It is pink. It is heavy. It has a name that makes your grandmother wince when she sees it on your vanity. Since launching in 2013, Better Than Sex Mascara has basically become the "Main Character" of the beauty industry. You either love the thick, dramatic fringe it gives you, or you’ve spent twenty minutes in a bathroom stall trying to wipe black flakes off your cheekbones.
There is no middle ground.
Most people don't realize that Jerrod Blandino, the co-founder of Too Faced, actually drew inspiration for the brush from Marilyn Monroe’s physique. He wanted that specific hourglass silhouette. He wanted drama. He got it. But after a decade of competition from every drugstore brand and high-end prestige label on the planet, is the original formula actually worth the hype in 2026?
The Anatomy of a Cult Classic
The brush is massive. Seriously, if you have smaller eyes or a shallow crease, using the Better Than Sex Mascara wand feels a bit like trying to paint a miniature figurine with a house-painting brush. It’s a dense, fiber-filled tool designed to deposit a huge amount of product in a single swipe. This is why the first-timer experience is usually a shock. You expect a little lift, but you get a wall of pigment.
The formula is "stiff." That sounds like a critique, but in the world of lash volume, stiffness is actually a feature, not a bug. It uses film-forming polymers and acacia senegal tree extract to "lock" the lash in an upright position. If the formula were too wet, your lashes would just droop under the weight of the pigment. Instead, this stuff dries down fast.
Some people hate the dry-down. They say it feels crunchy. Others swear by it because it’s the only thing that keeps their stick-straight lashes from pointing at the floor by noon.
Why The Flaking Happens (And How To Stop It)
Let’s be real for a second. The biggest complaint about Better Than Sex Mascara has always been the fallout. You know the look: tiny black specks that migrate toward your undereye concealer about four hours into your shift.
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It’s not necessarily a "bad" formula; it’s a high-collagen formula. Collagen is great for thickness, but it can get brittle. When the mascara dries, any rubbing or even just heavy blinking can cause those tiny fibers to snap off.
I’ve found that the "flaking" problem is often a user error or an environmental clash. If you’re using a super-oily undereye cream, the oils will migrate up, break down the waxes in the mascara, and cause it to crumble.
A few ways to fix the flake:
- Wipe the wand. The tube dispenses way too much product. Scrape the excess back into the rim.
- The "One and Done" rule. Don’t try to apply a second coat twenty minutes later. Once this stuff dries, adding more is a recipe for a clumpy disaster.
- Set your concealer. Using a translucent powder under your eyes creates a barrier that prevents your skin's natural oils from melting the mascara off your lower lashes.
Comparing the Waterproof vs. The Original
Too Faced eventually released the waterproof version (the one in the teal tube with the raised water droplets). People often ask if they’re the same. They aren’t. Not even close.
The original is a "dryer" mousse-like consistency. The waterproof version is much "wetter" and slicker. It uses different resins to ensure it doesn't budge in the rain or through a workout. However, that extra "grip" makes it notoriously difficult to remove. You’re going to need a heavy-duty oil cleanser or a biphasic makeup remover if you don't want to lose three real lashes in the process of taking it off at night.
I personally find the original has better "fluff." The waterproof version tends to make lashes look a bit more "spidery" and sharp. If you want volume, stick to the pink tube. If you have a wedding or live in a swamp-level humidity climate, buy the teal one.
The Competition: Does the Drugstore Do It Better?
Every few years, a new "dupe" enters the chat. L’Oreal Lash Paradise is usually the first one people mention. The packaging is similar, the brush is similar, and the price is about a third of the cost.
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Is it a replacement? Sorta.
Lash Paradise is a bit more "liquid." It’s easier to work with if you like to build up four or five coats. But it doesn't have that same weight-to-volume ratio that Better Than Sex Mascara provides. Too Faced gives you a very specific "falsies" look that is hard to replicate without the specific blend of waxes they use.
Then there’s the "clean beauty" argument. Since the original launch, brands like Tower 28 and Merit have come out with tubing mascaras. These are great for people who hate smudging, but they will never give you the "thump" of a volume-heavy formula like this one. If you want natural, look elsewhere. If you want people to ask if you’re wearing extensions, stay here.
The Science of the "Hourglass" Brush
There’s actually a reason for the shape of the brush beyond just looking cool. The hourglass curve is meant to grab the lashes at the inner and outer corners of the eye simultaneously. Most straight brushes require you to tilt your hand and go back in for the corners.
With this design, the "bulge" at the ends of the brush pushes the outer lashes upward and outward, creating a cat-eye effect without needing a separate step. The "dip" in the middle of the brush holds the bulk of the product, which it then deposits onto the center lashes for maximum height.
It’s clever engineering. But it’s also messy. Because the brush is so girthy, it’s almost impossible to avoid getting a little bit on your eyelid if you’re rushing.
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Misconceptions About the Ingredients
People see "collagen" on the box and think it’s going to make their lashes grow. It won't. Collagen in mascara is a film-former. It coats the hair to make it thicker; it doesn't penetrate the follicle to stimulate growth like a serum would.
Also, despite the name, it’s not particularly "sensual" in its formulation. It’s a workhorse. It’s a mix of paraffin, glyceryl stearate, and various waxes. It’s designed to stay put and look loud.
One thing Too Faced does well is the pigment. Some mascaras look "charcoal" or "dark grey" once they dry. Better Than Sex Mascara stays a deep, ink-well black. That high-contrast look is why it photographs so well and why it’s a staple for influencers who need their eyes to pop on camera.
How to Tell if Yours is Real or Fake
Because this is one of the best-selling prestige mascaras in the world, the counterfeit market is massive. If you see a tube for $8 on a random third-party marketplace, it’s probably fake.
Fake tubes often have a chemical, gasoline-like smell. The real stuff has a very faint, almost sweet, waxy scent. The weight is another giveaway. A genuine tube of Too Faced mascara is surprisingly heavy because it’s made of metal, not cheap plastic. If it feels light in your hand, it’s likely a knockoff.
Using fake mascara is actually dangerous. There have been cases of people getting severe eye infections from the bacteria and unregulated chemicals found in counterfeit beauty products. Only buy from authorized retailers like Sephora, Ulta, or the official Too Faced website. Your eyesight is worth more than a $15 discount.
Actionable Steps for the Best Results
If you’re ready to give this iconic pink tube a shot, or if you’ve struggled with it in the past, follow these specific steps to get the most out of it.
- De-bulk the brush. Pull the wand out and wipe the tip and the sides on a tissue or the edge of the tube. You want to see the bristles, not a glob of black paste.
- Start at the root. Place the brush at the very base of your lashes and wiggle it horizontally. This "anchors" the product at the base, which provides the lift.
- One coat per eye. Don’t bounce back and forth. Work on one eye until it’s finished, then move to the next. Trying to "refresh" a dry coat will cause clumping.
- The "Slow Pull." Instead of blinking into the brush, slowly pull the wand through the lashes to the tips. This helps the fibers align rather than criss-crossing into a mess.
- Replace every 3 months. Because this is a "dry" formula, it harbors bacteria faster than wet formulas once air starts getting into the tube. If it starts smelling "off" or gets extra crumbly, toss it.
The Better Than Sex Mascara isn't for everyone. It’s loud, it’s heavy, and it demands your attention. But for those who want maximum drama without the hassle of glue and falsies, it remains the industry benchmark for a reason. Just keep a Q-tip handy for those stray flakes, and you're good to go.