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June 18, 2024, 7:51 PM UTC

Some beauty products are so good that they transcend generations and become an honorary member of the family. When browsing in the beauty store, you'll see it and say, "that was my first moisturizer — my mom/grandma/aunt bought it for me." For my mom and myself, the product that elicits that same level of nostalgia is Maybelline's Great Lash Mascara.

Growing up I always peeked into her makeup bag, and I was instantly drawn to this green and pink bottle. Every time I pick up the mascara now, I am instantly transported back to sitting on the sink counter watching my mom get ready for date night with my dad. While I didn’t know what date night was, I still marveled at my mom’s makeup — soaking in the final moments with her before the babysitter eventually showed up. Fast forward a decade later, my mom is leaning on that same sink as she applies this same mascara to my lashes for my first school dance.

Now, taking a look at my own makeup bag, I feel comfortable knowing I have my trustee mascara with me, and it makes me think of my mom.

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

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Great Lash Mascara

$5.99

$8.49

What is the Maybelline Great Lash Mascara?

It has a long history of great lashes

No matter how much changes in my life, I know one thing will always stay the same: great lashes. Like many of my best traits, this was passed down by Mom thanks to her mascara recommendation, but the history doesn't start there for Maybelline Great Lash Mascara.

The mascara first hit the drugstore aisles in 1971 as one of the first brands to use a water-based formula over the traditional wax-based formula. For this reason, it originally stood out against other brands, but over the years it has quickly become a generational favorite for many reasons (including the fact that it's ophthalmologist-tested and safe for contact wearers!).

When asking my mom what first drew her to the new mascara she said, "I've been using Maybelline Great Lash Mascara ever since I started wearing [makeup]. I was young and read that it is models' and celebrities' go-to for mascara, so that impressed me as it's very affordable. I thought gosh, if they use it and it works for them, why spend [a lot of money] on a mascara that you get the same result — if not better — for a lot less money?"

The formula is buildable and the brush is flexible

Donned in dozens of magazines over the years, this iconic bottle can be recognized anywhere. What makes this product so impressionable is how buildable the product is. The brand says the smaller brush, "is easy to use, giving you the control for buildable volume." To achieve the perfect volume you desire, it is advised that you go from the root to the tip of your lashes to build the product where you wish.

This oldie-but-goodie also comes in a brown shade, so if you prefer a lighter shade of mascara, you have that option, too. The brand also draws attention to the "gentle brush" that the mascara has, meaning that you won't jab your eye or cause any discomfort while putting it on. And if you want even more customization of the brush, the mascara now comes in a curved option that's great for adding a curl, and it comes in a big version that adds even more volume if you can believe it. For my mom and me, we like the classic.

Why we like the mascara

It's gives lashes a reliable curl

I have naturally pretty short lashes that don't have a ton of natural curl to them. I have tried other popular mascaras, but they always end up clumping or never reaching my desired length. This pick is great because it really does lift your lashes up giving them a natural-looking arch.

I like a thicker-looking lash so to get fuller look, I take the applicator and swipe it around three to four times to get a fuller look. Even when doing this, the lashes do not clump together, but instead, they get longer and thicker individually. The mascara does a great job of gripping and staying put onto my tiny lashes.

My mom says, "I don't have long or luscious lashes, but Maybelline's Great Lash works great and completes my eye makeup." My mom has all sorts of beauty secrets but for this mascara, she advises that "a little Vaseline on an eyelash curler first and then my Great Lash works great." She then finishes off her look with the mascara using around two to three swipes of the mascara to achieve her desired look. My mom also notes how much of a necessity the mascara is to not only her beauty routine, but her everyday routine, "I put it on before I leave the house. I usually don’t even walk my dog without putting on a little makeup, including this mascara and a blush."

What to consider

Everyone knows the true test of a good mascara is blinking after applying it. With other mascaras, I have always ended up with more product on my face than on my lashes after rapidly blinking for a few seconds post-application. With the Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, the product stays put on your lashes and does not get residue on your face. I will say if you prefer a lot of volume (i.e. you put on multiple layers of the formula), you should be wary about letting the product fully dry before blinking.

Overall, you can rely on it to stay on without smudging or clumping. This mascara is an essential part of my beauty routine, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable mascara. After all, my mom has been using it for over 30 years, and her lashes continue to look incredible.