These are the 15 best mascaras, as tested by our beauty team

In our Too Faced Better Than Sex review, we found that it created a lengthened, separated flutter with just one swipe, while each additional coat loaded on a mega dose of volume. We were surprised by how cleanly it applied, with no smudging or mess. 

Due to its buildability, we found we could create a variety of looks depending on how much product we applied. It also didn't transfer, despite making our lashes so long and fluffy they were definitely rubbing against our upper lid. 

This is also one of the best oil-free mascaras. Instead of oil, the long-lasting formula cares for lashes with its infusion of acacia gum extract, leaving them soft and nourished after use. Top marks!

Buy if: You want wow-factor lashes
Avoid if: You're on a budget

The Jones Road The Mascara provides all-day lift and separation. The cruelty-free, nourishing formulation creates a subtle boost on the first layer, but builds up beautifully to add some drama to evening looks.

We love the juicy, curved wand that catches every single lash. However, it's a bit on the thick side, and you might find that you need to apply carefully to avoid getting product on your eyelids. 

Despite the staying power, removal is easy. There's no waterproof version though, so you won't see it in our guide to the best waterproof mascaras just yet. 

Buy if: You're looking for loads of lift
Avoid if: You want a waterproof version

With a lash-multiplying effect that hinges on its signature brush, this drugstore buy will give you lashes that easily match up to most high-end picks. We tried this on several occasions in our Maybelline Lash Sensational review and found it gave us a feathery, lengthened, and defined fanned-out look with a delicate curl, which could almost pass for a natural flutter from the very first swipe. 

With this in mind, the lighter shade could make one of the best brown mascara options for anyone seeking noticeable length but a more natural shade. And with each further coat adding a micro-dose of volume, it was possible to achieve a more dramatic look with repeated layering. 

Buy if: You want a budget-friendly pick
Avoid if: You're looking for instant volume

With a super-luxe look and feel, this mascara's packaging tells you that you’re using something special from the moment you pick it up.

Still, the proof of the mascara is in the testing, and we found that the unique hollow convex 3D-printed brush caught all of our lashes – even the tricky corner ones – and had a flexibility that allowed for seamless application without any mess. 

We found in our Chanel Le Volume Stretch review that the sky-high hold doesn’t last all day, though, and we found a quick midday touch-up definitely helped extend the results a little bit longer.

Buy if: You want to catch every lash
Avoid if: You want a low-maintenance option

This high-end contender claims to be a “raincoat for lashes” – and mostly, it delivers! We love the squat, chunky yet incredibly lightweight tube. Plus the well-designed neck of the tube seems to leave just the right amount of formula on the brush (and wipe just enough away) every time you pull it out.

As for the mascara formula, in our Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara review we found that it defined and lengthened our lashes but – thanks to the impenetrable waterproof barrier – it was also one of the best mascaras we tested when it came to holding a curl in place. We saw no smudging or flaking even after a long day of wear – in fact, it was almost too resilient when it came to bedtime. 

Buy if: Waterproof mascara is your go-to
Avoid if: You're looking for easy removal

This purse-friendly option will give you it all – length, definition, volume, and a little bit of curl thrown in for good measure. It's got a fluffy, gently hourglass-shaped brush that picks up lots of product and disperses it all over the lashes. This lifts them and holds a curl very well, and would certainly act as one of the best mascaras for straight lashes for anyone who wants the effect of a comb wand, without having to actually faff around using one.

We also love the thick, fanned-out look that we achieved without any clumping, no matter how many layers we slapped on. This lasted pretty well through a full day's wear although we did experience a little bit of flaking towards the end of the day in our L’Oréal Paris Lash Paradise review.

Buy if: Your eyes are easily irritated
Avoid if: Smudging is an absolute no-no

If you’re after a mascara that works equally well on lower lashes as it does on upper lashes – this could be the wand for you. The skinny, petite brush looked almost comically small when we took it out of the tube. But that just makes it all the better to expertly lift, separate, and define lashes for a natural-looking finish that’s perfect for everyday wear. As for lower lashes, it gives just the right amount of length to make eyes appear more defined. 

As one of the best tubing mascaras on the market, the intense black pigment coats every hair, from root to tip, for impressive length and flutter, although it won't create huge amounts of volume. What’s more, it’s easy to remove. And while it is on, it’s waterproof and resistant to sweat and humidity.

Buy if: You want a mascara that's easy to remove
Avoid if: You want a dramatic look

Long-lasting and eye-enhancing, the Vieve Modern Mascara delivers both length and volume and we love the formula - not too wet or too dry. The thick, hourglass-shaped wand catches every lash and it doesn't smudge either. We will caveat that this option works miracles on naturally long lashes, but if you've got shorter lashes the big bristles may be overkill. 

We turn to this when I want a more dramatic eye look as it provides more thickness than the Hourglass Unlocked, for example. This option sits somewhere between high-end and drugstore with a £23 RRP that delivers on plush packaging and market-leading performance. 

