14 Best Mascaras for a Gravity-Defying Length and Lift
Not a single day goes by when at least one person randomly asks us, "What is your favorite [insert beauty product here]?" The best mascara is, without a doubt, one of the most frequently mentioned topics. They all want to know what exactly is making our lashes look like falsies — and don’t become clumpy, crusty, flaky, and webby throughout the day. Without further ado, here are our editors' absolute favorite mascaras of all time — including Best of Beauty winners, the best drugstore mascaras, Sephora darlings, and luxury brand standouts — that lend our lashes the most volume, curl, length, and — dare we say — a false lash effect, every day.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: MAC Stack Mascara, $28
- Makeup Artist-Approved: Chanel Le Volume De Chanel Mascara, $38
- TikTok Sensation: Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara, $13
- Best Volumizing Mascara: Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara, $20
- Best 2-in-1: Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer, $17
- Most Allure Accolades: Lancôme Définicils High Definition Mascara, $34
- Best Waterproof Mascara: Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara, $32
Frequently Asked Questions
- What would be the best mascara for my eyes?
- How does waterproof mascara differ in formulation and wear?
- How can you prevent mascara from smudging and flaking?
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: MAC Stack Mascara
Why It's Worth It: The MAC Stack Mascara comes in both original and waterproof iterations, but you can expect a no-budge hold no matter which formulation you choose. This mascara became a verified Allure Best of Beauty Award winner back in 2022 for its max-strength hold that curls, lifts, and volumizes with each swipe. "Even with my oily eyelids, plus a day spent commuting to and from the office (with a face mask on), I saw no flakes or markings around my eyes," says Allure tester Talia Gutierrez.
Editor Tip: The beauty of this mascara is that it comes in two brush styles, both featuring the max-hold mascara. Those with longer lashes should try the Mega Brush version, whereas shorter lashes should stick to the Micro Brush.
Who It's For: Anyone who wants the works (length, volume, and definition) without clumping or smudging.
Benefits: Lengthening, volumizing, defining | Shades: Two | Waterproof: No
Makeup Artist-Approved: Chanel Le Volume De Chanel Mascara
Why It's Worth It: Give your eye makeup the luxury treatment with Chanel's Le Volume De Chanel Waterproof Mascara. Sure, it's a bit pricier than most options, but experts across the globe, including New York City-based makeup artist Joseph Carrillo, say this mascara is the absolute best for its volumizing, va-va-voom finish. "It's like wow: thicker, fuller, drama, sexy, and sultry," he previously told Allure.
Editor Tip: For all the volume you could ever desire, Carrillo suggests, before swiping the wand through your lashes, wiggling the bristles onto the base of your lashes and lightly stamping the mascara against your lash line for an instantly fuller, gap-free look.
Who It's For: Anyone who wants a dramatic boost of volume and thickness.
Benefits: Volumizing, thickening | Shades: Two | Waterproof: Yes
TikTok Sensation: Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
Why It's Worth It: Maybelline New York's Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara became a legendary TikTok beauty product so quickly that it earned itself a 2021 Best of Beauty Award. This flexible mascara wand has amassed a major following — its hashtag has over 39 million views on the social media app. "My sparse lashes looked remarkably fuller without any weigh-down," says Allure shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis.
Editor Tip: If you're a fan of brown mascaras like commerce editor Sarah Han is for a more subtle (and less "spidery-like" look), you'll want to pick up True Brown, stat. "I find myself reaching for this particular hue and formula above all of my higher-end options," she attests. "It instantly breathes life into my short and stubborn lashes."
Who It's For: Someone who wants fluttery long lashes without breaking the bank.
