Caitlyn Martyn is a commerce writer on staff at Byrdie, where she covers beauty and style-related topics. She is an experienced product tester and has tried hundreds of mascaras over the years, including a number of the formulas that appear on this list. Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry. She has tested countless washable and waterproof mascaras, including several on this list. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty. We all dream of it: Having long, voluminous natural lashes. Now, it's possible to bring that dream closer to reality with the innovative technology of tubing mascara. Though you can also get that dramatic look with fake lashes and lash extensions from brands like Lashify or magentic lashes, the benefit of using a tubing mascara is that it's easy and simple (all you do is swipe it onto your lashes as you would with any other product, and the tubing technology does the rest of the work). "Unlike traditional wax-based mascaras, this technology does not adhere/glue to a hair fiber," says Good Housekeeping Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann. "Instead, it encapsulates individual lashes by forming a tube-like coating." This results in excellent lengthening effects and more intense color. Be advised that this mascara isn’t labeled as cruelty-free, nor is it Byrdie Clean, as it contains paraffin and PEGs. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker but is more something to think about if you place a high value on those qualifications.

So we decided to find the best mascaras out there by recruiting 21 volunteers to test 34 popular formulas. Every product received a score on the ease of use, wear, performance, overall look, and removal process. CoverGirl Exhibitionist Uncensored Mascara impressed our testers with its ability to add lift, curl, and volume at an incredible price, earning a perfect score and the spot for Best Overall. The only con worth noting: Some online reviewers say that it can take several coats to achieve significant volume. However, we noticed fuller, elongated lashes after one swipe. A great choice for anyone looking to achieve a false eyelash effect without actually applying them, this mascara volumizes lashes without smudging or running. If it weren’t for slightly more difficult removal, e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Big Mood Mascara would have tied with Warrior Princess for the best overall drugstore mascara. The creamy formula applies like a dream from the very first swipe, smoothly coating and lifting lashes without a single clump in sight. One coat of the fan-favorite formula resulted in noticeably darker and fuller lashes; three coats made them look like full-on falsies.Best of all, Big Mood creates volume and lift that lasts. After 11 hours of wear, we found that our lashes still looked full and lifted, with zero smudging or flaking. The formula is to thank for that. Infused with jojoba oil, it’s designed to stay put while also nourishing the lashes, keeping them from drying out and flaking onto the under-eye area and cheeks.

The best Cyber Monday 2023 mascara deals

It might seem obvious but, according to Gboyega, many of us aren’t using enough mascara formula to begin with. “One of my pet peeves is when I see people not applying their mascara properly,” she says. “They only get the tips of their lashes instead of fully coating their lashes with the mascara.” Looks like we’ve gotta layer that stuff on, guys. BRUSH UP YOUR TECHNIQUE According to Sewell, proper mascara application starts with a curl. “I always curl with a lash curler first before coating lashes evenly with one to two coats of waterproof mascara,” she explains. “My favorite way to apply waterproof mascara is to sandwich it in between a regular mascara for ultimate volume.”

I always have a drugstore mascara in my kit. Some of them are right up there with luxury mascaras," says New York-based makeup artist Neil Scibelli. "Many drugstore brands have the budget to do extensive testing and reformulating, and some even use the same research departments and formulations labs as the luxury brands." Smudge-proof formula: It goes without saying that you should seek out a mascara formula that won’t smudge, bleed, or run when an unexpected rain shower (or cry session) crops up. Each of the mascaras on this list has been rigorously tested to withstand showers of all kinds. Each mascara was rated on a scale of one to five for performance, separation and clumping, wand design, wear, and ease of removal. At the end of the testing period, Rebecca selected the top eight drugstore mascaras and offered input as to why the others didn’t make the cut. All testing was conducted at her home in the Washington, D.C. area.Indeed, clumpy mascara can also be the result of your technique. With excess product on the mascara wand, too much pressure, numerous coats, and an expired formula, you, too, could end up with clumpy-looking lashes. Yet for the most part, there are some excellent options out there that make it extremely hard to mess up because of their wand design and formulation. In other words, they're mistake-proof, and you can swipe with abandon without fearing spider lashes. No matter which formula you eventually choose, here’s a tip from legendary make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury on the best application technique: "As you drag the brush up from the base of your lashes, zig-zag the wand from side to side. This creates more volume as you are depositing more product onto your eyelashes." Unlike traditional mascaras, tubing mascaras wrap around each individual lash, creating extreme length, volume, and curl. "A tubed formula is also pretty smudge-proof, since it seals a rubber-like tube around each individual lash — almost like a rain coat,” New York makeup artist Neil Scibelli previously told InStyle. Yet the tubes slide right off when removing them at night for less rubbing and pain. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{

