A swipe of mascara can instantly elevate your entire makeup look. By darkening, thickening, lengthening, and curving lashes, mascara opens up and enlarges eyes for wide-eyed beauty with one simple step. But finding the ideal mascara means finding the perfect formula and brush to cater to your specific lash goals. With so many options on the market, which can truly claim best in class status? We’re settling the debate by putting top rated mascaras to the test against holy grail favorites and game changing newcomers to crown the 15 very best options to enhance your lashes and your look overall.
The Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High mascara features a flexible wand to grab every lash from root to tip for length and volume. Its lightweight, whipped formula adds buildable volume without clumping or flaking.
This mascara delivers on its promises of spectacular length and volume with no clumps. The brush design is very effective at coating even tiny corner lashes. While the formula stays put impressively all day, it comes off easily with regular makeup remover. For voluminous jet black lashes, Sky High is undoubtedly one of the best options available.
This cruelty-free mascara from essence achieves a false lash look with its conic shape fiber brush that evenly coats and separates each lash from base to tips. The long-lasting formula is ophthalmologically tested.
For budget-conscious consumers or those new to makeup, Lash Princess delivers an extremely high quality faux-lash look. The tiny brush is surprisingly adept at generously coating lashes without clumping. While the formula lacks some staying power compared to higher end brands, the ease of application and jet black finish make it our choice as the best drugstore mascara available.
This iconic drugstore mascara features an expertly designed brush to maximize lashes. The smooth, clump-free formula lifts lashes and boosts volume for a full lash line.
The uniquely shaped L’Oréal brush is the star of this mascara, making application easier than ever. It expertly grabs and separates even the tiniest lashes while loading on product without blobs. For those looking for intense black volume, this remains the gold standard after 30 years on the market.
This Too Faced mascara achieves dramatic bombshell lashes with an hourglass-shaped brush to hit lashes from all angles. The carbon black formula provides intense color payoff.
While the marketing plays up the sensual side, make no mistake – this mascara’s performance is as good as the name promises. The uniquely shaped brush masters even tiny lower lashes with ease. We love how easily multiple coats layer without clumping. For buildable, bombshell lashes, few can compare to this industry favorite.
This L’Oréal mascara features an innovative dual-sided brush – comb on one side to separate and extend, bristles on the other to build dramatic length lash-by-lash. The lightweight formula won’t weigh lashes down.
For those seeking only length without volume, Telescopic is specially designed to grab every tiny lash. The dual-sided wand makes lash separation foolproof. Our testers were amazed by the fine, defined coating and dramatic extension after just one swipe. This is our top recommended lengthening mascara.
This Lash Princess set from essence contains four varieties – a volumizing False Lash Effect mascara, Curl & Volume waterproof version, lengthening Sculpted, and Glitter mascara for sparkling party looks. The set offers a mascara for every need and occasion.
While each individual Lash Princess mascara offers great quality on its own, this set provides even better value and versatility. Having both regular and waterproof versions along with lengthening and glitter options ensures you can achieve any desired look. At this price point, it’s an easy way to stock up on our favorite budget mascaras.
This Too Faced volumizing mascara promises 24 hours of clump-free volume and intense black color with just one coat. An oversized, curved brush grabs all lashes.
While 24 hours is a bit of marketing hyperbole, Damn Girl! does deliver extraordinary staying power with no smudges through 12+ hours of wear in our testing. The big brush requires a learning curve but masters easy, even application with practice. For bombshell volume that won’t quit, this mascara truly goes all day long.
This Maybelline bestseller features a fan-effect brush and nourishing formula for accessible volume and length. The curved design hugs lashes from corner to corner.
The uniquely shaped brush head delivers on its promise to grab every tiny lash and coat effortlessly. Our testers found it achieves a wide-eyed enhancement with just one layer. For low maintenance mascara that reliably opens up the eyes, Lash Sensational remains a longtime favorite.
This clean mascara from ILIA features a lengthening formula of nourishing oils and waxes to condition lashes. The glossy black color comes from natural iron oxides and carbon. The curved brush lifts from root to tip.
While the formula takes a bit more effort to build compared to traditional mascaras, Limitless Lash delivers on luxury quality clean color cosmetics. The ingredients leave our testers’ lashes nourished and soft while providing pretty, fanned-out enhancement. We appreciate the brand’s commitment to sustainable practices as well. For safe, everyday glam lashes, this natural mascara has our highest recommendation.
This volumizing Falsies mascara from Maybelline uses an arched double helix brush and clump-free lengthening formula to provide a false lash look that lasts. The flexible plastic bristles hug each lash.
The unique double helix brush creates the illusion of corner-to-corner false looking lashes remarkably well. While the formula doesn’t quite last a full 16 hours on us, we are thoroughly impressed by the defined, fluttery lashes it achieves after many hours of wear with no smudging or flakes. For lots of lightweight volume, it’s a superb drugstore option.
This K-beauty favorite delivers intense volume that lasts all day without smudging or flaking. The curved brush grabs every tiny lash. The Curl Last Technology formula helps set curls in place.
