Key ingredients: peptides, collagen | Shades: 2 | Who it’s for: people who want a nourishing formula
Best Separating: Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes Mascara
Why it’s worth it: Los Angeles-based makeup artist Fiona Stiles is a longtime fan of Charlotte Tilbury’s Full Fat Lashes for her clients’ makeup looks. “It’s a great mascara that gives lashes a full, fluffy effect,” she says. “I can always count on it not to clog up fake lashes when I apply it over them, which happens a lot with other mascaras.” The formula is non-greasy without sacrificing glossiness and separating without looking spidery. It’s well suited for bottom lashes and the top, careful not to clump or cluster.
Key ingredients: glycerin, carnauba wax, rice bran wax | Shades: 2 | Who it’s for: people who want defined lashes
Best Lengthening: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Sculpt Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara
Why it’s worth it: You probably already own an Anastasia Beverly Hills brow product or two, but it’s time to expand your loyalty with the Lash Sculpt Mascara. Biotin, collagen, and peptides team up for your longest, fullest fan-out yet, thanks in part to the super precise wand. The black hue is soft matte but still juicy-looking, coating lashes from root to tip like a dream. Plus, you can build this formula to your heart’s desire.
Key ingredients: biotin, collagen, peptides | Shades: 1 | Who it’s for: people who want extra length
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a volumizing mascara different from a traditional mascara?
The difference between a volumizing and traditional mascara is more than tube-deep. “It’s the wax-to-polymer ratio,” explains cosmetic chemist Laura Lam-Phaure. “Volumizing mascaras need to ‘bulk’ up the lashes, so it’s super helpful to have a higher wax or butter concentration—like beeswax, carnauba wax, shea butter, or cocoa butter—to help coat the lashes more thickly and provide perceived volume.” Lam-Phaure adds that starches or silicas also boost the volume effect. “While lengthening mascara would have a high concentration of flexible polymers, they clump more easily, so having a lower concentration of waxes and butters [as seen in volumizing mascara] will help [mitigate that].”tk
How should I choose a volumizing mascara?
Cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos reminds us that creamy, whipped-textured mascaras are best for building volume—so it pays to check the ingredients list. “Look for silica or cellulose on the label because these are powders that can bulk up lashes, as well as fibers made of nylon or rayon, which add significant volume and length depending on their shape,” says Dobos. “Select formulas with beneficial ingredients like biotin or panthenol (a.k.a. provitamin B5), which can help nourish and strengthen lashes over time. It’s also important to have a wand that works with the formula.” Her tip? Go for fluffy, dense bristles to ensure an even, generous coat for a full-volume effect.
How should I apply a volumizing mascara?
New York City-based makeup artist Joseph Carrillo recommends that, before swiping the wand all the way through your lashes, start by wiggling the bristles into the base of your lashes and lightly stamping the mascara against your waterline. Doing so will help even the sparsest fringe look instantly fuller by filling in the gaps between your lashes. Afterward, you can proceed with your usual application technique.
Meet the experts
- Sara Talias, a New York City-based makeup artist
- Fiona Stiles, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist
- Joseph Carrillo, a New York-based makeup artist
- Stoj, a New York City-based makeup artist
- Molly R. Stern, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist
- Sasha Plavsic, Ilia founder
- Maggie Ford Danielson, director of brand outreach at Benefit Cosmetics
- Kate Helfrich, senior vice president of global product and service innovation at Benefit Cosmetics
- Jamie Lynch, executive director of product development at MAC
- Laura Lam-Phaure, a cosmetic chemist
- Kelly Dobos, a cosmetic chemist
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
