The best mascara proves that not all lash-batting is created equal. For lashes that pop – whether it’s through fluttery lengths, falsie-mimicking lift, or both – it’s crucial to have a stellar mascara (or three!) in your stash. Just remember: it’s okay to be choosy.
’s top mascaras at a glance:
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“Our lashes deserve the same amount of TLC as we give the hair on our head,” says celebrity make-up artist Karina Milan, who’s slicked the lashes of clients such as Yara Shahidi, Ziwe, and Ice Spice. “With the right tips and tricks, all of us can find a way to perfect and display our lashes.”
First of all, if your lashes grow down or just don't curl enough, it is worth hunting out the best eyelash serum you can find, while Milan says to make sure to use a great eyelash curler and give them a few pumps. “I like my lashes to go straight up so I usually only curl the root. If your lashes are super curly, I recommend getting a heated lash curler and actually straightening them out with it. Next is finding a great mascara.”
As it happens, 30 of the best mascaras are rounded up just below. From lengthening gems to a creamy, plant-powered formula that’s remarkably buildable, shop ’s edit of the best mascaras – all tested and vetted to be worth your while by our editors and experts.
Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
- Why it’s -approved: The formula has maintained its cult-favourite status since exploding onto TikTok in 2020. Why? Its thin, flexible brush delivers intense volume and length from root to tip.
- Creates length and volume without weighing down the lashes.
- Key ingredients: Bamboo extract and fibres
- Who it’s for: Tested by ophthalmologists, the formula is approved for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
- : Black, brown, blue, pink, burgundy
Why it’s -approved: It has been six years since Nars launched a mascara, and the make-up brand is back in a big way with Notorious. Unlike its predecessors Climax (buildable, full-bodied, creamy) or Extreme (the equivalent of three swipes of Climax), this formula is delicate, elongating the lashes with impressive lengthening for a spider lash effect. Enriched with serum-like ingredients including argan oil, the mascara is designed to lock in place without smudging or flaking and while remaining humidity-proof. It’s like a tubing product in the way in which it can be removed with warm water, but without creating a sleeve. It’s highly buildable.
Buildable lengthening for lashes
Key ingredients: Argan oil and 3D Film-Flex features polymers
Who it’s for: Those looking for pretty, long lashes rather than density.
: No
: Black, brown
Why it’s -approved: The first thing that is immediately evident with Merit’s Clean Volume mascara is the size of the wand. It’s mini in comparison to a traditional mascara, and this gives ultimate control with every swipe. Each flick of the wand gives only a small amount of pigment, so it’s incredibly buildable, and the formula is very lightweight. As a tubing mascara, it wraps a film-forming, tube-like sleeve around the individual lashes. As is also characteristic of tubing mascaras, it only requires warm water to remove, so there is no need to scrub at the eyes at the end of a long day.
Gives control and ultimate buildability
Key ingredients: Shea butter, plant waxes, and tubing film formers
Who it’s for: Those looking for a gentle formula with nourishing ingredients
: No
: Black, brown
Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara
Why it’s -approved: “Offering lift, length and separation, this mascara defines lashes without clumping and gives that clean, jet black finish that is a non-negotiable for me,” says beauty director Jessica Diner. “Even after testing countless mascaras, this is the one I return to for a fluttering finish that – most importantly – never flakes or smudges.”
Pillow Talk Push-Up Lashes Mascara
- Why it’s -approved: For Lizzo’s go-to make-up artist Alexx Mayo, you can’t go wrong with Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Push-Up Lashes mascara. “There is something about the brush that really grabs every single lash and really stretches the length in such a clean way,” explains Mayo. One swipe of this, and my lashes feel silkier and about three miles long. I typically use a curler to lift my lashes, but with this mascara – and this one alone – I trust the formulation to handle the heavy lifting.
- The volumising formula seems to magically stretch out the lashes, lifting them into a vertical shape for 24 hours.
