TL; DR
Our favorite mascara is theBenefit Fan Fest Fanning & Volumizing Mascara thanks to how beautifully it volumizes, separates, and lifts the lashes. But if you’re looking for a lengthening option, we recommend the Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara.
Few beauty items are quite as personal as mascara, and several factors come into play when finding one you can't put down. Lash type, desired look, and formulation all play a role in whether or not a mascara suits your wants and needs. However, according to makeup artist Nicole Bueno, all great mascaras should be buildable and resistant to flaking and smudging.
With a massive number of mascaras available, finding the very best options is challenging. So, we scoured the market for the most popular and well-loved ones before selecting more than 50 to test ourselves. We evaluated each one based on its ease of application, wear, performance, overall look, and ease of removal. Those that impressed us the most appear on this list. Keep reading to discover our favorite mascaras for length, volume, separation, and more.
Our Top Picks
Best Volumizing:
Best Waterproof:
What We Like
Lifts, separates, and volumizes lashes
Hold a curl nicely
Buildable
What to Consider
Not super lengthening
Benefits: Volumizing, separating, lifting | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No
Benefit’s newest mascara has quickly become our favorite. It does (pretty much) everything you’d want a mascara to do: lift, separate, volumize, and add a hint of length. We wish it were a bit more lengthening, but that’s far from a deal-breaker considering how gorgeous it leaves lashes. The curved brush makes it easy to grip each lash from the root, and the bristles are perfectly dispersed, helping fan out the lashes for an even and full-looking finish.
We love that the formula is lightweight and buildable, so you can amp up the volume without depleting your curl. Once it sets down, it remains flake-free and smudge-resistant throughout the day. We think it’s a great choice for a wide range of lash types and makeup preferences.
Ally Hirschlag, senior beauty commerce editor with straight, thin lashes: “This mascara is a dream to use. The spoolie pulls just the right amount of product, the curved brush applies evenly and grabs all my lashes, and the formula is that sweet spot of not too wet or too dry. It imparts a beautiful fan effect that helps give that doe-eyed look. It's also super buildable, so it’s great for every day or a glam night out.”
What We Like
Affordable and accessible
Lightweight
Separates lashes well
What to Consider
Smudges a bit
Benefits: Volumizing, separating | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This budget-friendly mascara performs just as well as some high-end options we’ve tried. The jumbo brush builds the formula onto the lashes to create bold volume that isn’t clumpy or spidery. It helps pack on the product fast (so you don't need to apply several coats) and despite its size, it still grips the lashes and separates them nicely. One coat creates visible length and thickness, while a second layer offers a more dramatic effect. And even after applying several coats, we never felt like our lashes were being weighed down.
We did experience a bit of smudging near the outer corners of the eyes. It was far from the worst smudging we've experienced when testing mascaras, but it's worth keeping in mind if you’re prone to mascara bleeding or smearing.
Best Volumizing
Yves Saint Laurent Extreme Volume Mascara
What We Like
Super buildable volume
Available in black, chocolate brown, and royal blue
Great for a false-lash effect
What to Consider
Isn’t the best at holding a curl
Benefits: Volumizing | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: No
This volumizing pick promises big lashes, and it delivers. It excels at thickening the lashes with a formula that can be built up from natural-looking volume after one swipe to false-looking lashes after five. It comes in three color options—black, brown, and electric blue—to complement numerous eye colors and makeup looks.
During testing, we found it easy to apply; two quick coats gave us full, voluminous lashes on the top and bottom—and no clumps. The formula dried quickly and stayed put all day without smudging or flaking, and came off fairly easily at the end of the day without tugging or pulling. Our one con is the curl we achieved with the initial application didn’t last the day, but that’s pretty common for volume-enhancing mascaras.
What We Like
Lengthens the lashes in one coat
Tubing formula is smudge-free and easy to remove
Separates lashes nicely
What to Consider
Doesn’t add much thickness to the lashes
Benefits: Lengthening | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Those looking for a mascara that visibly lengthens their lashes should check out this popular pick from Thrive Causemetics. It’s a tubing formula that wraps around each lash, creating little tubes that provide smudge-free length and definition and are totally painless to remove. We love this pick because, just like the name suggests, it creates the appearance of lash extensions. The narrow brush makes it easy to target each and every lash while separating them to create a fanned-out finish. Once the mascara dries down, it remains totally smudge-proof and flake-free until you wash it off.
This mascara doesn’t offer much volume, but if you’re looking for a true lengthening formula that stays put all day and is easy to apply and remove, we can’t recommend it enough.
