With so many mascaras on the beauty market, it can be overwhelming when you're on the hunt for a brand new one. And finding one that works for your lashes to make them long and luscious is a task in and of itself - and once you find one or two that you love, you stock up until they're discontinued. Well, that's where The Mirror Choice team come in handy as we've taken it up a notch and have tried and tested some of the best mascaras of the beauty world all under one roof - so you don't have to.
We visited our local beauty stores - or Amazon to snap up the latest deal in their spring deals day sale - to each pick up a trending, popular or simply highly sought after mascara so we could show you which we prefer - and why.
Beauty buffs have us up to date on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram with results of the latest popular products people are raving about being shared far and wide - which is where many of us have spotted and subsequently bought our favourite and go-to mascaras.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara - Buy it here
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With spring in the air, many people may be looking to upgrade their make-up bag and so to give you some inspiration, we've tried out a number of viral, classic and ICONIC mascaras from 17.’s Extreme Extension Lengthening Mascara and Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara - which is currently reduced in Amazon's Spring Deals Day sale to £8.50 from £13 - to MAC's Stack Mascara and Lottie London's Superfake false lash effect mascara to give your lashes (and you) the boost they deserve.
Here is our pick of the best biggest brands out there and our findings...
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
Before
Before applying the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
Beauty buffs were swooning over the £9.99 mascara that’s constantly in and out of stock, racking up more than 500 five star reviews on the Boots website.
So naturally, I had to see for myself if the viral makeup product could transform my fair lashes into fluttery extension looking lashes.
The Sky High mascara promises to deliver ‘full volume and a limitless length look’ which is unique in itself as mascara’s tend to offer one or the other.
The packaging is nice in a metallic lilac colour, and the ‘flex tower’ brush is the plastic comb style, which is my preferred applicator compared to the bristly type.
Maybelline said: “Our exclusive Flex Tower mascara brush bends to volumise and extend every single lash from root to tip.”
Having done the rest of my makeup, I snubbed my current Revolution mascara in favour of the Maybelline tube, and was thrilled to see that when I pulled out the brush, it wasn’t crammed with product, but has a nice, even coating.
I applied one layer from root to tip and was impressed with the flexibility of the tapered wand as it worked to capture even the smallest of lashes.
After
My lashes looked longer, thicker and fuller in seconds
It is, however, quite a wet formula, so not one that you want to sneeze straight after using.
That said, you can work the formula to your advantage if you work quickly. Instead of letting it dry between coats, add two to three layers of mascara to achieve both jaw-dropping length and volume.
My lashes didn’t stick together or clump up to leave me looking like a 90s throwback, nor did I get it all over my face in the application process either, which ticks some pretty big boxes for me.
I was convinced that my lashes looked longer than they really are, as though I’d just had a set of lash extensions, but this is because the mascara formula is infused with bamboo extract and fibers that offer length without the added weight, which provides the curl.
Even adding it to my lower lashes, it didn’t transfer onto my undereye to require a concealer cover up, and instead left me with brighter, larger-looking peepers with fluttery lashes, which is just what you want from a mascara.
Wearing the mascara throughout the day, it was very comfortable, leaving my lashes still feeling flexible rather than brittle.
You can get Maybelline's Sky High mascara from most beauty retailers like Boots, Lookfantastic, Superdrug and Cult Beauty but it's currently on sale on Amazon in its spring sale for £8.50 here.
17.’s Extreme Extension Lengthening Mascara
When it comes to mascara, I’ve never found one that has won me over. I’ve tried super cheap mascaras from the likes of Natural Collection and even Aldi’s Lacura and not had the best experiences, but equally, I didn’t really get along with mid-to-high end mascaras either, with Sweed’s £22 mascara leaving me underwhelmed, and Benefit’s Bad Gal Bang being far to ‘wet’.
And just when I was about to lose all hope and probably never buy another mascara again, I saw that, not so long ago, TV presenter Angellica Bell, swore by an affordable £4 mascara from a Boots own brand.
I figured that, if there’s anyone that knows where your money is best spent besides Martin Lewis himself, it’s got to be the co-host of The Money Show, right? The 47-year-old is a Boots Value Ambassador and, in an interview with The Mirror, said shoppers shouldn’t be afraid of trying lower-cost products - as you could be pleasantly surprised.
She revealed that she swapped out her mascara for one from the drugstore brand 17, commenting: “Don’t be afraid to try own brand products, I think that’s really important. Be savvy and keep an eye out. Boots always has deals on big named brands too - like Fenty, MAC Cosmetics, Drunk Elephant, Anastasia Beverly Hills as you know. Also if you’re going to buy a blusher, that could double up as an eye shadow.
