Mascara is one of the most popular beauty products, and for a good reason — it can instantly transform your look by adding length, volume, and definition to your lashes. With so many options available on the market, it can be challenging to find the right one that meets your specific needs. Some lengthen, volumize, separate, and curl. Some of them are tear-proof and can even add an unknown depth of blackness to your lashes, while others claim to give you the featheriness of false eyelashes. The enormous selection of mascaras can be both exciting and overwhelming when it comes to choosing. To simplify this process, we’ve rounded up the 12 best mascaras for length and volume of 2023 that will help you achieve a flawless look instantly. Whether you are in search of a mascara that provides a natural look, a drugstore alternative to a luxury brand, or a formula that is gentle on sensitive eyes, we’ve got you covered. Regardless of what kind of lashes you have, there’s something here for you.
Best Overall Mascara: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
The Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara has earned its reputation as an iconic product, delivering on its promises of intense black volume while lengthening, curling, and separating lashes. Many buyers found it easy to layer on clump-free volume and appreciated the hourglass-shaped brush for achieving separation. It provided thickness without looking overdone and was easy to remove. While some online reviews criticized the wet formula, we believe it is an excellent choice for daily use and for creating a glamorous makeup look. This mascara is perfect for those seeking bold and dramatic lashes, with its smudge-proof and long-lasting formula. Furthermore, it is cruelty-free and vegan, making it a guilt-free choice. Investing in the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara will give you stunning lashes that you will love. So why wait? Buy it now and fall in love with your lashes all over again!
Best Clean Mascara: COVERGIRL Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara
COVERGIRL Lash Blast mascara is a popular drugstore choice that delivers impressive results. It is vegan and free of harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, talc, and mineral oil, making it safe for those with sensitive eyes. Its fiber stretch pigments and jumbo brush with tiny bristles ensure every lash is coated for extensions-like length.
The COVERGIRL Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara is an excellent option for those who desire long-lasting and smudge-proof lashes. This volumizing mascara adds both length and volume to your lashes without irritating your eyes. It’s waterproof and sweat-resistant, so your lashes stay perfect throughout the day. If you’re looking for a trustworthy and safe waterproof mascara without sacrificing quality, the COVERGIRL Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara is an excellent choice.
Best Drugstore Mascara: L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
According to many reviewers we consulted, L’Oreal’s Voluminous Mascara is a perennial favorite. It’s suitable for even the most sensitive eyes and provides clump-free lashes that don’t run and are easy to manage. For a high-quality mascara that delivers remarkable volume and length to your lashes, look no further than L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara. The brush is designed to coat every lash with a smooth, creamy formula that dries quickly without clumping. Additionally, it’s smudge-proof and flake-resistant, ensuring your lashes stay in place all day. You can also choose from a variety of shades to match your style. The L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara is an excellent option for those looking for a great mascara.
Best Mascara for Length: COVERGIRL Exhibitionist Stretch & Strengthen Mascara
The ideal choice for those with short lashes, this mascara is a lengthening powerhouse that received a perfect score in our tests for not irritating the eyes. Clients were impressed with its ability to lengthen lashes, and raved about the deep, inky pigment, calling it “one of the deepest blacks” they’ve tried. The brush was also highly praised for its abundant and well-spaced bristles, which made it easy to apply evenly. However, it scored average in curling and volumizing and some users found it difficult to remove.
Best Mascara for Sensitive Eyes: Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Washable Mascara
Looking for long and voluminous lashes? Look no further than Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Washable Mascara. With a buildable formula, you can customize your lash look, whether you want natural or bold lashes. The brush design is perfect for coating each lash, providing a full and defined look. This mascara is also smudge-proof, long-lasting, and easy to remove with makeup remover. It’s an excellent option for those who want high-quality mascara that delivers impressive results.
For a gentle, non-irritating formula that won’t break the bank, try this ophthalmologist-tested drugstore mascara. Infused with bamboo extract, it promotes strong and long lashes, and it’s safe for contact lens wearers. It’s also super easy to remove, so your lashes stay intact.
Best Mascara for Volume: Benefit Bad Gal Bang Volumizing Mascara
Bad gal bang mascara has been a top pick among many for years and can be found in drugstore makeup aisles. It promises to add thickness and definition to each lash without clumping or smudging. Despite newer formulations on the market, this mascara has remained a fan favorite.
Customers found that it gave their lashes a full and voluminous appearance while maintaining a natural look. The formula wasn’t too thick, making it great for defining the lower lashes. But, some reviewers did note that it is difficult to remove.
Best Natural-Looking Mascara: Maybelline New York Total Temptation Washable Mascara
Maybelline’s Total Temptation Mascara has received high praise from customers for its ability to separate lashes and provide a natural, subtle look that’s perfect for daily wear. Although the large brush may take some getting used to, it allows for a smooth application that doesn’t clump, even with many coats.
