Beauty Colossal Vs Sky High Waterproof: Which Rimel Is Better?
Colossal Waterproof and Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof are Maybelline's two waterproof stars. One builds dramatic volume, the other builds sky-high length. Here is how they compare head to head.
| Factor | Maybelline Volum Express The Colossal Wa | Maybelline Volum Express The Colossal Wa |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Maybelline Volum Express Colossal Waterproof | Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof |
| Main benefit | Bold volume | Limitless length |
| Brush | Mega bristle brush | Flex tower brush |
| Key ingredient | Collagen | Bamboo extract and fibers |
| Volume claim | Up to 9x | Full volume plus length |
| Length | Moderate | Extreme |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Check price | Check price |
Our Verdict
Choose Colossal Waterproof for short or sparse lashes. Its mega brush and collagen formula build bold volume. Choose Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof for length and definition. Its flex tower brush reaches each lash from root to tip. Both are truly waterproof and cost about the same. Many people own both and layer them, Colossal first for volume, Sky High second for length. Owning both covers every lash need. Colossal handles volume days. Sky High handles length days. Together they cost less than one luxury mascara.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Pumped-up waterproof volume
Maybelline Volum Express The Colossal Big Shot Waterproof Mascara
- Waterproof formula with collagen
- Big Shot brush for bold volume
- Clump-free buildable coverage
Pros
- Dramatic volume in one coat
- Stays put in humidity
- Easy to find and repurchase
Cons
- Thick brush needs a steady hand
- Tough to remove without oil cleanser
Best for: Waterproof length in a softer brown-black
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara, Brownish Black
- Waterproof lengthening with bamboo extract
- Flex tower brush reaches every lash
- Brownish Black shade for softer definition
Pros
- Extreme length without heaviness
- Softer shade suits fair lashes
- Flake-resistant flexible formula
Cons
- Less volume than Colossal
- Brownish Black is subtle, not dramatic
Want the Full Picture?
Heated Lash Curlers: The Curl-Hold Combination
Straight lashes that refuse to hold a curl are the exact problem heated lash curlers solve, and the combination with mascara has a specific order: curl first with the heated curler on bare lashes, then apply mascara. Heat on bare lashes sets the curl; applying mascara after locks it in. Reversing the order, heated curler over mascara, melts and clumps the formula.
The technique: let the heated curler reach full temperature, press at the base of the lashes for ten seconds, then mid-shaft for ten more. Two positions beat one long press. Waterproof formulas like the Maybelline picks on this page hold the curl better than washable ones, because the water-resistant polymers resist the moisture in the air that droops curls through the day. For pin-straight lashes, this combination is the difference between a curl that lasts an hour and one that lasts until removal.
Hooded Eyelids: Beating the Transfer Problem
Hooded lids create mascara's most visible failure: the upper lashes touch the brow bone or lid crease with every blink, transferring formula upward. The fixes are specific. First, formula: tubing or waterproof transfers least, because both resist the skin contact that melts standard formulas. Second, application: focus product on the mid-shaft to tips rather than loading the base, since base-heavy lashes touch the lid more.
Third, the lid itself: a mattifying primer on the brow bone and crease absorbs the oils that grab transferred mascara, and setting those areas with powder creates a barrier. Some hooded-lid readers also curl more aggressively, since lifted lashes clear the hood. If transfer persists despite all this, the honest answer may be a tubing formula: the polymer tubes don't melt on contact the way wax-based formulas do. Our volumizing mascara guide covers wand and formula choices that help with this exact problem.
Lower Lashes: Fine Brushes vs Full Wands
Lower lashes are where full-size mascara wands cause the most collateral damage: smudges on the under-eye, clumps, and spider lashes. The dedicated solution is a fine-brush lower-lash mascara, with a tiny wand that coats each lower lash precisely. They are reviewed in isolation everywhere and never ranked, so here's the honest comparison: fine brushes win on precision and smudge avoidance, full wands win on drama and speed.
The technique with a full wand: wipe most product off first, hold the wand vertically, and use the tip only. With a fine brush, normal application works. Waterproof on the lower lashes is worth considering even if your upper-lash formula is washable, because the under-eye is where smudging shows most. For sensitive eyes that water through the day, our mascara tips for sensitive eyes cover formulas that won't irritate when they migrate.
Waterproof in Heat and Steam: The Failure Mode
Waterproof mascara survives swimming and tears, but heat and steam are a different enemy. In saunas, hot yoga, and long hot showers, waterproof formulas soften and migrate, because heat melts the waxes that water can't touch. This is the failure mode nobody warns about: the mascara that survives the pool fails in the steam room.
The workaround for heat-heavy days is tubing mascara, whose polymer tubes resist heat better than wax-based waterproof formulas, or simply skipping mascara for the sauna entirely. If you must wear waterproof into steam, a lash primer underneath gives the formula something to grip, and blotting the under-eye with powder before and after helps. Know your day's actual conditions: waterproof for water, tubing for heat, and no mascara for the combination of both.