We Tested 80+ Mascaras, These 15 Gave Us Beautiful, Bold Lashes, Starting at $5 (2025)

TL;DR

Our favorite mascara is the Benefit Cosmetics Fan Fest Fanning Mascara. It lifts, separates, and volumizes the lashes for a gorgeous, full look and wears well without smudging or flaking. If you’re looking for a foolproof drugstore buy, we recommend the Maybelline Sky High Mascara. It lengthens and separates the lashes beautifully, remaining intact all day long.

Our Top Picks

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening, separating, lifting | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

This mascara from Benefit won us over almost immediately. Multiple testers agree that it does (pretty much) everything you’d want a mascara to do: lift, separate, volumize, and add a hint of length. The curved brush makes it easy to grip each lash from the root, and the bristles are perfectly dispersed, helping fan out the lashes for an even and full-looking finish. We love that the formula is lightweight and buildable, so you can amp up the volume without depleting your curl. It's buildable, but it's not the most volumizing option, so it's not ideal for people who want a super dramatic look.

Once it sets down, it remains flake-free and smudge-resistant throughout the day, but it's still relatively easy to remove. We think it’s a great choice for a range of lash types and makeup preferences. One of our testers even mentioned that multiple people asked her what mascara she had on while wearing this pick.

Avery, tester with straight, blonde lashes: “This mascara's brush is curved to create a fanned-out effect on the lashes. I thought the product was easy to apply from root to tip, and the brush caught nearly all of my lash line with one swipe. The formula does not clump or flake as you layer, which I loved. It's also incredibly lightweight, even with multiple coats."

Benefits: Lengthening, curling | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

Leave it to Lancômeto keep innovating in the mascara category; the brand has been creating top-tier mascaras for decades. Their newest addition to the line is this lengthening pick, featuring a long, narrow brush that's easy to control, making it ideal for targeting hard-to-reach lashes. When testing this one, I couldn't get over how seamlessly it applied; the brush combs the formula through the lashes without clumping them together, and helps give them a lift by getting so close to the lash line. One coat gave me gorgeous length and definition, while a second coat added just a hair more drama.

I was able to achieve some volume, though if you're looking for a very volumizing pick, there are better options on this list. Once dry, it remained in place without smudging or flaking. It's not quite as well-rounded as our best overall pick because it doesn't offer as much volume; however, if you're more interested in length and lift, you'll love it.

Benefits: Lengthening, separating | Shades: 7 | Cruelty-Free: No

The drugstore is home to tons of great mascaras, but none have impressed us more than this one from Maybelline. This is the drugstore mascara that doesn't leave my makeup rotation; it's that good. The long, narrow brush allows you to target hard-to-reach lashes while separating and coating them evenly in the formula. It creates a healthy dose of volume, but lengthening and lifting is where this pick showcases its true magic. After two coats, your lashes will look full, long, and perfectly fanned out. And once it dries, it doesn’t smudge or flake.

It requires a bit more effort to remove than most washable mascaras, yet nowhere near as much as many waterproof options require. Speaking of waterproof, this mascara, in its waterproof version, is our favorite waterproof mascara at the drugstore.

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening, curling | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Finding a volumizing mascara that doesn’t weigh your lashes down isn’t easy, but this one manages both. The bristles lift and curl your lashes before coating them with the buildable formula, offering a winning combination of volume and length. The volume is the star of the show—just one coat creates natural-looking thickness, while a second coat yields a more dramatic finish. We also love that it doesn’t smudge or flake; it includes an amino acid peptide and vitamin blend to help strengthen the lashes. It’s so good we wish it came in more than just the black shade. Iris & Romeo, consider this our formal request for a chocolate brown color.

Caitlyn Martyn, associate editor: “I've tested many volumizing mascaras, but this one is my favorite. It offers impressive lift and curl—which goes a long way to define my lashes—and I love that the formula includes a strengthening peptide serum to fortify each lash during wear.”

Benefits: Lengthening, separating | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Those looking for a lengthening mascara should add this to their cart immediately. The wand has hundreds of stiff nylon bristles that grip the lashes at the roots and coat them evenly, reaching even the little lashes in the inner corners of your eyes. The combination of the wand and the thin formula allows this mascara to deliver astounding length, noticeable lift, and separation. You can even build it up without worrying about weighing down your eyelashes. Once it sets, it stays in place all day without smudging, and it’s a total breeze to remove with water, thanks to its tubing formula. Just note that if you’re looking for volume, this isn’t the one for you—lengthening capabilities are where it shines.