Although it received low consumer scores for volumizing, one user noted that it provided thick and lush eyelashes and was highly buildable. With just one coat, you’ll have long and separated lashes, but with two to three coats, you can achieve dramatic results.
Best Waterproof Mascara: Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Waterproof Mascara
The Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Waterproof Mascara is a fantastic option for those looking for a waterproof mascara that delivers long, full, and defined lashes. The brush design is unique, featuring ten layers of bristles that coat every lash, giving you a fan-like effect. The formula is waterproof, sweat-proof, and smudge-proof, ensuring that your lashes look great throughout the day. It’s easy to apply and doesn’t clump or flake, making it an ideal choice for people with sensitive eyes.
Best 2-in-1 Mascara: Honest Beauty 2-in-1 Extreme Length Clean Mascara
The lengthening mascara we’re about to introduce is amazing. It’s enriched with hydrating jojoba oil, making it a clean, nourishing choice. But what sets it apart is the addition of the enhancing primer. This primer does double duty, preparing your lashes for maximum length and thickness while also protecting dry eyes by acting as a barrier between the mascara and eyelid. Applying the primer is simple: just brush it on and wait about 20 seconds before applying the mascara in a zigzag motion. You won’t believe the results. The unique brush design features bristles of different sizes that coat each lash individually, providing a natural, effortless look.
Most Popular Mascara: essence | Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
The Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara is a highly-rated and affordable mascara that promises to give you voluminous and long lashes. It has a large bristle brush that separates and coats each lash without clumping. Reviewers love how it adds length and volume without smudging or flaking throughout the day. However, some reviewers noted that the formula can be a bit wet and may take a few minutes to dry. Overall, it’s a great budget-friendly mascara option that delivers amazing results.
Best Non-Smudging Mascara: Mascara by Revlon, So Fierce Eye Makeup
Break the rules with the new So Fierce Mascara, with unapologetic length and clump-free, smudge-proof volume. Get lashes that push the limit for hours.
The Revlon So Fierce Mascara in Blackest Black is a popular choice among customers who want a smudge-proof mascara that lasts all day. Many reviewers have found that the mascara lives up to its claim of being smudge-proof, even after a long day of wear. Additionally, the mascara is appreciated for its ability to provide volume and length without clumping. Yet, some users have found that the mascara can be difficult to remove, and may not be suitable for those with sensitive eyes.
Best Curling Mascara: Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Super Curling & Lifting Mascara
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara received positive reviews from customers who praised its ability to curl, lift, and separate lashes. The curved wand was described as easy to use and provided natural-looking results without clumping or flaking. Designed with staggered bristles, this brush reaches the roots and boosts length and volume significantly. Bonus: it can curl even the tiniest of lashes. The glossy, jet-black formula promotes lush, silky lashes that are long-lasting and won’t clump, smudge, or fade. Some reviewers noted that it held up well throughout the day and was easy to remove
How to Choose the Best Mascara
Here’s what you should consider when choosing mascara:
Start by looking at the formula type
Decide what benefits you want from your mascara — volumizing, thickening, curling, or lengthening. While some products offer multiple benefits, most mascaras fall into one of these categories. The amount of pigment or wax in the formula is the main difference between them, but the most important factor in achieving the desired results is the brush. So, the next step is to consider the brush size and shape.
Pay attention to the brush size and shape
Even if a formula is excellent, a worthless brush will not give you the look you desire. The wand applicator is crucial in creating lengthened, curled, or voluminous lashes. Mascara brushes come in various sizes, shapes, bristle lengths, and materials, and each design helps you achieve a different result. The size of the brush will mirror the effect it has on your lashes. For example, a fat and fluffy applicator will give you voluminous, fat, and fluffy lashes, while a long, skinny, more precise wand will give you long, skinny, clump-free lashes.
Consider its wearability
The formula you choose will determine how long your mascara lasts and how well it wears throughout the day. If you know you’ll be sweating, swimming, or shedding tears, waterproof mascara is your best option. However, these formulas can be stubborn to remove. If you need budge-proof or smudge-proof mascara without the lasting power of a waterproof formula, opt for a tubing mascara. Tubing mascaras coat your lashes in polymers and come off like little tubes with your fingers and water. Lastly, regular mascara is the most flexible on your lashes, comfortable to wear, and easy to remove, but they are also the most likely to flake, run, and smear.
Find your ideal color
While black is a classic choice, don’t be afraid to experiment with colored mascara to amplify and enhance your eye makeup look. Trying midnight blue or deep plum mascara next time you do a smokey eye to elevate your look and make your eyes pop.
