20 best mascaras for every look: From waterproof to vegan-friendly formulas

With such an impressive back catalogue of game-changing mascaras, we can’t believe this brand has outdone itself again with this new offering. The next-level brush makes easy work of coating each and every lash thanks to the 250 different bristle sizes and 360 micro-bristles. Its curved shape fits perfectly into the upper lash line, allowing for root-to-tip coverage. In just one stroke your lashes look volumised and lifted, but the flexible jet black, gel emulsion allows you to add as many clump-free layers as you desire for a more full-on look.

Read the full Lancôme lash idôle mascara review

This vegan beauty and wellness brand has just arrived in the UK, and after trying a few products from the collection, we were seriously impressed with this volume and lengthening mascara. It uses tiny plant fibres that adhere to lashes for a more full-bodied effect. The big, hourglass brush makes it easy to layer on for a bolder look with a glossy finish, and the weighty glass tube with the pretty pastel gradient packaging adds to the luxe feel.

Our favourite mascara from Mac yet is built for layering volume, lift and length. Claiming to be “infinitely buildable”, we put it to the test and got to 40 layers (yes, we counted) before we felt it starting to clump or stick together – that’s some seriously impressive volume building. There’s two petal-shaped brush designs to choose from – this brush is designed for those with longer, fuller lashes but the Mac stack micro brush mascara (£26, Lookfantastic.com) is ideal for those with a naturally short or sparse lashes.

Read our in-depth Mac stack mascara review

Finally, Victoria Beckham has turned her attention to lashes with this much anticipated and innovative formulation. A small, thin and slightly curved brush makes it easy to get to the tiniest lashes without any smudging, and its manoeuvrable formula makes it easy to create a naturally defined and well-separated look. This doesn’t budge once in place – not even at the gym, where we tested its sweat-proof claims – but it still washes off with water at the end of the day. It’s effortlessly elegant, just like VB herself!

Read the full Victoria Beckham future lash mascara review

Reach for this volume-boosting formula that thickens and curls lashes in just one coat, but layer on lashings of the clump-free ink and you can create next-level drama that looks like you’ve naturally grown thicker, fuller lashes. The luxe, Instagram-worthy rose-gold tube is also infused with lash conditioning ingredients, so no matter how many layers you add, your lashes stay soft and supple.

From legendary make-up artist Bobbi Brown’s new beauty brand, this wand sits on the more natural side of the mascara scale. The oversized, curved brush creates beautifully separated thicker lashes with lift after just one coat to create that ‘no make-up, make-up’ look – add a few more strokes to create natural clump-free thicker lashes. Plus, it’s enriched with lash- strengthening vitamin B and conditioning vitamin E to keep your flutter healthy.

Hyped on social media with a huge waiting list when it first launched, the third mascara from the make-up artist’s brand was well worth the wait. What sets it apart is that it promises and delivers on weightless volume, length and lift for the perfect all-rounder mascara. Use the flat side of the paddle-shaped brush to load and lift lashes, and the comb side for even distribution. Expect high-impact lashes with an intense black, glossy finish that holds all day.

Read the full Charlotte Tilbury pillow talk push up lashes mascara review

From the brand created by possibly the most influential make-up artist on the planet, Pat McGrath knows what a brilliant mascara should look like. The large, contoured brush is built for speed, as it delivers slick body in just one stroke – perfect for mornings when you’re short on time. Build up a few more layers for extra intensity that’s perfect for when glamour is called for.

With such a well-loved collection of mascaras, Benefit is always ahead of the game and this new launch is no exception. The state-of-the-art brush has a magnetically charged core that pulls the magnetic mineral-enriched formula up and out to the tips of lashes, making them appear longer. We were wowed by how well this lifted and lengthened after just one stroke. And if you layer it, it builds volume with no dreaded clumping.

Read the full Benefit they're real! magnet extreme lengthening mascara review

For those looking for full-on volume, you’ll love how effortlessly the over-sized brush creates a bigger, bolder finish. Wiggle this formula in – from the roots at the lash line to the tips – with two coats for a bold, wearable look. To really add some va va voom, keep layering on without smudging or clumping. Expect it to feel weightless and soft, with no stiff or crispy lashes in sight.

What was once a cult classic has become the US’s number-one-selling prestige mascara. This cheekily named formula has a reputation for creating drama that’s still hard to beat. Stay clear if you prefer a neat and natural finish, as this one is all about the false-lash effect. Its large, hourglass-shaped brush covers lashes effortlessly from root to tip: just one coat magnifies, but work through a few times for a fuller, bolder finish with a curl that lasts. Does it live up to its name? Don’t be so silly... but it does try.

