Maybelline Great Lash - Waterproof Mascara, Brown Black

Maybelline Great Lash is one of those products that I used for a few years believing that it was the be-all end-all of mascaras (much like Smith's Rosebud Salve, but that's a whole different review!) I never could quite get why it was so great but continued to use it because it was so cheap.

One day I got a sample size of Diorshow backstage mascara, and I felt like I had been lied to for years! Suddenly my lashes looked long, thick and lush, whereas with the Great Lash they simply looked dark.

To this day I continue to read interviews with makeup artists that rave about Great Lash...perhaps I was just using it wrong

Maybelline Great Lash is a love it or hate it product. (But you've read all the other reviews, so you knew that.) Makeup artists in Hollywood swear by it, and people who love it can't say enough about how it makes their lashes look long and full, at a fraction of the price of high-end mascaras.

If it's so great, you may ask, why do so many people rail against it?

I have two theories.

Theory one: overhyped expectations. People who rave about this tell you it makes your lashes look long, and fat, and luscious. Not just normal long, fat, luscious - they say it will give you lashes RuPaul would envy and the Shu Uemura Lash Bar can't compete with. It wears all day, and all night, and for a couple of days more, and it doesn't come off, even if you're neck-deep in water in Galveston in the middle of Hurricane Ike! And heck, it'll even bring you breakfast in bed. Okay, the last bit may be pushing it, but the rest isn't too far off from what fans say. While this is a great product, it is not the mascara equivalent of Superman.

Theory two: old mascara. I think, in the case of a number of drugstores and grocery stores, they bought one giant box of Great Lash back in the 1990s and just keep putting a few tubes on the shelves when they run out. As all us cosmetics cognoscenti know, the older a product is, the more poorly it performs. If your store is selling ancient tubes of the stuff, your experience with it will probably involve clumps, lumps and general mascara misery.

i don't know why this is raved about. it's nothing special. just plain, jr high mascara.

I know everyone raves about the Maybelline mascara, and I see it win countless beauty awards, but I just don't get it. I keep revisiting it every few years, and get the same results - very smudgy, even the waterproof kind, and it irritates my contact-wearing eyes. I normally can't go more than an hour without huge raccoon eyes wearing this.

I too have read review after review touting the amazing qualities of Maybelline Great Lash but have never been a fan myself. True, it does not clump, but I find that it easily rubs off onto my brow bones when my eyelashes hit them and i am left with some very odd stripes up there. It does have a nice, rich black color but doesn't really elongate or thicken your lashes. I recommend Lash Perfection by Max Factor as another cheap, drugstore alternative.

I've heard a lot about this mascara and to be honest I'm not impressed. While the price is right, the mascara itself falls short. It's super thick and clumps my lashes together instead of giving a natural look. It's disappointing too because I've been looking for an affordable mascara. I figure I'll finish the bottle, but not buy it again. I've never tried any of their other mascaras before, but have heard better things. I really like Clinique's natural mascara in standard black. It actually makes my lashes look soft...however its too expensive for something that just goes on your lashes.

This mascara is horrible. I got a special buy one get one free pack that had both the waterproof and regular great lash in it and both were huge dissappointments. They are clumpy and goopy and feel really heavy and sticky on lashes. My lashes felt so weird and were constantly getting in my vision from being so weighed down. This mascara doesn't do anything special and barely darkens my lashes. Huge waste of money, they went to my roommate who had no money to buy mascara for herself.

I've tried both the regular formula and the waterproof and I cannot see what all the hype is about. The dayglo pink and green tube maybe? It's a very basic (clump-prone) mascara. Maybeline does have a few great mascaras- especially Full'n'Soft, but this one falls very short.

I bought this after seeing it in so many top rated lists. Boy was I disappointed. Clumpy, and even when you fend off the clumps it still doesnt give a great look. Sorry, it's a pass!

Tried it a while ago. You can't just swipe it on, you have to wipe the applicator off on the sides and curl your lashes before otherwise it doesn't look that great. However its a great product for the price and great for people just starting out with makeup, but personally I prefer something else.

I tried it due to the hype. I wanted to see what the fuss was about. What I got was a bit clumpy and lots of smudges. I like my mascara to stay on my lashes, personally.

I am a religious fashion mag reader and decided to give 'ol faithful another try because I had purchased this mascara when i first started wearing makeup and swore to only buy the good stuff once i discovered Sephora. It still disappointed me and I'm wondering if the makeup artists who swear by it have some magical tools to enhance its effects

I too tried this mascara after reading great review after great review. I was very disappointed. Clumpy and below my eyes after just a few hours. I've never tried it again.

Like BellaSugar, I don't see the hype in this mascara. When I first open it, it's extremely too watery and doesn't adhere to the lashes well. After about 5 or 6 uses, it thickens up and actually works pretty well. I've found that the waterproof version is much more to my liking and would actually recommend that version over the original. I've definitely used better mascaras though... this one is great mostly because it's a steal.

