
L'Oréal Paris
Voluminous Lash Paradise Washable Mascara
A soft-bristle drugstore volumizer that creators keep testing as a cheaper Better Than Sex alternative, at $13.99.
A $13.99 drugstore mascara with a bendy Flex Tower wand that creators rate for length and separation, though some find it clumpy.
Beauty score
#1 of 7 eyes
Community
—/10
Made for: All skin types
Last reviewed November 2, 2026 by our editors · How we score
The verdict
A $13.99 drugstore mascara with a bendy Flex Tower wand that creators rate for length and separation, though some find it clumpy.
Sky High is Maybelline's washable lengthening and volumizing mascara, built around a flexible Flex Tower brush and a bamboo-extract formula that the brand calls its #1 mascara. Creator wear tests such as Kate Carter's report separation, length and volume with minimal flaking, and it comes in nine shades from Blackest Black to Burgundy Haze and Navy Records. The flexible wand is the main point of disagreement: some users find it too bendy and the formula clumpy, and Maybelline itself notes the washable version can smudge.
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How it scored
Five factors, weighted for makeup. Here’s our working.
Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.
Kate Carter's wear tests report separation, length and volume and Kayleigh Noelle says she loves it, while a minority of Reddit users find the bendy wand clumpy.
Brand claims up to 12-hour wear and flake resistance, but Maybelline itself says the washable formula can smudge and some users report transfer.
Nine shades is broad for a mascara, covering black, brown and colors such as Burgundy Haze, Blue Mist, Green Altitude and Navy Records.
At $13.99 for 0.24 fl oz it costs a fraction of prestige mascaras that creators compare it with, such as Too Faced Better Than Sex.
Frequently named as a repurchase and drugstore staple on r/drugstoreMUA, with hundreds of thousands of views on dedicated reviews, though the wand divides opinion.
Beauty profile
Texture
Brand describes a liquid, non-sticky, lightweight bamboo-infused formula with a pigmented, semi-matte finish
Format
Shade range
Size
How to use
Hold the flexible brush against lashes and extend from root to tip, repeating until the desired volume and length is reached. Remove with a gentle makeup remover or micellar water.
Claims & certifications
Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.
Creator video reviews
Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.
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What people say
Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.
4 verbatim quotes · 3 positive · 1 critical
Maybelline Sky High mascara. I'm on my third black one and my first Plum Twilight (or whatever the shade is called.)
The closest I've found is the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High, since it separates well without the clumps.
i found sky high too clumpy and dry and the brush was too flexible, like it bent too much when I try to work it into the root of my lashes.
Maybelline Sky High mascara- it’s sooo much better than the $40 mascaras I used to buy
Price & value
Typical price
$13.99
for 0.24 fl oz / 7.2 ml
Per ounce
$57.46
About 30% less per ounce than the typical eyes we review. Our value score: 8.9/10 for a drugstore pick.
Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.
Where to buy
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Community
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FAQ
No. Maybelline says the washable Sky High is a lengthening and volumizing mascara, not a tubing formula. The brand sells a separate Lash Sensational Sky Tubes tubing mascara.
Maybelline describes it as smudge-resistant and long-lasting for up to 12 hours, but its own FAQ notes that the washable formula can smudge. For more protection from water and sweat, the brand points to the Sky High Waterproof version.
Maybelline states the mascara is ophthalmologist-tested, allergy-tested and dermatologist-tested, and suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Anyone with known sensitivities should still check the ingredient list.
The washable formula is listed in nine shades: Very Black, Blackest Black, Cosmic Black, True Brown, Burgundy Haze, Blue Mist, Plum Twilight, Green Altitude and Navy Records.
Alternatives

L'Oréal Paris
A soft-bristle drugstore volumizer that creators keep testing as a cheaper Better Than Sex alternative, at $13.99.

essence
A $4.99 cone-brush mascara that gives a dramatic false-lash look; reviewers love the payoff but some report transfer.

Too Faced
The prestige volumizing mascara with an hourglass brush: dramatic, curled lashes in a coat or two, at a premium $29 price.

Anastasia Beverly Hills
A 14-shade warm-neutral palette of 9 mattes and 5 metallics that creators still return to for everyday-to-evening looks.