Few drugstore mascaras have generated as much sustained hype as Sky High Mascara from Maybelline. Since its launch, the Lash Sensational Sky High line has become a genuine viral sensation racking up over 21,000 reviews at major US retailers, spawning countless TikTok tutorials, and earning a permanent spot in the “holy grail” conversation alongside far more expensive prestige mascaras. But does it actually live up to the hype, or is this just clever marketing? This complete guide breaks down everything: the formula, the brush technology, real results, how it compares to other mascaras, shade options, and exactly how to apply it for maximum length and volume.
What Is Sky High Mascara?
Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara is a washable lengthening and volumizing mascara designed to deliver, in the brand’s words, “sky high lash impact from every angle” with full volume meeting limitless length. It is part of Maybelline’s broader Lash Sensational line but distinguishes itself through a unique brush design and a fiber-infused formula that has become its signature selling point.
The mascara is formulated with bamboo extract and fibers, which social media stars and beauty reviewers credit for the dramatic, “limitless length” effect the product has become known for. It’s also worth noting for tubing-mascara fans: this is not a tubing formula, but rather a traditional buildable mascara that allows you to repeat application until your desired volume and length is achieved.
The product is allergy tested and approved by an ophthalmologist, making it suitable for contact lens wearers and those with sensitive eyes an important consideration for a mascara marketed primarily on dramatic, buildable volume.
Since healthy, well-cared-for lashes are the real foundation behind any great mascara result, if you’re also working on the surrounding eye area, our guide to eyebrow threading covers the complementary brow technique that frames the eyes and completes the overall look that Sky High Mascara is designed to enhance.
The Brush Technology: What Makes It Different
The defining feature of Sky High Mascara isn’t the formula alone it’s the brush. Maybelline calls it the “Exclusive Flex Tower” or “Flex Tech” mascara brush, and it bends to volumize and extend every single lash from root to tip.
This flexible, bendable design is a genuine departure from traditional rigid mascara wands. The brush is intentionally soft and pliable, allowing it to wrap around the curve of the lash line and reach lashes at multiple angles particularly the notoriously hard-to-reach inner and outer corner lashes that rigid brushes often miss entirely.
That said, this flexibility is also the product’s most polarizing feature among reviewers. Some find the wand too soft and wobbly for their liking, noting that application takes noticeably longer compared to other mascaras with firmer brushes. Others love the same flexibility for the exact opposite reason it lets them wiggle the brush around to deliberately add extra volume and drama in specific areas, giving more creative control over the final result than a stiff brush allows.
The verdict: if you prefer a fast, no-fuss mascara application, the soft brush may initially feel like a learning curve. If you enjoy building and customizing your lash look layer by layer, the flexible design becomes a genuine advantage once you get used to it.
How Sky High Mascara Performs: Real Results
Length and Volume
The core promise of Sky High is length without weight and across the board, this is the claim that reviewers consistently confirm. The formula adds volume to your lashes and gives you an unending length that doesn’t flake or smudge, and it covers lashes very well without leaving them feeling heavy or stiff. This volumizing and lengthening mascara formula never weighs lashes down, even with multiple buildable coats a meaningful claim given how many mascaras start to clump or feel heavy after two or three layers.
Pigmentation and Formula Texture
The formula is described as a very dark, richly pigmented black that is not too thick or sticky in consistency a balance that’s harder to achieve than it sounds, since overly thick formulas tend to clump while overly thin formulas fail to build real volume.
However, formula consistency does appear to vary somewhat between individual reviews. One detailed review noted the formula can run quite wet, leading to clumpy results on a first attempt a reminder that, like most buildable mascaras, technique and patience during application meaningfully affect the final outcome.
Wear Time and Removal
This is a washable mascara, meaning it’s formulated for easy removal the washable formula can be removed using a gentle makeup remover or micellar water, and multiple reviewers confirm it comes off easily in the shower with regular soap, without requiring a dedicated oil-based remover. For those who prefer maximum smudge resistance, Maybelline also offers Lash Sensational Sky High in a dedicated waterproof formula.
Sky High Washable vs. Sky High Waterproof: Which Should You Choose?
Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Sky High mascara is available in both washable and waterproof formulas, and choosing between them comes down to your priorities and lifestyle.
Washable Sky High uses a more straightforward, water-based formula built around ingredients like styrene/acrylates copolymer and beeswax easy to remove with standard makeup remover, micellar water, or simply in the shower. This is the better daily-wear option for most people, since it’s gentler to remove and less likely to cause lash brittleness over repeated use.
