Mascara is a game-changer for anyone wanting to enhance their lashes. It's typically used to add volume, length, curl, and definition, making your eyes pop. From waterproof formulas that withstand tears and rain to volumizing mascaras that promise dramatic, full lashes with just a few swipes, there's a type for every look and occasion. Ingredients like biotin, argan oil, and natural waxes are often included to nourish and condition your lashes, ensuring they stay healthy and look their best. Whether you're aiming for a subtle, natural look or dramatic volume, the right mascara can transform your lashes and elevate your makeup game.
When selecting a mascara, consider what you want to achieve with your lashes. Do you want them to be longer, thicker, or more curled? Different mascaras offer different benefits, so knowing what you're looking for will help narrow down your choices. For instance, a lengthening mascara like Maybelline's Lash Sensational Mascara is perfect for those seeking longer lashes, while a volumizing mascara like Buxom Lash Volumizing Mascara is ideal for those wanting thicker lashes. Waterproof options like Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara are great for long-lasting wear, especially during emotional events or humid weather.
Applying mascara may seem straightforward, but a few tips can help you achieve the best results. Start by curling your lashes with an eyelash curler for an extra lift. When applying mascara, wiggle the brush at the base of your lashes and pull through to the tips for maximum coverage. For lower lashes, use the tip of the brush for precise application. Avoid pumping the mascara wand in the tube, as this can introduce air and dry out the formula. If you're seeking a more dramatic look, consider applying a lash primer before your mascara for added volume and length.
When shopping for mascara, it's essential to consider the type of look you want to achieve, the formula's ingredients, and the ease of application and removal. If you have sensitive eyes or wear contact lenses, look for ophthalmologist-tested mascaras to avoid irritation. For those concerned about animal welfare, vegan and cruelty-free options are available. Additionally, consider the environmental impact of your mascara; many brands now offer sustainable packaging options. Ultimately, the best mascara is one that meets your specific needs and helps you feel confident in your look.
How do I choose the right mascara for my lashes? Consider what you want to achieve - volume, length, curl, or all three. Also, check if you need a formula for sensitive eyes or waterproof options.
You get a lot from one coat. When it first hits the lashes, the thick Rare Beauty mascara is clumpy. But after even just the first comb-through, the pigment distributes evenly while maintaining its heft, creating a sturdy foundation at the base of the lashes with very little actual mascara. You get a lot of value in this long-lasting tube.
It adds length to each lash. Whereas most mascaras we wore coated existing lashes, essentially making them stand out more, the Thrive Causemetics mascara extended length beyond the natural hair shaft.
It goes all night. Unlike some of the other dramatic volumizing formulas we tried, which looked great in the mirror but crumbled and smudged in the first hour of real-life wear, this Too Faced mascara stayed put. For a non-waterproof mascara, it held up nicely to a sweaty time between the sheets and a 30-minute Peloton session. (Not in the same day or on the same tester.)
It really is waterproof. We wore this Eyeko mascara in a pool and shower, and not a bit smudged, dripped, or crumbled. Waterproof formulas are more difficult to remove, and our testers who tried to wash with soap and water initially had trouble until they added a makeup remover to their nighttime routine. Those of us who use an oil-based remover as a matter of course had no trouble.
For this guide, I consulted with other mascara experts, including people who formulate and develop mascaras behind the scenes, plus makeup artists, who use the stuff on more lashes than anyone. When it comes to mascara, I am quite frankly overeducated and tough to impress.
Sephora alone sells more than 200 mascaras. So does Target. To whittle down the seemingly limitless selection to worthy contenders, we cross-referenced dozens of best-of mascara lists from beauty and fashion magazines and blogs with top-seller lists on Amazon and beauty sites like Sephora and Ulta. We also scoured makeup forums and Reddit threads, and we poked around mascara-Tok.
We spoke to two cosmetic chemists, one product-development expert, and one makeup artist, none of whom had partnerships or affiliations with mascara companies at the time of our interviews. We also polled our network of opinionated and experienced beauty-industry colleagues. The result was a list of more than two dozen mascaras for in-person testing.