Benefits: Lengthening | Shades: 2 | Waterproof: Available here
Best Volumizing Mascara: Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara
Why It's Worth It: If there's one brand that truly makes a case for celebrity beauty brands, it's Selena Gomez's line of cosmetics, Rare Beauty. Exhibit A: the Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara, a nourishing, castor oil-infused formula that's so good, it won an Allure Readers' Choice Award in 2022. "The application process is seamless from start to finish and the thick brush latches onto each lash with ease.," said Han in her review of the mascara. The key lies in the curvy brush outfitted with multi-length bristles that grab each lash, whether you have naturally sparse or thick lashes.
Editor Tip: This mascara is super buildable. Let the first coat dry and go in with a second, or even third to bring on the drama.
Who It's For: People with dry lashes who are craving volume and moisture.
Benefits: Volumizing | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best 2-in-1: Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer
Why It's Worth It: Associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen's first run-in with the 2021 Readers' Choice Award-winning Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer was actually through the founder of the brand, Jessica Alba, during a press trip with the brand. "She applied one layer of the primer, then flipped it, and did two coats of the mascara — and then we went to dinner," she says. "Those two coats stayed intact all night long — even after a few margaritas," says Kinonen.
Editor Tip: Apply one coat of the primer and two coats of the mascara to reveal lashes so good, that people will wonder if their extensions.
Who It's For: Anyone and everyone.
Benefits: Moisturizing and lengthening | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Most Allure Accolades: Lancôme Définicils High Definition Mascara
Why It's Worth It: The Lancôme Définicils High Definition Mascara makes lashes look so long — with zero flakes — that it's won a Best of Beauty Award four times and Readers' Choice Award 12 times. The brush is long and thin with short, tightly packed bristles, and it lets you get right at the base of your lashes.
Editor Tip: To get the full Lancome effect, use the Cils Booster XL Enhancing Mascara Base as a primer before applying the mascara. This will help lengthen and thicken the appearance of lashes.
Who It's For: People who want natural-looking lashes.
Benefits: Volumizing and lengthening | Shades: 4 | Waterproof: Available here
Best Waterproof Mascara: Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara
Why It's Worth It: When it comes to luxury and waterproof mascaras, a former Allure editor says little-to-none come close to Dior's Diorshow Waterproof Mascara. "My eyelashes are naturally pretty long, albeit blonde, so I don't really love wearing mascara all the time (mostly because I hate taking it off at the end of the day)," she said. "When I do, however, I go all-out glam with the Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara because it makes my lashes longer, thicker, and just the right amount of obnoxious diva."
Editor Tip: You can "slobber and splash in the Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara and it will stay on," Los Angeles-based makeup artist Molly R. Stern has said of the long-wearing formula.
Who It's For: People who want a dramatic lash and to have a good cry. It's also a MUA-approved pick to amp up straight lashes.
Benefits: Volumizing and lengthening | Shades: 3 | Waterproof: Yes
Best Tubing Mascara: Blinc UltraVolume Tubing Mascara
Why It's Worth It: If you're on the hunt for the best tubing mascara that goes beyond a natural look, senior beauty editor Dianna Mazzone says Blinc's UltraVolume Tubing Mascara is your best bet. "In a single coat, this stuff gives length and volume I could previously only achieve by curling my lashes and applying several layers of conventional mascara (and crossing my fingers it wouldn't smudge)," she says. "I will say you might not love it if you're into a super-separated, natural lash look — but if you're going for drama (or just want to look more wide-eyed and awake), this 2021 Best of Beauty Award winner delivers."
Editor Tip: As easy as it is to wear this volumizing formula all day, it’s even easier to remove before bed: Warm water and gentle rubbing are all it takes to whisk away those tiny tubes.
Who It's For: Those who love tubing mascara and the ease of it.
Benefits: Volumizing | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best Clean Mascara: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
Why It's Worth It: The Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara is a three-time Allure Readers' Choice Award winner that treats your lashes to a volumizing, thickening, and jet-black formula fortified with keratin, shea butter, and beeswax — rivaling many a "non-clean" formula. This flutter-inducing mascara has a unique, double-sided wand — one softer to curl and create volume, and the other longer to lengthen and separate and brush out clumps — for perfectly defined lashes. "I'm so serious about my lashes, that I'll even layer two to three different mascaras to get my desired look," Allure tester Kat Suico previously said. "With Ilia's brush, I don't have to go through all those extra steps."
