Mascara is a highly personal choice, and it's challenging to declare one product the absolute best, as individual lash preferences and priorities can differ significantly. While some users may prioritize length, others might seek volume or definition. This article aims to provide a side-by-side comparison of top mascaras favored by beauty editors, bloggers, best-sellers, and recommendations from friends.
It's important to note that personal experiences with mascara can be influenced by various factors. For instance, while some individuals may use lash-enhancing treatments like Latisse for natural length, mascara remains essential for adding color and definition, especially for lighter lashes. Furthermore, the application experience can vary; some mascaras glide on effortlessly without clumping, while others require more patience and precision to achieve separated lashes.
Top Mascara Picks and Reviews
This section delves into specific mascara brands and their performance, highlighting their unique features and results.
For Dramatic, False-Lash Looks
Benefit they’re Real! Mascara: This mascara is often praised for its intensely black pigment, giving a dramatic, "Kardashian-esque" look, making it suitable for special occasions. However, the rubbery wand may not distribute product evenly, potentially requiring manual lash separation. The rounded tip, intended for inner lashes, can also lead to clumping if not used carefully.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara: This mascara is celebrated for its ability to provide both natural boosts with one coat and a thick, lush fringe with multiple applications. Its large, hourglass-shaped brush deposits a significant amount of creamy formula, bulking up the lash line for a dramatic effect. It's known for being buildable, allowing users to achieve desired fullness and length without clumping or the "spider-effect." Despite being a non-waterproof formula, it demonstrates good longevity, holding up well during sweaty activities.
For Individual, Lengthened Lashes
CoverGirl Clump Crusher Extensions Mascara: This mascara is a favorite for its quick and easy application, with no clumping whatsoever. It delivers individualized, skinny, long lashes with a smooth, non-crunchy finish. It's important to note that there are two Clump Crusher products in identical green tubes: Clump Crusher and Clump Crusher Extensions. The latter is specifically highlighted for its ability to create longer, more separated lashes.
Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extension Mascara: Used for an extended period before discovering other favorites, this mascara excels at building fatter lashes and adding fibers to create length that extends beyond the natural lash line. It is considered a strong contender for adding noticeable length through fiber extensions.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara: This drugstore favorite is exceptional at lengthening lashes, providing a shiny, believable black finish without transferring or crumbling. Its slick and wet formula evenly coats even the wispiest hairs from root to tip. The flexible, densely dotted brush offers precise application and great separation, enhancing every millimeter of natural lashes. While it's not particularly thickening or volumizing, it offers a natural-looking stretch of length.
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara: This inky black mascara is designed to leave lashes decisively separated and noticeably lengthened. It utilizes a "tubing" formula, where pigment is wrapped around each hair in microscopic "tubes" to physically lengthen the lashes. The nimble, Christmas-tree-shaped brush provides great definition and deposits a precise amount of mascara without smudging or clumping. It is also water-resistant and long-wearing, though removal requires a specific technique.
For Everyday Wear and Natural Looks
Bobbi Brown’s Mascara: This mascara is an excellent choice for an everyday look, offering smooth, fluttery, individual lashes that appear natural. While it doesn't add as much length as fiber/false lash mascaras, its narrowed triangle brush, similar to Maybelline Big Eyes, effectively scrapes off excess product, preventing clumps.
Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara: This mascara delivers lush volume and noticeable length, staying put all day without running or crumbling. Despite initial concerns about celebrity brands, this mascara exceeded expectations by performing well in all aspects. Its thick formula and bushy brush create volume, while also coating lashes to make them appear longer. It feels weightless and stays on, with easy removal.
Volumizing and Thickening Mascaras
L’Oréal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara: This mascara excels at volumizing and making lashes appear fatter. However, for those who prefer individualized, long, glossy lashes, it might not be the ideal choice, as it can create a coated, fatter fringe and may appear dry or flaky.
Guerlain Maxi Lash Mascara: While technically a volumizing and curling mascara, this product has demonstrated curling capabilities, as evidenced by its performance without the use of a lash curler.
Clean and Natural Mascara Options
The shift towards clean beauty has led to the development of effective natural mascaras. These products often prioritize gentler ingredients while aiming to deliver on the promises of volume, length, and longevity.
Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara: A long-time favorite, this mascara is lauded for its dual-sided brush that lengthens, curls, separates, lifts, and volumizes. It offers all-day wear and is easily removed with an oil cleanser, making it a reliable choice for extended wear, events, and parties.
