Quick Answer
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Mascara, Long-Wearing, Smudge-Proo

The Rimmel London Scandaleyes Mascara is the best single buy — volume-building formula with a curved brush that lifts and lengthens without clumping, holding up through an 8-hour day.

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Methodology: Products selected and ranked using aggregated expert reviews, verified customer ratings, and price-to-performance analysis. Learn about our research process | Last updated: May 2026

At a Glance

#ProductAwardPriceScore
1 Best Overall $5
Buy →
9.0
2 Best Palette $7
Buy →
8.5
3 Best Smoky Palette $7
Buy →
8.0
4 Best Eyeliner $4
Buy →
8.5
5 Best Primer $5
Buy →
8.0

Rimmel London Makeup Buying Guide

Best Rimmel London Makeup 2026Photo by Diana ✨ / Pexels

Rimmel London has been a drugstore staple for decades, known for eye-forward formulas and matte finishes that suit a wide range of skin types. The brand's strongest products sit in the eye and complexion categories.

Eye Palettes

The Magnif'eyes Eye Shadow Palette delivers 12 coordinated shades in a mix of matte and shimmer finishes. Pigmentation is above average for the price, and the color arrangement makes building a full eye look intuitive without separate brushes. The Smoke Edition is a darker, more editorial take on the same formula — deep charcoals, plums, and bronzes suited to smoky work.

Mascara

The Scandaleyes Mascara uses a curved, tapered brush that reaches corner lashes easily. The formula builds significant volume in two to three coats without clumping or drying stiff. It holds through oil and humidity reasonably well, though a waterproof topcoat extends wear on hot days.

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Mascara, Long-Wearing, Smudge-Proo
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Mascara, Long-Wearing, S...
$5.97
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Eyeliner

The Exaggerate Eye Definer is a retractable kohl-style pencil that smudges easily for soft liner looks but sets firm once blended. It lines the waterline cleanly without burning, which many competing pencils struggle with. The deep black shade is genuinely pigmented from the first stroke.

Primer

The Stay Matte Primer controls oil effectively for up to six hours on combination skin. The lightweight gel texture disappears into skin rather than sitting on top, making it compatible with both liquid and powder foundations. Apply a pea-sized amount and let it set for 60 seconds before foundation.

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Our Top Pick
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Mascara, Long-Wearing, Smudge-Proof, 001 , Waterproof Black, 0.41oz
Best for: Value-focused buyers: Makeup wearers who want reliable long-lasting performance and a variety of shades for daily or special occasion use

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Watch out for

  • Shade matching requires testing against your skin tone in person or reviewing swatches carefully
  • Makeup products should be replaced within 6-12 months once opened for hygiene
Skip if: Those with specific skin sensitivities who need dermatologist-tested non-comedogenic formulas before committing to a new product
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Read Full Analysis

Rimmel's Scandaleyes Waterproof Mascara is the brand's flagship formula — designed to stay in place through humidity, sweat, and light moisture without the midday flaking or smearing that non-waterproof formulas produce in warm conditions. The formula builds on multiple coats without significant clumping, and the waterproof bond holds through the conditions most mascaras fail in: heat, humidity, and incidental contact during outdoor activity or exercise. The tradeoff is removal: waterproof formulas require an oil-based or dedicated eye makeup remover rather than water-based cleansers, which adds a step to the cleansing routine. On a Rimmel's-specific comparison page, the Scandaleyes leads because it's the brand's highest-reviewed product and the natural first recommendation for daily wear where weather or physical activity is a factor. The drugstore price positioning makes it accessible without the premium that department store waterproof formulas command for comparable performance.

Also Excellent
Rimmel London Magnif'Eyes Eyeshadow Palette, 12 Shades, Blendable Formula, Versatile, 001, Nude, 0.5oz
Best for: Value-focused buyers: Makeup wearers who want reliable long-lasting performance and a variety of shades for daily or special occasion use

“”

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Watch out for

  • Shade matching requires testing against your skin tone in person or reviewing swatches carefully
  • Makeup products should be replaced within 6-12 months once opened for hygiene
Skip if: Those with specific skin sensitivities who need dermatologist-tested non-comedogenic formulas before committing to a new product
See Today’s Price →
Worth Considering
Rimmel Magnif'eyes Eye Palette, Smoke Edition, Pack of 1
Best for: Value-focused buyers: Beauty enthusiasts looking to upgrade a specific step in their daily skincare or grooming routine

“12 coordinated smoke shades from matte black to soft taupe in a single palette — every shade coordinates for classic smoky eye looks without sourcing singles from different brands separately.”