This is our pick for those that like their make-up to look subtle. Think of this as a slight enhancement to your lashes – it darkens and creates cleanly separated lashes, giving a slight lengthening effect. The wand is thin with a fine tip, making it easy to highlight all lashes, and even a few coats will leave the most natural flutter. It also conditions hairs over time with vegan biotin, leaving them soft to the touch. Simply wash off in the evening with warm water.

One Maybelline mascara is sold every seven seconds in the UK, and with such an impressive collection of popular wands, we were surprised to find that the brand’s latest formula outshines the rest, and is our favourite yet. The long, thin and flexible brush head combines a formula of bamboo extract and fibres that builds volume and length with each stroke, but also separates lashes for a fanned-out look.

The lash gurus at Lancôme have just added this addition to the brand’s exceptional portfolio of mascaras. It fuses a lash conditioning serum with the properties of the brand’s bestselling hypnôse wand. Ideal for dry, brittle lashes needing some TLC, it not only leaves you with a softer, stronger flutter when used over time but makes light work of removal, so you don’t damage or lose lashes in the process. The hourglass brush, coupled with the lash-thickening formula, leaves you with a natural full-bodied effect similar to the original. And while it’s what’s inside that counts, the glass rectangular and curved design adds to its appeal – a break from traditional cylinder tubes.

Read the full Lancôme le8 hypnôse mascara review

One of Benefit’s fan-favourite mascaras, badgirl bang is now available in a summer-must-have waterproof version. Like the original, the ultralight formula adds buildable natural-looking volume with its streamline wand, all without weighing down your flutter. No matter what the unpredictable British weather brings, you can rely on it getting you through the warmer months or that beach holiday you’ve got planned.

For high-drama that stays in place all day, you’ll want this mascara as part of your make-up collection. Dior claims that this formula offers 24-hours of transfer-proof wear, and while our days aren’t quite so long, we can firmly say it didn’t budge after 14 hours – still super impressive. The intense ink finish is made up of 90 per cent naturally derived ingredients for a cleaner lash-thickening formula that also contains added lash care. The unique squeezable tube is also a genius mascara first.

You can always rely on Rimmel for affordable, effective and accessible wands – you can even pick one up at the supermarket shop. This is the brand’s latest – it went viral and we’re obsessed with it, too, for building intense fuller-looking lashes root-to-tip. The oversized hourglass-shaped brush grabs the lashes from the corners out along the lash line with ease, and the creamy, whipped formula makes it malleable and easy to layer, clump-free. We found one layer gives natural-looking length and volume, while three gives falsies competition. A new high-street hero.

The entire Eyeko mascara collection, including this new formula, is made up of tubing mascaras. This means, rather than coat the lashes in pigment, they wrap tiny micro-fibres around each hair, forming ‘tubes’ of mascara. This creates two major benefits, the first is there’s no chance of smudging but, best of all, they’re super easy to remove – no eye-rubbing required, just a little warm water.

This one is the perfect pick for contact-wearers or those with sensitive eyes, as it’s been ophthalmologically tested, so there’s no chance of it causing any irritation. Speedy to use, the silicone conical-shaped brush made light work of defining and separating the entire lash line for us, leaving a beautiful natural-looking length.

Treat your lashes to a little bit of luxury with the chicest Chanel mascara to date. Promising all the tricks when it comes to lash enhancements, this is the wand for you if your flutter needs it all. The thin, flexible spoolie defines and separates for a fuller fan out that combs through natural-looking volume and length. The curl is created by the technique of pressing and holding the lashes before sweeping through.

What really makes this mascara extra special is in the detail. Its elegant rectangular tube puts it in a league of its own when it comes to design. With a push-down click, a gold handle pops up, so you can pull out the wand – similar to the label’s lipsticks, if you’re familiar with them. The pigment is unique too – intensely black, thanks to a touch of unnoticeable red in the formula that adds a level of depth we love. Plus, it’s infused with provitamin B5, so lashes stay strong and protected.

This entry from the purse-friendly beauty brand is inspired by salon lash lifts and uses a double-ended mascara as a two-step process to create the volume, lift and curl of the popular treatment. Step one builds volume with a large, straight brush, while step two uses a curved brush to provide the lift and curl. We used it together to mimic the effect on days and nights that called for a little more drama on the lash line, but found we could also create more natural-looking lashes when using the steps on their own. A top choice for creating versatile looks.