The 11 Very Best Mascaras
In middle school, I picked out my first-ever mascara from the aisle of my local Target — Maybelline’s Great Lash in the iconic green-and-pink tube. Now, armed with over a decade’s worth of experience applying mascara, I can confidently say that I’ve sampled the full range of the mascara spectrum and that the best mascara for you depends entirely on the effect you’re going for. Some lengthen, volumize, separate, and curl. Some are tearproof and tint your lashes to unknown depths of blackness, while others promise the featheriness of false eyelashes. Whether you’re searching for one that will give you natural-looking lashes, a drugstore dupe for a high-end brand, a formula that won’t aggravate sensitive eyes, or all of the above, the massive variety is part of the fun — and the challenge. To help narrow down the choices, I consulted several experts about their go-to mascaras, from wedding makeup artists who only keep the most cryproof mascaras in their kits to celebrity makeup artists well versed in making lashes pop on the red carpet. I also sourced a few mascaras to test out myself during my daily makeup routine, with a focus on formulations that are clean and nonirritating and impart a more natural, everyday look. If you know what type of mascara you’re looking for, you can use the table of contents to jump ahead, or read on to learn more about the criteria I considered as I put together this list.
