If I were to choose only one type of makeup product to wear for the rest of my life, it would undoubtedly be mascara. It's the first product I ever used, and it's truly the makeup item I'm most passionate about. (I have a substantial collection of at least 50.)
Having said that, discovering a mascara that can effectively curl and lift my long, stick-straight lashes is indeed a challenge. While I adore and value the natural length I was born with, this blessing comes with the curse of lashes that tend to droop dramatically. Consequently, even though I appreciate volumizing mascaras that promise length and definition, my primary concern is always achieving a curl. Unfortunately, most mascaras I've experimented with over the years (even prior to being a beauty editor) have fallen disappointingly short. Creating the best curling mascaras involves a significant strategy, and while I'm no expert in terms of chemistry, production, or design, I have noticed consistent patterns in brush design, texture, and ingredients. (For instance, heavy and excessively wet mascaras will never provide the lift and curl you desire from your wand.)
Because I'm so passionate about finding, testing, and recommending the best curling mascaras in the beauty biz, I've put together a list of foolproof options for anyone who's ever been convinced their lashes are resistant to curl. Keep scrolling! Your ultimate lash-curling mascara soulmate is waiting for you just below, along with some of my favorite eye-enhancing products to pair with each.
The Best Curling Mascaras, Listed
- Best Budget Mascara: Essence Lash Princess Curl & Volume Mascara
- Best Drugstore Mascara: Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
- Best for Sensitive Eyes: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
- Best Lightweight Formula: MAC Cosmetics Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara
- Best Double-Sided Mascara: Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Volume, Lift and Curl Mascara
The Best Curling Mascaras
Best Budget Mascara: Essence Lash Princess Curl & Volume Mascara
As a lash-obsessed beauty editor who has experimented with mascaras from nearly every brand available (including both drugstore and prestige options), the highly affordable formulas from Essence rank among the best I've ever encountered. Depending on my specific lash requirements, I maintain a collection of its tubes in my makeup bag at all times. (If you're seeking extensive lift, definition, and volume, I also highly recommend its newer Bye Bye Panda Eyes! Mascara for $5, but I digress.) For an unbeatable, enduring curl, this vegan, paraben-free, and cruelty-free choice will undoubtedly serve as your budget-friendliest route to success.
Shades: 1
Size: 0.4 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Highly affordable
Con: Takes a while to dry
Customer review: "I have been using this mascara for a few years now and absolutely love it! It lengthens my lashes, stays on all day, and comes off easy. You cannot beat the price."
Best Drugstore Mascara: Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Maybelline's Full Fan Effect Lash Sensational Washable Mascara is another top-rated, editor-loved curling option in the drugstore circuit. The effect is so glamorous, which you'd never guess at the $12 price tag. The formula is newly enriched with lash-loving rose-hip oil to encourage optimum lash nutrition, and its exclusive fanning brush really brings the magic. It packs 10 strategic layers of bristles to ensure each and every lash is lacquered with clump-free curl, volume, and definition.
Shades: 3
Size: 0.32 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Doesn't clump up
Con: Some say the formula is too heavy
Customer review: "Best mascara ever. I'm so glad I picked this up and put my old mascara down because after that first application, I just knew this was the one for me. I struggled finding a mascara that would give me that length and even distribution I was looking for, but this one is it."
Best for Sensitive Eyes: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
The first time I ever tried this mascara, I was quite literally dumbfounded. I'd been experimenting with countless clean mascaras in order to find a curling-and-lifting option that would be comparable to my non-clean favorites. This one receives a lot of hype, and I immediately understood why the second I applied it. This mascara is the antithesis to almost every other nontoxic mascara I've tried. It defines, it curls, it lengthens, and it allows buildable volume with zero smearing or flakiness. The fact that it's enriched with nourishing, clean ingredients like beeswax, shea butter, and arginine is just icing on the cake.
Shades: 3
Size: 0.27 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Conditions lashes
Con: Lighter shades may not be as noticeable
Customer review: "This mascara goes on so nice and isn’t clumpy at all. My lashes look so long and natural and I only have to apply one coat. Also, the brown is a nice change from the usual black mascara I wear and looks so much more natural."
Best Lightweight Mascara: MAC Cosmetics Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara
There are so many aspects about my job that I love, but discussing beauty products with other editors—whether it's my WWW copilots or editors from other publications—has to reign supreme. One of my favorite fellow beauty lovers is Kirbie Johnson, formerly a senior reporter at Popsugar and the current cohost of beauty podcast Gloss Angeles (a must-listen). Oh, and she also happens to be a total savant when it comes to mascara. This curling number from MAC is one of her consistent standbys. It promises up to 16 hours of waterproof wear, but unlike so many lash-pulling waterproof options on the market, it effortlessly washes off with warm water thanks to the brand's thermal-sensitive technology.
Shades: 1
Size: 0.19 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Made with a tubing formula
Con: Tube can dry up fast
Customer review: "This is the mascara I've been searching for. It's a simple, thin coating of color for the lashes with a brush that distributes the mascara evenly. No extra fibers, no clumping, just color and definition. I love it."
