Staff tested: The best mascaras

Givenchy Noir Couture 4 in 1 Mascara Volume, Length, Curl & Care

Although this costs twice as much as my staple daily mascara, for those times when I want statement lashes, it definitely rocks. Fibres on the triple-ball wand vary in length “to coat all lashes instantly”-the result for me was dramatic, thick, standout lashes (I curled them first). You can also manipulate the wand to get coverage that looks more natural, so it’s nice to know it’s versatile along with being luxe.
-Rhonda Rovan, Beauty Editor
($35, 8 g)

L’Oréal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lashes

I’ll occasionally wear false lashes for a full look, even though I don’t like how heavy they feel. So a mascara that promises the same result with weightless fibre extensions? Sounds good! The tapered brush made it easy to cover all of my (very blonde) lashes, even in the corners. While it didn’t quite give me the dramatic look I’d get from false lashes, it did prove to be a great everyday option for extra volume without any clumping.
-Melissa Greer, Content Producer
($12, 9.5 mL)

Origins GinZing Brightening Mascara to Lengthen and Lift

My long lashes tend to criss-cross over one another, so I pick mascaras that will untangle and lift (and I always curl first). This brush’s staggered bristles coated well, but without as much separation as I like. The eye-brightening Pearl Complex of “high-contrast black and blue pearl pigments” turned my blonde lashes a deep, rich black. Bonus: Natural ginseng, rosemary and vitamins are blended in to condition lashes.
-Jennifer Masseau, Associate Editor
($21, 14 mL)

Maybelline New York The Colossal Volum’ Express Cat Eyes Mascara

I love trying new mascaras, but I’ve found that some of them over-promise. I got a sneak peek at this one-it’s launching in October. It separated my lashes nicely, and held a curl really well. The mascara went on smoothly and evenly, and the drying time was quick. I wouldn’t say my lashes were super-big after using this, but I still loved the results.
-Stephanie Han, Art Director
($9, 9.5 mL)

Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara

I wear contact lenses, so my big mascara concern is having it flake off into my eyes. This mascara has a large brush but, surprisingly, it goes on quite cleanly and there were no smudging mishaps or clumping. My lashes felt soft and flexible, and the coverage was even across the length of the lash. And yay-no flakes!
-Josephine Woertman, Acting Art Director
($8, 12 mL)

Lush Eyes Right Mascara

As a tree-hugger (I’m vegan and always try to be eco-friendly), I was happy to test this mascara. Lush products contain only vegetarian ingredients, and the company uses very little packaging. After careful application (the wand is small, so it took a little bit of extra time to apply), my lashes looked long and natural. And since it’s packed with natural ingredients (wheat grass, anyone?), I love this mascara as an everyday option.
-Katharine Watts, Associate Web Editor
($19, 5 g)

Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara

Out of fear of clumps, I usually skip mascara and just wear eyeshadow, but this mascara’s eye-catching tube and its promise to thicken, lengthen and curl my lashes in one step appealed to me. Once I got the hang of gently rolling the big brush upward from the roots of my upper lashes, the result was long, fanned-out lashes-clump-free!-that reminded me of Twiggy’s ’60s false lash look. Conditioning ingredients like hemp seed and jojoba oils kept my lashes soft. The long-lasting formula held well into the evening, but came off easily with a swipe of makeup remover.
-Jennifer Shenouda, Editorial Intern
($24, 15 mL)

Cover Girl Lash-Blast 24Hr

Of all the days to test a mascara that claims to last up to 24 hours, this was a good day. It started early for me, with a television segment. For these on-camera interviews, I always make sure I am wearing plenty of mascara. This stuff went on easily in one sweep (usually, I need more layers) and it really popped. The 35°C day progressed with a full schedule of meetings, and was capped with guest lecturing at a college class on feature writing. That night when I washed my face, the mascara took a few attempts to remove-reminding me of waterproof types. Long-lasting indeed!
-Bonnie Munday, Editor-in-Chief
($12, 13.1 mL)

Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara

When I first looked at the brush for this mascara, I didn’t think the short bristles would do much for my stubby, dark, lashes. But because the wand is quite fat, it gave me much more control than my usual brand. I actually got great coverage and lots of length to my lashes. The mascara itself went on smoothly with no clumping, and the easy-to-handle wand made it seem as though I was painting each lash individually. I love that this mascara gave my lashes a bit of a curl, too, making an eyelash curler unnecessary.
-Jennifer Walker, Senior Content Editor
($23, 10 mL)

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