How to Choose a Mascara That Meets Your Specific Needs
There are so many mascaras out there, with multiple brush styles, color selections, and formulation choices. But what’s most important is finding one that meets your specific needs.
For example, some people prefer ophthalmologist-tested formulas because they’re less likely to cause eye irritation. Others may want a clean option with vegan and cruelty-free ingredients.
What’s in a Mascara?
Mascara is a makeup product that is designed to enhance the appearance of eyelashes. It typically comes in a tube with a wand applicator that allows users to apply the dark cream to their upper and lower eyelashes to make them more noticeable. It’s available in a wide variety of formulas, including smudge-proof, waterproof, long-lasting, and more.
Most mascaras include a mix of oils or waxes, some form of pigmentation, and a preservative. Oils and waxes help to give the mascara a thick consistency, while pigmentation adds color. Preservatives are used to prevent bacteria and mold growth in the mascara, ensuring that it has a long shelf life and remains safe to use.
Many people enjoy using mascara because it can make their eyes look bigger and brighter, which makes them appear more attractive to others. However, a few ingredients in some types of mascara can be harmful to the health of those who wear it. For example, some mascaras contain mercury, which is a toxic element that can cause damage to the eyes and skin if it gets into the eye. Others contain parabens, which are preservatives that have been linked to endocrine disruption and can lead to tumors in the breasts of women who use them.
For those who are interested in learning more about how mascara is made, there is a wide variety of information online. For instance, some formulators use coal tar to give mascara its color and darkness, while other manufacturers choose to use synthetic dyes instead. In some cases, the color that mascaras contain can be dangerous to users, as it may have toxic heavy metals or aluminum powder, which is a neurotoxin and severe allergen.
Smudge-Proof
A smudge-proof mascara is formulated to resist the transfer of pigment from the eye area to surrounding skin. It’s typically available in cream formula, and may come in a tube with an applicator wand. Unlike regular mascara, smudge-proof makeup darkens, thickens, and lengthens the appearance of lashes without smearing or flaking.
A good smudge-proof mascara will provide a lush, full fringe and resist running, even during sweaty workouts or hot weather. Some even offer a waterproof finish for a high-performance look that holds up to tears and humidity.
Most smudge-proof mascaras contain some type of wax, emollient, or oils to keep them from flaking, but the key ingredient is acrylic copolymers, which form tiny tubes around the lashes as they dry. These smudge-proof mascaras are usually easy to remove with water and can help to prevent lashes from clumping together or appearing too dry.
Smudge-proof mascara can also be infused with vitamin E to nourish the eye area and enhance lash health. Lastly, it’s important to start with a clean canvas, which means cleansing your face and using makeup remover designed for the delicate eye area. Sweat and natural oil in the skin can also cause mascara to smudge, so Hsin suggests carrying some blotting papers or oil-absorbing face wipes with you throughout the day.
A smudge-proof mascara can be the difference between a flawless makeup look and an unattractive panda eye. It can give you confidence to wear whatever look you want and still maintain a professional appearance. If you’re ready to say goodbye to panda eyes, check out some of our favorite smudge-proof mascara options below!
Water-Resistant
Even if you’re a makeup minimalist, chances are that mascara is a staple in your beauty arsenal. And while the lengthening, lifting, and volumizing effects of a good formula are lovely, smudging and smearing can be a major nuisance (hence Lauren Conrad’s mascara tears in that classic episode of The Hills). That’s why gh beauty lab testers love this mascara, which withstands sweaty days, teary eyes, and watery eyes without smudging or running.
While waterproof mascaras are a great choice for submerging your face in the pool, they’re not a perfect option for everyday use – especially for those with sensitive skin or those who wear contact lenses. This is because waterproof formulas often contain a high concentration of waxes, which can lead to dryness and flaking. In addition, removing waterproof makeup requires the use of specific makeup removers that are designed to dissolve oily ingredients in a bi-phase formulation.
There’s an in-between type of composition that appeared about 15-20 years ago, qualified as “water resistant.” These mascaras owe their water resistance to the fact that they are formulated with non-volatile components (such as isoparaffins, isododecane, and siloxanes) rather than volatile ingredients (such as waxes). This makes them porous to lukewarm water and allows for clean, easy removal with mono-phase or bi-phase removers.
While they can handle rain or romantic movie tears, they would not be able to hold up against a long training session at the swimming pool. Despite the obvious compromise, these mascaras still provide a range of advantages over traditional mascaras like reduced smudging and easier removal than waterproof ones. Moreover, they are a better option for those with oily skin or the tendency to sweat a lot.
Long-Lasting
The best mascaras stay put all day and beyond. They’re long-wearing enough for you to complete a full makeup look without interruption, and they won’t smudge or flake — even after you cry, exercise, or rub your eyes. These formulas are great for making your lashes look thick and full. The key is to choose a waterproof mascara with a nourishing ingredient list, like shea butter and jojoba oil, to help them maintain their moisture.
Mascaras with a curved brush are good at separating and defining each lash, while a flat-tipped brush is great for reaching the inner and outer corners of your eye. The shape of a mascara’s brush can also make it easy to reach stubborn lashes, especially if you have straight ones.
For a clean-beauty option that’s rated high for separation and lengthening, try Ilia’s Limitless Lash mascara. It has a dual-sided wand that gives you the choice of a volumizing and separating side or a lengthening and curling one. It also has strategic ingredients like nourishing shea butter and conditioning beeswax to promote healthy, hydrated lashes.
This best-selling waterproof mascara is a favorite of Strategist beauty editor Rio Viera-Newton, and earned top marks in our Lab tests for its separation, lengthening, and overall impact. The wand is flexible, so it can bend to a 90-degree angle for accessing hard-to-reach areas. It’s also water-resistant, sweat-proof, and smudge-proof, though some testers noted that it flaked easily — you may need to use a gentle oil-based cleanser to remove it. The mascara is also free of parabens, phthalates, phthlates, SLS, and mineral oil. It’s vegan and safe for sensitive eyes, too. It’s a great alternative to waterproof mascaras that require harsh rubbing with makeup remover to get off your face.
Eyelash-Enhancing
The eyelash is a prominent feature of the eye and can add definition, intensity, and beauty to a person’s face. A variety of methods can be used to improve the appearance of the eyelash, including mascara. Mascara is a cosmetic product that is applied to the eyelashes, using a brush or wand, to add color and to enhance the overall appearance of the eyes.
Mascara can make the lashes appear thicker and longer. It can also help the lashes to look darker. In addition, a variety of ingredients can be added to the mascara that can enhance its benefits. The most common ingredients are oils, pigments, and waxes. There are many different types of mascara, ranging from the most natural to the more extravagant.
Infused with a proprietary blend of lash-loving peptides, panthenols, and natural waxes, this formula helps to condition and strengthen the lashes while providing volume and length. The wand is designed to comb each individual lash, leaving them looking fuller and healthier over time.
The nourishing, vegan, and gluten-free formula is packed with naturally rich ingredients like horsetail plant to strengthen lashes and pea protein to prevent breakage, as well as bayberry wax for an all day water resistant hold. It is packaged consciously in recycled plastic and aluminum.
This mascara has a unique tubing formula that creates tiny tubes around each lash for a more intense, dramatic appearance. It contains a blend of lash-enhancing oils and botanicals to nourish the lashes while it adds volume, including castor oil, which is known to stimulate lash growth. It also includes a prostaglandin analogue, originally used to reduce intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma, and has tens of thousands of positive reviews.