Waterproof Sky High swaps the water base for a formula built around isododecane and additional waxes including carnauba and synthetic beeswax, creating genuine resistance to water, sweat, humidity, and tears. This version is ideal for workouts, swimming, weddings, humid climates, or any occasion where smudge-proofing matters more than easy removal. The tradeoff: waterproof formulas generally require a dedicated oil-based remover and can be more drying to lashes with frequent use.
If waterproof formulas in general are something you rely on regularly whether for this mascara or others our complete roundup of the best waterproof mascaras that actually last all day breaks down how Sky High Waterproof stacks up against other top contenders in the category, along with application and removal tips specific to long-wear formulas.
Shade Range: More Than Just Black
One often-overlooked aspect of the Sky High line is its genuinely expansive shade range beyond the standard “Very Black” and “Cosmic Black” options. Maybelline has expanded the collection to include colorful shades like Plum Twilight (a high-intensity deep purple-black) and Blue Mist, giving the line a creative, trend-forward edge that most drugstore mascaras don’t offer.
Reviewers of the colored shades note a genuinely noticeable color payoff one review of the Blue Mist shade specifically mentions the formula stays vividly blue for days once applied, though cautions that coats need time to fully set before touching the lashes to avoid smudging the still-wet pigment.
This range makes Sky High a strong pick not just for those wanting dramatic length in classic black, but for anyone interested in experimenting with a subtle pop of color in their everyday eye makeup without committing to a full colored eyeshadow look.
How to Apply Sky High Mascara for Best Results
Getting the most out of this particular formula and brush design comes down to a few specific technique adjustments:
Start at the root and wiggle upward. Comb the formula along your lashes from root to tip, using a gentle wiggling motion as you go. This works the flexible brush bristles deeper into the base of your lashes, which is where most of the volumizing effect comes from.
Build in thin layers, not one heavy coat. Because the formula is buildable, apply a first coat, let it set for 20–30 seconds, then go back in for a second or even third pass focused specifically on the tips for extra length. This prevents the clumping that can occur when too much product is applied in a single, rushed coat.
Use the brush’s flexibility intentionally. Take advantage of the bendable wand by angling it to reach lashes in the inner and outer corners areas that rigid mascara wands frequently miss. This is one of the genuine advantages of the Flex Tower brush design once you’ve gotten comfortable with how it moves.
Let coats dry before touching your lashes. Particularly with the colored shades, give each layer adequate time to set before blinking dramatically or touching your lash line, since premature contact is the most common cause of smudged or transferred mascara with this formula.
Sky High Mascara vs. Other Top Drugstore Mascaras
For shoppers comparing Sky High against the broader drugstore mascara landscape, here’s how it generally stacks up:
Vs. traditional rigid-brush mascaras: Sky High’s flexible brush offers more reach and customization but requires more patience and a slightly longer application time. If speed is your top priority, a firmer traditional brush may suit you better.
Vs. tubing mascaras: Sky High is not a tubing formula, meaning it relies on traditional film-forming polymers rather than tube-forming technology. This means easier buildability for dramatic volume, but potentially less all-day smudge resistance compared to genuine tubing mascaras, particularly in humid conditions.
Vs. prestige mascaras: Multiple long-time mascara users have specifically called out being genuinely surprised that a drugstore product lived up to the online hype usually reserved for $30+ prestige formulas a meaningful endorsement in a category where expectations for budget products are often lower.
For a broader comparison of how Sky High fits among the full landscape of affordable mascaras, our complete guide to the best drugstore mascaras for everyday use covers additional top contenders worth considering alongside this one.
Who Should Buy Sky High Mascara?
Best for: Anyone wanting dramatic, buildable length without a heavy, weighed-down feeling; those with shorter or sparse lashes who want maximum volume payoff; budget-conscious shoppers wanting prestige-level results; anyone curious about colored mascara shades as a low-commitment way to experiment.
Maybe skip it if: You strongly prefer firm, traditional mascara wands and find flexible brushes frustrating to control; you want the fastest possible application with minimal technique adjustment; you specifically need a tubing formula for maximum humidity resistance.
Final Verdict: Is Sky High Mascara Worth the Hype?
For a mascara that retails at a genuine drugstore price point typically under $11 Sky High consistently delivers results that punch well above its price category. The combination of the bendable Flex Tower brush, the bamboo fiber-infused formula, and a genuinely buildable, non-clumping texture (when applied with a little patience) explains exactly why this product has maintained its viral status well beyond a typical trend cycle.
The brush design is the one factor most likely to divide opinion those who embrace its flexibility tend to become genuine repeat buyers, while those who prefer firm, predictable wands may find the learning curve mildly frustrating at first. But across thousands of verified reviews and consistent ratings near 4.6 out of 5 stars, the consensus is clear: Sky High Mascara earns its reputation as one of the best affordable mascaras currently available in the US market.
