Fiona McKim
When it comes to finding the best mascara, we’re spoilt for choice. Some mascaras lengthen and lift, while others curl and add volume – and many claim to do it all. This can make narrowing down ‘the one’ a tricky task.
Working out whether you need the best volumizing mascara or the best lengthening mascara primarily comes down to lash type. "If you have fine lashes, you want a volumizing, buildable formula that will give a fuller look that you can customize," says Bobbi Brown Senior Pro Artist, Warren Dowdall. "If you have fuller, thicker lashes, go for a good curling and lengthening mascara that won’t weigh down the lashes and make them droop," he continues.
Don't be afraid to layer up. If you find something that offers the curl you’ve spent years looking for, but that doesn’t have the sooty black pigment you crave (or vice versa), swipe on both. “When lashes are shorter, using two mascara types can sometimes be beneficial. Apply a lengthening mascara first, then build up the volume and thickness with a coat or two of the best volumizing mascara," advises Dowdall. Whatever your lash type and desired look is, take your pick from our edit of the very best mascaras for every budget.
Best mascaras for every lash concern, reviewed by our beauty experts
From lengthening to volumising and everything in between, our beauty experts have all the best mascara recommendations you might need...
Best mascaras for lengthening
RRP: £30
Reviewed by: Amelia Yeomans and Jess Beech
With a curved, hourglass-shaped brush, it's still much slimmer than your typical mascara wand, so is easy to get under the lashes and apply with precision. It fans out lashes beautifully with an even look across the whole eye.
RRP: £12.99
Reviewed by: Amelia Yeomans and Sennen Prickett
With a two-sided bristle brush - one side that sits almost completely flat and another with spiked ridges - this mascara works on different types and lengths of lashes to give a customisable look that's full and fanned out.
RRP: £25.50
Reviewed by: Amelia Yeomans and Naomi Jamieson
Clinique's thin, curved wand gives lashes a curled and extremely lengthened look with just a couple of swipes. The formula spreads evenly on each lash for a fanned-out look and gives a natural, thinner finish that is all about length and curl.
Best mascaras for volume
RRP: £28
Reviewed by: Aleesha Badkar
With an hourglass-shaped brush, this picks up a hefty amount of product that grips onto each lash, adding volume and thickness as it lifts them up - without causing any clumping or spikiness, or weighing lashes down.
RRP: £27
Reviewed by: Aleesha Badkar
An industry favourite, this boasts super-fine bristles that capture every single lash, even the smaller ones in the corner, for an all-over more lifted, fanned-out and voluminous look. A sturdy formula that's so long-lasting, it's actually difficult to remove.
RRP: £21
Reviewed by: Rhiannon Derbyshire
A pliable formula that's not too wet and not too dry, this mascara is very buildable, so works great for everyday wear and more dressy evening looks - plus the multi-length brush catches even shorter lashes, for a lengthened, defined and fanned-out look.
Best mascaras for people who are smudge-prone
RRP: £23
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim and Annie Milroy
With a conical wand this is great for catching and coating individual lashes, as well as gently stretching them for a nicely lengthened effect without any clumping. It's quick, neat and easy to apply, never seems to smudge and doesn't transfer once it sets on.
RRP: £32
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim and Amelia Yeomans
With an ideal consistency that's not too wet and (therefore prone to smudging) this applies effortlessly, is lightweight to wear, and is totally smudge-proof. With a defined and volumising look, it gives a dramatic finish that lives up to the name.
RRP: £34
Reviewed by: Amelia Yeomans and Sennen Prickett
Not too wet or too dry, this mascara applies beautifully, with a slim, long mascara brush type that catches every lash and lengthens without adding any clumps. Lashes stay fully intact for the whole day, with no signs of wearing or pesky black undereye marks - and it removes with 38°C water, so no separate remover needed.
Best mascaras for lift and curl
RRP: £20
Reviewed by: Aleesha Badkar, Sennen Prickett and Rhiannon Derbyshire
A famous all-rounder that is beloved by many, this lifts lashes immediately, adding a lightweight coat to lashes that gives them a sleek, volumised curl without any sign of clumping. Use an eyelash curler before applying for an extra dramatic finish.
RRP: £13.99
Reviewed by: Jess Beech and Fiona McKim
With two sides to the brush, this lengthens lashes with a straight brush and priming formula, before adding lift and volume with the curved brush that's packed with tiny fibres and allow you to get close to the roots to draw the lashes upwards. Great for dramatic, long-lasting lift without the help of eyelash curlers.