- Key ingredients: Microcrystalline wax, stearic acid, carnauba wax, acrylates copolymer
- Who it’s for: Fans of the brand’s Pillow Talk hue – a universally flattering, pinkish nude – will find a close match in the berry-brown “Dream Pop” shade of mascara.
- Why it’s -approved: What sets Ilia’s Limitless Lash Mascara apart from others in the market is that it’s 99 per cent naturally derived – much like the brand’s assortment of make-up products focused on sustainability and good-for-the-skin ingredients. I typically coat my lower lashes with a lot of caution (and, frankly, little skill). The lash-grabbing spikes in this brush make it easy to coat that bottom layer with smudge-defying precision. Overall, my eyes look so much more .
- Packed with nourishing actives, this lightweight mascara shouldn’t smudge.
- Key ingredients: Arginine, shea butter, and beeswax
- Who it’s for: Anyone who is constantly on the go will appreciate the mascara’s ability to stay put all day – and wash off easily (using just water) at night.
- Why it’s -approved: The Sweed Cloud Mascara has Sabrina Carpenter’s seal of approval. To mark the end of her Short n’ Sweet tour, the singer captured her make-up bag as part of an Instagram dump, revealing that not only is she a fan of this clean formulation but the matching Sweed Satin Kohl Eyeliner too. The mascara is vegan and free from parabens and fragrance, which means it’s also safe to be used by those with sensitivities. In either black or brown, it creates a natural, lengthened look without flaking.
- Key ingredients: Vitamin B5 and C
- No – water resistance
- Additional features: No flaking or smudging
- Why it’s -approved: The vitamin-packed waterproof formula nurtures the lashes while giving them a fluffy and dramatically lengthened shape.
- Microalgae works to fortify the lashes, giving them a lusher appearance in just two weeks. Meanwhile, panthenol hydrates, tocopherol conditions, and niacinamide boosts keratin production to help the lashes grow.
- Key ingredients: Tahitian sea microalgae, panthenol, niacinamide, tocopherol
- Who it’s for: Anyone looking to give their lashes a little more TLC would be wise to start swiping here.
- : ’s beauty writer Kiana Murden previously noted: “[This] is the first – and only – mascara that’s scored me eyelash compliments. And I do not take that lightly!” And senior shopping editor Talia Abbas praises the waterproof formula: “You can safely watch in its entirety and no one will know you sobbed your heart out.”
- Why it’s -approved: A go-to for 83-year-old Martha Stewart, Merit’s lengthening mascara is infused with ingredients – such as fatty acids and olive oil esters – that nourish and hydrate brittle lashes. Robert Bryan, celebrity makeup artist for the likes of Mindy Kaling, is also on board with the easy-on-the-eyes (literally!) formula. “This tubing mascara can be removed using only lukewarm water, which prevents you from damaging or losing lashes from vigorously rubbing them to remove makeup,” he says. The finished result gives a natural-looking flutter for any minimalist eye make-up look. If you’re looking for a separating tubing mascara that also has 100 per cent clean ingredients, look no further than Merit.
- Key ingredients: Fatty acids, olive oil esters, vitamin B5
- Additional features: vegan, buildable, easy to remove
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Le Volume de Chanel Mascara
- Why it’s -approved: “I love it because it’s an intensely black mascara that does it all!” explains Andrea Tiller, the pro behind some of actress Ilfenesh Hadera’s most show-stopping looks, of Chanel’s Le Volume de Chanel mascara.
- “With only two coats, you can get a dreamy false-lash effect,” Tiller raves.
- Key ingredients: Natural waxes for volume, fast-drying acacia gum for curl, and film-forming agents for suppleness
- Who it’s for: The eye-opening formula will appeal to those who want more length and fullness – and an intense black, brown, or blue hue.
