If It's Full Lashes You're After, These 11 Mascaras Are Worth Your Attention

There's no denying it: Mascara is easily one of the trickiest makeup products to shop for. Sure, there are plenty of great options out there, but tastes vary widely. While some people want their lashes to look subtle and understated, others want big, bold, statement lashes. And I'll admit the vast disparities when it comes to what "most" people want from their mascara makes my job as a beauty editor quite difficult. In fact, mascara recommendations have become a bit of a running joke between us beauty editors—it's very common for one of us to be busy writing up a rave review of the latest launch while another is frantically typing an unpublishable slating in our group chat.

Having said that though, there is one thing that we can all agree on: We all want some sort of volume. Sure, the intensity of said volume varies from person to person, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone out there who doesn't want at least a little bit of a volume boost from their mascara.

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(Image credit: @RAYAN.XASAN)

The very best crowd-pleasing mascaras, I have learned, are ones whose volumising properties are fully adaptable via application technique. I'm talking about mascaras that pack a seriously impressive volumising punch when you want it and subtle, your-lashes-but-better volume for when you don't. 

Most importantly, however, the very best mascaras must, under no circumstances whatsoever, leave lashes looking thick, clumpy or weighed down. Achieving voluminous lashes should never come at the expense of a loss of flutter, after all. And while these mascara criteria might sound a bit too good to be true, I can assure you they're not. In fact, after many years of trying to find the very best volumising mascaras, I've finally drawn up a definitive list, and each one is sure to satisfy every lash want and need.

1. Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara

2. Lancôme Le 8 Hypnôse Mascara

3. Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara

4. L'Oréal Paris Lash Paradise

5. Dior Diorshow Pump 'n' Volume Mascara

6. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

7. Chanel Le Volume Révolution de Chanel Mascara

8. Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara

9. Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

10. Benefit They're Real Lengthening Mascara

11. It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara

Shop More Lash-Boosting Products

Next up, these are the 19 eye makeup looks that I've bookmarked for summer.

Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous.

Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics.

While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best.

When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.