Best Double-Sided Mascara: Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Volume, Lift and Curl Mascara
Entrusting your lashes to Rihanna and her team of makeup geniuses is one of the best decisions you can make if you're looking for eye-popping lashes. Although it's especially talented when it comes to curling, it's really a do-it-all lash hero that capably volumizes, lifts, and lengthens as well. The brand's exclusive flat-to-fat brush is key; use the fat side to pile on the volume and lift, and use the flat side to enhance your gaze with maximum curl and definition.
Shades: 1
Size: 0.3 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Dual-sided brush lifts and curls
Con: May be prone to flaking
Customer review: "This is a lightweight mascara. It stays on all day and gave my light, short lashes just enough lift and curl for my day to day needs. I'm also a contact lens wearer and I had zero irritation. I'm hooked!"
Best Tubing Mascara: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
You might be familiar with this mascara already because it is, indeed, all over the ad space on Instagram. But let me just tell you the jaw-dropping before-and-afters the brand shows off are not dramatizations, and this is by far one of the best mascaras I've ever laid on my lashes—especially when it comes to lift, curl, and length. Thrive Causemetics' signature Flake-Free Tubing Technology and ultra-conditioning Orchid Stem Cell Complex is what separates it from the rest of the mascara market.
Shades: 5
Size: 0.38 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Created with a vegan tubing formula
Con: Prone to clumping lashes
Customer review: "Love love love this mascara! So easy to take off and goes on like you have the best longest, fullest lashes anyone could dream of!"
Best Water-Resistant Mascara: Glossier Lash Slick Mascara
Similar to the above mascara from Thrive Causemetics, the curling sorcery of this fan (and personal!) favorite from Glossier is the tubing technology. It's easy to layer and build sans clumping or that dreaded rickety spider-leg effect (you know what I'm talking about, right?), and you'll also benefit from serious length and definition for a fluttery, your-natural-lashes-but-better effect.
Shades: 2
Size: 0.29 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Conditioning formula
Con: Not ideal for a dramatic look
Customer review: "This is the best mascara I’ve ever used! It goes on smoothly, stays in place all day without smudging, and it comes off easily with a regular face wash. Highly recommend!!"
Best Conditioning Mascara: Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Curling and Lifting Mascara
I'm not sure if another beauty brand exists with such a starring lineup of truly effective mascaras. Benefit's lineup is impressive, and each of its cheeky wands caters to specific lash goals. I have a few favorites I regularly recommend, but this one is the absolute best when it comes to curl and lift. Interestingly, it's inspired by hair rollers, and it boasts a patent-pending Hook 'n' Roll brush featuring teeny, custom-designed hooks to catch, lift, and curl every last lash. The hold will last for at least 12 hours, and your lashes will also benefit from the lush effects of provitamin B5.
Shades: 1
Size: 0.3 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Curved wand for easy application
Con: Takes a while to dry
Customer review: "I love this mascara! It stays on all day, and at work, I get many compliments on it. It is extremely comfortable and doesn’t smudge. This is my new favorite mascara every!!"
Best Thickening Mascara: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara
Nothing gets my heart beating like a fresh-off-the-presses launch from Charlotte Tilbury, and being the lash fiend that I am, this new mascara pretty much set my pulse into overdrive. It utilizes honed-in ingredients and a hero "Load, Comb, and Lift" technology brush to ensure eye-opening lift, curl, volume, and length.
Shades: 2
Size: 0.33 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Has a conditioning formula
Con: May flake
Customer review: "I wasn't sure what to expect from this mascara, but I am blown away! The bristles on the brush do a great job of dividing my lashes, looks like I'm wearing falsies. Would recommend!"
Best Buildable Mascara: Dior Diorshow Iconic Mascara
True story: I've been using mascara from Dior since high school, and I actually think this formula does a superior job in the curl department than the brand's (also popular) Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara ($30). At $30, it's most definitely an investment piece within your beauty wardrobe, but I never apply makeup without it. I use it on its own plenty, but I also love using it as a "curl- and lift-setting" mascara of sorts if I'm using another mascara. I always add at least one layer of this tube to my lashes to make sure they stay curled and perky—no smudging or flakes to be seen.
Shades: 3
Size: 0.33 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Lasts up to 24 hours
Con: May not be suitable for sensitive eyes
Customer review: "This is the holy grail of mascaras. I’ve tried others and will always keep coming back to this one."
Best Clean Mascara: Merit Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara
Merit's Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara truly does it all. It lifts, defines, lengthens, and, most importantly, curls like no other. Fatty acids and olive oil in the formula also condition your lashes and add a little extra shine. If that's not your perfect everyday mascara, I truly don't know what is.
Shades: 1
Size: 0.8 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Tubing formula that conditions
Con: May take some time to dry
Customer review: "I absolutely adore it. I love how it lengthens and lifts the lashes without making them feel heavy or clumpy. It stays true to the brand of being so minimal yet super effective. And I’m also a fan of the packaging. So slick and classy."
