Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Genius Waterproof Topcoat

I always get stuck without a waterproof mascara when I need it most. The reason is that I don't particularly like waterproof mascaras, or at least have yet to find The One, so once I'm done with whatever I have on hand I never repurchase, only to find myself needing one about once or twice a year. This is why I loved the idea behind Anastasia Lash Genius Waterproof Topcoat: you use your regular mascara and then apply a layer of this Anastasia top coat to make it waterproof. Genius. Lash Genius.

And it works. Anastasia Lash Genius Waterproof Topcoat has definitely made various mascaras survive downpours and 97% humidity over the summer. While the product still suffers from that stiffness of many waterproof mascaras it also helps with holding a curl. The only issue I've run into is that some mascaras look less bright and black when coated with Lash Genius, but that's a small price to pay.

The real problem? Just like any other mascara, you need to chuck the tube after three months. Pumping air into a tube of liquid/creamy substance is always an invitation for germs and cooties, so the same rule applies. Since even after an unusually cruel summer I barely made a dent in my Anastasia Lash Genius, it's not just wasteful but also leaves me again with no waterproof mascara. I wish that Lash Genius came in a packet of 10-12 mini tubes. This way you could just use them as needed, dispose of old open ones and always have a couple on hand and to stash in your purse. Now, that could be genius, right?

Bottom Line: works but doesn't solve the main problem.

Anastasia Lash Genius Waterproof Topcoat ($21) is available at Sephora. Mine was sent free of charge by PR.