Editor Tip: You don't need any heavy-duty makeup removers to take this formula off — water itself will do it.
Who It's For: People who love a clean formula.
Benefits: Conditioning and lengthening | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best for Short Lashes: YSL Beauty Radical Volumizing Mascara
Why It's Worth It: It may cost a pretty penny but Han claims that this 2021 Best of Beauty Award winner's intensive volumizing and lifting powers are worth it — especially when she has to work with her self-proclaimed "stubby, almost invisible lashes." This jet-black mascara is truly clump-free and long-lasting, she notes, likely due to "the addition of [conditioning ingredients] walnut leaf, argan oil, and pro-vitamin B5 — which gives me impossibly soft, flexible lashes," she says.
Editor Tip: Han states that this jet-black mascara is truly clump-free and long-lasting, she notes, likely due to "the addition of [conditioning ingredients] walnut leaf, argan oil, and pro-vitamin B5 — which gives me impossibly soft, flexible lashes."
Who It's For: People with short, stubborn lashes.
Benefits: Lifting and volumizing | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best Buildable: CoverGirl Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara
Why It's Worth It: CoverGirl's Lash Blast mascaras are iconic in their own rights. The Volume formula is a three-time Best of Beauty Award winner but now its award-winning family expands with the CoverGirl Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara, the drugstore brand's first vegan formula. "It's extremely buildable, giving me long, fluttery lashes with zero clumping," says Allure tester Marci Robin.
Editor Tip: One tester's eyes are very sensitive, and the sulfate- and the paraben-free formula doesn't irritate them at all." It doesn't hurt that the formula also includes argan and marula oils to seriously condition lashes.s me impossibly soft, flexible lashes," they said.
Who It's For: People with sensitive eyes.
Benefits: Volumizing | Shades: 2 | Waterproof: No
Best Subtle Mascara: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara Chocolate
Why It's Worth It: Better Than Sex Mascara fans, this one's for you. Too Faced now offers a chocolatey-brown hue of the original, drama-inducing formula — perfect for more subtle looks. The hourglass brush we all know and love separates, coats, and curls each lash, while a film-forming polymer locks everything in place and peptides condition lashes to look their best.
Editor Tip: Not into the brown hue? Check out the original Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara in black for dramatic, fluttery lashes. "One swipe will give your lashes a nice, black rain slicker to wear — slightly more boosted than what I'd call a 'natural' lash look.," Allure tester Sable Yong previously said in regards to the bestseller.
Who It's For: People who want a subtle effect.
Benefits: Conditioning and lengthening | Shades: 2 | Waterproof: Available here
Best for Precise Application: Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara
Why It's Worth It: Tarte's first-ever tubing mascara is here to make a statement. The Tartelette Mascara, an Allure tester-favorite, is made with conditioning shea butter, moisturizing castor oil, and carnauba wax to lengthen and volumize individual lashes as the formula wraps around them. With just a few coats of this precision-driven formula, people will question if you have lash extensions. As for longevity, our tester Lauren Dana Ellman affirms that her mascara stayed intact throughout a two-week honeymoon in Hawaii, as well as summer days spent in Phoenix, Arizona, and back home in New York. "Tarte describes this mascara as 'lash extensions in a tube,' which may sound like an extreme comparison — however, I'd be lying if I said I disagreed," Ellman said.
Editor Tip: Like all tubing formulas, the "tubes" slide off easily at the end of the day with warm water or a bit of makeup remover/micellar water — no harsh tubbing or rubbing needed.
Who It's For: Someone that needs their mascara and height to last all day long.