Shannon Stubbs, writer: “I started using this pick about three months ago for our best tubing mascaras story, and with continued use, I’ve found that this is the best lengthening mascara I’ve ever used. When applied meticulously with multiple coats, this mascara can get my lashes to reach the top of my eyelids.”

Benefits: Lengthening, volumizing | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

A great waterproof mascara defines the lashes while delivering on its long-wearing and waterproof claims. This standout from Mac offers length and volume for beautiful, defined lashes. A single coat is perfect for an everyday makeup look, while multiple coats create drama for a falsie effect sans clumps. The brush combs and separates the lashes, ensuring you achieve a fanned-out finish. While the bristles are a bit sharp (take your time when applying), we think they’re the perfect length and well-spaced, allowing the brush to grip the lashes effectively.

Our tester loved how it made her lashes look, but she was even more impressed by its waterproof formula. It remained completely intact, even after withstanding a facial and a workout. Perhaps the best part was that it was significantly easier to remove than most waterproof formulas we tried—a few swipes with micellar water got the job done.

Victoria, tester: “This mascara wore wonderfully. To put it to the test, I decided to keep it on during a facial. I specifically asked the facialist not to remove it, and she said she'd do her best. My lashes definitely came in contact with some makeup remover and cleanser, but 90% of the mascara stuck around.”

Benefits: Volumizing | Shades: 2 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We love brown mascara for creating a slightly softer look than black mascara, and this one is our favorite. It’s the same formula as the OG Better Than Sex Mascara, but in a rich, chocolate-brown shade. One to two coats of this stuff adds major volume and a bit of length and curl to the lashes, creating a gorgeous false-lash effect. Unlike many brown mascaras that appear as a soft black once applied, this one has a warm undertone, ensuring it retains its brown hue.

Our tester loved how easily she could achieve a voluminous look, though she noted that because the brush is large, it was sometimes hard to apply the mascara without getting some smudges on her upper lids. She actually recommends applying it by holding the brush vertically; that's how she achieved an even application with non-clumpy results.

Chelsea, tester with straight lashes: “The brown pigment helps give your lashes a natural, fluffy effect. And I love that even without an eyelash curler, this mascara lifts the lash, making the lashes look longer and volumized.”

Benefits: Lengthening, lifting | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie writer Shannon Stubbs crowned this one her favorite when testing more than a dozen tubing mascaras. Just a few swipes gave her lashes considerable length, lift, and a bit of volume. The narrow nylon-bristle brush grips every lash, separating and fanning them out while coating them in a lightweight formula that never weighs them down or depletes their curl. Her final results were super-defined lashes that stayed lifted and didn’t smudge or flake. She was pleased with the level of volume she achieved, though it’s worth noting that some online reviewers say length is where this one shines, not volume.

Like all good tubing formulas, this mascara washes off with warm water. If you’re craving a smudge-free, easy-to-remove mascara that makes your lashes look gorgeous, we can’t recommend this one enough.

Shannon Stubbs, writer: “A couple of swipes gave me everything I look for in a winning mascara—considerable length, lift, and volume—and I loved how it made my lashes look much darker (mine can look pretty sparse).”

Benefits: Volumizing, separating | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This mascara proves that you don’t have to spend high-end money to get high-end results. The jumbo brush builds the formula onto the lashes to create bold volume that isn’t clumpy or spidery. It helps pack on the product fast (so you don't need to apply several coats), and despite its size, it grips the lashes and separates them nicely. One coat creates visible definition and thickness, with a hint of length, too, while a second layer offers a more dramatic effect. Even after applying several coats, it doesn’t weigh the lashes down. I did experience a bit of smudging near the outer corners of my eyes, but it was far from the worst smudging I’ve experienced when testing mascaras.

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening, lifting | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you can’t stand clumpy lashes, try this non-clumping mascara from Victoria Beckham Beauty. The curved brush features nicely dispersed bristles that grip and separate the lashes, adding clean-looking volume with every swipe. Our tester found that as you build it up by layering more coats, the brush does a nice job removing excess product that could lead to clumping. The result is voluminous lashes that don’t smudge or flake.

Although it’s pretty pricey (the most expensive pick on this list), we think those willing to splurge on a mascara will enjoy it. It creates a well-rounded look—volume, lift, and a bit of length—without clumping or smearing.

