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Want lashes for days? The secret to a sky-high flutter is out
Mascara is one of those beauty products that can seem a bit monotonous and, admittedly, it’s often hard to distinguish your curling mascaras from your volumising ones. I’m here to tell you, though, that some mascaras actually are cut from a different cloth – you just have to know where to look.
Whether you’re after a waterproof mascara that won’t budge in the gym; one that gives your lashes extra length, or even one that’s undetectable, I’ve got the product for you.
I’ve been scouring the beauty aisles of high street and high-end stores, on the hunt for the best mascaras on the market in the UK. I’ve done away with all the clunky spoolies and sticky formulas, whittling down the industry’s hundreds of iterations to bring you my top 10 picks.
If you’re new to the make-up game, I’m here to help you get up to speed. Whether you like a wispy lash or a bold, statement eye, there are a couple of things to look out for across the board when choosing the best mascara for you.
Scroll on for everything you need to know, plus my favourite formulas for every lash requirement and budget.
After researching the mascaras that are most talked about, as well as any new releases from popular brands, I created a longlist of around 40 formulas for testing. I then proceeded to test each mascara for a full eight hours wear, applying in the morning (each to a freshly curled lash) before checking in on the state of my eyes throughout the day. I paid attention to any immediate results – considering if there was any drooping or clumping – as well as, in the long term, if the mascara smudged or caused irritation. I noted the practicality of each wand, how effective the coverage was and how many coats were required. Often, a mascara that appeared great upon application would then prove a poor choice after leaving me with panda eyes later on. As such, my 40-product longlist was eventually whittled down to just 10 mascaras.
As The Independent’s beauty writer, I’m constantly browsing the latest products and formulas. Whether it’s new skincare and fragrance launches or a new colour in Maybelline’s best-selling lash sensational sky high mascara, you can bet I’m on top of it. I’ve more than five years’ experience working in the industry and, in that time, I’ve accrued make-up intel from brand contacts and experts, as well as my own personal use of products. I’ve tested and reviewed myriad mascaras and have only recommended the ones I truly believe are worth your hard-earned cash.
If you have blonde lashes, you’ll know how annoying it can be to seemingly finish coating every lash only to turn your gaze downwards to reveal a white blonde lash line. This is something I’ve become used to over the years and is, aside from the occasional lash tint, part and parcel of the fair-hair experience – or so I thought.
Milk Makeup’s kush mascara wand somehow gets underneath the lashes in a way that reaches both the top of the lash line and encapsulates the hairs. This surprised me, given the fairly straight and narrow design of the spoolie. What’s more, the formula enables you to apply multiple coats without any clumping. It also gives some serious volume at the root. I reach for this product all the time and have no doubt I’ll be repurchasing after I’ve scraped every last ounce out of my current tube.
Finding a budget-friendly mascara that applies and wears like a dream is often a thing of, well, dreams. If you’ve heard everyone wax lyrical about Maybelline’s lash sensational sky high mascara, you may have written off this one but do not overlook ‘great lash’. This is a do-it-all product that effectively lifts, curls, lengthens and defines, leaving your lashes looking gorgeous and wispy, all for less than £10.
Complete with its single-sided applicator, Refy’s lash sculpt is not only unique but actually does what it says on the tin: sculpts your lashes. The spoolie is crescent-shaped and, contrary to expectation, curves in the opposite direction to your lashes (no, you can’t flip it). Somehow, it works, with the outer edge of the brush gripping those hard-to-reach outer lashes, while the petite tapered end reaches the stubby, previously inaccessible ones towards the inner corner of the eye.
It’s a bit clunky on the bottom lashes and doesn’t lend itself to multiple coats but the formula is reliable and neither smudges nor crumbles. It’s a product I genuinely reach for in my day-to-day routine.
As someone with naturally poker straight/droopy lashes, I’ve always been sceptical about curved spoolies on mascaras, deeming them more of a gimmick than a productive feature. With Lancôme’s lash idôle mascara, however, this isn’t the case. While those with straight lashes will still reach for a lash curler, once your lashes are curled, Lancôme’s brush helps to plump the curl even further.
It’s best to be sparing with this water-based formula, to prevent weighing down the curl, but I enjoyed how easy it is to coat the lash from root to tip in just one pass, thanks to the spoolie’s lash-hugging shape. My one bugbear is that the cumbersome size of the brush doesn’t bode well for the clumsy among us. On more than one occasion, I caught my eye while applying this formula and, as is always the way, blinked the product onto a full face of make-up – not ideal.
This mascara impressed me from the first swipe until the end of the day. I’m not normally one for a fibre brush and, more often, reach for plastic/silicone spoolies. However, this one separated every lash; looked just as good whether I’d opted for a hasty or precise application; and maintained all the height from my lash curling. The formula neither clumps nor smudges, and the fact it happens to be water-resistant is a bonus. Full marks, no notes.
