14 Best Mascaras for a Gravity-Defying Length and Lift
There is never a day when at least one person unintentionally asks us, “What is your favorite beauty product?”One of the most frequently asked questions is, of course, about the best mascara. Everyone wants to know what exactly makes our lashes look like falsies so they don’t get clumpy, crusty, flaky, and webby all day long। Without further ado, here are our editors’ favorite mascaras of all time, including Best of Beauty winners, the best drugstore mascaras, favorites of Sephora, and luxury brand highlights. These mascaras give our lashes the most volume, curl, length, and, dare we say, a fake lash effect every day.
Our Top Picks:
Best Overall: MAC Stack Superstack Mega Brush Waterproof Mascara
Why It’s Worth It: Choose between the classic and waterproof versions of the MAC Stack Mascara; either way, it will keep your lashes in place all day long. With its max-strength hold that volumizes, lifts, and curls with every swipe, this mascara earned a certified winner of the Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2022. “Even with my oily eyelids, plus a day spent commuting to and from the office (with a face mask on), I saw no flakes or markings around my eyes,” Talia Gutierrez, an Allure tester, adds.
Editor Tip: In addition to the max-hold mascara, this mascara is lovely because it comes with two different brush styles. Mega Brush is the way to go for those with longer lashes, while Micro Brush is the way to go for those with shorter lashes.
Who It’s For: Anyone who wants the works (length, volume, and definition) without clumping or smudging.
Benefits: Lengthening, volumizing, defining | Shades: Two | Waterproof: No
Makeup Artist-Approved: Chanel Le Volume De Mascara
Why It’s Worth It: Le Volume De Chanel Waterproof Mascara is a high-end addition to any eye makeup routine. Despite being more expensive than some other options, experts all over the world, including New York City-based beauty artist Joseph Carrillo, highly recommend this mascara for its incredible volumizing and dramatic effect. “It’s like wow: thicker, fuller, dramatic, seductive, and sultry,” he had previously told us.
Editor Tip: To achieve an instantaneously thicker, gap-free look, Carrillo recommends brushing the mascara wand through your lashes, wriggling the bristles into the base of your lashes, and delicately pressing the mascara against your lash line. This will give you all the volume you could possibly want.
Who It’s For: Anyone who wants a dramatic boost of volume and thickness.
Benefits: Volumizing, thickening | Shades: Two | Waterproof: Yes
TikTok Sensation: Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
Why It’s Worth It: The Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara by Maybelline New York shot to fame on TikTok and won the Best of Beauty Award in 2021. The hashtag associated with this bendable mascara wand has received more than 39 million impressions on the social media platform. “My sparse lashes looked remarkably fuller without any weigh-down,” describes Angela Trakoshis, shopping market editor for us.
Editor Tip: Get True Brown immediately if you’re a lover of brown mascaras like Sarah Han, an editor for commerce, who wants a subtler (and less “spidery-like”) look. “I find myself reaching for this particular hue and formula above all of my higher-end options,” according to her. “It instantly breathes life into my short and stubborn lashes.”
Who It’s For: Someone who wants fluttery, long lashes without breaking the bank.
Benefits: Lengthening | Shades: 2 | Waterproof: Available
Best Volumizing Mascara: Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara
Why It’s Worth It: Among celebrity beauty brands, Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty is the one that genuinely makes a case. Here we have the fantastic, nourishing, and volumizing Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara (Exhibit A). “The application process is seamless from start to finish and the thick brush latches onto each lash with ease.,” Han said in her evaluation of the mascara. Whether your lashes are naturally thick or sparse, the secret is in the swoopy brush that has bristles of varying lengths to snag each one.
Editor Tip: The buildability of this mascara is exceptional. To add drama, wait for the initial layer to dry before applying a second or even third application.
Who It’s For: People with dry lashes who are craving volume and moisture.
Benefits: Volumizing | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best 2-in-1: Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer
Why It’s Worth It: While on a press trip with the brand, associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen initially encountered the 2021 Readers’ Choice Award–winning Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer via the brand’s founder, Jessica Alba. “She applied one layer of the primer, then flipped it, and did two coats of the mascara — and then we went to dinner,” according to her. “Those two coats stayed intact all night long — even after a few margaritas,” he claims.
Editor Tip: To get lashes that gorgeous, people will ask whether you’re wearing extensions after you apply primer and two coats of mascara.
Who It’s For: Anyone and everyone.
