There is no better feeling than finding a great mascara that does exactly what it says on the tin - there are just so many options out there. Lately, we have noticed early looks are making a comeback with 90s bright blue and purple mascaras trending again, while the "less is more" look is becoming popular with some lightweight, affordable options.
They range from tubing mascaras to waterproof formulas, to ones that promise to lift your lashes to the ceiling. Meanwhile, others claim they’ll lengthen, curl and thicken lashes without the need for extensions, serums or falsies.
Our team of beauty experts have spent hours researching the best mascaras, putting them through their paces and rating them on their formula, results, quality and price and were perhaps a little shocked to discover you don’t have to spend a fortune to find the ultimate lash beauty buy.
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Best Mascara... 17 Extreme Extension Lengthening Mascara:
Beth Shufflebotham, Senior Fashion & Beauty Writer, found this to be her favourite mascara after trialling many over the years. She has become a mascara expert and we collectively believe the 17 Extreme Extension Lengthening Mascara to be the best (especially because it is so affordable).
She wrote: "It has a comb-style applicator, which I immediately gravitate towards over a bristly brush, and takes the notion of a ‘fine tooth comb’ rather literally, with little teeth that seem to grab every last lash with more precision than a lash tech with a pair of tweezers.
"Application was a dream. It’s a thick formula but the brush doesn’t hold too much excess product, and it means you’re much less likely to smudge when applying, too. It’s fragrance-free and coated my lashes from root to tip with relative ease.
"Usually £4, the vegan mascara is available in black, brown and navy and is without a doubt the best I’ve used, and I am fussy. In fact, just before Christmas, I bought eight tubes to make sure I don’t run out any time soon because I simply couldn’t bear to be without it."
Best alternative mascaras:
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara - Burgundy Haze
As a fan of Maybelline’s original Sky High formula - which has been reduced on Amazon for its spring sale by 33% to £8.70 - I knew I was going to absolutely LOVE its newest version Burgundy Haze (now reduced to just £12) because the Sky High original is one of the only mascaras I know I can rely on to give my lashes a bit of a boost and make them look unreal.
It also stays put all day long with no flaking in sight and zero irritation, which, as a contact lens wearer with sensitive eyes, is a big winner. This lovely burgundy version of the viral Maybelline Sky High Mascara is available on Amazon for just £12.
ICONIC London Triple Threat
Having always been a die-hard fan of Maybelline’s Sky High, I was intrigued to see the results of Iconic London’s Triple Threat mascara which is beloved by the likes of Molly-Mae for its gorgeous, natural but voluminous finish.
From the first coat alone, I fell in love instantly. It was dramatic - thanks to the ‘intensely black’ colouring. It lengthened my somewhat flat lashes, gave them volume and lifted them to make my eyes look bigger. The formula didn’t feel heavy on my lashes either, which I’ve experienced in the past, and left them fluttery and lush.
As someone with sensitive eyes, too, the test is always whether the mascara will irritate my lashes and eyes - and this one doesn’t. In fact, it’s hardly noticeable. While it’s not the cheapest mascara, at £22, I can see why it’s this price because of its quality and results that I’d invest in time and again. Get it from Iconic London here for £22. Or Lookfantastic here for £20.
Lottie London's Super Fake mascara
After hearing about this mascara all over TikTok, I was super excited to get my hands on Lottie London’s SuperFake mascara to see if the one-coat results were as impressive as people say it is. I can confirm they are - it's even more impressive as the mascara is under £10.
I was actually shocked when I saw my eyes after the first coat. My lashes were essentially touching my browbone and framed my eyes really nicely with the dark, intense black pigment that wasn’t heavy. Plus, it lasted an entire day with little to no drop - I put it on at about 7am and took it off when I got home at 9pm - at which time my lashes were still impressively lifted.
For £7.95, it’s an absolute must-have in your make-up bag if you want to have long, fluttery eyelashes for hours on end day or night. Buy from Lottie London here for £7.95.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara - £12.99
Bethan Shufflebotham said: “Few products have captured the hearts and peepers of thousands of beauty buffs quite like Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara. Adored by beauty enthusiasts and influencers alike, this mascara has become the secret weapon for achieving flawless, fluttery lashes that almost seem too good to be true.
