Our beauty team rank mascara as one of the most important items in their makeup arsenal, and they’ve shared their go-to products
Mascara is undoubtedly a vital staple in all make-up bags. It’s, if you ask us, the difference between looking awake, bright and bushy-tailed and tired, drained and half asleep.
But finding the right formula can be a challenge, one that many of us have undergone with heaps of trial and error over the years. With desired outcomes being full bodied, voluminous, long and dramatic natural lashes without the need for salon-treatments, like lash lifts, extensions or false lashes, there are an overwhelming number of options at our disposal, with prices ranging from under £10 to over £30.
Our beauty team has tested out a range of mascaras on both a personal and professional level over the years. It seems some of us often find ourselves returning to the same, beloved formulas that have built themselves quite the reputation for gravity-defying results.
Meanwhile, others have fallen head over heels for newer launches, earning a secure spot in their beauty arsenal. For those who are at the bottom of their mascara tube and need some inspiration as to where to look for their next lash product, our beauty experts have shared their go-to picks.
Eve’s top picks:
ICONIC London – Triple Threat – £22
I first discovered ICONIC London’s Triple Threat mascara about three years ago when I received it as part of a beauty advent calendar at Christmas. Having always been a Maybelline girl, I was dubious about veering away from my fail-safe product, but with just one lick of mascara, I was in love.
As someone who has relatively wispy lashes that do not command attention on a good day, this mascara delivers drama, volume, dark pigment that nicely lines my eyes, and some serious length. While one layer is usually enough for me (which is impressive in itself), adding a second or third will seriously up the ante.
Although it’s important to note that when I have done this, I’ve experienced subtle flaking and smudging on the bottom lash, despite its glycerin content, which is reported to ‘hydrate and smooth whilst helping the formula adhere to the lashes for a flake-free finish’. Though not bad enough to make me stop using this glorious mascara.
The brush is rectangular (even on all sides) and has a slim handle, which makes it easy to apply to inner lashes without much smudging. It’s also nice and lightweight once applied (thanks to the carnauba wax in the formula), which is always a bonus.
With such a smouldering finish, I tend to reserve this £22 mascara for nights out.
Sweed’s Lash Lift Mascara – £22
This vegan mascara has been my most recent obsession and is ideal for everyday wear. Costing £22, the Lash Lift Mascara, which is beloved by MUAs and celebrities alike, feels really light on the lashes and boasts an innovative wand with one side that has taken inspiration from a wide tooth comb. This, from experience, has been great at delivering serious height and curl on my lashes without looking too heavy.
It’s also great for separating lashes, which isn’t always the case with a mascara that promises this. I find that it works best when I apply one coat, then half-blink onto the brush and wiggle to really comb through the lashes.
While some people haven’t found the skinny brush to be as helpful, favouring thicker, more fluffy brushes – one shopper said: “I found this messy and a bit of a faff to apply” – this ‘skinny brush’ allows me to reach the root of the lashes and inner lashes easily without experiencing marks on my eyelids.
UKLash Tubing Mascara – £16
I can see why Millie Bobby Brown loves this UKLash Tubing mascara – it delivers such a lovely, natural look that just amplifies my lashes with its mocha brown tint. The formula is enriched with Arginine and Shea Butter, which nourishes the lashes, while its precision pine cone wand helps to get longer-looking lashes.
The mascara also comes packed with polymers that ‘wrap around each lash for a defined finish and easy removal’, and while I concur with the defined finish, I don’t experience quite such ease when taking off the mascara.
While it does come off with warm water and doesn’t require much rubbing to melt away the product, it does take a few goes to get it all off. I do also find myself going in with a facial wash afterwards to eliminate any dregs left, to avoid the panda look come morning time. But that’s not too much of a hardship.
Maybelline Sky High – £12.99
I’ve been a fan of Maybelline’s Sky High formula since it launched in 2021 and always return time and again to it when my lashes aren’t playing ball and I want something I know will give me ‘Sky High’ results.
A favourite of SAS Who Dares Wins winner Gabby Allen too, the mascara promises ‘limitless length’ and ‘full volume’. Applied with the brand’s Flex Tower mascara brush, which is designed to bend and flex, the product is easily swept onto the lashes and doesn’t often clump or flake with each additional layer. Nor does it leave them spidery.
Infused with bamboo extract, I can attest that the mascara really delivers long, beautifully full lashes that are both dramatic in look yet comfortable and light-as-air lash feel – and I say this as someone who has sensitive eyes and contact lenses.