Benefits: Moisturizing and lengthening | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Most Definition: Lancôme Définicils High Definition Mascara
Why It’s Worth It: Winner of four Best of Beauty Awards and twelve Readers’ Choice Awards, Lancôme Définicils High Definition Mascara gives the illusion of long, flake-free lashes. You can reach the very root of your lashes with this long, thin brush because of its short, densely packed bristles.
Editor Tip: Priming with Cils Booster XL Enhancing Mascara Base before applying mascara will bring out your mascara’s full Lancome potential. Lash thickness and length can be enhanced in this way.
Who It’s For: People who want natural-looking lashes.
Benefits: Volumizing and lengthening | Shades: 4 | Waterproof: Available
Best Waterproof Mascara: Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara
Why It’s Worth It: Our editor claims that Dior’s Diorshow Waterproof Mascara is the most luxurious and effective waterproof mascara on the market. “My eyelashes are naturally pretty long, albeit blonde, so I don’t really love wearing mascara all the time (mostly because I hate taking it off at the end of the day),” according to her. “When I do, however, I go all-out glam with the Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara because it makes my lashes longer, thicker, and just the right amount of obnoxious diva.”
Editor Tip: The long-lasting formula of Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara can be “slobbered and splashed in and it will stay on,” according to Molly R. Stern, a cosmetic artist based in Los Angeles.
Who It’s For: People who want a dramatic lash and to have a good cry. It’s also a MUA-approved pick to amp up straight lashes.
Benefits: Volumizing and lengthening | Shades: 3 | Waterproof: Yes
Best Tubing Mascara: Poppy Sloane Smearproof, Flakeproof Vegan Tubing Mascara
Why It’s Worth It: Are you wanting thicker, longer lashes? This version of the Tres Chic Mascara has the added benefit of Capixyl with peptides and red clover extract to prolong the growth phase of the lashes, thereby helping with thickness and length. Sensitive eyes or wear contact lenses? This tubing mascara is hypoallergenic and just doesn’t flake, so there really is nothing to irritate the eyes; just stays where it is designed to be; on the lashes.
Editor Tip: As easy as it is to wear this volumizing formula all day, it’s even easier to remove before bed: Warm water and gentle rubbing are all it takes to whisk away those tiny tubes.
Who It’s For: Those who love tubing mascara and the ease of it.
Benefits: Volumizing | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: Yes
Best for Short Lashes: Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara
Why It’s Worth It: The Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara is a 6ml product designed specifically for women. It is from the renowned brand Estee Lauder, promising zero-smudge performance and lengthening capabilities for the lashes.
Who It’s For: People with short, stubborn lashes.
Benefits: Lifting and volumizing | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best Water Resistant: CoverGirl LashBlast Clump Crusher Water Resistant Mascara
Why It’s Worth It: This mascara offers 200% more volume without any clumps, thanks to its water-resistant, no-clump formula. It features a unique double-sided brush designed for efficient lash-loading and combing to ensure flawless application. The product comes in a 0.44 fl. oz. (13.1 ml) package, sold individually.
Who It’s For: People with sensitive eyes.
Benefits: Water Resistant; Shades: 2
Best Subtle Mascara: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
Why It’s Worth It: The Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara is a highly acclaimed cosmetic product, celebrated for its ability to dramatically enhance lash volume and length with just a few strokes. Its unique hourglass-shaped brush is designed to curl and separate lashes, ensuring a full, voluptuous look without any clumping. The formula is rich and buildable, allowing for customizable intensity from natural to bold.
Who It’s For: People who want a volume effect.
Benefits: CVolumizing and lengthening | Shades: 2 | Waterproof: Available
Best for Precise Application: Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara
Why It’s Worth It: The Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara is a notable addition to the mascara market, leveraging tubing technology to deliver clump-free, smudge-proof lashes. Its formula encases each lash in a tube-like polymer, which is designed to last all day without flaking or fading, making it ideal for those with busy lifestyles or sensitive eyes. The mascara’s wand ensures an even application, allowing for both volume and length with minimal effort. Users appreciate its ease of removal, as it comes off with warm water, eliminating the need for harsh makeup removers. While it offers a natural to moderate enhancement, those seeking dramatic volume may need to layer it.
Who It’s For: Someone that needs their mascara and height to last all day long.
Benefits: Lengthening | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best Fluid Formula: L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Waterproof Mascara
Why It’s Worth It: While L’Oréal Paris’s mascaras have long been standard issues, the new Telescopic Waterproof Mascara takes them to a whole new level. Ceramides are infused into the black product (which is also offered in a non-waterproof variant) to nourish lashes continuously throughout the day.
Who It’s For: People who can’t seem to get every single lash on the first swipe.
Benefits: Waterproof and long-lasting | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: Yes