Kitten Lash Mascara - Burnt Umber
Why it’s -approved: Eldridge says her Kitten Lash in Burnt Umber has made converts of her entire studio team, “even those who didn’t think brown mascara was ‘their thing’!” Its appeal? “A warm and enlivening brown that really makes eyes sparkle and suits any complexion. It’s soft enough for anyone who finds traditional black too intense, but intense enough to define the lashes... It’s also vibrant enough to amplify all eye colours.” But don’t just take her word for it – we tried it and can confirm it is all the above, made all the more impeccable by its crunch-free formula and miracle curling wand.
- Why it’s -approved: “This gives the lashes the instant volume I like with a silky feel and full bristle brush that helps to lift the lashes,” says celebrity make-up artist James Molloy of the classic Diorshow Mascara.
- The formula strengthens the lashes, and doesn’t dry out over time.
- Key ingredients: Cornflower extract
- Who it’s for: If jumbo lashes are on your wish list, this is the volumising pick for you.
- : Black, brown, deep blue
- Why it’s -approved: Donni Davy, the mastermind behind the beauty looks on says she gravitates toward Hourglass’s Unlocked Instant Extensions mascara. “It’s a beautiful black shade and defines, lengthens, and separates the lashes,” she says.
- “It also comes off really easily so you don’t get the raccoon eyes,” Davy continues. “The wand has little spikes rather than fluffier fibres, which makes for nice precision in application, especially when coating shorter and finer lashes.”
- Key ingredients: Film-forming technology coats each lash in fibres for a fanned-out effect.
- Who it’s for: Those coveting the look of lash extensions – but not the actual procedure – will enjoy the mascara’s falsie-mimicking effect.
- Why it’s -approved: This Yves Saint Laurent mascara is formulated to promote softer, fluffier lashes.
- The formula thickens, volumises, and lengthens, while the blended fibre brush expertly lifts lashes without clumping.
- Key ingredients: Walnut leaf, argan oil, vitamin B5
- Who it’s for: This is a make-up kit staple for a soft, fluttery gaze.
- Why it’s -approved: The bristle-free steel wand of this pick is unique to a strain of buzzy mascara launches from the Asian continent. Designed to lift even stubborn lashes that are genetically destined for straightness, it’s a game changer for those whose eyelashes struggle to hold a curl.
- From the coiled steel that catches every lash to the angled wand that lengthens strands without messing up your eyelids, there’s much to love about this mascara.
- Key ingredients: hair-mimicking micro fibres, beeswax and film-forming polymers
- Who it’s for: Best for a wispy, natural lash look with plenty of lift and length, this mascara is made for those whose eyelashes tend to wilt under heavier formulas. If you’re looking to ditch your eyelash curlers, it’s a must-try – the grooved wand works like magic to keep every hair upright.
- Why it’s -approved: The plant-powered formula has a creamy finish – it glides effortlessly onto the lashes without a single clump. Shopping director Talia Abbas uses this mascara every day: “The chubby brush lifts and separates in the most natural way – without depositing a ton of mascara on my lashes and then flaking throughout the day. I can’t help myself from rubbing my eyes throughout the day, and this one I can use worry- and mess-free!”
- The hourglass-shaped brush is designed to grab every lash. Plus, the buildable formulation can create a simple, everyday look with a single coat; for more drama, simply add another layer.
- Key ingredients: Carnauba and candelilla wax blend, plant-derived ester, organic shea butter
- Who it’s for: The vegan formulation is gentle on sensitive eyes.
- Why it’s -approved: The creamy, pigmented formula coats lashes in a single swipe, with a tapered wand that easily finesses precise details and smaller bottom lashes. This is beauty writer Tracy Achonwa’s go-to mascara for elevating ordinary make-up looks. “Blue mascara is hard to get right – most simply aren’t bright enough to register, or on the flip side, will clump up like paint despite depositing pigment. YSL’s Lash Clash is unmatched in that it gives you colour, thickness and curl from the very first swipe, leaving less room for error or arduous layering when creating high-octane eye looks. For perfect fanned lashes, I like to go in with a lash separator on the penultimate coat – this gets me the most convincing, grown-from-the-root ultramarine eyelashes every time.”
