Mascara is a makeup must, and we've found the best ones out there so you can make the most of your lashes. In order to make the Best Products list, a mascara must:
- Have a wow-factor feature that provides superior results
- Quickly enhance lashes, whether from lengthening, thickening, separating, or any combination of these and other features
- Not smudge, smear, flake, or contain needless irritants
- If waterproof, the formula must hold up when lashes get wet
We have hand it to the cosmetics chemists involved in formulating mascaras, because the wealth of superior choices is expanding almost monthly!
We should also mention the wide variety of mascara brushes that are available, from a thin comb with serrated edges to a tightly packed full row of nylon or rubber bristles, each providing different effects and each deserving of experimentation to see if you prefer the results from one type of brush over another.
Performance of any mascara comes down to the perfect marriage of brush and formula, with packaging components (such as the wiper) coming in a close second. The rest is preference-related depending on the lash look you want.
There are excellent mascaras in all price ranges, and obviously it is not logical to buy the most expensive mascara when reasonably priced ones are equally good. Given that this is one product you can't readily test at the counters, try a few of the inexpensive ones first and see what you think!
Because the mascaras on this list are only those rated Best, you'll find that each has its own "wow factor"; that is, they offer impressive results quickly and go the distance when it comes to superior application and wear. Although there are plenty of formidable options here, you should also know that any mascara rated with a happy face on this site are worth considering, too, depending on your preferences.
