15 best mascaras for length, volume, curl and definition – reviewed
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Let's face it, finding the best mascaras is no mean feat.
As with most makeup products, mascaras don't fall into the “one size fits all” category – especially given just how different our natural lashes, eye shapes and individual preferences can be. Some of us have natural length and curl but lack in the volume department, while others have stubborn pin-straight lashes that could benefit from a lift. But one thing everyone can look for in their mascara? Strengthening, nourishing ingredients.
In fact, makeup artist Paige Williams, founder and CEO of P.Louise – TikTok's No.1 Shop – advises shoppers to think of mascara as self-care for their lashes. “A good mascara doesn’t just give you flawless lashes today – it keeps them healthy for the future," she says. “Look for castor oil to boost strength and growth, vitamin E to hydrate and protect, and natural waxes are great for conditioning and holding a curl.”
Emmy Clayton, expert lash and brow artist and founder of Emmy Creates, advises to look for biotin, or vitamin B7 as it's also known. "This helps to strengthen lashes and promote healthy growth. And for those with brittle lashes, look for ingredients like jojoba oil and shea butter,” she says.
Now you know the ingredients to keep your natural lashes looking as long as Bambi's, you can discover the very best mascaras on the market below, including formulas that have been rigorously tried, tested and reviewed by our beauty editors. From the best tubing mascara to waterproof mascara and brown mascara, there are options to fit every budget and preference, so, whether you're looking for, we've got you covered.
SKIP TO: How to choose the best mascara | How to apply mascara | What is the best mascara for sensitive eyes? | What is the best mascara for achieving a natural look?
Best mascaras for 2025, at a glance:
- Best Overall: Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
- Best For Instant Drama: e.l.f. Lash XTNDR Mascara
- Best For Length: L'Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Panorama Mascara
- Best For Curl: benefit Roller Lash Lifting and Curling Mascara
- Best For Volume: Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Lash Clash
Meet the experts:
- Paige Williams, makeup artist and founder and CEO of P.Louise.
- Emmy Clayton, expert lash and brow artist and founder of Emmy Creates.
- Vincent Ford, Global Artist at NARS.
How we tested mascara:
The GLAMOUR beauty team has tried over 300 different mascaras, so rest assured, you'll find our go-to's and favourites at the very top of the list. From old classics (such as Lancome's iconic fluttery Hypnose Mascara) and Too Faced's Better Than Sex Mascara (which sells every 7.5 seconds, BTW), to exciting formulas like the e.l.f. Lash XTNDR Mascara, Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara and the viral Maybelline Sky High Mascara, we've scored the lot based on staying power, volume offered, length and separation served, and how easy they are to remove.
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How to apply mascara
Vincent Ford, Global Artist at NARS, believes that the best way to apply mascara depends on what "story" you want your eyes to tell. "For a natural look, focus on pulling the mascara wand through the lashes from root to tip as if you were combing the lashes for length. Then remove any excess with a lash comb or fingertips for a separated, born with it appearance," he reveals.
"For a more dramatic look, I like to build the mascara up at the root of the lashes by moving the wand side to side at the base of the lashes, without applying any to the tips," says Vincent. “This will give a feathery full lash look that looks great on everyone.” As for some more tips?
- Take care not to over-pump (it'll dry the formula out – fast).
- If you find a wand you love, clean it and keep it to use on your next mascara.
- Layer your mascara with a lash-plumping primer. Sweep on a few layers before your mascara and you'll reap bigger, thicker lashes.
- Don't forget to use an eyelash curler to really lengthen and open up the eyes.
- Consider investing in an eyelash serum, or if you have sensitive eyes, a mascara for sensitive eyes.
- For lower lashes, we recommend trying the viral Selena Gomez hack, which includes pinching your lashes with a pair of tweezers to achieve that doll-like look.
Shop our top picks: the best mascaras tried and tested by the GLAMOUR team.
Best mascara overall
- Effect: Volumising.
- Shades: Black, Black Waterproof and Brownish Black.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? No.
- Vegan? No.
Why we love it: This mascara became a trending TikTok sensation within hours of landing on e-shelves in 2023. People were astounded at how much length it can add to lashes (note: LOADS!). Lengthening, volumising and defining (and clump-free) - this mascara does it all!
Review: “Of all the mascaras I've tried (and I've tried a lot) none beat Sky High for length, separation and definition. She's an absolute triple threat. Every time I come back round to this mascara, after testing a new formula for work, I remember why I love it. It gives phwoar show-stopper, XXL volume and you can get her on deals for under a tenner most of the time.”
Tester: Elle Turner, GLAMOUR's Senior Beauty Editor.
Best mascara for length
- Effect: Lengthening and volumising.
- Shades: Black and Brown.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? No.
- Vegan? No.