“Also, 17.’s Extreme Extension Lengthening Mascara. Let’s just talk about that mascara! Sometimes it’s worth trying new brands out and giving them a go because you might be pleasantly surprised.”
17.’s Extreme Extension Lengthening Mascara
Some of you may well be thinking ‘didn’t Boots discontinue 17?’ - and yes they did, back when I was working for the retailer. I was devastated because I had adored their brand and their liquid liner saw me through high school. I used my staff discount to stock up before it vanished from the shelves for good.
However, the brand made a triumphant comeback in 2022, with the own-brand mascara being one of the launch products. It’s said to give your lashes definition and extreme length with an ecofiber formula, all for the price of a takeaway coffee.
The vegan mascara is available in black, brown and navy and is without a doubt one of the best I’ve used, and I am fussy.
Usually £4, those who have an Advantage Card can snap it up for £2.70 with the Boots Price Advantage scheme , making it even more of a bargain.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara - Burgundy Haze
As a fan of Maybelline’s original Sky High formula- which has been reduced on Amazon for its spring sale by 35% to £8.50 - I knew I was going to absolutely LOVE its newest version Burgundy Haze because the Sky High original is one of the only mascaras I know I can rely on to give my lashes a bit of a boost and make them look unreal.
For context, I was not gifted with luscious long camel-like lashes, my lashes are quite short and flat so I need all the help I can get from a mascara - especially when I’m not the biggest fan of curling my lashes.
Yes, I know this trick works wonders in making them lifted and long but I’ve not perfected the technique and quite frankly, it’s painful and slows my make-up routine down. But this mascara lifts, lengthens, volumises and frames my eyes quite beautifully (if I do say so myself) - without the need for such a tool. But even more so with the slightly rusty brown-red tinge of the burgundy coloured formula that picks out the flecks of brown in my hazel eyes and makes the green in them pop a little more than usual. I can’t explain how but it just does. It’s quite magical really. It also works with blue and brown eyes, as two of our lovely team tested - read their results here.
The Flex Tower mascara brush, which bends to “volumise and extend every single lash from root to tip” is great for getting into the corners where your lashes are a little shorter than the ends and helps create a lovely fluttery effect that separates your lashes neatly with no clumping - which is something I often experience with rather flimsy lashes.
It also stays put all day long without no flaking in sight and no irritation, which, as a contact lens wearer with sensitive eyes, is a big winner.
ICONIC London Triple Threat
Having always been a die hard fan of Maybelline’s Sky High, I was intrigued to see the results of Iconic London’s Triple Threat mascara that is beloved by the likes of Molly-Mae for its gorgeous, natural but voluminous finish.
Well, it’s safe to say from the first coat alone, I fell in love instantly. It was dramatic - thanks to the ‘intensely black’ colouring. It lengthened my somewhat flat lashes, gave them volume and lifted them to make my eyes look bigger - something my lashes struggle to do with no mascara or poor quality mascara. The formula didn’t feel heavy on my lashes either, which I’ve experienced in the past, and leaves them fluttery and lush.
My lashes looked full - without them looking clumped together or flaky - and with the slim brush I was able to coat them from root to tip and from the inside of my waterline to the outside quite comfortably.
The second coat had me in shock at how this mascara gave a bit of a false lash effect that’d be perfect for a night out.
As someone with sensitive eyes, too, the test is always whether the mascara will irritate my lashes and eyes - and this one doesn’t. In fact, it’s hardly noticeable - unless you look in the mirror. Then you’ll see some glorious, fanned out lashes fluttering back at you.
While it’s not the cheapest mascara, at £22, I can see why it’s this price because of its quality and results that I’d invest in time and again.
Get it from Iconic London here for £22. Or Lookfantastic here for £20.
Lottie London's Super Fake mascara
After hearing about this mascara all over TikTok, I was super excited to get my hands on Lottie London’s SuperFake mascara to see if the one-coat results were as impressive as people say it is. I can confirm they are - it's even more impressive as the mascara is under £10.
I was skeptical at first because, as I’ve mentioned, my lashes aren’t exactly long and so I wasn’t expecting them to have much of a monumental change as some of the beauty buffs on social media have. But Lottie London wasn’t wrong when they said this mascara would “lengthen your lashes to new heights” and make my lashes “flutter-worthy” because, as you can see, that's exactly what they did.
The short thin brush is perfect for getting to the inside and edges of the lashes - without getting it everywhere, like some beefy brushes can do - and by wiggling the wand slowly through my lashes, I was able to add length and fan them out neatly.