Buy if: You want to make the most of naturally long lashes
Avoid if: You have shorter lashes

The Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions gives unbeatable length that isn't at all clumpy, and thanks to the tubing formula it stays in place all day without smudging on hooded eyes - and can be removed with just water. However, it doesn't give much volume - this is one for those who want length above all else, but it really can rival lash extensions

While the wand delivers on length, the bristles aren't too big, which makes them well-suited to those with shorter or more sparse lashes. We're also sold on the gorgeous packaging that makes every application feel like a luxury.

Buy if: You've got hooded eyes
Avoid if: You want more volume

It's hard not to be dazzled by the glam packaging here, but it's what's inside that counts. The brush has an unusual design, with one flat side and one chunkier one, and the application involves 'pushing' the lashes with the flat edge and brushing it through with the more bristly side. This had a bit of a knack to it. But, in return for the effort delivered length, definition, curl, and a big dose of clump-free volume. 

We also love how it nourishes lashes with strengthening keratin during wear, and how the intense black color leaves you with something of an eyeliner-like effect. With its push-up claims, we did expect this mascara to give a little more lift, but a midday eyelash curler touch-up managed to fix this. 

Buy if: You want lots of lift and volume
Avoid if: The complicated wand would put you off

This mascara from Dior ticks all our beauty boxes and then some. It lifts, lengthens, and boosts volume in a single sweep for lashes that make an impact without any clumps in sight. The curved, chunky brush, that catches every lash, pushes the hairs upwards for longer-looking lashes and a wide-eye effect. Our advice? If you're ever feeling tired and bleary-eyed, reach for this mascara as it will make you feel instantly fresher and more put together.  

As for the formula, it contains cotton nectar that protects and cares for your lashes while adding shine. We found that one coat creates subtle definition and a good amount of curl for every day while two to three coats gave us next-level volume to rival our best falsies. It does last all day, but the lift starts to diminish by the afternoon, so if you need more staying power it might be worth applying a lash primer first. 

Buy if: You want a smudge-free option
Avoid if: You're on a budget

The Glossier Lash Slick is a sculpting mascara that comes with a tapered wand to reach even the most stubborn roots on the lash line without leaving any mess behind. The tube is incredibly light and the wand is skinny and very flexible. In just one swipe, it gave us a false-lash look with a stretched-out length, subtle curl, and gravity-defying lift that actually lasted all day. 

Rather than being waterproof, the formula is water-resistant, meaning that it can be easily washed off with a good cleanser, but still manages to make it through a full day without any flaking or smudging. This is probably not the best mascara for anyone who wants dramatic volume, but whatever your lash type, it will give a gorgeous, natural-looking flutter.

Buy if: You want an everyday mascara
Avoid if: You're looking for volume

Our lashes definitely said 'notice me' after applying this, which we loved for evening wear and parties but had the potential to be a bit much for every day. While it’s not for the faint-hearted, this mascara is suited to anyone who wants to go big on volume and really make an impact.

Packaging wise we'd call this simple but effective. A glossy black tube with cool, minimal branding and a narrow neck to gently clean off that incredibly fat, fluffy brush as it emerges. The formula, which contains peptide and panthenol, conditions lashes – making them appear naturally longer and stronger over time, too. It’s also easy to layer and the chunky brush boasts short and long bristles to catch onto every lash for a fanned-out finish.

Buy if: You want to make a statement
Avoid if: The £30 price is too much to spend

Leaving out ingredients that damage lashes including animal derivatives, alcohol, fragrance, palm oil, parabens, and more, this ‘clean’ formula opts for nourishing ingredients instead. We’re talking shea butter for conditioning, niacinamide to reduce breakage and panthenol to hydrate. After a week’s use, our lashes felt softer and looked healthier. 

The formula lengthens, lifts, and separates lashes for a fluttery, full finish that’s perfect for everyday wear. It doesn't offer a dramatic look and doesn’t add heaps of volume, but we found that if we kept wiggling the curved brush at the root we could gradually build it up. It survived all day wear without budging and even stayed resolutely smudge-free when we forgot we had mascara on and gave our eye a good old rub. 

Buy if: You want to nourish and protect lashes
Avoid if: You've not got time to build it up

If you’re after extension-like length and incredible volume, this is the wand for you. Featuring an arch-curved brush with a whopping 125 different bristle sizes, this magical mascara catches every single lash (including those hard-to-reach corner ones) pulling them upwards and outwards for lifted, fanned-out volume.  

As for the formula, it’s a gel emulsion mascara that has a feather-light feel. Seriously, it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing mascara and all of our testers agreed that it’s one of the lightest mascaras we’ve ever tried. You can also build it up from soft and subtle to mega volume without having to worry about clumps or smudges. The only downside? It can be tricky to remove

Buy if: You want a clump-free look
Avoid if: You want easy removal