RRP: £37
Reviewed by: Aleesha Badkar and Fiona McKim
With a soft brush that boasts a curved shape to catch all the lashes, this hugs lashes with its balanced formula that creates a full, pigmented coat for length, volume and a lifted flutter. And for extra drama, this layers easily for a more intense finish.
Read Fiona's full Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara review.
Best mascaras for sensitive eyes
RRP: £25
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim and Naomi Jamieson
A hypoallergenic mascara that's allergy-tested and approved by dermatologists and ophthalmologists, this mascara has all the features of a reliable mascara for sensitive eyes - thoroughly tested, free from allergens and fragrance, gentle to remove, and great results that last all day. The curved brush lifts and curls instantly, with a smooth formula that glides on without pulling and leaves no mess behind. Lashes are left even and fanned-out, and it's an easy mascara to remove.
RRP: £30
Reviewed by: Amelia Yeomans and Fiona McKim
With a flexible, cone-shaped, silicone-covered wand with tonnes of micro-spokes to coat even the tiniest lashes, this is a clever mascara. The formula forms polymer 'tubes' around each hair, which set down for the day until you gently slip them off with warm water - great for anyone whose eyes are sensitive to makeup removers. This ophthalmologist-tested mascara gives brilliant length, lift, and separation, which can be easily layered to get thicker and more dramatic results.
RRP: £13
Reviewed by: Amelia Yeomans and Aleesha Badkar
Infused with vitamin B5, keratin and vitamin E for glossy, stronger lashes, this mascara adds volume with just one coat, with a curved brush helps curl the lashes and the waterproof formula helps to keep that lift all day. It's easy to apply and lasts well, however does require a good makeup remover - something to consider if your eyes are prone to sensitivity.
How we tested the best mascaras
A selection of the mascaras we tested for this guide
To whittle down our list of the best mascara we tested dozens of formulas, wearing each for at least a 12-hour day and assessing them based on these criteria:
- Ingredients and packaging
- Mascara brush type and style
- Ease of application
- The finished look on the lashes
- Longevity and smudge-proof powers
- Ease of removal
Shade range was another consideration, as brown vs black mascara can offer pretty different results, while price and value for money were also important factors.
After reading countless rave reviews, we were a little (ok, a lot) excited to give this mascara a whirl. Leaving out ingredients that damage lashes including animal derivatives, alcohol, fragrance, palm oil, parabens, and more, the ‘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.
Asides from impressive ingredients, 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. Impressive.
Finally, what impressed us even more about this was the fact it’s so easy to remove. Thanks to it being a tubing mascara with water-activated instant removal technology. You simply use warm water to wash your face and the tubes of mascara gently slip off without the need for scrubbing or stingy eye makeup removers. While we've rated this one as the best smudge-proof mascara, it also makes our list of the best natural looking mascaras.
How to choose the best mascara
When shopping for the best mascara, there are a few things you should look out for:
- Wand type: The results you get from a mascara depend largely on the type of wand that the product has. Whilst volumising mascaras tend to have thicker, more hourglass-shaped wands, lengthening products typically have thinner, tapered wands. Silicone wands are great for separation and definition; nylon ones are great for volume and length and plastic wands are easy to hold and great for building upon. Think about what look you are going for and pay attention to different brushes.
- Formula: If you have hooded eyes or oily eyelids or struggle with smudging, you’ll want to opt for a drier formula to avoid smudging. If you have drier eyes, you may want something wetter and more moveable. Some formulas are light and buildable - like tubing mascara - which is ideal for straight or sparse lashes, while others will be heavier, for a more impactful look. Finally, if you’re in a warm (or wet) climate, you might want a waterproof formula.
- Ingredients: Particularly if you have sensitive eyes, pay close attention to the ingredients list. For example, if you are prone to irritation or want to improve your lash health, you may want to go for a mascara that contains nourishing oils. Do some research to find out the best ingredients to target your concerns.
- Budget: Many of the best mascaras on this list are drugstore mascaras, so it’s possible to get a brilliant mascara without digging too deep in your pockets. However, if you are seeking a specific formula, color or ingredient, you’ll most likely have to pay a little bit extra. The packaging for higher-end picks tends to look and feel more luxurious too.
