The best mascaras for length, curl and volume
Few beauty products are as universally loved (and used) as mascara – for so many of us, our favourite tube is a desert-island essential. After all, no matter how low-maintenance the rest of your beauty routine may be, there’s no denying the instant eye-opening effects that a slick of your favourite mascara offers.
But finding the best mascara can be a test of endurance. These days, there are endless tubes to choose from, all proffering different (yet equally appealing) benefits. From mega volume to fluttery length, and curl-enhancing to waterproof formulas, the options are truly endless.
If you’re still on the hunt for your holy-grail mascara, we’re here to help. We’ve tried out dozens of the most-hyped mascaras – long-loved classics, celeb favourites and new game-changers – to bring you the ones really worth trying out. We’re sure you’ll find one to love.
Below, find the mascaras the Red beauty team really recommend, from high-end formulas to high-street heroes...
The best mascaras for length, volume, lift and curl
Future Lash Mascara
Not all shades of black are made equal. This hue is sleek and expensive-looking, in a formula that doesn’t smudge. Even when this mascara is new, and the tube full, the wand doesn't clump or feel too 'wet'; it's silky and light to apply. The best part is that it can be built up and up, with no risk of ever looking heavy.
No Smudge Mascara
No smudge by name and nature. This waterproof mascara is one of the hardiest we've found, staying put on lashes all day long. There are quite a few variables that make a mascara smudge (rich eye creams, for example) but a durable mascara like this one can help. This wand lengthens, volumises and keeps the eye area looking clean and flake-free all day.
Lash Sensational Mascara
Mascara is something the high street has done well for years now. Maybelline, we know, are particularly great here (one Google of the hype surrounding their latest offering, Sky High, will show you).
It's Lash Sensational that takes the crown for us. The bendy comb wand curves around the natural shape of the eye, capturing even those tiny little lashes in the inner corners. The result is a full, fanned out finish, with a respectable amount of volume and length. It works hard on so many fronts and feels so much more expensive than it actually is – a real workhorse.
Bad Gal Bang Mascara
Benefit are something of a mascara authority. Nothing lifts and separates lashes quite like Bad Gal Bang. Not only does it keep them pointing skywards all day and night, but there's also no hint of flaking or smudging. It's got the staying power to rival a waterproof mascara, with the eye-opening effect of a regular one. Where some waterproof formulas can irritate sensitive eyes, we've found this water-resistant mascara to be smudge-proof and long-wearing.
Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes Mascara
It's easy to overlook this mascara in Charlotte Tilbury's impressive catalogue. This, though, is a solid option for lashes that face downwards and need serious lifting. The bristle is diamond shaped and properly grips each individual lash to lift them. Pair this with a lash curler and stubborn, south-facing lashes are pushed upwards for an eye-opening effect. The lift lasts the day, too; there's no drooping by lunchtime.
£23.00 at charlottetilbury.com
Climax Mascara
In NARS we trust. It's hard to lend volume sans clumpiness, but Climax does so perfectly. Ribbed bristles pick up just the right amount of product that can be loaded on to the lashes for really dense, dramatic volume. Each lash is coated from root to tip, helping them look full and fluttery.
Lash Idôle Brown
Those who love a brown mascara will know finding the perfect shade is not always an easy feat. Too often, the brown dries down too darkly and looks black. This is not the case with Lancôme's offering, which is a soft, chocolatey, true brown. The wand works hard: the curve fits ergonomically around the shape of the eye, grasping on to every hair and encouraging them outward for a fanned-out finish. While the effect it gives lashes is dramatic, the brown shade dials down the drama just enough to keep things looking relatively natural.
Lash Curling Mascara
If you’re prone to panda eyes but don’t fancy wrestling waterproof mascara off your lids at the end of the day, try a tubing mascara. These formulas contain clever polymers that wrap around each lash, forming a ‘seal’ that washes off easily with warm water (and a super soft flannel). This budge-proof tubing mascara has a classic conical wand that neatly catches every lash, creating lift that sticks around, even in the clammiest conditions. The effect is polished and subtle rather than high drama; reach for it when you need no-nonsense daytime definition.
Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara
For a full, fanned-out finish, it can only be Dior. Every lash is grabbed here, and the curved brush allows for a really full, doe-eyed finish. Despite the chunky brush wand, rather impressively, it's one of the least clumping volumising mascaras we've found. The black is a rich inky hue, too .
Telescopic Lift Mascara
If short lashes are a bugbear, look to this high-street lengthening option. Too often, lengthening mascaras forgo volume etc., but that isn't the case here. The long, thin wand has gentle hooks on its bristles to capture each individual hair, increasing the appearance of their length.
High Impact Mascara
Love a full, fluttery lash look? This gel formula distributes added fibres smoothly and evenly through lashes so that they look instantly Elizabeth Taylor-esque. The precision tip is brilliant for boosting those little lashes at the inner corner of your lids and the fragrance-free gel doesn’t flake, migrate or go crunchy when dry (contact lens wearers will love it). Just a few coats create an impressive fan of lashes with minimal faff and effort.
Strength & Length Serum-Infused Mascara
Our watery-eyed tester loved this mascara. It didn't cause any irritation around the eye area, and crucially, didn't smudge when her eyes did water. It's full of ingredients that are kind to lashes (think peptides) to help strengthen the wispy little hairs with each wear. The finish it supplies is a natural one, so if you want more drama, you'll need to add a few more coats.
Lash Slick
It was only right that Glossier – the brand that put the 'clean girl' aesthetic on the map – nail the ultimate natural-lash mascara. Tiny fibres cling to each lash to give them a believable length, while the wand makes light work of keeping them separate and fluffy. For a look that says polished and not overdone, look here.
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