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What’s your desert island beauty product? While common sense says SPF, for most women it tends to be mascara. It wakes up the face, makes you look younger, adds glamour… And lashes are big business: in 2024, the bestselling mascara at Boots (Maybelline Sky High, £12.99) sold at a rate of one every 70 seconds.
Because it’s such a popular product, there are new mascara launches all the time, along with cult classics already on the shelves. But which to buy? Well that depends on the look you’re after, with different mascaras tending to different needs – be it length, volume, curl or even an anti-ageing mascara.
To that end, we’ve been busy trialling more than 60 contenders and whittling them down to our all-time favourites. Because mascara is so subjective – what works well on one person’s lashes might not achieve the desired effect on another’s – we’ve done a deep dive on formulas and wands so you can find your perfect match.
Read on, find the right one for you and step out looking instantly younger (as we age eyelashes get sparser, straighter and lighter), more glamorous and wide awake. Win-win-win.
Top mascara picks at a glance
How we test mascaras & why you can trust my verdict
Alice Robertson testing some of the best mascaras
As You’s dedicated beauty expert I’ve tried my fair share of mascaras. In total, I can say I’ve tested 50 mascaras you can buy on the high street. Ranging from luxury branded favourites to affordable, under £5 buys I selected my top 9 mascaras, so you can find the best one that suits you.
When testing beauty products, we make sure to wear it through real-life settings and scenarios. Then we compare and evaluate to reach a verdict on what makes the shortlist. Reviewing mascaras isn’t overly complicated. It’s a case of seeing if it lasts past my morning commute, doesn’t smudge in the summer, or clump in the winter.
That being said, with many brands like Rimmel and Maybelline having multiple mascara options with added serums, different wands and shades, finding the best of the best took me some time.
The best mascaras – tried and tested
Rimmel Wonder’Bond Lash Filler + Hyaluronic Mascara
Product Specs
- Wand typeMoulded silicone bristles, curved shape
The arched brush clings nicely to the sweep of the lash line, making application smooth and speedy. The formula properly coats, but it might need a little combing through on the bottom lashes. One for those of us who want to create a breeze when they blink.
Max Factor 2000 Calorie Long Lash Era Mascara
Product Specs
- Wand typeMoulded silicone bristles, curved shape
The packaging feels cheap but the brush is dense with little spokes for brilliant separation and clump removal. The texture is loose enough to coat and taper each lash to a point rather than create length that stops abruptly, as cheaper formulas can. It gripped firmly and didn’t flake.
Kosas Soulgazer Mascara
Product Specs
- Wand typeMoulded silicone bristles, hourglass shape
What we love
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FormulaLightweight, contains peptide serum to stimulate lash growth
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ResultsSeparates lashes, adds definition
A lightweight formula for great definition that layers up well for a bolder look. It also contains a peptide serum that stimulates lash growth, so with frequent wear you’ll end up with longer lashes, even minus the mascara. The brush has lots of little spokes so it’s also good at separating lashes.
Dr Hauschka Long Lasting Mascara
Product Specs
- Wand typeNylon bristles, straight and spiralled
What we love
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PackagingTriangular tube and handle for comfortable application
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ApplicationLarger brush reaches corner lashes
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DurabilityLasts all day in high temperatures
The shape of the tube and handle is satisfyingly triangular, meaning that it fits comfortably between your fingers. The brush itself is larger than most of the others in this line-up but it also narrows to a finer point, so you can get right in the corners. It stayed on all day, even in 25C heat, and survived a very sweaty gym class, too.
Elf Lash ’N Roll Mascara
Product Specs
- Wand typeMoulded silicone bristles, curved with a comb
This one is actually a dupe of a bestselling Benefit mascara – and it’s a triumph. The mascara hugged the shape of my lash line really well, while the gentle bend of the brush teased my lashes upwards, achieving a wide-awake look, no curlers required. That’s one less step in the morning routine.
Rum Wrap Party Tubing Mascara
Product Specs
- Wand typeMoulded silicone bristles, straight tapered shape
This is really, really, really good, coating each lash in a glossy slick of rich pigment. It’s a tubing mascara – meaning the formula creates ‘tubes’ on each lash and the effect stays put until removed with warm water. Multiple coats give serious length and drama with no risk of dropdown or smudges all day.
Avon Exxtravert Extreme Volume Mascara
Product Specs
- Wand typeNylon bristles, straight
Here’s a reliable everyday go-to. With a single swipe of the brush you’ll achieve definition and an appealing fanned-out effect with minimal clumping. Builds nicely if you want to top up for a dramatic effect.
Lancôme Lash Idôle Flutter Extension Mascara
Product Specs
- Wand typeMoulded silicone bristles, straight shape
The wand is a revelation – slender, with skinny micro bristles densely packed all over it. It somehow manages to coat and comb through simultaneously. As a result my lashes looked noticeably longer than usual. I somehow also appeared to have gained more eyelashes. So even though the wand may look weird, whatever witchcraft it’s using, I am on board.
Kylie Cosmetics Kylash Volume Mascara in True Brown
Product Specs
- Wand typeNylon bristles, straight shape
Considering that Kylie Jenner’s first foray into make-up was Lip Kits in unbudgeable matte colours, I was nicely surprised here. I’d imagined the effect this created would be more faux than fluttery, especially since the brush looked so bang-average. Yet lashes were fanned out and separated well – no clumping or flaking, giving you the lashes you wish you’d been born with.
FAQs
What’s the best mascara for sparse or healthier lashes?
Look out for formulas that contain peptides, such as the Kosas Soulgazer Mascara we recommend above, to stimulate growth and keep your lashes in top condition.
What’s the best way to apply mascara?
Starting at the outer half of the eye (where you want to focus most of the product), press into the root before slowly swiping upwards while simultaneously moving the wand from left to right. This will coat lashes more effectively. Repeat to process in the centre of the lash line before proceeding to the inner corner.