Amanda Rosenthal, writer: “A single swipe does the trick to make my lashes look bolder and longer, hold an ideal lifted curl, and, most importantly, remain clump-free thanks to the wispy, curved brush.”

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening, lifting | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Although the brand doesn’t market this mascara as a tubing formula, it sure performs like one. It doesn’t smudge or flake all day and night, yet it’s completely painless to remove with warm water. While most tubing formulas do a great job of lengthening the lashes, they’re not often ideal for volumizing—but this one is different. It does it all. The curved brush grips all the lashes, evenly coating them in the buildable formula. After just one or two coats, you’re left with dramatic-looking lashes that are long, voluminous, and separated.

Our tester loved everything about this mascara, except for the glass packaging, which she said looks and feels high-end but can easily shatter if dropped. But if you're not accident-prone, this buildable mascara is a smudge-proof star.

Caitlyn Martyn, associate editor: “The mascara stayed smudge-free through a sweaty Pilates class and dinner prep (which involved chopping onions, which always makes my eyes water), a testament to its staying power.”

Benefits: Separating, lengthening | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: No

Separated, fanned-out lashes give that old Hollywood glam look we love, and this popular pick from L'Oréal creates it effortlessly. The long, skinny brush helps you reach every lash, lifting them from the roots and evenly coating them in the formula. The short but well-dispersed bristles ensure your lashes don’t stick together and that the formula doesn’t clump. One coat creates a subtle look suitable for no-makeup makeup looks, while additional coats create more dramatic, long, fluttery results with a healthy dose of length and volume. I've been buying this pick since high school, and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

Benefits: Lifting, lengthening | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

Finding a mascara that gives downturned lashes a good lift is like finding a needle in a haystack. But when our tester with downturned lashes tried this one, she was blown away by how well it pumped them up. The curved brush gripped her lashes at the roots, lifting them and creating a fanned-out, wide-awake look. She also raved about how long it made them, saying each coat added noticeable length. Bonus: it never smudged or flaked.

Keep in mind that this mascara isn’t ideal for achieving bold volume; it’s best for lengthening, lifting, and separating the lashes.

Shannon Stubbs, writer: “I got a lash lift about two years ago, and I loved the result but not the process. But I’ve yet to find a mascara that gives that same natural lifting effect—until I tried this one from Lancôme. Its superpower is the curved brush, which can lift from the base of my lashes to create an open, doe-eyed look.”

Benefits: Volumizing | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: No

This volumizing pick promises big lashes, and it delivers. It excels at thickening the lashes with a formula that can be built up from natural-looking volume after one swipe to seriously false-looking lashes after five. It comes in three rich color options—black, brown, and electric blue—to complement numerous eye colors and makeup looks. The big brush grips the lashes and quickly coats them in the formula, and once dry, our tester said her lashes remained smudge-resistant all day.

Our one con with this pick is that the formula can get clumpy in the tube over time (about a month or two after opening it). But if you’re looking for a mascara suitable for special-occasion makeup looks, we recommend this one from YSL.

Caitlyn Martyn, associate editor: “The oversized brush (it’s literally huge) picks up loads of product and coats lashes in volume-boosting pigment without making a mess. Plus, it comes in three colors—black, brown, and cobalt blue—so there’s something in the lineup for every preference.”

Benefits: Lengthening, separating | Shades: 2 | Cruelty-Free: No

Looking for the perfect mascara to complete your no-makeup makeup look? Glossier's Lash Slick is for you. With a long, narrow brush and a lightweight formula, it coats each lash in pigment without weighing them down. As you work the brush through your lashes, you'll notice how well it lengthens and separates them while adding soft definition. And because it's a tubing formula, it stays put all day and night without smudging or flaking.

If you want to achieve a really toned-down look, I recommend trying the brown shade. I often reach for the brown color on days when I want to look natural and put together. Just know you won't get much volume with this pick; it's primarily intended for a hint of length and definition.

FAQ

• Is it okay to wear mascara every day?

  It is OK to wear mascara daily. However, it’s extremely important to remove it before bed properly. Not removing mascara may damage your lashes and interfere with their natural growth cycle.

• How can you prevent mascara from smudging and flaking?

  Tubing mascaras are great if you're looking for a smudge-free option, but Maggiore has tips for wearing a standard formula. "One of my secrets is locking in the mascara with clear brow gel," she says. "It will help keep the curl as well as set the mascara. I also use clear brow gel as mascara if I’m going for a more natural look—it’s like a mini lash lift."