- This mascara quickly grants a bold lash look that lasts all day without crumbling or smearing. Aside from delivering a shot of eye-catching colour, the formula is great all around, with both the waxes and wand contributing to lifted, lengthened and volumised eyelashes.
- Key ingredients: Soothing iris extract, long wearing film-forming polymers
- Who it’s for: This is a formula made for those who favour intense eye looks, equally bold in blue as it is in its black and brown versions.
Voluminous Makeup Lash Paradise Mascara
- Why it’s -approved: The draw to L’Oréal’s Lash Paradise lies in its ability to volumise and curl even straight lashes.
- The mascara wand features over 200 wavy bristles to coat each lash in four rich pigments sans flaking or clumping.
- Key ingredients: Floral oil
- Who it’s for: Seeking a go-to drugstore pick? Safe to say, this is one of those mascaras you’ll want to buy again and again.
- : Black, ultra black, black-brown
Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting & Volumizing Mascara
- The lightweight gel formulation curves and lifts lashes, infusing them with conditioning ingredients for a soft, feathery touch.
- Key ingredients: White tea extract
- Who it’s for: Even those with shorter lashes should have noticeably fluffier, lifted lashes after one use.
Why it’s -approved: Gucci’s Mascara L’Obscur is designed to be the ultimate customisable mascara.
The smudge-proof formulation lengthens, lifts, defines, and volumises plus, its gold and pink tube is worthy of display.
Key ingredients: Synthetic beeswax, paraffin, stearic acid, acacia senegal gum, triethanolamine
Who it’s for: Those who crave options will appreciate the versatile brush. Position it horizontally to deliver an elegant everyday lash; for a bold and dramatic effect, hold the brush vertically.
: No
: Black
Better Than Sex Volumising Mascara
- Why it’s -approved: This is my pick if I want to feel a little doe-like. It separates my lashes while giving them a sweet, wispy curl. After one coat, I go back in for another one – you know, for that forest-creature-but-make-it-glam effect. “I absolutely adore the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara because it simply brings all the drama to a look!” says make-up artist Mata Marielle, founder of Mata Labs and the mastermind behind director Melina Matsoukas’s looks.
- Use its best-selling, hourglass-shaped brush to gently coat the peptide-rich formula across each lash.
- Key ingredients: Film-forming polymers for curl, Acacia Senegal tree extract for volume, peptides
- Who it’s for: Not for the demure lash-batter; this formulation will capture the heart of anyone seeking maximum volume and undeniable drama.
- Why it‘s -approved: The distinctive bending wand on this UKLash mascara is perfectly shaped for hugging every eyelash, and it deposits a volumising jet-black coat with very little effort at all. For a volumising mascara, it also applies incredibly smoothly, making eyelashes appear thicker and bolder with zero clumps.
- The waterproof formulation stands up to sweat and humidity exceptionally well, neither transferring nor flaking on beauty writer Tracy Achonwa’s trip to the spa (including a long soak in a steamy jacuzzi). What’s more, it contains a nourishing blend of lash-loving ingredients to support the health of your strands following wear, including keratin and vitamins for less breakage and reduced lash fall.
- Key ingredients: vitamins B5 and E, keratin, glycerin and carnauba wax
- Who it’s for: Those looking for a reliable waterproof pick, perfect for the gym, a poolside holiday or those with particularly teary eyes.
They’re Real! Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara
- Why it’s -approved: This Benefit Cosmetics mascara will have everyone begging for your lash secrets. Get ready for the inevitable “are you wearing falsies?” queries after just one swipe.
- The jet-black pigment is formulated for long and smudge-free wear.
