The top five best mascaras you can buy right now, according to rave internet reviews
IMAGE VIA @MECCAMAX/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
For fluttery, flake-free lashes.
There’s something very trustworthy about a person who leaves a product review. They’ve tried it, contemplated the results and gone to the effort of typing out a comprehensive (more or less) summary of their experience.
Granted, sometimes it’s because the reviewer is petty and needs to take their anger out on the internet (the time my Amazon garlic press was simply not pressing) – but for the most part, reviews are left for the greater good of the online shopping community.
We like nosy people. Don’t be shy, head to our Beauty section for more.
Regardless, I will never invest in a beauty or skincare product without a thorough scroll through the comment section. It saves me a lot of impulse purchase regrets and most of the time, the people know what they’re talking about. How else am I supposed to distinguish a ‘shimmery finish’ from a ‘greasy smear’?
So as I needed a new mascara (mine is melting off my face in the rain), I decided to consult the experts. Here are the beauty crowd’s top-rated picks.
Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara
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Star rating: 4.5 of 2552 reviews on Mecca
According to the Mecca website, this sleek little maroon (or dark red? Reddish-brown? Jury’s out) lash extender is a Beauty Election Finalist, whatever that means. It sounds promising and very official but for the purposes of this article, we are turning to the people.
People like one admittedly sceptical reviewer who said the mascara’s tiny brush was “amazing”. Another enthusiastic girlie gave the following review: “Have repurchased at least 20 times. There is no other mascara, all others are dead to me.” If this tubing mascara has the ability to obliterate all other products, I’m interested.
This product’s high rating is likely thanks to its tubing formula, a kind of smudge-proof innovation that uses water-resistant polymers to wrap around your lashes. And apparently, it’s somewhat of a miracle worker. “I tried this about two years ago, desperate for a mascara that didn’t smudge. This fits the bill perfectly. No smudging, easy to wash off, and makes my dinky little lashes look long and full.”
Lancôme Idole Mascara
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Star rating: 4.5 of 6879 reviews on Sephora
This reportedly ‘clump-free’ mascara has been reviewed on the Sephora website 6879 times. 6879! That’s a lot of people willing to spend $51 on a tube of the good stuff, which definitely means something. And if you’re dubious of the price, there’s a slew of Sephora sweeties ready to change your mind. “Finally a pricey mascara worth the money,” one reviewer says.
While I love a smudge-free formula, I despise having to scrub my eyes raw at the end of an evening. Thankfully, a recent rave reviewer put my mind at ease: “Goes on nicely and truly creates volume… lifts my lashes so much that people think they are not real. Very easy to remove at night, too.” Sold.
Eye of Horus Goddess Mascara
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Star rating: 4.4 of 381 reviews on Adore Beauty
We’ve included this one because she’s a little different. Cruelty-free and made locally in Byron Bay, Eye of Horus products have that homegrown element we obviously love. And the reviewers do too! As one enthusiastic writer states, “I have tried a number of mascaras and this one is definitely my favourite. The wand design with the fatter end allows for more product to go on the outer lashes. I like the volumising effect of the product and found it lasts most of the day without shedding”.
Made with nice-sounding natural ingredients like moringa oil, beeswax and rice bran, reviewers say the formula is “nourishing”, “lovely” and “subtle”. While it might not give you that false lash effect, one reviewer says “The thing I love about this mascara is that you don’t have to put a lot on to have great results. In saying that, when I’m going out and want a bit more glam, I can easily put a bit more on without my lashes looking overdone and clumpy.”
Mecca Max Wink Ink Super Mascara
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Star rating: 4.3 of 301 reviews on Mecca
Let’s have a moment for something a little more on the affordable side. At just $20, this cute orange-and-pink tube has garnered a collection of positive internet reviews, including one aptly titled “Happiness in a tube!”
“Bought this mascara recently for everyday use. Stays on, doesn’t clump, lengthens and gives volume,” the review gushes. “What more could you want?” They’re not wrong – pigmented, cruelty-free, volumising formula sounds pretty good to me. And if you’re weighing up a pricier product, take this reviewer’s advice: “I don’t know how many mascaras I have tried over the years from high end, luxurious to your more basic, cheaper versions but this one is truly a winner.”
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara
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Star rating: 4.2 of 6912 reviews on Sephora
This list just wouldn’t be complete without a Benefit Cosmetics mention. The sweeties over at Benefit just know a good mascara – and Sephora’s enthusiastic internet reviewers concur. With a cool 6912 reviews, Roller Lash claims to be formulated for ‘curl’ and ‘long-wearing effects’. As a recent review reads, “I have short, straight lashes. I cannot find a better mascara than this! It doesn’t look clumpy, it doesn’t melt off. It curls your lashes and adds volume and length.”
While some found it clumpy, others said the packaging explicitly says to wipe excess product off the wand before applying. Take this reviewer’s experience, who says “I didn’t realise this at first but after reading the instructions it made a ton of a difference! The pigment is great and I saw a huge difference after only one application.” The pink packaging gets points, too.
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