Mascara Lancome Idole
Sear Sommerfeldt
The luxurious French brand is known for creating some of the best mascaras on the market, and because of that, they have a wide range of options. Whether you're trying to pick the best volumising mascaras, or if you have naturally short lashes and need to find the best lengthening mascara, Lancme has an option for you.
As someone who generally sticks to affordable mascaras, I was curious to see how these iconic options, with their slightly higher price points, measured up. I put them through their paces and narrowed it down to the final selection of favourites.
These are the best Lancme mascaras, all tried and tested by us. If you're wondering how to choose the best one for you, think about the sort of look you want to achieve. Whether you're after a lengthening mascara, one that helps curl your lashes or a more natural formula, we've labeled what each mascara is best for, to help you decide.
This has been one of those products that I've heard countless celebs, MUAs, and Beauty Editor friends talk about for years, to the point that it started to sound a bit like white noise. But after not using this for years, I was wowed by the results. Considering its stellar reputation, it shouldn't be surprising, but I'm always impressed when products fully live up to the hype.
I had super lengthened, slick lashes from the first test almost immediately and with minimal effort. It was a dream to apply - genuinely effortless and not a clump in sight. The same result occurred with the second and third testing, where it snuck a place in my permanent makeup bag (no mean feat for this clutter-averse beauty editor). It's absolutely the best Lancme mascara, and maybe even one of the best mascaras on the market, full stop.
This was a very (very) close second to Hypnose as the best Lancme mascara overall, and honestly, there's a case for them both being joint winners, but I had to be extra picky to pick just one winner. Thanks to the curved silicone wand, this is an absolutely brilliant curling mascara.
My lashes were pushed up with minimal effort, and the tiny bristles grabbed every lash to create a fanned-out, open-eye effect. The petite brush also means it's perfect for applying to lower lashes. It didn't smudge or clump - even when I layered on more later in the day. This is the ideal pick if you have long, straight lashes but I think it's a brilliant all-rounder even if you don't - I'm genuinely so impressed by it. Beauty Editor Stephanie is similarly evangelical in her Lancme Lash idole review.
The USP for this one is big, dramatic lashes, and with a bit of wangling, you get exactly that. The chunky brush combined with quite a wet formula (that annoying 'new mascara' trait) made the initial testing a little messy - although I will admit I was being quite haphazard on my first testing. But, once the formula had dried out a bit, it had better hold, provided impressive volume, and smudged much less.
It didn't even clump when I added a few extra layers hours after the first application - and I can't say the same for many other bestselling mascaras. If you want quick volume and dramatic lashes, this is the best Lancme mascara for the job.
The Defincils mascara is designed to define lashes rather than give full-blown volume or length. Because of this, it's a much smaller brush than others on this list, but it makes it an ideal natural-looking mascara for those more low-key makeup days.
Don't be put off by the smaller brush - this means you can give a really precise application, and you'll be surprised how efficient this is. A few coats lead to nicely separated, defined lashes that pair nicely with nude lipstick and a sheer base. During one test I actually forgot I was wearing this and hopped into the shower - my eyes were a little panda-y, but one quick sweep of micellar water and it was totally cleared. Easy, breezy removal. If you're volume-hungry, you may not love this, but I'd say it's the best Lancme mascara for easy, everyday wear.
I said 'oooh' out loud when I first twisted this mascara open, when you've written about as many mascaras as I have, something as surface-level minor as a twisted wand is enough to inspire a little 'oooh'.
The brush in question is designed to grab even the tiniest, stubbiest lashes, fanning them out while lifting and coating them. Very intriguing and - having tested this a handful of times - very smart. The bend in the brush means you can get really close to the lash line and grab each one from the root, pushing them up and out with minimal effort. It's also the perfect shape and size for bottom lashes, which is always a nice little bonus. It does a bit of everything, making this the best Lancme mascara if you don't want to pick between volume, curl, and length. I wanted to love this, and luckily - I do.
With this being such a big tube I was surprised by how small the wand actually is. The petite brush is not a bad thing, it makes it a good option for building up volume and adding definition. The main selling point of this pick is the inclusion of amino acids and shea butter balm, designed to deeply nourish lashes, helping to strengthen and protect those delicate little hairs. This makes this the best Lancme mascara pick if you're keen to combine mascara with eyelash growth serums, or if your lashes are sparse.
The slight downside to the serum is that it makes the formula a little bit smudgy and wet on the first application. This is also the only mascara on this list that I'd recommend using alongside an eyelash curler - to gift better lift and hold. If you don't mind that, you'll love this.
Just a quick note up top - a big thing I noticed was that not many of the Lancme mascaras are available in brown, which is something to note if you prefer a natural-looking, best brown mascara. If you tend to stick to black tones though, that shouldn't be too off-putting.
Rhiannon Derbyshire is the Senior Beauty Editor for Woman & Home and other publications. \n\nShe started interning for glossy magazines while working alongside her Fashion Journalism degree. There, she was lured to the beauty desk, seduced by matte lipsticks, posh shampoos, and every skincare product imaginable. 10+ years into her career, she can confidently tell you why the best mascaras are always high street, and why SPF is a non-negotiable all year round. Ask her about her curly hair routine, skincare minimalism, and how to find the exact right red lipstick"}), " -0-10/js/authorBio.js"); } else console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); Rhiannon DerbyshireSocial Links NavigationSenior Beauty EditorRhiannon Derbyshire is the Senior Beauty Editor for Woman & Home and other publications.
She started interning for glossy magazines while working alongside her Fashion Journalism degree. There, she was lured to the beauty desk, seduced by matte lipsticks, posh shampoos, and every skincare product imaginable. 10+ years into her career, she can confidently tell you why the best mascaras are always high street, and why SPF is a non-negotiable all year round. Ask her about her curly hair routine, skincare minimalism, and how to find the exact right red lipstick
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