Benefits: Lengthening | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best Fluid Formula: L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Waterproof Mascara
Why It's Worth It: L'Oréal Paris has always been a staple in the drugstore mascara scene but the Telescopic Lift Waterproof Mascara is something special. The inky formula (which is also available in a non-waterproof version) is spiked with ceramides to keep lashes nourished all day long.
Editor Tip: The applicator is a "lift and load" brush that features the brand's first-ever double hook bristle brush (see this IG video for a close-up look) — meaning literally no lash gets left behind.
Who It's For: People who can't seem to get every single lash on the first swipe.
Benefits: Waterproof and long-lasting | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: Yes
What would be the best mascara for my eyes?
While some of us dabble with treatments like lash extensions or lash lifts, we all have our tried-and-true tubes of mascaras that we regularly restock. It's also worth noting that everyone's lashes are different, and the best mascara for someone else may not work the same for you. For example, some Allure editors prefer lengthening mascaras for a brow-grazing look, while others prefer a curling mascara to lift straight lashes. Whatever the desired effect, some of the key factors we kept in mind while making this list include the longevity and pigment (yes, there are more than just black!) of each mascara formula. We've run these mascaras through the gamut — meetings, errands, bottomless brunches, rainy days, and even the occasional run — to see how they actually hold up throughout the day (and how many compliments they get, if we're being honest).
How does waterproof mascara differ in formulation and wear?
It's pretty self-explanatory, but the main difference between regular and waterproof formulas are their ability (or lack of) to stay put when rain, tears, and/or sweat makes a usually-unexpected appearance. However, the science behind a waterproof formula's no-budge hold isn't as simple. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King previously told Allure that ingredients like isododecane (a solvent), paraffin (a type of mineral oil that resists water), and VP/eicosene copolymer (a film-forming agent) are the usual key players in a waterproof mascara.
Since waterproof mascaras are made to handle anything from splash to full-on submersion, they can be a little more difficult to wash off at the end of the day. You could always use a cleansing oil or balm to dissolve the formula without rubbing or tugging, but if your eyes or lashes are particularly sensitive, a tubing mascara that's easy to rinse down the drain may be a better option for you.
How can you prevent mascara from smudging and flaking?
It's always upsetting when a perfectly-applied makeup look becomes a mess because of your mascara, but you don't have to live with smeared product. Instead, follow these smudge-defying tips from New York City-based makeup artist Neil Scibelli:
According to Scibelli, one common reason for flaking and smudging is when there is too much product applied, especially on the first coat. "I always suggest removing excess formula off of the wand before applying it to the lashes, so that you get a smooth and even first coat," he says.
Have naturally-teary eyes? Scibelli suggests switching over to a waterproof formula to ensure tears don't cause streaking throughout the day. "Or you can seal your lashes with a second coat of mascara with a waterproof formula," he says.
If you just applied a coat of mascara, Scibelli recommends waiting until each coat is fully dry before applying another. "This ensures a clump-free, smoother finish," he says.
As Spongebob once said, it's all in the technique. Sure, he was talking about bubble-blowing, but according to Scibelli, following a proper technique applies to mascara, too. "I always like to comb the back of the lashes with the wand as well with any leftover formula on the brush to really work through any clumps and to separate the lashes more," he says. "This will also help smooth the formula out for less future flaking."
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for any review, but mascaras are another story. While some can be used across different lash lengths, thicknesses, shape, colors, and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind. When reviewing tools, we also take into account testers’ experience. For instance, a new, innovative mascara may feature an industry-leading formula, but if the wand still needs some tweaking to prevent clumps and webbing, we have to consider this when determining whether it is worthy of a recommendation.
For our review of the best mascaras, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and experts you interviewed for the piece — who all have different lash concerns, desired outcome (i.e., want length over volume), and whether one product was tested across varying lash types. Testers considered performance across three primary categories: efficacy, ease of use, and value. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we can fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