Why we love it: Made with multi-level bristle brush technology, the L'Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Panorama Mascara formula provides dramatic volume that's bound to turn heads. It comes in a brown or black pigment that is both smudge- and clump-resistant and promises to leave your lash line looking as lush as possible.
Review: “I find this type of wand – as opposed to the ones with thick bristles – really helps to separate your lashes to avoid clumping, and gets product onto every single lash, even the pesky corner ones. The result is perfectly fanned-out, fluttery and natural-looking.”
Tester: Ali Pantony, GLAMOUR's Website Director.
Best mascara for curl
- Effect: Curling and lifting.
- Shades: Black.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? No.
- Vegan? No.
Why we love it: This curl-defining mascara expertly grabs, separates and lifts your lashes, coating them in a formula that holds firm for up to 12 hours. It's also formulated with conditioning provitamin B5 and serin, which helps nurture and nourish your lashes at the same time. It's also one of the most long-lasting formulas we've tried.
Review: “I’ve been a lash extension girl for 8 years, but recently I’m going the au-naturale route with mascara and I am loving Benefit! It gives your lashes that instant lift with its ability to create maximum curve appeal without being overpowering and is so smooth! It’s made my lashes look longer without being clustered and gives them so much more volume.”
Tester: Neamh Randall, Commerce Photo Editor.
Best mascara for volume
- Effect: Volumising.
- Shades: Black and Blue.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? No.
- Vegan? No.
Why we love it: This mascara features an innovative oil-in-water wax formula that's thick, creamy and offers extreme volume with up to 24-hour wear. It's also infused with iris florentina extract to help condition your lashes with every coat.
Review: “YSL's Lash Clash is that girl for me. I'm very picky about mascaras because, like the hair on my head, my lashes are pin straight and refuse to curl. This formula lifts, coats and separates with just a few swipes, and though it may be at a 'treat-yourself' price, it's never something I regret buying.”
Tester: Georgia Trodd, Senior Commerce Writer.
Best defining mascara
- Effect: Separating, defining and volumising.
- Shades: 001 Black and 002 Brun Hypnotic.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? No.
- Vegan? No.
Why we love it: For beautifully voluminous, non-clumpy lashes, Lancome’s Hypnose mascara deserves its reputation as an icon. It gives pretty, full-looking fluttery lashes that don’t smudge until you remove it gently in the evening. In fact, it’s our Beauty Editor’s favourite ever mascara (and she’s tried a lot).
Tester: Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director.
Ahead, shop more of the best mascara releases of 2025.
- Effect: Lengthening.
- Shades: Pitch Black, Soft Black and Deep Brown.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
- Vegan? Yes.
Why we love it: If you have short lashes, look no further than this offering from e.l.f., which literally extends your lashes, as the name suggests. With 5% jojoba seed oil to keep your lashes soft and nourished, and a flake, clump and smudge-resistant formula, this best mascara for lengthening had 97% of users experience instant and dramatic length. And you don't even need a cleanser to remove it - this tubing mascara is simply removed with warm water.
Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara
- Effect: Lengthening and lifting.
- Shades: Black.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
- Vegan? Yes.
Why we love it: Consider your lashes transformed with immediate definition, lift and length that'll have you cancelling your extensions appointment. With unique film-forming technology that coats every lash in lightweight fibres, this tubing mascara has the ultimate staying power; not budging or smudging until you slide it off with warm water. “This mascara is my latest discovery,” says Emmy Clayton. “It separates and creates a thicker, wispy lash effect. It’s also perfect for those who want a more dramatic effect.”
- Effect: Volumising and lifting.
- Shades: Black.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? No.
- Vegan? No.
Why we love it: This hero is one of the beauty products always in our makeup bag, and for good reason. It's a triple threat that increases volume, intensity and flexibility, and doesn't clump or smudge. With a lightweight formula starring blackened pigments for uber-black lashes, this mascara simply won't budge from your lashes until you deign to remove it.
Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara
- Effect: Volumising and lifting.
- Shades: Black.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
- Vegan? No.
Why we love it: If you're searching for a mascara that will deliver volume for days (but pls don't sleep in your mascara, friends) turn to Rihanna's Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara. Hold the eyelash curler - this voluptuous mascara coats every individual lash to create lashes so dramatic, they could be mistaken for falsies. Sweat, humidity and transfer-resistant, it features a tapered brush and full-bodied formula for thick, lifted lashes that will have you all aflutter.
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Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara
- Effect: Lifting and lengthening.
- Shades: Black.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
- Vegan? Yes.
Why we love it: Lisa Eldridge's debut mascara allows you to create your desired look, from naturally defined to full, feathery and fluffy, thanks to its curved wand, micro bristles and weightless formula. With a nurturing blend of jojoba wax, carnauba wax and organic olive tree wax that condition and help to promote healthy lash growth, this mascara is designed to leave no lashes behind. And with zero clumping, smudging or flaking, you can achieve a professional look Lisa herself would be proud of.
Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara
- Effect: Volumising
- Shades: Black.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
- Vegan? No.
Why we love it: Kate Moss famously trialled this mascara by going out dancing, and found that it didn't smudge, flake or transfer. And if it's good enough for Kate, it's good enough for us. This black mascara gives the ultimate fluttery, false lash effect, with volume, lift and curl in spades. Containing conditioning jojoba wax to keep lashes nourished, and with jet-black, budge-proof pigment, this high impact mascara will have your pals doing a double take - in the best way.
- Effect: Volumising, lengthening and defining.
- Shades: Midnight Black.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
- Vegan? Yes.
Why we love it: We're not sure what we love more: this mascara's long-lasting formula or its intensely rich pigment that remains smudge-proof until the end of the day. Its hourglass brush ensures application is super simple to achieve your desired look, and it can be easily built up without clumping. Plus, it's also infused with vegan beeswax, vitamin C and vitamin E for an extra nourishing, conditioning boost.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
- Effect: Volumising.
- Shades: Black and Chocolate.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
- Vegan? Yes.
Why we love it: While we can't promise that this long-wearing mascara is actually better than sex, as far as mascaras go, this Too Faced product is pretty damn good (and it has pretty good staying power too). Two coats of the stuff give you a proper lash lift and make you look like you're wearing false lashes - super long and dark ones, at that. And if you flutter them at anyone, you're guaranteed to set hearts racing.
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MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara
- Effect: Lifting.
- Shades: Gigablack.
- Waterproof? Yes.
- Cruelty-free? No.
- Vegan? No.
Why we love it: MAC's mascaras are the stuff of dreams, and the Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara is one of our all-time favourites. Gripping to the lashes with ease, the thin wand provides layers of jet-black polymers that lengthen, add volume, and stay in place for up to 16 hours. And it's humidity and sweat resistant, flake proof and smudge proof, so it's brilliant to chuck in your bag for the gym.
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- Effect: Volumising.
- Shades: Black and Black/Brown.
- Waterproof? No.
- Cruelty-free? No.
- Vegan? No.
Why we love it: This does an incredible job of lengthening and separating lashes. One coat gives a pretty, natural-looking flutter that’s perfect for minimal makeup days, but it can be built up to a bolder finish with a couple of extra coats. Designed to resist clumping, it's also ophthalmologist tested, so it's safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
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How do I choose a good mascara?
"Picking the right mascara is all about knowing what you want to achieve and what type of formula works for you," says Paige Williams, founder and CEO of TikTok's No.1 Shop, P.Louise. “If you're after that dreamy, fluttery look, choose a lengthening formula. Or if you want big, bold volume, go for a volumising mascara," she says.
“I like long, defined lashes with zero clumps, so I created the P.Louise Tearproof Mascara to be just that,” she continues. "It has a dual-action brush that lifts and separates on one side, while the other side grabs those little lashes on the bottom lash line and inner corners."
Emmy Clayton, expert lash and brow artist, adds that you also need to consider the mascara wand, as different shapes create different looks. “For example, if you have thin, straight lashes, opt for more of a curved wand to add lift and curl. For those with short lashes, a skinnier wand that delivers more of a precise coat to each lash is best! If you’re lucky to have long, fuller lashes then a classic cylindrical wand is perfect. Lastly, if you find your lashes are quite thin and sparse, try a thicker wand to add more fullness,” she advises.
It’s also important to consider what colour you are choosing. “If you're after a natural look, brown mascaras are a great option, especially for fair skin tones,” says Emmy. “Black and blue mascaras are great for more of an impact! I really love a blue mascara on blondes at the moment. A friend of mine wore this in Ibiza and it made her eyes so mesmerising in the sun - I think this will be a great look for summer.”
What is the best mascara for sensitive eyes?
“If your eyes need a little extra love, go for a hypoallergenic mascara,” says Paige. “These have gentle formulas and are typically fragrance-free to avoid irritation.”
“The P.Louise Tiny Tears Mascara has been formulated with non-irritating, mild ingredients and is free from harsh chemicals, parabens and sulphates, making it perfect for anyone that struggles with sensitivity around the eye area, or contact lens wearers," she adds.
What is the best mascara for achieving a natural look?
A strengthening serum like the Hairburst Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum can help your lashes to become naturally thicker, longer and healthier, thanks to its nourishing blend of castor oil, peptides and a derivative of hyaluronic acid.
Emmy loves the Glossier Lash Slick, which is her daily go-to for a natural look. “It separates the lashes perfectly, and wears really well without smudging, but it's easy to remove. It really gives that no makeup makeup look,” she says.
Paige agrees, advising to choose a mascara that defines without adding too much drama. “A lightweight formula in a soft brown or rich brown shade is perfect for that natural, ‘your lashes but better’ effect. And opt for a wand that separates and lengthens, making every lash pop in a subtle, stunning way," she comments.
