Top 15 Best Mascaras for every Lash type in 2023 – Top Picks

Of all the cult products for make-up, mascaras are undoubtedly the most loved by women and considered by many to be an indispensable must for having a more intense and sensual look. Mascaras are the cosmetic product that shapes and strengthens the eyelashes and intensifies the look. A single pass of mascara can already make the difference, even without making exaggerated tricks: not surprisingly, it is among the most used products even by those who do not usually wear heavy makeup.

Mascara is a make-up product that serves to enhance the lashes. Applying it takes very little time. From volumizing to lengthening mascaras: on sale, you can find all types of mascaras. It all depends on what effect you want. Furthermore, it must be considered that each eye is different: especially those who wear contact lenses or have a delicate eye contour must pay attention to the mascara formula.

Together with the foundation and lip gloss, mascaras are the most used daily cosmetic product, even by those who do not like make-up in an exaggerated way, because it helps to enhance the look and make it more intense.

In this guide, we will reveal which are the best mascaras products of the moment, selected by us based on the popularity of beauty addicts, reviews and the sale.

Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Mascaras

If we were to draw up a ranking of cosmetics that can never be missing from a woman’s beauty case, we would certainly put mascara first. When we show off an elaborate eye make-up, for example, it is precisely this product that allows us to give the final touch, giving us an intense and magnetic look. Mascara, however, is also the best ally of our daily look, because a few passes are enough to enhance and give light even to a make-up removed face.

As often happens when dealing with commonly used cosmetics, the purchase of mascara is rarely aware: most of the time, finding ourselves faced with the incredible offer of promised shapes, colors, and effects, we simply rely on the same product or brand. From time to time, perhaps, we buy another product that intrigued us, in the hope that the novelty will end up satisfying us.

All mascaras are designed to enhance the lashes, so it is rare that a product of this type completely disappoints us; however, there are a number of elements that, if evaluated more carefully before purchasing, will allow us to customize the final result as much as possible according to our needs.

Eyelash Type and Effect of Mascaras

One of the first elements to pay attention to when choosing mascara is the effect that the product will have on our eyelashes. There are, in fact, many types: volumizing, lengthening, curving, how to understand which of these will best enhance our gaze?

Let’s start with a premise that may seem obvious, but it is actually necessary: not all eyelashes are the same. The first step of choice, therefore, consists of carefully observing one’s natural lashes, using a mirror. Let’s see below what are the main types of eyelashes that we can find and what are the most suitable effects:

Short eyelashes: our first requirement will first be to make them as long as possible, so we will have to opt for a mascaras with an elongating effect.

Sparse and/or thin eyelashes: the advice is to focus on a volumizing product that thickens the lashes and makes them full-bodied;
Straight or downward lashes: these two types of lashes go perfectly with a curling mascaras, which allows you to open your eyes and illuminate your face.

Messy eyelashes: what is needed in this case is a product designed to separate the lashes well and precisely, giving them maximum definition.

Applicator

Once we have chosen the type of effect that we want to give to our gaze, we must concentrate on the applicator, commonly called “brush”: it is a sort of brush that, thanks to its bristles, allows us to take the product from the package and distribute it on the eyelashes. The applicators available on the market today are very many and vary according to the shape, the arrangement of the bristles, and the material in which they are made. It is these characteristics that make the difference, and it is for this reason that those who want to buy a mascara suitable for their needs will have to evaluate them carefully.

Shape and Distribution of Bristles

Let’s focus first on the shape of the bottle brush and the way the bristles are arranged, elements that actually influence the amount of product that will be taken, and also that of eyelashes that will be “captured” during application. As a consequence, it is largely on them that the final effect of mascara, which we talked about in the first paragraph, will depend.

In general, the main forms of bottle brush on the market are the following:

Standard Applicator

This applicator has no particular functions except to simply darken and highlight the lashes a bit, with an effect that remains very natural. It has the classic tubular shape and has thick but not very thick bristles. Sometimes it has a slightly tapered tip, so as to allow the application of the product also on the lower lashes or on areas where greater precision is needed.

Curved Applicator

It is, as the name suggests, the bottle brush designed to give a curving effect. This applicator is generally curved, thin, and long enough, a shape that allows it to slide along the lashes from the roots to the tips, so as to curve them upwards.

Oval Applicator

Visibly larger and with much denser bristles than those described so far, this applicator is designed to collect a lot of product and distribute it abundantly on all lashes, in order to make them voluminous and thick. The thin tip is used to apply mascara on the lower lashes or on the precision areas.