- Key ingredients: Paraffin, polybutene, styrene/acrylates/ammonium methacrylate copolymer, beeswax
- Who it’s for: Anyone who craves a doe-eyed effect will be instantly besotted. The domed tip helps the corner lashes fan out, creating a storybook-style fringe.
- Why it’s -approved: Acclaimed by the pros and celebrities like Rachel Zegler alike, NARS Climax Mascara’s eye-catching red tube isn’t its only covetable quality. This creamy lightweight formula coats lashes with buildable volume without clumping.
- The lightweight formula won’t clump or smudge, but it deliver a most intense coat of volumising black.
- Key ingredients: Acacia Senegal gum, paraffin, glyceryl stearate, synthetic beeswax
- Who it’s for: The buildable formula is a winning make-up bag staple for anyone who believes that mascara is best served in layers.
- Why it’s -approved: Expect a subtle, everyday lift to your natural lashes when you swipe on Glossier’s mascara.
- The water-resistant formula coats each lash with a slim wand to achieve buildable, weightless length. With tiered bristles, the tapered comb brush separates lashes at the root for a fanned-out effect.
- Key ingredients: Provitamin B5, biotinyl tripeptide-1
- Who it’s for: This is just the ticket to complement a minimalist make-up look, subtly accentuating your gaze.
- Why it’s -approved: Simply put, Pat McGrath Labs FetishEyes mascara “delivers supermodel drama and sex appeal,” says Marcelo Gutierrez, the pro behind Christopher John Rogers and Barragán’s stunning backstage looks.
- What’s more, a blend of rich peptides and panthenol ensures your lashes are fortified and conditioned for soft, fluttery fullness.
- Key ingredients: Synthetic beeswax, paraffin, Acacia Senegal gum, butylene glycol
- Who it’s for: A pro make-up artist’s secret weapon, the mascara brings an editorial look to everyday life with a few lengthening strokes.
MakeWaves Lengthening & Curling Mascara
- Why it’s -approved: In addition to imparting the perfect curl, this mascara is wrapped up in cute, bright packaging that brings cheer to any vanity display.
- The vegan formulation calls on Aquaflex technology to easily curl lashes without a crunchy hold.
- Key ingredients: Castor oil, vitamin B5
- Who it’s for: Tower 28’s mascara is formulated with sensitive eyes in mind.
- Why it’s -approved: For make-up artist Amber Amos, who works with Lil Nas X and Law Roach, Kevyn Aucoin’s Volume mascara works wonders thanks to its special wand.
- “It has a tiny brush, which allows you to coat every lash for instant volume, and it also does not smudge, crumble, or run, but washes off super easily,” Amos explains.
- Key ingredients: Acrylates/ethylhexyl acrylate copolymer, glyceryl stearate, jojoba seed oil, squalene
- Who it’s for: The volumising formula brings oomph to any look – but it’s particularly on-brand for a formal affair, where over-the-top glamour is the unspoken dress code.
Eyes to Kill Mascara
- Why it’s -approved: Lifting, lengthening, and lash-defining are all in a day’s work – or really, in a single swipe – with Armani’s lash-enhancing formulation.
- Taking the bristle-weave brush to your lashes is like focusing a spotlight onto them: Even if they’re short, light, or wispy, the inky formula will make the lashes stand out.
- Key ingredients: A custom blend of hard and soft waxes, including carnauba wax, beeswax, and paraffin
- Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to bring some oomph to their natural lashes without wearing falsies.
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IT Cosmetics
- Why it’s -approved: “It Cosmetics is my go-to for under-eye and inner lashes –when you want a no-mascara look,” says Pati Dubroff, who works with Margot Robbie and Dakota Johnson.
- The peptide-infused formula is a multitasker that primes, lines, and lengthens the lashes simultaneously.
- Key ingredients: Peptides, proteins, and antioxidants
- Who it’s for: Multitaskers have found their match in this three-in-one product that primes and lengthens lashes, while highlighting the eyes.