Best Waterproof: SheGlam 2 in 1 Black Volume and Length Waterproof Mascara
Another affordable option on this list comes this dual-ended tubing mascara that's super long-lasting and waterproof. The wands are hourglass-shaped and curved to make sure every lash gets the length and volume you need. The formula is lightweight enough to avoid clumps and flakes. And for less than $10, it's a total steal.
Shades: 3
Size: 1.13 oz
Waterproof: Yes
Pro: Double-ended brush for full coverage
Con: Tube may dry quickly
Customer review: "I was looking for a new mascara and this one is amazing. It provides high volume, clear strokes, and no clumpiness. It's amazing value for the price."
Best Smudge-Proof Mascara: Armani Beauty Vertigo Lift Longwear Lengthening Mascara
For people with sensitive eyes, finding a mascara that can deliver results minus the irritation can be a hassle. That's why Who What Wear assistant beauty editor Sabrina Talbert swears by this formula from Armani Beauty. "I'm not the most frequent mascara-wearer because taking it off can be difficult, and my eye are sensitive," she says. "I've been using this mascara for over two months and I love how gentle it is—plus, it gives me a ton of length." This mascara is also lightweight and doesn't weigh down lashes as you build on the layers.
Shades: 1
Size: 0.34 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Doesn't flake and easy to remove
Con: Not as buildable as some other formulas
Customer review: "This mascara truly brings the lift. It adds a lot of volume making my lashes look nice and full. It doesn't get clumpy while you're trying to build length. My lashes look long, curled and full!"
Best Flake-Free Mascara: Tarte Tartelette Lengthening & Tubing Mascara
For all the volume and length in the world, it's pretty much a given that no one wants to be left with dry, brittle lashes. Luckily, this option from Tarte contains moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter, castor oil, and carnauba wax for lashes that look and feel equally good. The tubing formula provides a 24-hour flake-free experience and a dramatic curling effect.
Shades: 2
Size: 0.27 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Conditioning formula
Con: May flake
Customer review: "I don't usually use mascara because it always ends up looking funky on me. I tried this one and it was quite literally night and day for me. I highly recommend this!"
Best for Easy Removal: L'Oréal Voluminous Panorama Washable Mascara
If you want a mascara that mimics your favorite set of falsies, you'll appreciate this pick from L'Oreal. The flexible formula creates dramatic volume and is both smudge and flake-free. This 24-hour mascara is also safe for sensitive eyes and contact uses alike, so you won't have to worry about compromising comfort for curled lashes. It's a drugstore buy that you don't want to miss out on.
Shades: 3
Size: 0.33 oz
Waterproof: No
Pro: Creates high definition
Con: May clump lashes
Customer review: "Will absolutely repurchase again and again. Relatively affordable tubing mascara that doesn't leave fallout like other brands."
FAQs
What to look for in a curling mascara:
Before buying any curling mascara, there may be a few things worth considering that might influence your purchasing decision. For starters, some formulas are more expensive than others so think about the size of the tube and whether or not you think it aligns with your budget. Additionally, some brands offer the same formula in other colors, and some are also waterproof. The latter may be ideal if your eyes tend to water a lot throughout the day.
What's the best way to apply curling mascara?
You should always apply mascara to dry lashes, but to really get the most out of your product, start by curling them to create a base. Then, apply the mascara from the root of your lash to the tip, using a subtle left-to-right motion to fully coat the lashes. Celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist Sarai Martinez says she usually applies three to four layers, but the main goal is to make sure that enough is on to extend the lash thoroughly and until she gets her desired look.
How can you prevent mascara from smudging or flaking?
Smudging and flaking is one of the most common issues for frequent mascara wearers, but it's totally preventable. "The best thing you can do to prevent mascara from smudging would be to keep up with the longevity of it," says Martinez. "You should always replace your mascara every three to six months." She adds that doing this will reduce your chances of using dried-out mascara. If your makeup budges throughout the day, use a long-wear concealer under your lid followed by a mineral powder.
What's the difference between waterproof or non-waterproof curling mascara?
The main difference between these two kinds of mascara is that one will start to come off or smudge with water while the other stays intact on your lashes. If you prefer a waterproof formula, Martinez warns that it can be difficult to take off. That said, you may also want to invest in a makeup remover that can break down waterproof mascaras easily.
How We Chose
As with all buying guides here at Who What Wear, we compile our product lists based on original testing and expert recommendations. For this roundup, the WWW beauty team tried several of the options listed above. We know the shade range, size, and waterproof qualities of these mascaras play a role in our readers' purchasing decisions, so we made sure to list out those details for each product. Customer reviews are also important to keep in mind, especially when it comes to viral or celebrity-endorsed favorites. That said, we scoured the review sections of our favorite retailers when compiling our list.
Why Trust Who What Wear
Since 2006, Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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