I don't see it. I don't get it. What is the fuss surrounding this cult classic mascara? It produced clumpy, dense, spider-like creations on my eyelids that were hardly attractive and a real pain to get rid of. I did not see lengthening of my lashes or just simply any change other than bad stuff. Real bad stuff. Will NEVER purchase again. I would rather go without mascara than use this and that is saying quite a lot.

If you want to have the fresh faced look, this is a must have. It makes your lashes look very naturally tinted but won't give you massive amounts of volume, length, and curl. I think it's great for the price and those days when you want to look like you just rolled out of bed looking fabulous.

I don't know what some people are thinking... this is my favorite mascara of all time. The color is so perfect- it makes blue and green eyes really sparkle. It's not too dark black. It isn't clumpy and it lasts for a very long time. I use mine everyday and it can last for a year! It thickens, lengthens, and adds perfect dark brown color... what more could you ask for?

I have been using great lash for nine years and have never been disappointed with its performance.Every now and then I'll buy a different kind of mascara just to see if I like it better and none have made my eye lashes look so full and long and smudge proof as great lash.

I've always been so puzzled about why this mascara gets such great press. I tried this mascara first when I was an impressionable teenager, and didn't like it. Later, as a mature adult, I decided maybe I was missing something and decided to give it another try. Same results: smeary and clumpy. There are better drugstore brands.

I'm pretty disappointed everytime I try this one.

I like the CG Lash Blast (it's pretty awesome) from the drugstore stashes. I agree with Bella...I dont' see the hype.

I love, love the diorshow in any color. I just can't seem to fork over 25 bucks every 3 months.

I don't really care for this one. I prefer Lash Exact...the Great Lash makes my eyes look like Tammy Faye Baker has been crying.

Every few years I cave and try Great Lash again and every few years I'm disappointed again. It's too wet, takes forever to dry and then when it does dry it flakes. No thanks.

I have been reading fabulous reviews in magazines about this mascara for years! I finally tried it the other day and could not believe how terrible it was. Perhaps they should start sending the beauty editors the Define a lash mascara that actually IS awesome and save themselves the $$$$ they are clearly using to pay off the beauty editors! If I could give it no stars I would.

I also don't really understand what all the hype is about, because I have found many other mascaras out there to work much better even amongst the cheaper drug store selections. I have a harder time with smudging anyway, since I have extremely hooded eyelids, but this also clumps too much and just gets all over the place. Not the worst I've ever tried, but definitely not the best either.

I think this is a VERY impressive drug store mascara. I personally like it better than Diorshow. It always makes my lashes look extremely black and glossy. It's great for every day!!

This mascara has never worked for me, and i don't understand why everyone likes it and it gets "best mascara" and such. i find it clumps, is very wet and gets all over my face. which is partially my fault, but still. it doesn't lift my leashes, just makes them dark if i am using the blackest black colour.

Like Liberty Sugar mentioned, I find Maybelline Great Lash Royal Blue to be a very fun color, and cheaper than any other blue mascara. Also, the problem isn't really with the product, it's with the provided brush. If I need bigger lashes, but I want to use the blue, sometimes I'll take a spare mascara wand, and use it instead of the Maybelline provided one. Then, it works just as well as any mascara! Also, putting the blue Great Lash over a single coat of a well-loved black mascara can help the lashes look fuller!

Maybelline Great Lash in Royal Blue is my HG mascara for sure...I've used blue mascara for years and years, it's kind of my signature thing. I just prefer it over black and think it really brightens my eyes. It's not that easy to find a good blue mascara, and I was soooo happy to find this one a couple of years ago. I've always loved the Great Lash formula, it does the job for me perfectly. When Maybelline brought back their blue shade, I knew I'd be addicted and I am. I literally stockpile these, just in case they discontinue this shade unexpectedly (which could happen, I know most people don't love blue mascara the way I do). Right now, I think I have 5 packages tucked away in my vanity drawer! Haha.

But overall, this mascara is cheap, effective, and gives great definition, no matter which shade you choose.

Since I have dark long lashes already, I don't complain about mascara unless I get major raccoon eyes! This coats decently and doesn't clump for me. I don't see much lengthening but I get the extra volume I need to make my eyes pop. A coat of this on a bare face helps my eyes from disappearing. Definitely waterproof. Can't go that wrong at this price.

I agree with Roby Toes. This mascara smudges as the day goes on and does not rinse off with water as it claims but leaves huge raccoon circles. The brush has few separators which makes it hard to get a full look and not have clumps. I guess it was really only worth the $3.99 it cost at Target.

Its definitely not waterproof...if you get water on your face it will runnnnnnnn like crazy. Its good once you scrape off the brush a bit but if you dont then you have spider lashes.

I think this mascara is so overrated. I think that (even when applying thin coats) it's clumpy and heavy, which does not = luscious lashes.

