Finding the best mascara that suits your liking is very important. When in a time of rush, reaching for the best mascara you have in rotation is often easier and more time efficient than, let’s say, applying lipstick. It’s also all the more practical now for those who still choose to have their face masks on. Also, if you don’t wish to go through the hassle of getting an eyelash extension done, mascaras can come in handy.
This article lets you know if getting an eyelash extension damages your lashes.
After all, there are many variables involved: the shape of your eyes, the quality of your lashes, the look you wish to achieve, the mascara formula and the type of wand you prefer. Some lengthen, volumize, separate, and curl. Some are waterproof and tint your lashes , while others promise the featheriness of falsies. To choose the best mascara, the massive variety can be part of the fun, and also the challenge.
To help narrow down the choices, we weigh in on 17 of our favourites to help you decide. From luxury options to inexpensive go-to’s, here are some of the best mascaras on the market today.
This Japanese mascara can hold your curls all day long, lengthens, separates and coats your lashes in the darkest of black we’ve seen from any mascara. Being waterproof, you can expect the formula to stay put regardless of climate. Prepare to be impressed by how great this mascara budges once it’s on.
A waterproof and cruelty-free mascara that separates, curls, and lengthens eyelashes.
Waterproof and smudge-proof
Extremely pigmented
Conditioning formula
Can be difficult to remove
Another best mascara for length and volume that is highly recognizable, Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof has been a beauty favourite since its launch 45 years ago. It thickens lashes, and its highly pigmented black shade really helps to define the eyes. Most importantly, it’s affordable too!
A waterproof mascara that lengthens and volumizes lashes.
Richly pigmented
Volumizes
Makes lashes appear naturally long
Tube dries out quickly
The best-selling Essence Cosmetics Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara delivers major volume at an extremely affordable price. Its cone-shape fiber brush helps increase thickness and length for an all-day-wear without flaking and fading. Most importantly, it’s ophthalmologist-tested and certified cruelty free.
A waterproof mascara for volume, separation of individual lashes, and length.
Affordable
Wand coats and separates each lash
Doesn't flake
Minimal curling effect
Though priced higher than other drugstore brands, this one from L’Oréa will not cease to amaze you. This best mascara for length and volume delivers feathery, long-looking lashes without flaking or clumping. Though not the best in waterproofing, it is found to be long-wearing anyway. Packaged in a metallic pink tube, this is a well-formulated mascara comparable with those from the higher end.
A long-wearing mascara best for volume and length.
Can be reapplied throughout the day
Doesn’t clump
Dries quickly without flaking
Product can gather on wand and clumps
You know what’s up when the same brand makes it on the list twice. This tried-and-true volume-building variant from L’Oréal Paris is specially designed to pump lashes up to five times their original thickness. Formulated with panthenol and ceramide-R to protect and condition, rest assured that your lashes will be in great shape. Its brush is able to separate each lashes to build volume evenly. This is one best mascara for length and volume you mustn’t miss out on.
This waterproof mascara is designed to build lashes up to five times their usual thickness, and is formulated with a provitamin namely Panthenol.
A wide range of shades
Richly pigmented
Lightweight
Can smear
Benefit They’re Real! Mascara isn’t just called “magnetic” for the sake of it. It’s built with a magnetically-enriched formula and brush that has a magnet at its core. Simply put, it’s scientifically created to extend the formula from your roots all the way to your tips, extending your lashes. It lengthens your lashes whilst giving them a little bit of curl in just one application. We are loving its wand that comes with extremely sturdy bristles that’ll deliver a beautiful, naturally fanned-out lash look.
A hot-selling mascara with magnetically-enriched formula.
Holds curl well
Lengthens
Formula isn’t runny
Slightly pricey
Doesn’t matter if you have naturally long or short lashes, this affordably priced mascara serves to lengthen and separates in just a few swipes. It coats lashes in a true black shade without weighing them down for a fluttery fridge that doesn’t flake or clump. Even better, the highly portable pill-shaped container stands up well to being tossed around in your bag, making it the perfect mascara on-the-go.
