When it comes to finding the best mascara, it takes a lot to impress me. In my decade-plus as a women’s lifestyle editor, I’ve tried literally hundreds and, at this point in my life (I’m 51), I’ve become a bit high maintenance and rarely consider switching brands. However, after testing dozens of new — and frankly, quite old — mascaras, I’ve recently changed my tune. Mascaras have come a long way in the past decade or so, with innovations in wand design and formulas along with the addition of conditioning ingredients like castor seed oil and vitamin E. In fact, there are more options on the market today than ever before, ranging from $5 (the drugstore fave Essence Lash Princess) to around $105 (La Bouche Rouge in a leather case, ooh la la). Still, in my testing, I discovered one that I believe to be above and beyond the rest of the herd, and more affordable too.
Before we get into it, I should probably tell you a bit about what I’m looking for in a mascara. I have dark-blonde, normal-to-thin, kind of stubby, nothing-special lashes which require a good deal of lengthening, thickening and serious pigment in order to make my eyes standout. I also have sensitive eyes with a tendency toward dryness and I occasionally wear contact lenses so I need a non-irritating formula too. Last, I’m a compulsive eye rubber, even when I’m not tired, which makes finding a no-smudge, non-flaking product paramount to my not looking like a weary/exhausted, middle-aged raccoon. Last, because I’m older and the area around my eyes is delicate and prone to wrinkling, I want all my makeup — including mascara — to be easy to remove without the need for much skin-damaging elbow grease.
Over six weeks, I tested 26 of the most popular mascaras. I found at least 80%, no matter how expensive, failed to pass my basic requirements. The worst culprits speckled black flakes under my eyes within minutes of application or left behind the smudgy-dark shadows of someone who’d been weeping for days.
Others were so lightweight (or green or “natural”) they lent little noticeable impact. A few came with brushes so stiff and small, they became torment devices as I repeatedly poked myself in the eye. All of which is to say, my favorite mascara of the year — Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Sky High — is a true standout. Not only is this product smear-proof and water-resistant, it’s also somehow easy to remove. The pigment is so dark and inky and made my lashes so long, the first time I wore it my husband asked if they were fake. I’ve rarely come across drugstore makeup this good. Read on to find out why this mascara is the cream of the crop.
The best mascaras of 2024
Maybelline
Formula: Lengthening, thickening | Features: Water resistant, allergy tested | Color: Black | Cruelty free: No
Across all testing criteria, I found this popular Maybelline formula either matched — or exceeded — the quality of the highest-end mascaras I tested for a fraction of the cost. Here are its finest qualities:
The brush: First, is the applicator brush, which is both flexible and streamlined, making it easy to reach (and volumize!) even the finest corner lashes. Women tend to lose hair all over as we age — hello, menopause! —and this mascara was great for coating and filling in my more sparse 50+ lashes.
The formula: My issue with many drugstore mascaras is they can be too harsh for my sensitive eyes, or irritating on the days I wear my contact lenses. But Lash Sensational is both ophthalmologist and allergy tested, making it suitable for even eye wimps like me.
The effect: Ultimately, what you’re here for is long, thick lashes, and this product delivers. It lengthens and thickens without being a globby hassle to apply (I did not have to remove globs from the applicator brush once in the last month — a first!).
The pigment: The dark onyx tints lashes on the first swipe out of the tube without the need to apply several coats to achieve the desired results.
No raccoon eyes: Seriously, this is my least favorite thing about most every mascara I’ve ever tried — the smudge-y black residue that appears under the eyes by the end of day, making one appear old, tired and like you haven’t slept in days. I have had zero smudge with Lash Sensational and just the tiniest bit of flake on days when I’m rubbing my eyes a lot due to allergies, exhaustion and the weariness of being a middle-aged woman in this world.
Easy to remove: Wiping off even the hardest-to-remove eye makeup wasn’t a big deal in my 20s and 30s, but now that I am trying to preserve my aging face and avoid every fine line and wrinkle that I can, mascara that is hard to take off is now a deal breaker. I needn’t have worried with Lash Sensational, which came off in a flash with just my favorite micellar water and a cotton pad.
Last, in addition to having this beauty editor’s vote, more than 75,000 reviewers rave about Lash Sensational on Amazon, all stating something along the lines of, “10/10 would recommend, I’ve ordered this six times now … it’s the best mascara I’ve ever used.” Truly, it’s that good.
- Ample pigment
- Thickens and lengthens
- Formula is smooth and non-gloopy
- Easy to apply
- Doesn’t smudge and minimally flaked
- Affordable
- Good for sensitive skin/eyes
- Good for eye rubbers
- May not be quite as thickening as other top brands
- Formula is not buildable
- Not cruelty free
$10 at Amazon
Merit
Formula: Lengthening | Features: Hypoallergenic, lash conditioning | Color: Black | Cruelty free: Yes
If mascaras had a social circle, Merit’s Clean Lash would be the “it” girl: Right now, this hero product is both in-demand and wildly popular, in addition to being a favorite of celebrities young and old. Even at $26, it’s a product that truly lives up to the hype. Merit’s formula is long lasting — my most recent tube is still going after six months — and its effect is consistently exactly what many want out of a high-quality mascara: dark, fluffy, long lashes that remain (thanks to conditioning ingredients like olive oil, vitamin B5 and rice bran wax) soft and never crunchy. Martha Stewart is a fan. As is Jenna Lyons, who uses this lengthening mascara over her false eyelashes to make them appear more natural.