What to look for in a mascara
“Whenever I’m shopping for a mascara, I look for a wand that has different depths, for example, if the brush has a cone shape or has ridges – or even if it has a comb, which is my favourite,” says make-up artist Vincent Oquendo, whose clients include Jenna Ortega and Lily Collins. “This helps define and separate lashes while building them up.”
Tobi Henney, make-up artist for models like Poppy Delevingne and Barbara Palvin, adds that there are “key factors” to consider while shopping for mascara. “For example, do you want a mascara that’s easy to remove, gives volume, length, or creates curl?” Consider the climate you’ll be wearing the mascara in, too, Henney suggests, as this could affect your decision to seek out a waterproof formulation or not.
Henney, too, is particular about wands, as they can help with separating, curling, and lengthening the lashes. Personally, “I love wands with tiny spikes to help with a very defined, separated lash,” she says.
How to apply mascara
“When you open a fresh mascara, always wipe off the brush. This helps refresh the brush bristles for a cleaner grip inside the tube and cleaner application to the lashes,” says celebrity make-up artist Daniel Martin, whose clients include Ali Wong, Dakota Johnson, and Michelle Yeoh. Speaking of keeping it fresh, “If your mascara doesn't make a sound when you pull the brush out of its tube, it means it’s old and dry,” Martin adds.
When it’s time to apply, “start at the base of your lashes and wiggle back and forth through the end of the lash,” Martin instructs. “This helps pull the mascara through the lash, rather than just hitting the tips.”
How to prevent mascara from flaking or smudging
“Try combing through your lashes first, before applying mascara,” says Martin. “This helps separate the lashes and also wipes clean any dust or shadow fallout on the actual lash hairs that may cause clumping [or smudging] of the mascara formula.” After applying the mascara, brush the lashes one more time – just be sure to do it “quickly, and before the dry-down sets,” Martin advises.
“If the concern is long-wear, I typically do a final coat of waterproof mascara to lock it in,” adds Milan. “It holds it well throughout the day and prevents smudging or transfer, but it also allows for easy removal because it’s not several coats of the waterproof formula.” Plus, she adds: “Coating the skin around [the mascara] with a tiny bit of translucent powder will also help prevent smudging!”
Meet the experts
- Amber Amos is a celebrity make-up artist who works with Lil Nas X and Law Roach.
- Donni Davy is a celebrity make-up artist and the mastermind behind the beauty looks on Euphoria.
- Mata Marielle is a UK-based make-up artist and the founder of Mata Labs.
- Pati Dubroff is a celebrity make-up artist whose work has fronted several covers and faces such as Margot Robbie.
- Alexx Mayo is a celebrity make-up artist known most recently for his work with Lizzo.
- James Molloy is a go-to make-up artist for brands like Anastasia Beverly Hills and Danessa Myricks Beauty.
- Karina Milan is a New York-based celebrity make-up artist whose clients include Yara Shahidi, Ziwe, and Venus Williams.
- Keita Moore is a celebrity make-up artist whose clients include Yara Shahidi, Janelle Monáe, Iman, and more.
- Anthony Nguyen is a celebrity make-up artist whose clientele includes Adele, Sydney Sweeney, and Camila Cabello.
- Andrea Tiller is a celebrity make-up artist, known for her work with actress Ilfenesh Hadera.
- Vincent Oquendo is a celebrity make-up artist whose client roster includes Jenna Ortega, Lily Collins, and Hailey Bieber.
- Tobi Henney is a make-up artist whose clientele includes models Poppy Delevingne and Barbara Palvin.
- Daniel Martin is a celebrity make-up artist and the global director of artistry and education at Tatcha. His clients include Ali Wong, Dakota Johnson, and Michelle Yeoh.
- Karina Milan is a celebrity make-up artist whose clientele includes Yara Shahidi, Ziwe, and Ice Spice.