The 12 Best Mascaras to Shop Now

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Composite image of mascaras for volume — Photo: Courtesy of Sephora, Ulta

If there's one beauty product that can instantly make your eyes pop, it's mascara. Just a few swipes of a mighty formula is all it takes to boost lash volume and length and encourage separation. What's more, some iterations are packed with nourishing ingredients that can keep these delicate hairs strong long-term.

Since mascara is a makeup staple, there are endless options to choose from. But with so many different formulas, brushes, and wands on the market, it can be difficult to find which mascara is the right one for you. To help cut through the noise, we asked makeup artists and dermatologists to share their very favorite mascaras.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara

$12.99, ulta.com

The name lives up to the quality of this voluminous mascara. The brush bends to lengthen and extend every single lash from root to tip. "This is one of the best mascaras I've ever used," says Erin Parsons, makeup artist at Sessions. "It gives the lashes extreme length without clumping."

Kevyn Aucoin the Curling Mascara

$30, nordstrom.com

With a protein-based formula that coats and shrink wraps each and every lash, this mascara washes off easily and is gentle on delicate under-eye skin. "Kevyn Aucoin's Curling Mascara has been my go-to mascara for many, many years," says Shari Marchbein, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist. "Its formula has lash tubing technology that coats each eyelash without clumping or smudging."

Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara

$28, ulta.com

With this best selling mascara in your beauty arsenal, you will never need extensions again. The brush features a magnetically charged core that pulls the formula up towards the tips of the lashes to deliver serious volume and length.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara

$28, sephora.com

As one of the most popular mascaras on the market, this option from Too Faced has a formula that simultaneously thickens, lengthens, and locks in curl. "It delivers volume, separation, length, and curl to create rich, fluffy black lashes and contains a film-forming polymer that locks curl in place," says Rachel Westbay, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical.

Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara

$29.50, sephora.com

Just a couple of swipes of this mascara will give you thick and lush lashes. Plus, its long-wear and waterproof formula promises to hold up against humidity, sweat, and watery eyes.

Wander Beauty Unlashed Volume and Curl Mascara

$12, sephora.com

This option features an innovative brush with staggered bristles that separate and capture every hair for maximum volume. "I'm currently loving Wander Beauty's Unlashed Volume and Curl Mascara. It's great for lengthening lashes and contains nourishing ingredients such as panthenol and vitamin E," says Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Entière Dermatology.

Thrive Causemetics

$25, thrivecausmetics.com

When it comes to vegan formulas, you can't beat this one from Thrive. Not only is it safe for delicate eyelid skin, but its powered by the brand's flake-free tubing technology to ensure flawless and show-stopping lashes.

L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara

$10.99, ulta.com

Uniquely formulated to build lashes five times their natural thickness, this mascara is available in seven different shades. "I love drugstore brand mascaras for this reason," says Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist. "You can stock up and use a new one every six to eight weeks so that you're always using a fresh, clump-free formula. L'Oréal's Voluminous Mascara is one of my favorites."

Glossier Lash Slick

$18, glossier.com

For the perfect no-makeup makeup look, turn to Glossier's lash slick. This weightless formula is designed to enhance what you have and brighten up your eyes for a natural look.

ItCosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara

$26, sephora.com

The game-changing formula of this mascara was developed by plastic surgeons and contains biotin, peptides, and collagen to strengthen and lengthen lashes. What's more, the thin wand and brush make targeting lower lashes a breeze.

Chantecaille

$76, nordstrom.com

Thanks to a dynamic combination of rose oil and natural waxes, this mascara's formula lengthens and conditions. The clump-proof double helix brush is designed to grab every lash and coat it in the highly pigmented and nourishing product.

Charlotte Tilbury

$29, sephora.com

Your lashes will look instantly multiplied with just one stroke of this glossy mascara. It's formulated with kerestore, which creates a conditioning effect on individual hair fibers to create a thicker look. Plus, the brush's diamond-shaped bristles follow the geometry of the eye for an opening effect.

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