“My lashes looked longer than they truly are, thanks to the bamboo extract and fibres that offer weightless length and thickness, without looking all spidery. They didn’t stick together or clump up to leave me looking like a 90s throwback, nor did I get it all over my face in the application process either, which ticks some pretty big boxes for me.
“Wearing the mascara throughout the day, it was very comfortable, leaving my lashes still feeling flexible rather than brittle. As such, there’s no wonder that the beauty buy has been constantly in and out of stock for the last two years.”
MACStack Mascara - £2 1.60
The MAC Stack Mascara Mega Brush gave Stacey Dutton incredible, instant results. “Straight away the volume was noticeable and it made me look less tired, and dare I say a tiny bit younger. I found myself being drawn towards my eye more when glancing in the mirror and I felt it really made my eye pop.
“The eyelash wand isn't too long either, and the brush itself is slightly thicker at the bottom than it is at the top, making it a great tool to avoid clumping. If you want a mascara that you can layer up to suit a look you're after, without clumps, then this is totally worth the £21.60 price tag (currently on offer in the Boots sale). Yes it's slightly more than others but honestly I would rather have a mascara that can deliver no clumps and volume than one that gives volume and clumps.”
Maybelline Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara - £12.99
Stacey Dutton said: “The Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara has previously gone viral for being the one beauty product you need to get your hands on if you love a dramatic, full lash look. No other beauty brand has such an extensive collection of mascaras as Maybelline, and it seems that no other beauty brand can go viral as well as them, either.
“I wear mascara daily so a natural curl but with plenty of volume is an everyday look I prefer. This mascara did just that from the very first coat. Usually, for a daytime look I would still do two coats of any mascara I use, but this one could still give enough volume with one coat.
“What a great product, and if you watch the before and after, you can see the huge difference it makes and how open my eyes appear with that extra curl and lift.”
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Sculpt Mascara - £26
Sarah Bradbury said: “The latest launch by Anastasia Beverly Hills gives you the most natural, lengthy lashes without lashing of mascara. Priced at £26, the new Lash Sculpt Mascara gave me the most gorgeous lashes ever, whilst still looking incredibly natural - basically my lashes but better, I’m obsessed!
“What I really loved about this mascara is the luxe feel the packaging had as well! And the brush - we need to talk about how amazing the brush is too, as I really felt like it found every lash, and coated it evenly. Now of course you can add more layers and take your lashes to the next dimension - but I was pretty happy with just two.
“As for the formula , it contains biotin; to help support strong, healthy-looking lashes, collagen; to help create the appearance of boosted lash volume and peptides; to help create the appearance of lash length and fullness.”
Glossier Lash Slick mascara - £ 20
Rebecca Astill said: “I picked the Glossier Lash Slick up from Glossier’s website for £20 and the wand is unlike other mascaras I have used previously. The end is long and thin with tiny little stubs, making the wand much easier to target and separate individual lashes.
“The Lash Slick is so easy to layer without clumping or looking heavy. Its main features are lengthening and separating, there is not much thickness or volume added so a more heavyweight mascara is probably more desirable for evenings. It is perfect for me, as I have pale skin and pale eyelashes so anything too black and thick looks silly on my face. The best part is it lasts all day without smudging under my eye.
“The only downside to this mascara is that it dries hard on your lashes, making them feel quite brittle throughout the day. It is also harder to take off at the end of the day than others I have used before, but with a strong cleansing balm like the £11 Camomile Cleansing Butter from The Body Shop , it is no bother.”
Benefit Fan Fest - £2 7
Sarah Bradbury said: “For years, I have been obsessed with mascaras from Benefit - whether it’s the OG Bad Gal Mascara, Roller Lash Curling Mascara, They’re Real Lengthening Mascara and out of this world, BADgal BANG!. So you can only imagine my joy when we heard they were launching a new one, aptly named ‘Fan Fest’.
“Yes the latest launch to take pride of place in my makeup collection, and on my very own peepers is the Fan Fest volumising mascara - priced at £2 7. With the perfect brush to help fan from side-to-side, it’s never been easier to amplify volume and multiply the look of lashes in seconds.
“The brush applied the perfect amount of mascara - no clumping, dry ends or excess, making its way onto our eyelid either. Because of the brush design, it really made sure our lashes were pushed upwards, to really make them look wide-awake.”
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