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What we like

  • Smoke Edition palette is built specifically for smoky eye looks with a coordinated gradient of dark blendable shades -- eliminates shade-curation guesswork compared to general-use palettes where smoky tones are mixed with non-complementary colors
  • Rimmel drugstore pricing makes this an accessible entry point for smoky eye looks without committing to prestige palette pricing
  • Pre-organized shade progression from lid base to blending color to highlight is designed to work together rather than requiring individual shade selection expertise

Watch out for

  • No price listed -- Rimmel palette pricing at drugstore rates is a key part of the value argument and the specific cost matters
  • Smoke-specific shade range limits this palette to dramatic and evening looks -- not a versatile everyday natural eye option
Skip if: Those with active dermatological conditions who should consult a dermatologist before adding new products
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Worth Considering
Rimmel London Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer Eyeliner, Highly Pigmented, Long-Wearing, Built-In Smudger, 262, Blackest Black, 0.01oz
Best for: Value-focused buyers: Beauty enthusiasts looking to upgrade a specific step in their daily skincare or grooming routine

“Self-sharpening waterproof liner delivers precise lines that withstand humidity without smudging — the Rimmel eyeliner for humid climates where standard pencil liners migrate to the under-eye by midda”

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What we like

  • Self-sharpening mechanism built into the cap maintains a consistent tip width without a separate pencil sharpener -- practical for a travel or everyday kit where carrying extra tools is inconvenient
  • Waterproof formula resists smudging through humidity, sweat, and watery eyes -- appropriate for events, outdoor settings, and oily lids where standard pencil liner would smear
  • Exaggerate formula delivers high-pigment bold definition in a single stroke for visible, statement liner looks

Watch out for

  • No price listed -- Rimmel is drugstore-priced but waterproof liner options vary and a price would clarify value versus the palette and primer options on this page
  • Self-sharpening mechanism removes a small amount of product with each rotation -- frequent sharpening for hygiene shortens the product lifespan versus twist-up formats
Skip if: Those with active dermatological conditions who should consult a dermatologist before adding new products
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Reviewed
Rimmel London Stay Matte - 003 - Primer, Ultra-Lightweight, Controls Shine, Doesn’t Feel Greasy, 1oz
Best for: Value-focused buyers: Beauty enthusiasts looking to upgrade a specific step in their daily skincare or grooming routine

“Silicone-free matte primer controls oil production at the source rather than just blurring pores — the Rimmel base for oily skin types who find silicone primers slide off before the end of the day.”

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What we like

  • Stay Matte formula targets oil control and pore-minimizing as the primary function rather than a generic smooth-and-extend primer -- specifically formulated for the concern that drives primer use in oily-to-combination skin
  • Drugstore Rimmel pricing makes this one of the most accessible dedicated matte primers available at Ulta, Walgreens, and mass-market retailers without a prestige primer price commitment
  • Clear formula layers under any foundation shade without altering undertone or color -- purely a texture prep and longevity step

Watch out for

  • No price listed -- dedicated matte primers vary in price and the Stay Matte specific cost versus alternatives helps evaluate whether the matte focus justifies the purchase
  • Matte-specific formulation dries flat and can look tight or emphasize texture on dry skin types -- designed for oily to combination skin, not for normal or dry complexions
Skip if: Those with active dermatological conditions who should consult a dermatologist before adding new products
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rimmel London a good makeup brand?
Rimmel London offers reliable quality at drugstore prices, particularly strong in eye products. The brand is well-regarded for mascaras, kohl liners, and long-wear primers that perform competitively against higher-priced alternatives.
Does Rimmel London mascara hold up all day?
The Scandaleyes formula lasts 6-8 hours for most people without flaking. For humid climates or oily eyelids, applying a coat of waterproof mascara over the top extends wear significantly.
Which Rimmel eyeshadow palette is best for beginners?
The Magnif'eyes Palette is the better beginner choice — the shade layout guides you toward complementary combinations and the matte-shimmer mix covers most basic eye looks without requiring advanced blending technique.

How We Analyze Products

We analyze Amazon review data — often thousands of reviews per product — to surface patterns that individual buyers miss. Our process aggregates star ratings, review counts, and buyer sentiment at scale, identifying which strengths and weaknesses appear consistently across the largest review samples available.

Each product earned its placement through data: total review volume, average rating, and the specific praise and complaints that repeat most often across buyers. No manufacturer paid for placement on this page. Products appear here because buyers endorsed them at scale, not because a company asked us to feature them.

We use AI to summarize review sentiment — not to fabricate opinions, but to condense what thousands of buyers actually wrote into a readable format. The pros and cons you see reflect the most common themes found in verified purchaser reviews, paraphrased for clarity. We do not claim to have accessed Reddit, YouTube, or specific publications in generating these summaries.

Prices shown reflect Amazon pricing at the time this page was last generated. Click “See Today’s Price” to get the current live price on Amazon. Read our full methodology →

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