Bite Beauty Mascara: Received as a PR gift, this mascara has been highly impressive, delivering full, bouncy, and curled lashes with intense black pigment and a fanned-out, fluffy appearance. It has shown excellent performance during strenuous activities and is easily removed with an oil cleanser, making it a new favorite for many.
Milk Makeup KUSH High Volumizing Mascara: Recommended as a clean mascara option, this product provides intense black pigment, lifts, curls, and volumizes from the first application. It offers good wear, even in challenging conditions like humidity, and is removable with a double cleanse.
Flower Beauty Mascara: This mascara is a great clean option for volumizing, separating, and lifting lashes. While it may not significantly lengthen or curl, its application is beautiful, and it lasts all day, coming off easily with face wash.
PYT (Pretty Young Thing) Blue Mascara: For those seeking colored mascara, this brand offers a highly pigmented, clean blue mascara that delivers vibrant color and lasts all day without flaking or smudging.
Mascaras That Didn't Quite Make the Cut
While many mascaras perform exceptionally well, some fall short of expectations or present significant drawbacks.
Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara: Although popular, this mascara can leave smudges under the eyebrows due to its thickening properties, a common issue with similar formulas.
Tarte Mascara (Clean(er) Option): Despite Tarte's popularity, this specific clean option disappoints by failing to curl or volumize effectively. It clumps during application and flakes throughout the day, making it a less desirable choice.
Newer Brands with Mixed Results: Some newer brands, while promising, may require multiple applications to achieve desired volume, can cause eye irritation, or have issues with flaking and running, making them less reliable options.
Understanding Mascara Technologies and Tips
What is Tubing Mascara?
Tubing mascara is a specialized formula that envelops each lash in a water-resistant "tube." This technology ensures long-lasting wear without smudging or flaking, and it removes easily with warm water, making it a gentle option for sensitive eyes.
How to Remove Waterproof Mascara
Removing waterproof mascara requires a more dedicated approach:
- Use an oil-based cleanser or a makeup remover specifically designed for waterproof formulas. Micellar waters formulated for waterproof makeup are also effective.
- Gently massage the cleanser into the lashes to break down the formula. Applying the cleanser to a cotton pad and holding it against the lashes for a few seconds before massaging can enhance effectiveness.
- Rinse the lashes thoroughly with warm water to remove any remaining residue.
The Best Way to Apply Mascara
Achieving optimal results with mascara involves a few key steps:
- Prime Your Lashes: Apply a lash primer to create a smooth base, enhance length, thickness, and curl, and condition the lashes.
- Curl Your Lashes: Use an eyelash curler before mascara application for a lifted, more dramatic look.
- Start at the Base: Wiggle the mascara wand back and forth at the base of the lashes to build volume.
- Wiggle and Roll: Roll the wand upward to coat the entire lash from root to tip.
- Layer Up: Apply additional coats for more dramatic results, allowing each coat to dry slightly before adding the next.
What Does Lash Primer Do?
Lash primer serves to prepare lashes for mascara by creating a smooth canvas, boosting volume and length, and conditioning the lashes for improved health and appearance.
How to Use Lash Primer
Apply lash primer similarly to mascara: start at the base of the lashes and sweep upwards to the tips. Allow it to dry completely before applying your mascara for amplified results.
Mascara Colors to Make Eyes Pop
- Brown Eyes: Shades of blue or green mascara can create a striking contrast, intensifying the color of brown eyes.
- Green Eyes: Dark brown, deep purple, or navy-blue mascara can make green eyes stand out beautifully.
- Blue Eyes: While black or dark brown mascara are classic choices, shades of gray or deep red can also complement blue eyes.
- Hazel Eyes: Hazel eyes can be enhanced by various colors, including dark green or deep purple.
DIY Colorful Mascara
Frequently Asked Questions About Mascara
Which Brands Make the Best Mascara?
While personal preferences vary, several brands are consistently recognized for their high-quality mascaras:
- Lancôme: Known for luxurious formulas and innovative wands.
- Clinique: Offers a range of mascaras suitable for various lash needs, including sensitive eyes.
- L'Oréal: Provides affordable yet high-performance mascaras.
- Too Faced: Celebrated for innovative and playful formulas delivering dramatic results.
- Dior: Offers high-end, long-lasting mascaras.
- Rare Beauty: Praised for its universal volumizing and lengthening mascara.
- Thrive Causemetics: Excels in creating tubing formulas for lengthened, separated lashes.
- Maybelline: A drugstore favorite, particularly for its lengthening Sky High mascara.
Ultimately, the best mascara for an individual depends on their specific lash goals and preferences.