While removing waterproof mascara can require more effort, for those seeking serious volume with massive curl payoff, Kill Lash delivers impressively. The Korean formula feels lighter and more flexible than most waterproof types so lashes don’t feel brittle or crispy. Holding 12+ hours of wear without smudging or wilting earns this newcomer a top spot in our recommendations.
This unique mascara formula provides jet black length and volume targeted to mature lashes’ needs. The MicroFlex brush evenly grabs every lash from roots to tips.
Addressing aging lashes’ tendency to thin out, droop or get stubbier, PrimeLash delivers noticeable lengthening, strengthening and nourishment over time that makes lashes appear more youthful. The smooth, clump-free application also provides feathery volume for wide-eyed enhancement immediately. We wish the brand offered more colors but otherwise find this mascara provides beautiful results mature users will love.
This Benefit mascara features a unique hooked wand to catch, curl, separate and lift each lash to new heights. The long-wearing formula contains provitamin B5 and serin to condition lashes.
While the uncontrolled hook design makes application trickier, it does remarkably boost curl and separation once mastered. The flexibility of the wand makes it adept at grabbing every tiny lash without clumping too. While the volume appears subtle, we love the soft and separated enhancement this nourishing formula provides. For elevated everyday glam lashes, it’s a winning choice.
This clean, lengthening mascara also contains an integrated primer to boost lash volume and care. The sustainably-sourced formula nourishes lashes with shea butter, jojoba and vitamin E. The uniquely shaped brush lifts and extends.
While the integrated primer took some getting used to, our testers found their lashes much softer and healthier feeling over time with this formula. The meaty brush provides great control for separated, fanned-out extension instantly as well. For safe, volumized length from root to tip, Honest Beauty delivers our top clean mascara recommendation.
This lash-loving, triple pack of Estée Lauder’s luxurious mascara delivers intense volume, lift and length with an oversized brush. The lightweight and buildable formula conditions for softness and shine.
While these travel sizes lack the luxe gold detailing of the full-size, the product inside delivers the same high-end quality Estée Lauder is known for. The big brush might seem intimidating but makes coating even tiny hard-to-reach lashes easy. Our testers achieved fanned out, bombshell lashes with just a few strokes. For those new to luxury cosmetics or seeking easy volume boosts for travel or their purse, this set feels like an excellent value way to test the Sumptuous waters.
Product | Key Features |
---|---|
Maybelline Sky High | Lengthening, volumizing, buildable formula |
essence Lash Princess | False lash effect, long-lasting |
L’Oréal Voluminous | Volume, carbon black pigment, unique brush |
Too Faced Better Than Sex | Hourglass brush, carbon black pigment |
L’Oréal Telescopic | Lengthening dual-sided precision brush |
essence Lash Princess Set | 4 mascaras – volumizing, waterproof, sculpted, glitter |
Too Faced Damn Girl | 24 hour wear, oversized wand, buildable volume |
Maybelline Lash Sensational | Fanning brush, volumizing & lengthening |
ILIA Limitless Lash | 84% organic, nourishes lashes |
Maybelline The Falsies | Double helix brush, 16 hour wear |
CLIO Kill Lash | Waterproof, curl holding, vegan |
Prime Prometics PrimeLash | MicroFlex brush for mature lashes |
Benefit Roller Lash | Hooked wand for curl & lift |
Honest Beauty Extreme Length | Lengthening, clean 2-in-1 primer & mascara |
Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme | Oversized volumizing brush, lightweight formula |
Some of Maybelline’s best mascaras include:
Maybelline mascaras are known for their reliable quality and accessibility at drugstore pricing. Specific preferences like more volume vs length can help determine the best Maybelline mascara for your needs.
Some top reviewed waterproof mascaras include:
For best waterproof wear, focus on smudge-free, sweat resistant formulas that also nourish lashes and resist flaking over long wear.
Some top mascaras focused specially on lengthening lashes include:
To maximize length, look for lengthening or extending in the mascara name and packaging. Curved and comb-shaped brushes also focus on coating lashes tip to root for extra extension.
Consider your specific lash goals – do you most want to boost volume, length, curl, or simply enhance definition? Seek a formula and brush shape designed for that purpose. Also ensure the mascara formula suits your eye sensitivities and wears comfortably over hours. Test application and wear time in store when possible.
Common mascara varieties include volumizing, lengthening, waterproof, tubing, colored, and clean/non-toxic formulas. Volume mascaras use waxes and thickening ingredients to bulk up thin lashes while lengthening mascaras aim to extend through curved brushes and lightweight waxes that don’t weigh down.
Use the wand to apply mascara in a zig zag motion from roots to tips of top and bottom lashes, adding coats as desired volume builds. Avoid pumping the wand in the tube which forces in extra air. Remove gently with eye makeup remover and cotton pads rather than rubbing the delicate eye area.
Store mascara upright and tightly closed in a cool, dark place like a medicine cabinet to maintain freshness. Safely prolong usage beyond the 3-6 month recommendation by regularly cleaning the wand with a paper towel before applying. Do not add water or share mascara which spreads bacteria.
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