Pyramidal Applicator

The final effect achievable with this applicator is very similar to that given by the oval applicator. It is a wider brush at the base, which gradually narrows to the tip; this shape allows it to curl the lashes, making them thick and full. Also, in this case, the bristles are thick, and the narrowest part (therefore towards the tip) is designed for precision areas.

Hourglass Applicator

This particular shape represents one of the novelties of the last few years, allowing it to combine the lengthening effect with the volumizing one. The thick bristles at the ends, in fact, recall the shape of the oval brush, while the central part, narrower, accompanies the eyelashes and lengthens them upwards.

Pen Applicator

Its shape resembles the tip of a pen, while the bristles are very thick; in a certain sense, it is a more tapered version of the pyramid applicator. This brush allows you to apply the product evenly, lengthening the lashes and making them more defined but, at the same time, full-bodied.

Comb Applicator

Just like a small hair comb, this brush separates perfectly and disciplines messy lashes, making them long and defined. This form, however, does not allow him to confer volume and body.

Ball Applicator

This particular bottle brush has very small dimensions, which allow it to capture all lashes, even in the most difficult points, ensuring maximum precision and definition. Like the comb one, the applicator with a ball is able to define and regulate disordered eyelashes, without however creating a voluminous effect; if used to comb the lashes one by one, it allows to create a fan effect.

Recall that, as regards the arrangement of the bristles, we generally find applicators with a single helix wound in a spiral on the tip of the brush. However, there are some applicators equipped with a double helix or two rows of bristles that cross in a spiral: this arrangement allows them to withdraw a greater quantity of a product and to capture as many eyelashes as possible, giving the eyelashes immediate volume and length.

Material of Mascaras

As for the material of which the bristles are composed, we can say that, in general, most of the applicators are equipped with synthetic fiber bristles. However, applicators equipped with rubber or silicone bristles are also very widespread: this particular material, in fact, is able to collect more product, while remaining at the same time very soft. This feature allows him to wrap his lashes easily, amplifying the thickening effect of the volumizing mascara.

Formula

From the point of view of the formula, the mascaras currently on the market are all very similar: these are generally compounds of waxes, resins and/or polymers, which go to wrap the eyelashes increasing their volume and body, pigments, which color them of the desired shade, and oils, which help to give a shiny effect. To these ingredients is added water, present in varying proportions depending on the final effect that mascara must achieve; volumizing mascara, for example, is distinguished by a smaller quantity of water and a pastier consistency, thanks to which they create a greater density and therefore voluminous and full-bodied eyelashes.

Lengthening Effect of Mascaras

The mascara with the lengthening effect, on the other hand, contain more water and are more fluid and flowing: this texture allows them to act not so much on the volume as on the length of the eyelashes, going to spread them and therefore to lengthen them as much as possible.

Finally, one of the most interesting innovations in this area are mascaras enriched with synthetic fibers: these are particular products which, within their formula, contain precisely very small nylon fibers. By applying this type of product, the fibers will settle on the eyelashes, fixing on them once the mascara has dried; in this way, volume and length will be visibly increased, obtaining an effect comparable to that of extensions.

Waterproof Mascaras

We cannot fail to mention the famous waterproof mascara, i.e., waterproof. In these compounds, special preservatives and solvents are added, which allow the product to last a long time and resist water; precisely for this reason, these mascaras are not ideal for daily use, not only because of their heavier composition but also because, being more difficult to remove, they require more intense rubbing, which in the long run could make the brittle lashes.

Waterproof mascara, however, is suitable for those who do not want to give up a veil of make-up during sports activities or in the pool, or for those looking for a long-lasting look for a party or an evening in the disco.

Mascaras Color

The most classic coloring of mascara is, of course, black: this color is certainly the most used, not only for its ability to give intensity and depth to the look but also because, in fact, it is suitable for practically all types and eye colors. A rather widespread alternative is possibly gray mascara, much appreciated by those who believe that the black color excessively loads the look and makes it too heavy.

Shades

Sometimes, however, it can be fun to vary your look with a little color; in fact, nowadays we can find on the market mascara of many shades, which allow us not only to give the final touch to particular or elaborate eye make-up but also, very simply, to enhance our eyes by playing with complementary colors or related. The shades of brown, for example, are recommended to make the best blue and green eyes or to those with blond or very light hair and consider the classic black mascara too heavy. Blue mascara (dark or even brighter), on the other hand,

perfectly marries not only with blue and green eyes but also with hazel or brown eyes. Similarly, shades of purple enhance blue and green eyes but are also suitable for hazel, brown or very dark eyes. Finally, we can find mascaras with green tones on the market: these are perfect for hazel, dark brown or black eyes, but also match with green eyes.