Mascara can instantly make your eyelashes appear thicker, longer, curlier, darker, and more voluminous. Some mascaras can even condition your lashes in the process. You can choose from different colored mascaras, waterproof versions, all-natural versions, and other variations to find the perfect mascara for your look. It can take some time to find the perfect one for you, but we’ve compiled a list of some of the best mascaras to get you started.

What Is Mascara?

Mascara is a cosmetic item that can enhance the eyes by improving the appearance of the eyelashes. It is an essential part of any makeup kit and will complete your eye makeup. Mascara can be found in liquid, cream, or cake form. Each mascara has a different formula and wand, so the results will differ depending on which one you choose. Mascara should be replaced every 90 days, so you have plenty of time to experiment and find the right mascara for you. For the best results, take note of the following:

• If your mascara starts to dry up, add 4-5 eye drops into the bottle, close it, and shake it up. Your mascara will be refreshed and performing like new again.
• Don’t share your mascara with other people and make sure to wash it off at the end of the day so you never have itchy or irritated eyes.
• Apply several layers of mascara and begin by wiggling the brush close to the roots of the eyelashes and then, drag the wand throughout the length of the lashes.

Top 5 Mascaras

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara is America’s favorite and most popular mascara for a reason. The affordable drugstore find has maintained its reputation as the best mascara since the ‘70s. It conditions as it thickens and lengthens lashes with a buildable, clump-free formula that won’t smudge off.

The lash-doubling, clump-free formula will volumize your lashes to give you noticeable results with every coat. The easy-to-handle narrow wand and lash-building brush can help you apply it perfectly (even if you’re a beginner). It is easy to apply and can last all day. The hypoallergenic pick is contact-lens safe and can be removed easily with eye makeup remover. It is an Allure Best of Beauty: Hall of Fame winner and was selected as one of the best mascaras by Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. The Great Lash waterproof mascara is also a Good Housekeeping pick and the Great Lash clear mascara is also an award-winner that can serve as an affordable lash primer and brow gel.

Currently $3.79 on Amazon

Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara

There is nothing quite like Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara. The wand’s patent-pending hook design is inspired by the design of hair rollers, so the wand’s tiny hooks will grip, curl, and lift lashes as you pull the wand through. The Hook ’N’ Roll brush has longer hooks for the top lashes and shorter hooks for the bottom lashes. Your lashes will be thicker, curled, and darker after each coat of the super-curling and lifting mascara.

The waxes in the formula will also keep your lashes perfectly in place all day. In fact, the instant curve-setting formula is designed to hold for 12 hours without streaking, while still being easy to remove. Your eyes will instantly seem more awake and open, and many reviewers found that they were able to replace their standard mascaras and eyelash curler with the revolutionary Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara. Each coat of mascara will also condition your lashes with ingredients like provitamin B5 and serine.

RealSimple voted this the best curling mascara because the tiny hooks can create a similar effect to using an eyelash curler and PopSugar named this one of their “Must Have” items. This mascara is the most expensive option on our list, but many makeup artists and beauty mavens agree that this truly is the best mascara out there, even for ultra-straight, stubby lashes. Benefit Cosmetics also makes the wildly popular They’re Real! and BADgal Lash mascaras, so if the Roller Lash Mascara doesn’t work for you, you may want to try one of their other award-winning mascaras. You can also try the deluxe mini version of the mascara before you invest in the full-size.

Currently $31.19 on Amazon

L’Oreal Paris Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara

L’Oreal Paris Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara can give you the look of salon lash extensions, from home. The magic in this two-in-one mascara is the two-step process. You first apply the white basecoat, which is infused with Ceramide-R and D-Panthenol to strengthen, nourish, and protect your lashes. That layer is immediately followed by the ultra-lengthening mascara, which extends lashes by up to 80% by forming a lash-extending “tube” over each lash. It won’t take you any longer to apply this double extend mascara than it would to apply several coats of a standard mascara.

The long-wearing, smudge-proof mascara will last all day, with no smearing, running, clumping, or flaking, but is still easy to remove with water. In fact, it has been shown to last through 12+ hour shifts and can even last overnight without smudging. You also won’t need to worry about “raccoon eyes” with this drugstore favorite. Make sure to apply enough black mascara to cover the layer of white underneath, unless you’re going for a white snowflake effect. The mascara is suitable for people with sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. The Insider’s Choice Beauty Winner is also backed by outstanding online reviews. In fact, many people with stick-straight lashes found that this mascara gave them the volume, length, and thickness that other mascaras simply could not achieve.

Currently $8.21 on Amazon

Maybelline New York The Colossal Volum’ Express Washable Mascara

If you ever watch beauty tutorials online, then you’ve likely seen the Maybelline New York The Colossal Volum’ Express Washable Mascara a few times. Many beauty bloggers, makeup artists, and beauty mavens swear by this mascara because it can instantly create up to nine times the volume, thanks to the large mega brush and volume-plumping, collagen formula. It can help you create noticeable volume and thicker, clump-free lashes by focusing on each lash one by one. You can easily layer this for added drama that will last all day. It is contact-lens safe and can be easily removed with soap and water. It was chosen as one of the best mascaras by Elle because it is ideal for all lashes, even stick-straight lashes that don’t usually want to curl.<

CoverGirl Lashblast Mascara

The CoverGirl Lashblast Mascara will instantly create noticeable volume for fuller, thicker lashes. The mascara can produce up to 100% more volume thanks to the biggest brush ever from CoverGirl. It separates each lash for optimal volume and fullness. The patent-pending, no clump brush also has a flat end, so you won’t have to worry about mascara building up on the end.

The patented volume-boosting formula is smudge and smear-proof and will last all day, but is also very easy to remove with soap and water. It is hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. The affordable drugstore favorite was selected as one of the best mascaras by Elle because it will plump up your lashes better than anything else. There is also a waterproof version available, if you need a good option for your wedding day.