Read Full Review: This Thrive Causemetics Mascara Is Viral for a Reason
What We Like
Adds length and volume
Separates lashes nicely
Doesn't smudge or flake
What to Consider
Can be tricky to remove
Benefits: Lengthening, volumizing, separating | Shades: 5 | Cruelty-Free: No
The drugstore is home to tons of great mascaras, but none better than this one from Maybelline.It has a long, skinny brush that makes coating every lash easy and has well-dispersed bristles to separate and fan them out. The wet formula isn't heavy or goopy, which helps when combing it through the lashes and building it up for volume. We love that it makes the lashes look longer, fuller, lifted, and separated. It's great for minimal makeup days but can also be built up for more dramatic looks. Plus, it doesn’t flake or smudge—even on those with oily eyelids.
The formula is slightly hard to remove because it comes off in small bits rather than dissolving with eye makeup remover, but it’s not so difficult that it requires much scrubbing. If you’ve been searching for the best drugstore mascara, we think you’ll love this pick.
Read Full Review: Maybelline's Sky High Mascara Creates Dreamy, Fluttery Lashes
What We Like
Chocolate brown shade
Intense volume
Hourglass shape brush
What to Consider
Can be a bit clumpy
Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Shades: 2 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
The Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara might as well have its own dedicated fan club—it’s that popular. We love the original black shade, so we were thrilled when the brand released this stunning chocolate color. Unlike a lot of brown mascaras that look essentially black on the lashes, you can really see this one’s rich brown hue. Aside from the color, the formula is great for seriously voluminous looks—it’s one of the most buildable options we’ve tried. The hourglass-shaped wand works to grip and separate lashes while creating tons of volume and a bit of length.
It’s worth noting that it can get a bit clumpy as you layer it up. We recommend keeping a lash comb on hand if you prefer the look of super clean volume.
Read Full Review: This Too Faced Mascara Is My Secret to Curled, Defined Lashes
Shannon Bauer, associate editorial director for beauty commerce with long, blonde lashes: “This mascara has been a go-to for years because it lengthens and thickens minus the clumps or transfers. Lately, I've been obsessed with the chocolate brown shade, which makes my blue eyes stand out (thanks, color theory). It looks amazing paired with a bronze or brown smoky eye, too.”
What We Like
Completely smudge-resistant
Adds length and volume
Brush separates lashes nicely
Relatively easy to remove
What to Consider
Bristles are a bit sharp
Benefits: Lengthening, volumizing, separating | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No
Our favorite waterproof mascara is this gem from MAC. It effectively lengthens and volumizes the lashes for an even and defined finish. One coat creates a natural look suitable for every day, while additional coats build up volume for more drama. The brush does a great job of combing and separating the lashes to ensure you achieve a fanned-out finish. Beware that the bristles are a bit sharp and spikey (so take your time when applying this one), but we think they’re an ideal length and perfectly spaced to allow the brush to grip each lash.
The application and finish really impressed us, but the performance made this waterproof mascara stand out even more. It stayed perfectly intact during our moisture tests in the lab, and we didn’t experience flaking or smudging when wearing it in our real lives. Another bonus is that it was significantly easier to remove than most waterproof formulas we’ve tried. It takes a bit more effort to get off than your average washable formula, but a cleansing oil did the trick without too much scrubbing.
What We Like
Stays put all-day
Not as hard to remove as other waterproof mascaras we tested
Holds a curl well
What to Consider
Brush can pick up too much product
Benefits: Volumizing, separating | Shades: 2 | Cruelty-Free: No
The original version of this L’Oréal mascara has been a longtime fan-favorite for its super volumizing formula, and we like the waterproof one just as much. The big wand has more than 200 bristles that separate the lashes and provide buildable volume. The formula is on the wetter side for a waterproof one (which makes it easy to build up) but dries down quickly. One coat creates a fluffy look, while additional coats give you serious drama. The brush can pick up a lot of product each time you re-dip, so be sure to wipe the top when using it, or you may experience some clumping.
Once it dries, it stays put all day with very minimal smudging or flaking. And despite how voluminous it can make the lashes, the formula doesn’t weigh them down. In fact, we were impressed by how well our lashes stayed curled when wearing this one. When it was time to remove it, it wasn’t as tricky as most waterproof mascaras are—a standard double cleanse got the job done.
What We Like
Doesn’t smudge or fade
Adds length and volume
Easy to remove
What to Consider
Can be a bit clumpy
Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Tubing mascaras are great for people who struggle with smudging and flaking. We love this one from Caliray because it offers length and a healthy dose of volume, which isn’t always the case with tubing options. One coat gives you a semi-natural-looking finish, while the second and third coats offer much more impact. The formula can get a bit clumpy as you build it up, so if you like cleaner-looking volume, we recommend wiping off excess product on the brush as you layer it on.
Once it sets on the lashes, it stays intact without weighing down your curl, flaking all over your face, or smudging under your eyes. When you’re ready to remove it, all you need to do is loosen it up with warm water (and your face wash if you choose) and gently wipe the tubes off your lashes.