Alongside its classic black formula, Maybelline has also introduced a range of fun colours, from burgundy and green to blue, purple and brown, which are all praised for helping eye colours pop – my favourite are the Burgundy Haze and the Green Altitude.
Phoebe’s top pick:
Benefit Roller Lash – £18.90
As someone who never wears fake eyelashes, I rely on mascara to give me long, curled and bold lashes. I have tried dozens of mascaras over the years, and while I have a few in my favourites collection, there’s one I repeatedly reach for, whether it’s for a natural ‘no makeup’ look or full glam – Benefit’s Roller Lash.
I have Benefit’s 2024 beauty advent calendar to thank for introducing me to this little gem of a product. As soon as I started running out of the mini Roller Lash mascara included in the advent calendar, I purchased the full-size and haven’t looked back since.
At the time of writing, the black Roller Lash mascara is currently available on the Benefit website with 30% off, now costing £18.90, down from £27. I have naturally straight lashes, so I always use an eyelash curler before applying any mascara, however, few are able to hold the curl, which isn’t the case with Roller Lash.
The mascara, which is buildable and ‘clump-free’, has bristles of different lengths on each side and is slightly curved on one edge. The design of the handle makes it easy to grip as I roll the mascara through my lashes and then push them up and hold, a method which ensures my lashes remain curled and lifted all day and night.
A common problem I have with mascaras is that they often transfer under my eyes, no matter how much powder I apply. Thankfully, in the 16 months or so that I’ve been using Benefit’s ‘water-resistant’ Roller Lash, I have never had an issue with it transferring.
The only slight drawback of it never budging is that, on rare occasions when I get the mascara on my skin when applying it, it is tricky to remove. However, this shows it stays put on the lashes, and despite being difficult to rub off the skin with my finger or water, eye makeup remover takes the mascara off my eyes in seconds at the end of the day.
Bethan’s top pick:
Merit Clean Lash Mascara – £23
I’ve tried more than 50 mascaras in the last 10 years and I can count on one hand the number of tubes I’ve gone on to buy again. Among those that have earned repeat purchase status is Merit’s Clean Lash mascara, which I discovered just under 12 months ago – I’m now on my second tube.
I’ve not always got along with tubing mascaras, but Merit’s £23 offering converted me and I haven’t looked back since. The formula wraps little tubes around each lash and stays put all day with no undereye smudging, which is one of the main things I look for in a lash product.
Fatty acids and olive oil esters condition lashes for a flexible feel, meaning they never feel crunchy or compromised. But the only downside is that I wish it came in brown, as I’ve been favouring.
It does a great job at lifting and separating the lashes for a fluttery, natural look. It’s buildable without clumping, however, for those seeking a little more drama from their mascara, it may not be quite right for you – it’s definitely more of an everyday staple than a full glam moment. For anyone looking for length and volume, MAC MACStack Mascara (£15, LookFantastic) could be a good option.
Lucy’s top pick:
Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara – £28
I’m a big fan of Charlotte Tilbury makeup in general and I make no exception with the brand’s Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara. Having launched in 2024, it’s been a staple in my beauty bag ever since, creating as the name suggests, bold and big statement lashes.
When it comes to mascara, I favour a product that really packs a punch, opting for a full and dramatic flutter over a more natural, understated look. The curved brush hugs each individual lash, separating them and leaving hardly any clumps.
I typically like a few coats of mascara and I find that even after applying several, my lashes don’t stick to one another as I have experienced with other formulas. The mascara doesn’t claim to be waterproof, but I can wear it all day with no signs of transfer and with my lashes still curled upwards.
It is certainly at the higher end of the price point, however, I think this is reflected in the premium quality of both packaging and results. Those that don’t mind investing a little more into a beauty routine, it’s a mascara that has never let me down.
Lauren’s top pick:
Kylie Cosmetics Kylash Volume Mascara – £17.25
I’ve tried countless mascaras over the years, from luxury designer brands to high-street heroes, but never did I expect to pop down Kylie Cosmetics iteration as my top pick. The volume it delivers is incredible. Just a few swipes and my lashes are lifted, fanned out and noticeably fuller, without a single clump in sight.
The brush is perfectly sized, too. It’s large enough to coat each lash, but precise enough to separate them as it goes, ensuring everything is evenly defined. I’ve never known a mascara to make my eyes pop as this one does.
It also wears beautifully throughout the day, with zero smudging or flaking. Its longevity, however, means it’s not the easiest to remove, and I usually need a couple of makeup wipes to get it all off at the end of the day.