Pros: it does its job of being a mascara

Cons: clumpy and messy; short wear time

I got this mascara because in several magazines it always seemed to be the winner of "Best Overall Mascara." It's apparently a staple in every makeup artists' bag and all the stars use it. Well, there must be some conspiracy concerning this product because I just can't understand why it has such a following in the media. Maybe Maybelline put some sort of ingredient in this particular mascara that would cause people do develop an addiction to using it, and at the same time they offer big cash payoffs to popular fashion magazines so that they make the claim this is the best stuff ever, and in the end Maybelline ends up making a gazillion dollars off of a piss-poor product.

This "Great Lash" mascara irritated my eyes. Perhaps that's because it was rather clumpy and it would bleed within 2 hours or so and I'd end up looking like I hadn't slept in days.

I picked the "Blackest Black" color thinking it would make my eyes look the most dramatic, since I wanted that classic Hollywood makeup look, but I found that that's not the color for me at all. I'm pale with blonde hair, brown eyes, and it just looked kinda stupid on me.

It is a cheap mascara, and I haven't yet been brave enough to try out some generic/no-name/dollar-store type mascara yet, but that's because I imagine those unknowns to be of the same quality as this Maybelline Great Lash mascara.

Oh well, live and you learn. There are much better 'staple' or 'must-have' mascaras out there, like from my experience Maybelline Full 'N Soft Waterproof Mascara.

i like it

This has been nothing but a reliable favorite of mine. I am currently using a chanel mascara but i will most likely go back to this whenthat one is done! 15yrs strong for me!

...to a better mascara! After this mascara won a couple of reader's choice awards in magazines, I tried it, and was so disappointed. Even L'Oreal is a thousand times better, not to mention more expensive brands. This mascara is dry and cakey, even when the tube is brand new. Also - the wand is sparsely bristled so all of your lashes don't get coated. In this price point, I'd highly recommend L'Oreal Voluminous with the curved wand.

I only just recently started using this mascara and for the price it is the best out there when used with an eyelash curler. They look full at the root and last all day. The waterproof version is horrible!! Stay away from that flakey mess. If you are looking for the best mascara please direct your sights to Diorshow mascara.

I have absolutely NO idea why so many people love this mascara. I have naturally thick eyelashes and this mascara actually makes them look thinner and more sparse! Fail!
f you're going drugstore, Revlon's 3D is great for volume.

I gave into the hype and tried this supposedly "wonder mascara" but I have to admit.. I was a little disappointed. It didn't clump which is great (hence the one star) but it did absolutely nothing for my lashes. There are just too many other great mascaras out there that really plump my lashes and make them longer. I'm a firm believer in drugstore mascaras.. why pay 30 dollars when you can pay 10 for a greater lash? But this is just not the one for me.

This is the classic mascara, I will use it forever!

Okay, so you see lots of ads/commercials regarding mascara that gives the thickest, fullest, longest lasting lashes -- nothing compares to the tried and true of this brand. It makes your lashes long, plump and perfect. Trust me, I have tried the $30 mascara too -- this is by far the best.

this is a good all-purpose mascara, but no mascara looks good if applied incorrectly. it takes two-three LIGHT coats as opposed to one thick coat, for any mascara to look good.

Maybe it's because I've been using Maybelline mascara since my high school days (in the 80s), and I'm nostalgic, but for me this mascara is a staple. Sure, I guess I could try other more expensive mascaras, but I don't see the point when this inexpensive one works well for me.

I use the black and love the way it accents my eyes without looking overly made-up. It is great for everyday.

The mascara of all mascaras. I've tried all the brands on the market and this is the number one best out there. Even on makeover shows and shows featuring makeup artists, I see the signature pink and green container. It's nice to know that beauty can be so affordable!

After reading so many raving reviews about this mascara, I tried it, and not only did it immediately pull all the curl out of my lashes and weight it down, but it didnt really add any definition or volume, just very clumpy and not lengthening at all. It negates ever using an eyelash curler!

This one of my new favorite products! I've been using for a year and I'm very satisfied with it! I wear it everyday to work, it makes my eye lashes look natural, yet longer and fuller. And because it's clear, you don't have to worry about clumping! Try it, you'll love it!

I have tried all the expensive brands, but always end up coming back to this one! Honestly, I can't see the difference between this brand and the $20+ mascaras which promise the world, but deliver very little!
Great lash darkens and thickens my lashes without all the goop some of the other brands clomp on! It also washes away with ease- no eye makeup remover needed!

this mascara has had some top rankings in magazines. i dont understand that- it did absolutely nothing to my already long and thick lashes- almost as if i was wearing a clear gel not a mascara. Spend you money elsewhere

i have heard so many great things about this mascara, and was so excited when i finally bought my first tube...unfortunately, the only discovery that i made from this mascara was that i'm allergic to it! it caused my eyelids to blow up, which was surprising because i'm usually fine with makeup...
all in all, i would urge people who are sensitive to makeup to stay away from it!

i think negative reviews are just expecting too much

This mascara is good because of TWO REASONS:
- no clumping
- dark color delivery

This mascara does not talk about lengthening, thickening, or curling.
Therefore, don't expect it.

It's a good price, easy to find in any drug store, doesn't create a mess, cleans up fast, and darkens the lashes.