You’ve been there. It’s 4:00 PM on a humid Tuesday, you catch a glimpse of yourself in a bathroom mirror, and you look like a tired raccoon. Your expensive, high-end mascara has migrated to your cheekbones. It’s frustrating.
For over a decade, Maybelline The Falsies Mascara Waterproof has been the quiet, purple-tubed hero sitting in drugstore aisles, promising to fix exactly that. It doesn't have the sleek, minimalist packaging of a $30 boutique brand. It doesn't come with a celebrity-endorsed documentary. It just works.
Honestly, the "Falsies" name is a bit of a bold claim. Let’s be real: no mascara actually replaces a full strip of synthetic lashes. But this specific formula gets closer than most because of how it handles the architecture of your eyelashes. It's about the lift.
The Science of the Spoon Brush
Most people overlook the wand. They think it’s just a stick with bristles. With Maybelline The Falsies Mascara Waterproof, the "Spoon Curler" brush is the entire point. It’s curved. Not just a little bit, but enough to actually hug the lash line.
If you use a flat brush, you’re basically painting your lashes. If you use the spoon brush correctly—cupping the lashes and lifting upward—you’re physically molding them. This is where the pro-keratin formula comes in. It’s designed to fill in gaps. You know those tiny, invisible lashes that make your lash line look sparse? The fibers in this tube find them. They latch on.
Why the Waterproof Version is a Different Beast
There is a massive divide in the beauty community between the washable and waterproof versions of this product. If you have stick-straight lashes that refuse to hold a curl, the washable version is probably your enemy. Why? Water-based formulas are heavy. They weigh the hair down.
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The waterproof version is built on a wax-heavy base. Think of it like hairspray for your eyes. Once you curl your lashes with a metal curler and swipe this on, the wax sets. It locks that shape in place. It’s rigid, but in a way that prevents the "sad droop" that happens two hours into your day.
Dealing with the "Crispy" Factor
Let's address the elephant in the room. This mascara is not "soft-touch." If you want lashes that feel like silk when you rub your eyes (which you shouldn't be doing anyway), move on. Maybelline The Falsies Mascara Waterproof dries down hard.
It's a trade-off. You get volume and 12-hour hold, but you get a texture that feels a bit like plastic. Some people hate it. Personally? I’ll take "crispy" lashes that stay pointing toward the ceiling over "soft" lashes that are pointing at my toes by lunchtime.
It’s also notoriously difficult to remove. If you try to wash this off with just soap and water, you’re going to lose eyelashes. You need a dedicated oil-based remover or a biphasic solution (the kind you shake up). Micellar water usually won't cut it unless it's the blue-capped version specifically for waterproof makeup.
Real World Performance: Humidity and Tears
I've seen this stuff survive weddings. I’ve seen it survive 90% humidity in Florida. The "Falsies" name comes from the fiber technology. Maybelline uses these tiny little flexible fibers that bridge the gaps between your natural hairs.
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- The Layering Rule: One coat gives you a nice, clean look.
- Two Coats: This is the sweet spot. It builds volume without looking like a clump of spiders.
- Three Coats: You’re entering dangerous territory. The formula dries fast. If you try to add a third coat after the first two have fully set, you’ll get flaking.
The trick is to work fast. Do one eye, do the other, then go back for the second pass immediately. Don't wait for it to "cure."
Common Mistakes People Make with Maybelline The Falsies Mascara Waterproof
The biggest error? Pumping the wand.
When you pump the mascara wand in and out of the tube, you’re forcing air inside. Air dries out the wax. Because the waterproof Falsies is already a drier formula than the original, pumping the wand will turn it into a clumpy mess in three weeks instead of three months. Swirl the wand. Don't pump it.
Another thing—people forget to wipe the tip. The spoon brush tends to collect a glob of product right at the end. If you take that straight to your inner corner, you’re going to get a smudge that ruins your eyeshadow. Wipe the excess on a tissue or the rim of the tube. It feels wasteful, but it’s the difference between a messy application and a professional one.
The Competition
How does it stack up against something like Too Faced Better Than Sex (Waterproof) or Lancôme Monsieur Big?
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Surprisingly well.
The high-end competitors often focus on "prestige" ingredients that make the lashes look darker or glossier. But in terms of sheer structural integrity—keeping a curl from falling—Maybelline’s formula is often superior because it’s lighter on the oils and heavier on the film-formers. It's a functional product, not a luxury experience. The packaging is plastic. The smell is slightly chemical. But the results speak for themselves.
The Actionable Truth
If you’re looking for a mascara that behaves like a high-end volumizer but costs less than a fancy sandwich, this is it. But you have to know how to handle it.
Next Steps for the Best Results:
- Prep is everything: Use a clean eyelash curler before you even open the tube. Pump the curler three times at the base, middle, and tips of your lashes.
- The Application: Use the "scoop" side of the brush. Start at the root and wiggle the wand horizontally as you pull up. This coats the sides of the lashes, not just the bottom.
- The Removal: Buy a bottle of Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover or a cleansing balm like Clinique Take The Day Off. Soak a cotton pad, press it against your closed eye for 30 seconds, and then gently wipe. Do not scrub.
- Replacement Cycle: Toss the tube every three months. Waterproof formulas harbor bacteria just like any other, and once the wax begins to break down, the flaking starts.
Maybelline The Falsies Mascara Waterproof remains a staple because it solves a specific problem: it makes lashes visible, voluminous, and virtually indestructible until you decide otherwise. It isn't perfect, and it isn't "natural," but it is effective. Stop overpaying for luxury brands that smudge by noon and give the purple tube a fair shot.