much as the tube. Curl before mascara, never after, since curling mascara-coated lashes cracks the formula and pulls lashes. Apply in thin coats with drying time between, because one heavy coat on sparse lashes creates the spidery look. Tightline the upper waterline with a soft pencil before mascara to create the illusion of density at the base, which does more for sparse lashes than any volumizing claim. And consider that less is more: a defining formula like the Definicils travel mascara in the comparison above often flatters mature eyes better than a maximum-volume formula, because definition reads as elegant where volume reads as effort. Our mascara tips for sensitive eyes cover the ingredient screening that matters doubly for aging eyes.
Removing Dramatic Volume Without Losing Lashes
High-volume mascaras like Monsieur Big demand a removal strategy, because the same polymers that build drama resist gentle cleansing. The press-and-hold method is the foundation: saturate a cotton pad with dual-phase remover, press it to the closed eye for a full 30 seconds, then sweep downward once. The waiting does the work; the wiping should be minimal. For the waterproof sibling, an oil or balm cleanser is the kinder choice, since it dissolves the water-resistant film without the repeated rubbing that dual-phase removers require on stubborn formulas.
The travel sizes in the comparison above, the Monsieur Big and Definicils minis at its listed price carry a hidden removal advantage: smaller tubes get used up faster, so the formula stays fresh, and fresh mascara always removes more easily than a dried-out six-month-old tube. Never sleep in volumizing mascara, since the dried polymers weld to the lash overnight and morning removal takes lashes with it. And if you wear lash primer daily, remember the primer layer needs dissolving too: massage the remover a full 60 seconds when primer is underneath, because the primer is often what resists, not the mascara. Our volumizing mascara guide on wands and formulas has more on matching removal to formula type.