I was actually shocked when I saw my eyes after the first coat. My lashes were essentially touching my browbone - and that wasn’t after using a lash curler either - and framed my eyes really nicely with the dark, intense black pigment that wasn’t heavy (literally on my lashes and in terms of colour).
Plus, it lasted an entire day with little to no drop - I put it on at about 7am and took it off when I got home at 9pm - at which time my lashes were still impressively lifted.
Aside from the mascara’s formula, I also enjoyed the white and silver packaging - which is really different to others I’ve got so stands out and is pretty easy to find.
It’s no wonder this mascara is a best seller on Lottie London’s website and has an overall rating of 4.3 stars. For £7.95, it’s an absolute must-have in your make-up bag if you want to have long, fluttery eyelashes for hours on end day or night.
Buy from Lottie London here for £7.95.
MAC Stack Mascara
Gemma Sherlock with one eye wearing the MACStack mascara (Image: Gemma Sherlock)
The new MAC Stack mascara has near enough five star reviews on the official MAC website. MAC says because of the versatility of the brush you can stack your lashes to a look that suits you, whether that's a natural volume, amplified or next-level.
The mascara looks very sophisticated on first-glance, I particular liked its sleek appearance, and the silver balled handle, as well as the striped pattern on the main bottle. The eyelash wand isn't too long either, and the brush itself is slightly thicker at the bottom than it is at the top, making it a great tool to avoid clumping.
I tested it out on eye first to visually see the difference. Straight away the volume was noticeable and it made me look less tired, and dare I say a tiny bit younger. I found myself being drawn towards my eye more when glancing in the mirror and I felt it really made my eye pop.
I quickly did the other eye to see the full effect and noticed that both sets of eyelashes immediately appeared longer and fuller. The mascara took well to my bottom lashes too and I didn't notice any clumps despite there being a lot of formula on the brush.
I did an extra coat after a few minutes and found that the brush could still glide through the eyelashes, unlike others when you want to top up and it can go on very dry and sticky. MAC took more than two years to develop this mascara, creating a Fibre Melt Technology and a Lash Flex Polymer, which grabs and coats each lash without bunching up.
It certainly did this with mine, my lashes stayed separate as I applied the coats and didn't clump together at any point. The mascara also has a deep, rich black colour so it really feels like you're making a statement.
I honestly felt like an 18-year-old again, in a good way, not as in making an 18-year-old's silly decisions but as in an 18-year-old who has strong eye-makeup game and is ready for the day. I loved the volume it gave my eyes.
If you don't want to make too much of a statement though, you can just apply one stroke. By doing this there's still enough on the lash to make a difference without it being a high intensity volume look.
If you're often rushing around in the morning, or want to quickly put a bit of makeup on for an important video call when working from home, like me, then this is a great product.
Removing the mascara later on was easy too. I found it came off fairly quickly with just a few wipes using my Simple eye makeup remover. It hardly left any smudges or residue around my eye during the taking off process.
If you want a mascara that you can layer up to suit a look you're after, without clumps then this is totally worth the £26 price tag. Yes it's slightly more than others but honestly I would rather have a mascara that can deliver no clumps and volume than one that gives volume and clumps.
The MAC Stack mascara is out now and is available from MAC for £27 - you can virtually try it on here too. You can also get an 8ml size for £16 on LookFantastic.
Maybelline Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara
Stacey Dutton using Maybelline's new The Colossal Curl Bounce
The Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara has gone viral this week being the one beauty product you need to get your hands on if you love a dramatic, full lash look.
No other beauty brand has such an extensive collection of mascaras as Maybelline, and it seems that no other beauty brand can go viral as well as them. Their Curl Bounce went viral when it was released with LookFantastic reporting that the #curlbounce raked in an incredible 27.5 Million views on TikTok with a 3,043% spike in searches on Google, at that time.
Here I have given the mascara a go for a number of weeks and wow... the results I have really enjoyed.
What I tend to look for most in a mascara, and I think most women can vouch for this, is that it doesn't clump.
I wear mascara daily so a natural curl but with plenty of volume is an everyday look I prefer.
This mascara did JUST THAT from the first coat. The thing is, I have used Maybelline's previous viral mascaras which others have raved about but I was not a huge fan.
Usually, for a day time look I would still do two coats of any mascara I use, but this one I think you could still get enough volume with one coat.
What a great product, and if you watch the before and after, you can see the huge difference it makes and how open my eyes appear with that extra curl and lift.
You can purchase the new mascara here at Look Fantastic for £12.99 and on Amazon for £8.49.
Glossier's mascara
Glossier's lash slick costs £20 and has rave reviews (Image: Rebecca Astill / Birmingham Live)
I picked the Glossier Lash Slick up from Glossier’s website for £20 and it arrived a few days later. The packaging is a simple baby pink tube with the brand name wording and ‘lash slick’.