I’m obsessed with both Clinique’s black honey almost lipstick and the matching lip oil, so, naturally, I had high hopes for this mascara. Initially though, this product had me letting out a sigh of disappointment as, from the first stroke, it appeared as though nothing had come off the spoolie. As I continued to brush the product through all my lashes, however, the subtle burgundy hue began to develop, giving my lashes a natural definition, as though they’d been freshly tinted.
With this formula, your eyes are left looking bright and awake – especially blue/green eyes, thanks to the magic of colour theory – in a way that would leave passers-by none the wiser that you’re wearing make-up. It’s perfect for those ‘no make-up’ make-up days. Plus, the brush is easy to use and forgiving to beauty beginners.
There’s no denying this is a premium product but I think it’s worth its price tag. Often, when mascaras are good at lengthening it’s because of some extra fibres in the formula. This isn’t something that bothers me, per se, but it does mean the finish is bolder than you might like. With the Givenchy l’interdit couture mascara, the formula coats every lash but does so without pushing clumps of lashes together. Rather, it pulls the lashes apart, to give the appearance of a wispy, full lash line, without the heaviness of extra fibres or a thick, gloopy formula. It does, however, have the sort of brush that’s bound to encourage smudge accidents but, in my opinion, the final results are worth it.
Brown mascaras are great when you want to draw attention elsewhere – for instance, to a red lip or shimmering highlighter – and the Diorshow iconic overcurl mascara is a top pick. That’s not to say it makes your lashes look ‘less than’. In fact, it leaves them looking – much like Clinique’s black honey option – like perfect natural lashes. We’re talking full at the root, defined at the tips and expertly combed without even a hint of product detectable. It’s a tad clunky when it comes to coating your bottom lashes but, if you’re aiming for the barely there look, bypassing the lower lashes might not be the worst idea.
When I removed Lancôme’s hypnôse drama brush from its tube, I found quite a lot of product exits with it and, from first glance, it appeared quite clumpy, as though it would be a nightmare to distribute. I’m pleased to say this wasn’t the case, however – rather, the cluster of fibre bristles ensured every hair was reached, without slicking them all together. The finish is bold, with a thick lash line and volume throughout. I wouldn’t say it’s an everyday mascara (unless you’re one for a daily sweep of eyeshadow and liner) but it’s definitely a top pick for a night on the town.
Mascaras are among Benefit’s most iconic products and, as evidenced by my two Benefit inclusions here, they don’t let you down. The original they’re real mascara was my poison of choice as a late teen and I wasn’t actually familiar with the magnet edition, despite it being released back in 2021. Comparing the product on just one eye versus my naked lashes on the other, it was clear the unique, magnetically charged brush was working wonders. Despite coating my lashes with several layers of the formula, they weren’t weighed down. Rather, my lashes appeared tall, flicking upwards at the outer corners, for a sultry effect.
As the day wore on, those several coats did begin to smudge around my under eyes – something the original formula didn’t do – though, even with this, it didn’t appear as though the product had dissipated from the lashes themselves, leaving a glamorous finish from dawn until dusk.
A good mascara won’t smudge and it won’t weigh down the lashes, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. While oil-based mascaras (waterproof mascaras usually fall into this category) are the best for height and curl, the natural oils on our skin can break down these formulas and cause them to flake or smudge around the eyes. Not to mention oil-based mascaras can be tricky to remove. On the flipside, water-based mascaras are gentler on sensitive eyes and easier to remove, but these formulas often weigh down the lashes, undoing any height gained from using a lash curler.
The solution? Tailor your mascara to your skin type and usage. For daily application, a water-based mascara will be less harsh on the lashes and easy to remove with most face washes, from micellar water to cream cleansers. For a night out on the town and a full face of glam, an oil-based mascara will give your eyes a dramatic fanned-out finish. For the oily skin types among us, just make sure to set the skin around your eyes with a loose powder.
As for brush types, most mascaras can be divided into two categories: fibre and plastic/silicone. In layman’s terms this essentially describes the fluffy, soft bristle-type wands versus the spiky hard ones. Each brand will likely have its own signature spoolie name but you can generally tell which category you’re dealing with just by looking at the wand.
What’s the difference between them? A fibre brush normally makes short work of volumising and creating a bold, feathery lash line. Meanwhile, plastic/silicone spoolies are the kings of definition and make accessing the ins and outs of your lashes feel easy, from the roots to the tips.
The shelf life of an average mascara is two to four months, so, to get the most out of it, follow these tips:
While it was a photo finish between Benefit’s fan fest mascara and Milk Makeup’s kush, the latter just pipped the former to the post, thanks to Milk’s ability to volumise, define and curl. The fan fest was a close second, and it’s the best mascara for fanned-out lashes as well as being the best waterproof mascara on test. Honourable mentions go to Maybelline’s great lash for its sheer affordability and wow-worthy results, as well as Givenchy’s l’interdit couture as a premium – but definitely worth it – pick for a wispy, fluttery finish.
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