Over almost two months, we tested the two dozen formulas in daily life, including during workouts, on rainy days, in showers, and through a couple of warm-climate plane trips and pool dips. We rated the mascaras on a scale of one to five in the six categories outlined above, and we provided detailed feedback. Once we tallied the results, 12 mascaras moved on to a panel of testers.
To minimize brand loyalty and bias, we obscured the labels and sent them off to four testers. Our panel included a person with unpigmented lashes, one with monolids, and an individual blessed with lashes so thick, they barely need mascara at all. A few testers identified as having sensitive eyes. All of them provided even more feedback on the same rubric as we used in the earlier stage.
At just five bucks, Amazon best seller and TikTok sensation Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara is a great value and the least expensive mascara we tried. It definitely outperformed its cost in our tests, but reports of clumps, light smudging, smearing, and flaking made us hesitate to recommend it.
The unusual 2.5 mm slim metal wand in NeoGen Dermalogy Maxicara both drew us in and turned us off, as the mascara was annoying to apply and tough to remove. We also deemed the two-step application process for Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer too much of a hassle for its mediocre results.
Meirav Devash has covered beauty trends for over two decades as a magazine editor and writer, personally testing an unreasonable number of cosmetics, skin-care items, and hair products. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of lipstick and heavy metal.
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Application: For maximum volume, start with the wand at the base of your lashes and slowly sweep through from root to tip to define + lengthen every lash. Apply additional coats while lashes are still wet to seal in all-day flake-free wear!
Removal: To remove, simply rinse off our mascara with warm water and a washcloth using a gentle downward-sweeping motion. Our unique tubing formula will rinse off each lash, leaving no mascara streaks behind or black stains on your towels! You can also use your favorite cleanser or makeup remover.
Our unique tubing formula will wrap around each individual lash and set as soon as it dries down. For optimal performance, we recommend focusing on one eye at a time. You can apply layer after layer until you achieve your preferred length + volume.
Our favorite thing about our tubing formula is how easy it is to remove. All you need is warm water and the tubes will slide right off. Saturate a cotton pad with warm water and let it sit on your lashes for 30 seconds then, using your fingers or the cotton pad, slowly move in downward swiping motions. Alternatively, you can just wet your fingers with warm water and very gently slide the tubes down and off of your lashes.
The source of the word mascara is unclear. It was possibly derived from the Spanish word mscara meaning 'mask' or 'stain', and the Italian word maschera meaning 'mask' is a possible origin.[1] A related Catalan word describes soot or a black smear, and the Portuguese word mscara means 'mask' and mascarra means dark stain or smut.[2] There is even strong support for a possible source from the Arabic word maskharah or 'buffoon'.[3][4] The Hebrew word משקרות (in the phrase mesaqqeroth `eynayim) relating to women's eyes is found in Isaiah 3:16.[5] It may mean flirting or ogling with the eyes, or painting them with red pigment.[6]
The name Mascara was likely given in reference to the city which bears the same name, since in the mid-19th century the French discovered antimony powder during their conquest in the old city of Mascara in Algeria.[8] The nomadic tribes used it as a beauty product but also to protect themselves from various trachomas and eye diseases.[citation needed]
Aesthetic adornment is a cultural universal and mascara can be documented in ancient Egypt. Records from around 4000 BC refer to a substance called kohl that was used to darken eyelashes, eyelids, and eyebrows.[9] Kohl was used to mask the eyes, believed to ward off evil spirits and protect the soul, by both men and women. Often composed of galena; malachite; and charcoal or soot, crocodile stool; honey; and water was added to keep the kohl from running.[10] Through Egypt's influence, kohl usage persisted in the subsequent Babylonian, Greek and Roman empires. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, kohl fell into disuse on the European continent, where it had been considered solely a cosmetic; conversely, it continued to be widely used in the Middle East for religious purposes.[9]
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