Rachel Nazarian is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. She specializes in a range of medical and cosmetic dermatology services and is also a faculty member at Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Department of Dermatology, where she completed her dermatology residency. As for your bottom lashes, turn the brush vertically. "The thinner end will help you control your application with more precision," Charlotte adds. With so many people relying on expensive salon treatments, such as eyelash extensions, perms and tints, it's worth remembering that mascara technology has come a long way over the last few years, promising plump, sky-high, defined lashes with just a few swipes of a mascara wand. When selecting a drugstore mascara, you want to keep your overall goals in mind. If you have extremely light lashes, you may want a highly pigmented formula, like the e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Big Mood Mascara. If you have short lashes, a lengthening formula, like the Essence Cosmetics Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara, will be your BFF. If you have limp lashes, a volumizing and lifting formula—like the L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara—can help give them more shape. Trying to find the best mascara for your lashes can feel like a daunting task; so many launches, so many questions... what's the best high-street mascara, what's the best for short lashes? Is it worth paying more for extra volume and length? Which waterproof formulas really withstand a hot summer's day, or even a few lengths in the swimming pool, but still come off easily with eye make-up remover?Curl your lashes, focusing on the ends and corners. Make sure to clamp down for at least 15 seconds to allow the curl to set. But change is good, right? So, which new mascaras are worth turning your head for? Which clever new wands and lash boosting formulas really are worth the hype? If I could only use one makeup product for the rest of my life, it would be mascara. I can have no other makeup on, but a simple swipe instantly opens my eyes, making me look more youthful and awake. With how often I — and pretty much every other makeup wearing person uses it — it makes sense to invest in a tube that truly delivers in length, volume, and staying power. Everyday there seems to be a new mascara on the market, though, giving me FOMO over whether I’m truly using the best one. When it comes to mascara, everyone has their own preference in what they are searching for. Personally, I love a full and voluminous lash look, combined with a formula that doesn't flake throughout the day and won't transfer onto my eyelid. A lot to ask for, I know. Long, lengthy lashes are usually a favourite. My go-to is Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara, but I am always testing new releases to find the very best out there, because who doesn't want to find the best mascara? Selecting a formula comes down to what’s important to you. Besides benefits like volume or length, you can choose between clean and vegan formulas (like Ilia Limitless Lash Lengthening Mascara), those with nourishing oils (our favorite is UOMA Drama Bomb Extreme Volume Nourishing Mascara), and/or tubing technology that offers more water-resistance (like Tarte Tartelette™ Tubing Mascara). Your Questions, Answered What’s the best way to apply mascara?

So how do we test? There are certain things that we look out for when testing any new mascara that lands in our laps. We're interested in things like the wand - bristle type and shape; the effect on lashes - whether it adds volume or length (or both?!); the formula - can you feel it on your lashes or does it nourish those tiny hairs? and finally the price. According to Loiz, if you want long-lasting coverage, you should look for mascaras with polymers. "Copolymers coat the lashes and form a film around them," she says. "Other ingredients to look for are synthetic fibers, like nylon or rayon." And ofc, it's always helpful to look for formulas with conditioning ingredients (such as panthenol or castor oil) to keep lashes soft. Consider the formula

Mascara FAQs

As for the aforementioned removal, it’s not that Big Mood is terribly difficult to remove—it’s just that it’s so pigmented that it required two cotton rounds soaked with micellar water to remove it completely. Still, that just goes to show the long-lasting wear power of this drugstore must-have. If you’re looking for a mascara that allows you to build waterproof volume with minimal effort, this is a great option. Sure, there’s always space for some smudge-proof tubing mascaras for folks with oily eyelids (hi, it's me) or clear mascaras for when you wanna go ~au naturale~, but I personally want my go-to daily mascara to give me fluttery, extension-worthy length all the time—which is where lengthening formulas come in. Feel the same? I got you. Ahead, the 17 best lengthening mascaras tested and reviewed by our beauty editors (and selected with the help of celeb makeup artist Renée Loiz) for lashes so good, you won’t wanna wear any other makeup.