Adored by literally every beauty editor, the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara has earned its status as an iconic mascara – and for Amazon Prime Day 2025 it's reduced to £6.39, people. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s that rare high-street gem that actually lives up to the hype as you'll see below when I put it to the test.
As was likely the case for many of you, the iconic Maybelline Colossal mascara was one of the first make-up products I owned as a teen. While I quickly got over that clumpy, spider-like approach to applying mascara, I've never gotten over the brand. I moved onto lengthier things, but stuck with Maybelline.
Why? They impressed the universe yet again with the launch of their (now beloved) lengthening formula — the Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara — which has since been named the number one bestselling mascara in the UK, and TikTok's most viral beauty product ever. Type the hashtag "skyhighmascara" into TikTok, and you'll see that it has over 1.3 billion views (!), from the thousands of videos rolling in from users who are still – despite the amount of time that has passed since its launch – flawed by its ability to lengthen lashes and provide dramatic volume. For a very affordable price, may I add.
“Are we seeing these eyelashes right now?” one TikTok creator – who coined it the “best mascara ever” said.
While risking £6.39 isn't that much of a commitment, I never want you to waste your money. So, the question still stands. Is it actually good enough to warrant rushing to the checkout for? I teamed up with GLAMOUR's Beauty Editor, Elle, who has tested hundreds of mascaras throughout her career. We tested Maybelline Sky High on straight lashes, short lashes, stubborn lashes; on nights out and to the office. Here's our honest verdict.
Maybelline Sky High Mascara review: At A Glance
- Key ingredients: Made with bamboo extract and tiny, lengthening fibres.
- What it does: Delivers long, lifted, lightweight lashes with serious separation.
- Best for: Short or straight lashes that need help with curl and length.
- Tested by: Georgia Brown, Freelance Commerce Writer and Elle Turner, GLAMOUR Senior Beauty Editor.
- Tested for: At least two weeks, but it's now a staple in our makeup bags.
- Available: Amazon, LookFantastic, Boots and most other beauty retailers.
- Costs: £12.99 full price, but it's reduced to less than £7 in the Amazon Prime Day beauty deals event. Shop more Prime Day mascara deals here.
- Worth knowing: It now comes in four different shades, including brown and black – and you can buy a waterproof and primer version. Shop them all at the bottom of this piece.
Maybelline Sky High Mascara review: Meet the Reviewers
Freelance Commerce Writer, Georgia Brown was tasked with testing the TikTok viral mascara. “I’ve never been a big mascara girl. After too many formulas left my lashes clumpy, heavy, or smudged halfway down my face, I gave up wearing it day to day. Most just made my lashes look short and stubby – not exactly the vibe.
"But then I saw Sky High all over TikTok – video after video of people brushing on these impossibly long, glossy lashes – and I was intrigued enough to crawl out of my anti-mascara hole. Having tested beauty products for five years, I’m always sceptical of viral beauty claims, but this one genuinely lives up to the hype. When I do wear mascara, this is the only one I trust for clean, defined, fluttery lashes - no flakes, no fuss.”
Georgia teamed up with Elle Turner, GLAMOUR's Senior Beauty Editor who was one of a handful of journalists to try the mascara on launch day.
Why is Sky High Mascara so popular?
When Maybelline first dropped Sky High Mascara, it broke the internet. TikTokers raved about its lash-lengthening powers and flexible wand, and it quickly became one of the bestselling mascaras on Amazon. What makes it different is its formula: infused with bamboo extract and lengthening fibres, it's designed to be buildable and weightless – ideal for short or brittle lashes.
The real secret sauce? The wand. Slim, bendy and covered in tiny bristles, it grips even the tiniest lashes from root to tip without clumping. It’s available in both washable and waterproof versions.
What's the difference between the pink and black Sky High Mascara?
The pink Sky High Mascara is the original Sky High Mascara – though both the black and brown Sky High mascaras have the same packaging. Some of the pink mascaras have “Waterproof” written on them in blue writing, signalling that to be the brand's Sky High Waterproof formula.
The black Sky High Mascara is the “Cosmic Black” iteration – which serves more drama, more volume and a stronger pigment. We'd recommend the original Sky High mascara for everyday wear, and Cosmic Black for nights out, weddings and events.
My experience using the Maybelline Sky High Mascara
Praise where it's due, this mascara definitely worth the attention. Let's start with the price point. Even at full price, this mascara is very reasonable, at £12.99. Generally, I don't believe you need to spend loads on a mascara, and every time my friends ask me for a mascara recommendation, I tell them the Sky High will act as proof.
Next up, the packaging. When I first opened it, the wand – which is long, conical and plastic – struck me as being nice and bendy to get in at tricky angles. The brush is densely packed with straight bristles to comb through each and every lash from root to tip. This elongates and coats lashes, while preventing clumping (essential, if you want to apply several layers).
Then there's the formula itself, which is infused with bamboo extract and fibres to add some extra length and volume without weighing lashes down.
A couple of coats gave me insanely long lashes, earning it a spot in my makeup bag (which given I've tried dozens of mascaras for my job, doesn't happen very often). And a quick scroll through TikTok will show you that girls with shorter lashes have been layering on two or three coats for XXL length and whopper volume.
Does Maybelline Sky High mascara wash off easily?
Yes! This is actually one of the biggest “pros” I found with Sky High. It's super easy to remove. I didn't have to scrub at my eyes and cause irritation – rather, it melted away with a few wipes or eye makeup remover (despite its amazing staying power).
Maybelline Sky High Mascara: Before and After
Elle Turner, GLAMOUR Senior Beauty Editor, trials the TikTok viral mascara. “I have medium-long lashes and one coat (see above) made them ultra fluttery and defined, while still looking natural. It's such a good daily mascara, and I've ended up wearing it almost everyday at the office.”
So, is Maybelline Sky High mascara worth it?
One content creator summed our opinions of Sky High up perfectly in her review. “This mascara is literally the best mascara I've ever used in my life. I don't know what magic ingredient is in there but it keeps the mascara on all day, it doesn't transfer which I hate in mascaras when it transfers onto your eyelid. This does not do that."
It is, hands down, one of the best drugstore mascaras we've ever tested.
More Maybelline Sky High Mascara products to buy:
As mentioned above, thanks to its great success, the Sky High mascara has been released in various other iterations. Think: a multi-pack (perfect for those long-term fans), a blue version – perfect for party season – brown mascara and a lash primer. Shop them all below.
