The Best 5 Mascaras
Mascara is life--there's simply no other beauty tool that can make you look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (in a matter of seconds!) quite like mascara can. And when it comes to selecting the perfect mascara, there are several factors to take into consideration, according to your specific needs and desires. Do you want a mascara that's clump- and smudge-free, so you're not dealing with black flakes on your face? Are your lashes particularly straight or short, meaning you'll need an extra-strength volumizing mascara? Do you live in a humid climate, so a mascara with a great waterproof formula is best? Regardless of what type of mascara best suits your needs, you're bound to find it on this list.
L’Oreal Paris Double Extend Beauty Tubes Strengthening Mascara
The mascara you can't live without
Why use regular mascara when you can use tubing mascara? Unlike regular mascaras, which usually just coat your lashes with pigment, tubing mascaras have polymers that wrap around each individual lash and lift–which results in extra-long, insanely thick lashes. The creme de la creme of tubing mascaras, L’Oreal’s Double Extend Beauty Tubes Lengthening Mascara gives users an immediate wide-awake look, and this mascara is known for its ability to hold a curl for an impressively long amount of time. Best of all? It’s totally smudge-proof, which means no raccoon eyes or pesky black flakes on your cheeks. If you don’t want to deal with clumpy or smudgy mascara (which, let’s be honest: so many mascaras out there make smudge-free promises they just cant keep), the Double Extend Beauty Tubes Lengthening Mascara is your best bet.
Pros:
- Awesome for those with sensitive eyes or short, straight lashes.
- Super easy to remove–all you need is warm water.
- Seriously superior to other mascaras when it comes to providing a sleek, smudge-free look.
Cons:
- Though tubing mascaras are great at lengthening, traditional pigmented mascaras are still a tad better at piling on the volume.
L’Oreal Paris Makeup Voluminous Original Volume Building Mascara
No clumps allowed
If you’re used to mascara that gets goopy and clumpy before lunchtime, the L’Oreal Paris Makeup Voluminous Original Volume Building Mascara is a revelation. It’s uniquely formulated to resist clumping and deliver thick, fluffy, velvety-looking lashes–this mascara goes on smoothly and evenly, and the brush separates the lashes nicely. Conveniently, the effects typically last all day long, so you won’t have to worry about reapplying or smudging.
Pros:
- Really great at creating volume with clumps.
- Is great at getting every lash, for an overall fuller, thicker appearance.
- Suitable for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes.
Cons:
- Not cruelty-free.
- Tends to be tougher to remove than the other mascaras on this list–take care not to rub your eyes when removing, as this can lead to irritation and puffiness.
Maybelline New York Lash Discovery Washable Mascara
Your ticket to ultra-long lashes
Maybelline’s New York Discovery Washable Mascara is the ideal tool for building extra-long, elegant lashes–thanks to the mini-brush, you’ll really be able to hit every hard-to-reach lash on the inner and outer corners, resulting in dramatically longer, defined-looking lashes. This mascara goes on evenly and doesn’t clump easily, either. Not to mention, considering the quality of this product, the price point is way, way affordable. When it comes to getting those glamorously long lashes you crave, Lash Discovery stands out from the crowd.
Pros:
- Very natural-looking.
- Manages to lengthen and thicken without clumping.
Cons:
- You’ll have to be extra-careful putting this one on–the brush is teeny-tiny, so you may want to put a barrier between your eyelashes and eyelids to prevent this mascara from getting on your lids.
Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara
Because you deserve thicker lashes
When you want the appearance of full, extra-thick lashes (and you don’t want to put the time, money, and effort into getting falsies), Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara is an excellent product that’s well worth trying. The silicone brush bristles are on the shorter side, so this means you can separate your lashes easily, with little to no smudging–a very important component in a mascara, especially when you’re mostly worried about thickness.
Pros:
- Even those with particularly fine or short lashes will see results.
- It’s designed to be buildable, which means you can add multiple coasts without noticing clumps.
Cons
- This product may not be the best if you already have thicker lashes, as it’s designed to make fine lashes look full and long.
Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara
Totally water-proof, totally gorgeous
Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara is perfection in a bottle for those who spend a lot of time outside (or crying in darkened movie theaters, for that matter). The special lash-doubling formula glides on smoothly and easily, which results in a natural-looking finish, while the lash-building brush makes it a cinch to get full, thick lashes without smudges or globs.
Pros:
- The effects last all day.
- It’s great at coating all your lashes, even the tiniest ones.
Cons:
- As with all waterproof mascaras, this one has a tendency to be drier and tougher to take off than other types of mascara.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a good mascara last throughout the day?
The higher quality the mascara, the longer it will last–and it’s not uncommon that good-quality mascara lasts for 12 hours or more. Make sure that you select a good, trusty, everyday mascara that lasts all day, so you don’t have to reapply.
Can I wear my mascara with lash extensions or false eyelashes?
Yes, but make sure it’s oil-free.
How should I remove my mascara at the end of the day?
The most important thing to remember about taking off your mascara is to never, EVER rub your eyes while doing so, as this results in under-eye bags, puffiness, and premature aging. Instead, wet a makeup pad with an eye-specific makeup remover and gently wipe away all traces of your mascara.
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