A waterproof mascara that separates each lashes and lengthens them.
Separates and lengthens
Doesn’t flake
Portable packaging
Contains parabens
If you happen to have sensitive eyes, this could possibly be your next best mascara for length and volume that is also vegan. Ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-tested, Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara is hypoallergenic, free of mineral oil, parabens, and phthalates. Most importantly, it’s safe for contact wearers. Boasting a nearly 4k five-star reviews on Sephora, its formula curls, lengthens, volumizes and conditions the lashes with its amazing 360-degree wand.
A waterproof, vegan mascara featuring a 360-degree wand for easy application.
Doesn’t irritate the eyes
Vegan
Lengthens and separates
Smear
Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Waterproof Mascara manages to integrate the long-wearing properties of waterproof mascara with the volumizing and lengthening qualities of regular formulas. The curvy wand thickens eyelashes in a single swipe, but you can also layer up a few more coats for a dramatic effect.
A water-proof mascara that volumizes and curls lashes without transferring onto the skin.
Extremely pigmented
Volumizes
Holds curl well
Curved brush may not be suitable for some
Free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and fragrance, this cult-favourite mascara delivers the dramatic, falsie-like effect with the help of all natural ingredients. It contains buildable fibers that add volume while the Korean flower extract strengthens, vitamin B5 and sodium hyaluronate moisturize, and finally, castor seed oil and shea butter condition. Not to mention that this best mascara for length and volume is also 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
A waterproof, vegan and cruelty-free mascara for curls and length.
Extremely lengthening
Conditioning formula
Vegan
Can irritate sensitive eyes
The first ever mascara created by legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath is essentially lash extensions in a tube. The brush is tightly packed with thick bristles, and lengthens surprisingly well. Plus, it doesn’t smudge, flake or run.
A mascara for ultra definition and length.
Volumizes without skimping on length
Defines lashes
Conditioning formula
Brush can be difficult to maneuver
We can’t leave this one out if we’re talking about the best mascara waterproof. Too Faced’s waterproof mascara is enriched with collagen. In fact, one single coat can give you volume and length, and by three coats, you’ll achieve that glamourous falsie-look. We’re not even exaggerating at this point.
A waterproof mascara packed with collagen, great for volume and length.
Volumizes
Doesn’t smear or run
Can be reapplied without flaking
Minimal lengthening effect
To achieve long-lasting upturned lashes, opt for this curl-forming mascara from Clinique. From its namesake, you can already tell that its arch-shaped wand can deliver your desired bold, fluttery lashes without pinching, tugging or tearing. The curved wand lifts every last lash, incorporating a beautiful onyx-coloured formula that’s smudge-flake-, and smear-resistant and that lasts for up to 24-hours of wear.
A mascara with arch-shaped, curved wand that lifts each lashes.
Curved brush boosts curls
Highly pigmented
Applies smoothly
Can be difficult to remove
When we’re talking about the best mascara for length and volume, Fenty Beauty has to be on the list regardless. Rihanna is gradually taking over the world of beauty, one single lash at a time. Their mascara delivers a fully exposed lash by lifting, lengthening, volumizing and curling. It comes with a unique flat-to-fat brush that leaves lashes with an eye opening look.
A cruelty-free mascara with a unique flat-to-fat brush for an eye-opening effect.
Dual-sided brush
Fans out lashes
Easy to remove
Can smear
A collaboration between IT Cosmetics and the blowout salon chain Drybar, the applicator of this mascara is specially designed using the same technology as a barrel brush, or Drybar’s Half Pint brush to be precise. This is to create an optimal lift, separation and lasting volume for your lashes, exactly how a round brush would do for your tresses. Another best mascara for length and volume that is vegan, this one is formulated with hair-loving ingredients such as vitamin E, jojoba oil and biotin to keep lashes conditioned and strong over time.
