17 different shaped mascara brushes explained

From those hourglass shaped wands, to those scary little torture balls.

Best for: Short, sparse lashes

If your lashes are on the thinner, shorter side, a mascara brush shaped like a comb will help grab and coat every single lash with minimal clumping.

Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Angel Mascara, £7.99

Best for: Lengthening

Think of these types of mascara as a 2-in-1. You can apply your mascara as you normally would with the brush, then turn the wand and use the tip to give the ends of your lashes an extra lengthening boost.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara, £20.50

Best for: Elongating your eyes

Designed by L'Oréal, this bizarre looking mascara brush not only gives your eyes a feline effect, but the mini row of bristles in the centre also tightline your upper waterline.

L'Oréal False Lash Sculpt Mascara, £10.99

Best for: Curling

If your lashes are straighter than uncooked spaghetti, a curved wand will hug your lashes from the root to the tip, curling your lashes as you coat them. For a curl that really lasts start with an eyelash curler and opt for a waterproof formula to prevent dreaded 'droopage'.

Barry M That's How I Roll Waterproof Mascara, £4.99

Best for: Hard to reach lashes

I promise these mini torture balls aren't as scary as they look. In fact they have been designed to get all those hard to reach lashes which traditional sized brushes can't get to. So now you never have to get mascara on your eyelids again.

Givenchy Phenomen Eyes Renewal Mascara, £25

Best for: Corner lashes

The lashes on the inner and outer corners of your eye often get left out, but not with these tapered style brushes. The thinner end ensures all your lashes get an even coating.

bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara, £18

Best for: Widening your eyes

This brush is designed so that the smaller bristles at the base grab onto the root of your lashes, widening as they pull your lashes upwards and outwards. Great for volume and length.

Max Factor Glamour Extensions 3-in-1 Mascara, £10.99

Best for: Volume and length

A rectangular brush won't get into every nook and cranny, but the shorter, squared off bristles will stretch and pull your lashes to new levels of volume and length.

IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara, £19

Best for: Lifting

If you're more about the curl than the volume, a bubbled mascara wand will ensure that each one of your lashes gets an extra hoist up to the gods as the brush travels from root to tip.

Fairy Drops Scandal Queen Waterproof Mascara, £18.50

Best for: Buildable Volume

The struggle between voluminous lashes and clumpy spider legs can seem endless, which is why this 90° bendable brush is a revelation. This gives you serious volume with control, meaning you don't have to coat the same lashes over and over again.

*And yes, I'm aware 'bendy' is not a shape but let me off...

Givenchy Noir Interdit Mascara, £25.50

Best for: Definition

If you have shorter lashes, you will know that a lot of lengthening mascaras don't always work. This skinny brush will ensure your lashes are coated in mascara from the very root, making them appear longer and more defined.

NYX The Skinny Mascara, £6.50

Best for: Bottom Lashes

If you can't apply mascara on your bottom lashes without getting it all over your cheeks, you need to invest in one of these teeny-tiny mascaras. It might seem excessive but not only will they reach every single one of your lashes, but they also have long wear formulas which prevent the dreaded smudging.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara, £14.50

Best for: Thickening

Not only will a jumbo sized mascara brush give you serious volume and thickness, it will also take you half the time to apply it. If you are blessed with camel like lashes you will get the best results from these types of mascara.

Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara, £24.50

Best for: Volume and curl

This spiralled brush will give you the perfect compromise between volume and curl. It works in a similar way to the bubble shaped brush, by lifting the lashes as you roll, only less pronounced so you don't loose out on any volume.

L'Oréal Paris Miss Baby Roll Mascara, £7.99

Best for: A false lash effect

Too Faced designed their iconic mascara brush after discovering Marilyn Monroe's bust-waist-hip ratio, spawning a whole new range of hourglass shaped brushes. As well as providing tons of volume, the shape also helps lift your lashes.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, £19

Best for: Volume and separation

If you can't decide between a traditional bristle brush and a plastic brush, the general rule of thumb is that a plastic bristle brush gives more definition and less clumping.

Dior Diorshow Pump 'N' Volume Mascara, £25.50

Best for: Volume and fullness

If you want volume, fullness and fluttery lashes go for a traditional bristle brush over plastic. Although you might experience some clumping, these are much kinder to sensitive eyes than plastic bristles.

Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes Mascara, £25