Maybelline Great Lash mascara turns 40, debuts stylish new tubes

Aug. 2, 2011 8:02 AM PT

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Whether you grew up watching your mom use it or started stowing it in your backpack in junior high to put on during homeroom, most women can pinpoint when they first became familiar with the cheery pink and green tube that houses Maybelline’s Great Lash mascara.

The product turns 40 this year and to commemorate the milestone, three designers have put their stylish stamp on the iconic packaging. Tracy Reese, Vivienne Tam and Max Azria have each designed a motif for the tubes. Reese’s is a graphic floral/eyelash pattern, Tam used the Chinese symbol for “lash.’

The pink and green packaging (originally created in 1971 by then up-and-coming designer Lilly Pulitzer) has certainly gotten a fashion boost with the custom graphics, but the product doesn’t really seem to need any help. Great Lash is still the #1 selling mascara in America with over 20 million tubes sold each year. To break that down even further –- a tube of Great Lash is sold every 1.7 seconds in the U.S.

The Great Lash tubes featuring the designer’s graphics are limited-edition and will be available through target.com starting Aug. 14 and in Target stores Aug. 21 for $6.99 each.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

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