A cruelty-free mascara formulated with hair-friendly ingredients to help condition and strengthen lashes while separating and lengthening the lashes for cosmetic purposes.
Lifts and separates lashes
Adorable packaging
Strengthening formula
Wet formula can transfer
The dual-sided brush of ILIA’s lash mascara builds on one side, and separate lashes on the other. The formula itself is no slouch either, as it is made with beeswax and shea butter for ultra flexibility and hold, it’s lightweight whilst delivering just the right amount of volume and lift.
A cruelty-free, non-toxic mascara featuring dual-sided brush for a smooth, clump-free finish.
Defines lashes
Lifts and curls
Easy to remove
Minimal volumizing effect
Ever thought of a mascara and cannabis combo? Milk Makeup mascara contains hemp-derived cannabis seed oil, which supplies heart-shaped fibers to your lashes whilst keeping them conditioned. The result? You’ll get lots of volume without feeling weighed down. Most importantly, little of this product goes a long way!
A water-proof and cruelty-free mascara with hemp-derived cannabis oil.
Conditioning formula
Volumizes
Vegan
Doesn’t hold curls
The basic ingredients in a mascara typically don’t vary too much from tube to tube. They essentially contain a mixture of wax and pigment, but the specific ingredients included in a certain product can differ widely. Presuming leading a vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle is important to you, you’ll want to stay away from animal-derived ingredients such as honey, beeswax, lanolin, or carmine ( a red colourant obtained from insect shells). If you have sensitive prone eyes or skin, opt for “clean” formulations that are free of parabens, fragrance, sulfates, and silicones.
In the meantime, suppose you are looking for waterproof and smudge proof mascaras, note that extra waxes and silicones will increase its water resistance, but they can also dry out or shed your lashes. Hence the need for nourishing ingredients like castor, almond or jojoba oil to moisturize and grow out your lashes.
On top of that, look out for the term “tubing”. Instead of coating your lashes with a layer of pigment, tubing mascaras wrap each individual lash in water-resistant, tube-like polymers to achieve the lengthened, defined and separated effect. However, they’ll come right off with makeup remover or some lukewarm water.
The shape of the brush at the very end of the mascara wand is what gives a mascara its “lengthening” or “volumizing” abilities. Generally speaking, a thin, skinny brush will provide length and definition; a rather substantial, fluffier blush will give thickness and volume; and a curved brush will help you achieve a lifted and curled lash look.
Material-wise, nylon brushes feature fluffier, more flexible shape and bristles that resemble those of a hairbrush. They’re great for volumizing and lengthening but not as much for separating and defining individual lashes. If you’re looking for the best mascara for lengthening and volumizing, this is what you should be looking for.
Silicone and plastic brushes come with bristles that are rather stiffer and thicker. They’re also more durable and last up to months for regular use. Interestingly, such brushes are also reusable.
Last but not least, thinner brushes with shorter bristles tend to offer more precision and control if you’re particular about reaching every corner. Jumbo-size bristles on the other hand, will give you a more dramatic, falsie-like look.
Choosing the best mascara won’t clump, crush or dry, or make your eyelashes stick together. Promising what it can deliver is one thing, it should also walk the talk. Additionally, it should last for several hours of wear without flaking, smudging or transferring to your skin. Having said that, it’s important that it shouldn’t be impossible to remove, and should come off easily with a makeup remover, cleanser or water.
It is perfectly fine to wear mascara everyday, provided you remove it at the end of the day. Leaving mascara overnight may damage your lashes and hinder their natural growth cycle. You may go some days without putting on mascara, your lashes could always benefit from a little break so let them catch their breath.
This Japanese mascara can hold your curls all day long, lengthens, separates and coats your lashes in the darkest of black we’ve seen from any mascara. Being waterproof, you can expect the formula to stay put regardless of climate. Prepare to be impressed by how great this mascara budges once it’s on.
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