Even on my regular lashes, this is among the best mascaras I’ve ever tried. Like the name suggests, it goes on “clean” and it stays put — truly no flaking, no smudging or clumping. If I had one complaint, it’s that the effect is subtle, not dramatic. However, unlike my top pick, Merit’s version is buildable and you can amp up the effect over a few coats.
- Clean, zero mess, easy application
- No clumps, flakes or smudges
- Lengthens lashes
- Cruelty-free formula
- Packed with natural, nourishing ingredients like olive oil and vitamin B5
- Leaves lashes soft (non crunchy!)
- Pricey
- Effect is more subtle than others we tried
$26 at Merit
Jones Road
Formula: Lengthening, thickening | Features: Hypoallergenic, lash conditioning | Color: Black | Cruelty free: Yes
I wouldn’t hate it if I could only use this Jones Road pitch-black mascara for the rest of my days. It’s a thoughtfully-crafted product with a thicker, almost emollient consistency that glides on lashes and leaves them visibly thicker, darker and more lush looking overall. The clean, cruelty-free, natural-as-can-be, vitamin E-based formula from makeup artist Bobbi Brown is good for the health of one’s lashes, especially if you’re older or can’t tolerate harsh chemicals near your eyes. Though some users complain about the (slightly) curved wand, I found it to be particularly effective, especially at targeting my smallest, finest corner lashes, which can be harder to reach with some (non-tapered) straight brushes.
Where the product loses points: It flakes a bit and smudged on me by the end of the day. In addition, the liquid became clumpy within a few uses which made the effect just not as good. Still, it’s a better thickening/volumizing mascara than either of my other two top picks, highly buildable and excellent for when you want a more dramatic look.
- Highly pigmented
- Adds serious volume
- Clean and cruelty free
- Contains conditioning ingredients like vitamin E like
- Buildable
- Easy to apply — curved brush is particularly good for catching small corner lashes
- Easy to remove
- Formula can be clumpy
- Some smudging and flaking
- Pricey
$26 at Jones Road
How we tested mascaras
Over the course of around six weeks, I tried 26 popular mascaras, including many bestsellers. I tested them on the following criteria: brush/wand design, ease of application, ingredient quality, weight and texture, pigment saturation, lengthening and thickening effect, how difficult each was to remove and — perhaps most importantly — whether or not the formula smudged, flaked or clumped.
Mascaras we tested that didn’t make the cut
I cast a wide net, testing old-timey familiar items (hello, Great Lash!) along with newer, well-reviewed brands I’d heard of but hadn’t yet tried (Ilia). I also spent significant time applying usual mascara best-list suspects like Benefit’s They’re Real. Some formulations were clearly superior to others, but, even the better versions, had, for me, at least one disqualifying flaw. For example, the insanely popular Essence Lash Princess gave solid lengthening/thickening coverage, but left behind a dusting of serious, deal-breaking flakes. I’ve long loved the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara for its cool brush design and how it makes my lashes appear miles-long, but up against my top picks I found it far too difficult to remove, almost sticky and tar like, and, ultimately more hassle than it was worth. Last, when I tested Thrive’s social-media famous Liquid Lash Extensions, it shedded extensively, leaving tiny, worm-like black tubes all over my under eyes and eyelids — I truly couldn’t have hated it more.
What to look for when buying mascara
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Wand/applicator brush: Flexible, streamlined plastic wands (especially those that taper toward the end) with rubber bristles offer the most uniform application and tend to be easiest to use. Depending on the shape of your eyes, curved wands may be better for reaching fine corner lashes. Large wands with spindly bristles often work better for those with denser, longer lashes, rendering them fluffier overall.
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Formulation If you have sensitive eyes, look for non-irritating, ophthalmologist and allergy-tested products. If your lashes are sparse or dry, look for lighter, conditioning formulas with nourishing ingredients. A good rule of thumb is the thicker and wetter the product, the more it will weigh fine lashes down.
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Waterproof or not? Maybelline’s Lash Sensational is water resistant and I found it hit the sweet spot between holding up under a scattering of tears (I am a crier, with allergies!) and washing off with relative ease. However, if you’re a person who likes to wear mascara while, say, swimming laps or you’re heading to a funeral, I might invest in a fully waterproof product (for just $5, Essence’s Lash Princess False Lash Waterproof mascara is an excellent option).
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Pigment Unless you are going for a subtle look (in which case, choose a soft brown shade), I — and every makeup artist I’ve ever interviewed — recommend choosing the darkest, blackest tint you can find.
Mascara FAQs
What’s the best way to apply mascara?
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If you’re curling your lashes, do this first. Curling after application can lead to breakage. (For more, check out our guide to the best eyelash curlers.)
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If you are a person who has the time/patience for a lash primer (which will help keep most any formula from smudging), apply your favorite version now.
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Next, place the mascara wand at the base of your top lashes and — yes this is the technical term — wiggle it upwards until you’ve coated every strand from root to tip. Let dry for a second or two.
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Repeat on your bottom lashes. Note: these finer strands require less pigment, so apply with a lighter touch.
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Carefully wipe away any mistakes with a cotton swab that’s damp with either water or a gentle makeup remover.
How many coats of mascara should I use?
This is a personal preference! In the 70s, my aunt used to apply 10 coats to each eye, though I’ve found, depending on the product, two or three coats will usually suffice.
How often should I replace my mascara?
Most ophthalmologists and dermatologists recommend discarding and replacing your mascara every three months, though I’ve gone longer with certain formulas, like Merit’s.
Is it safe to wear mascara every day?
Yes! Though experts recommend removing it at night to minimize breakage and damage to your lashes.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