Alyssa Kaplan, associate beauty commerce editor with long, curled lashes: “I reach for this mascara when I’m faced with a long day, humid weather, or a special event because I know I can rely on it to stay put without smudging. It gives my lashes a gorgeous, defined finish, and I never have to worry about it migrating around my eyes.”
What We Like
Clean formula with conditioning ingredients
Gives lashes a naturally defined finish
Dual-sided brush makes it easy to target each lash
What to Consider
Smudges a bit
Benefits: Lengthens, separates | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you keep up with what’s popular in the clean beauty space, chances are you’re familiar with this ultra-popular clean mascara. According to our testers, it deserves the high praise it receives. Formulated with a blend of conditioning waxes, it nourishes the lashes while lengthening and lifting them. It has a unique dual-sided wand with short bristles to curl and add subtle volume and long bristles to lift, lengthen, and separate.
We loved the defined look it gave the lashes and were incredibly impressed that the ultra-black pigment remained easy to remove. We did notice some smudging near the upper eyelid, so keep that in mind if you’re prone to smudging.
What We Like
Separates lashes for fanned-out look
Adds length
Non-clumpy
What to Consider
Not the most buildable option
Benefits: Separating, lengthening | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: No
If you struggle with your eyelashes sticking together when applying mascara, we recommend trying this one from the drugstore. It’s been well-loved for decades and is still one of the best separating and lengthening mascaras on the market today. The narrow brush has perfectly dispersed bristles that grip, separate, and comb your lashes to create a gorgeous fanned-out look. It adds visible length and a hint of volume, is never clumpy, and wears nicely without smudging or flaking.
While it’s not the most buildable formula—so you won’t get a super voluminous look—we adore how well it works to separate and define the lashes. Plus, the narrow brush makes it easy to grip the lashes from root to tip (even on small eyes) and control your mascara application.
What We Like
Half-moon-shaped brush lifts lashes at the roots
Buildable
Lightweight formula
What to Consider
Could be more buildable
Benefits: Curling, separating | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you have straight lashes, you probably know how frustrating it can be to achieve a lifted look. We recommend starting by using an eyelash curler to give your lashes a lift and then applying a curling mascara, like this one from e.l.f.. The half-moon-shaped brush hugs your eyes, gripping each lash from the root and coating it in the formula. Because the brush allows you to get really close to the base of your lashes, it helps to give them a serious lift. We also found that the formula was quite lightweight, which is essential to maintain your curl and not weigh your lashes down.
It’s not the most buildable or voluminous option, but we think it’s excellent for those who want a formula that helps to lift the lashes and keep their curl intact.
What to Look for When Buying Mascara
- Benefits: Mascaras offer various benefits, such as lengthening, volumizing, separating, and curling. The type of mascara you should choose depends on your lash type and makeup preferences. For those with straight lashes, makeup artist Dominique Della Maggiore suggests opting for a tubing mascara since it helps add length and hold a curl. Bueno adds that mascaras with dryer formulas are ideal for those who struggle to hold a curl since wet formulas can weigh the lashes down. You could also consider a mascara primer that goes underneath your mascara to add thickness.
- Wand: The formula and the wand are the most important aspects of a mascara. A formula might be lightweight, silky, and nourishing, but if the wand can’t apply it to your lashes effectively, then it won’t matter. Some wands feature spoolie-like bristles that tend to be long and densely packed, while others have plastic or rubber bristles that make for a more uniform application. For example, if you have long, curled lashes, a big mascara wand will give you dramatic, fluttery lashes. But if you’re working with short lashes, a long, skinny rubber wand will allow you to easily grip and coat your lashes. It may take some trial and error to find which type of wand is right for you, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
- Shade: Black mascara is classic, but there are other color options. If you want to create a no-makeup, makeup look, opting for brown mascara will give your look a more subtle finish. And if you like to get creative with your looks or enhance your eye color, try reaching for a colored mascara to change things up.
FAQ
Is it okay to wear mascara every day?
It is OK to wear mascara daily, however, it’s extremely important to properly remove it before bed. Not removing mascara may damage your lashes and interfere with their natural growth cycle.
How can you prevent mascara from smudging and flaking?
Tubing mascaras are great if you're looking for a smudge-free option, but Maggiore has tips for wearing a standard formula. "One of my secrets is locking in the mascara with clear brown gel," she says. "It will help keep the curl as well as set the mascara. I also use clear brow gel as mascara if I’m going for a more natural look—it’s like a mini lash lift."
Why Trust Byrdie
Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She has tested dozens of mascaras—including several on this list. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022 and is now an associate commerce editor, where she covers all things beauty.
Alyssa also spoke to experts to discuss important things to consider when purchasing mascara. Those experts included:
- Dominique Della Maggiore is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked with clients such as Shay Mitchell and Liza Koshy.
- Nicole Bueno, a New York-based makeup artist who has worked with clients like La La Anthony, Leyna Bloom, and more.
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