Inside, the wand is unlike other mascaras I have used previously. The end is long and thin with tiny little stubs, making the wand much easier to target and separate individual lashes.
Application is simple with the wand, and the Lash Slick is so easy to layer without clumping or looking heavy. Its main features are lengthening and separating, there is not much thickness or volume added so a more heavyweight mascara is probably more desirable for evenings.
It is perfect for me, as I have pale skin and pale eyelashes so anything too black and thick looks silly on my face. The best part is it lasts all day without smudging under my eye
I have tried so many mascaras in the past across different price ranges - Maybelline, Benefit and Nars for example, and while all have their uses, they all smudge below my eye within hours. Glossier’s Lash Slick is the first I have found which does not, and I am so excited about it.
The only downside to this mascara is that it dries hard on your lashes, making them feel quite brittle throughout the day. It is also harder to take off at the end of the day than others I have used before, but with a strong cleansing balm like the £11 Camomile Cleansing Butter from The Body Shop , it is no bother.
Overall, although I cannot attest to whether this mascara would survive a car crash, it is the best everyday mascara I have found for a while thanks to its lengthening and separating abilities. For £20, I think it is a steal.
You can pick up Glossier’s lash slick mascara for £20 online .
No7 Lash Extender Fiber Mascara
My lashes were noticeably thicker after a few coats (Image: Emily Sleight / Liverpool ECHO)
No7 is an affordable beauty brand that has proven popular for all ages, with numerous different products on offer.
From foundation to eyeshadow palettes, No7 is a brand known for its bestsellers which mainly consist of skincare products.
I’ve never personally tried anything from No7, but being a big mascara lover, I thought I’d put their ‘Lash Extender Fiber Mascara’ to the test.
As seen on the website, this mascara sold out in the first two weeks of its launch, so I was desperate to see if it was worth the hype. No7 claims the product gives your lashes ‘3x more volume’ without the hassle of false eyelashes, because let’s be honest, they can be annoying.
Aesthetically the mascara looked good, it was in pretty pink packaging and had a sleek appearance. The eyelash wand itself was definitely on the thicker side with plenty of grip to really grab onto the lashes.
The ‘bamboo fiber enriched formula’ is said to help build up lashes for an extended lash effect. I noticed the mascara formula itself was very black and dark, which definitely emphasised the ‘dramatic lash’ aspect.
After one coat of this mascara, my lashes had already extended massively and definitely appeared longer.
I’ll admit, there were a few clumps here and there, but that was probably because I did around three coats.
The mascara took really well to my bottom lashes as well as my top lashes, creating a generally voluminous look.
I really liked the fact that this mascara required minimal effort, so if you're often rushing around in the morning, this could be a great product.
Just a couple swipes over my lashes and I was good to go, this mascara was definitely staying put.
When it was time to remove the mascara after the day was done, despite its thickness, it was very easy to take off. There were no clumps or smudges left around my eye, and it washed off a treat with my cleansing balm.
If you’re looking for a mascara that gives you volume but you don’t mind a few clumps here and there, I’d definitely recommend this product.
It adds not just volume but thickness to your lashes too - a dreamy combination indeed!
You can buy the mascara here for £15.95.
NARS Climax mascara
Jada Jones wearing this week's makeup item
My go-to Mascara has been Too Faced's Better Than Sex (and I'm quite partial to the travel size as you are supposed to replace your mascara fairly regularly) but that was before I tried NARS Climax.
The brush allows for a buildable look that can go from everyday to night time glam.
It has a soft feel and a strong finish that really transformed the appearance of my lashes.
You can buy it here from NARS for £27, Boots for £26.50.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Doll Lashes Mascara
Having used and loved the original Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara I was excited to try their newest formula which promises to add length and volume to your lashes, with 24-hour wear and no smudging.
The first thing I noticed about this product wasn’t actually to do with the formula - in fact, I was impressed with how weighty the packaging was as that is usually the sign of a high quality beauty buy.
When it came to application, the crescent shaped brush helped me coat each lash evenly and clumping was kept to a minimum (I prefer to use several strokes of mascara so a little clumping is hard to avoid). The overall effect certainly added length to my lashes, however I would say it is best suited for those who like lots of volume.
I didn’t make it to 24-hour wear, however I did find that the mascara showed no signs of smudging after keeping it on all day and it was easy to remove thanks to the tubing formula.
While it is on the pricier side when it comes to mascaras, it’s a solid choice if you want a volumising mascara that will elevate your makeup look.
You can buy the mascara exclusively from Selfridges for £29 here.