Our Beauty Lab Tested 97 Mascaras—These 11 Came Out on Top
Eye-catching lashes, ahead.
Tested by Sabina WizemannBeauty Lab DirectorReviewed by Chiara ButlerBeauty and Personal Care Lab Reviews Analyst
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In the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, new mascaras seem to cross our desks almost every day, from drugstore to luxury and indie brands, in every shape, size, and color you can imagine. After a decade of Lab testing and trying nearly every new launch ourselves, we can confirm hat they are not all created equal. While some live up to their promises of giving lashes length, lift, fullness, and flutter, many do not, instead leaving behind dreaded clumps, smudges, or that sad wilted look. (Wah, wah.)
Our top picks:
- Best Overall: Yves Saint Laurent Lash Latex Sculpting & Lengthening Mascara
- Best Value: Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
- Best for Length: CoverGirl Eye Enhancer Stretch & Strengthen Mascara
- Best for Volume: Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara
The GH Beauty Lab regularly tests mascaras to find the best on the market. Each product is screened by our Lab scientists, then hundreds of consumer testers evaluate the formulas in their everyday life for their visible effects on lashes, how well they wear, and their ease of use.
✔️ 10 years testing mascaras
✔️ 799 testers
✔️ 97 mascaras tested
✔️ 6,668 tester survey data points
We know that when it comes to mascara, seeing is believing: Check out the GH Beauty Lab testing data and photo evidence behind our best mascaras from a decade of testing, below.
Pros
- Top score for lengthening lashes
- Doesn't clump, flake, or smudge
- Buildable formula
- Not irritating
Cons
- May take a few swipes to build up to the desired look
What made it a winner: True to its name, this GH Beauty Award-winning YSL Beauty mascara “stretches” lashes up and out, creating “dramatic lengthening” via a slim wand packed with miniature bristles.
Performance: The best of all 12 mascaras tested for the most recent Beauty Awards, it shined at lengthening lashes without clumping, flaking, or smudging. (However, it may take a few swipes to reach that length.) The mascara also scored high for being buildable, applying smoothly, and not irritating eyes or causing redness.
Tester notes: “In one coat, my lashes were longer and thicker,” a tester reported. “It didn’t budge when I was working out and going in a hot tub!”
Wear/removal: Testers reported the wand was easy to use and removed effortlessly at the end of the day.
| Benefits | Lengthening, separating |
| Colors | Black |
Pros
- High Lab scores for lengthening, volumizing, and curling
- Budget-friendly
- Doesn't clump
Cons
- Not best for long-term wear
What made it a winner: With a cult following on Reddit and TikTok, this Essence mascara lived up to the hype in GH Beauty Lab testing, delivering serious length at under $5.
Performance: In a past Lab test, it ranked highest for lengthening and got similarly high scores for volumizing and curling lashes—a triple threat.
Tester notes: The formula is thick enough to offer impact in one application, but thin enough to avoid clumps with additional coats. Testers said it went on smoothly and liked its deep pigment and granted it a perfect score for being non-irritating.
Wear/removal: Some testers found this mascara's look degraded with wear, citing flaking and clumping as the day went on. "It didn't last long," most agreed, but they found it "very easy to remove."
| Benefits | Curling, lengthening, volumizing |
| Colors | Black, black brown, burgundy, purple |
Pros
- Top volumizing and lengthening scores
- Perfect satisfaction score
- Easy removal
Cons
- Doesn't curl lashes as well
What made it a winner: A recent GH Beauty Award winner, testers loved this Charlotte Tilbury tubing formula's “dramatic" and “impressive” results, earning it a perfect 100% satisfaction score.
Performance: Testers gave it the highest marks for volumizing and lengthening without smudging or irritating eyes, although it didn't excel at curling lashes; only 66% agreed that it curled well.
Tester notes: “My lashes looked fluffy and thick without any clumping,” one said, while another said, "it transformed my lashes more than any other mascara I’ve tried. Despite the added length and volume, my lashes remained flexible to the touch."
Wear/removal: Expert evaluators said the "lift and volume held up pretty well throughout the day without smudging or flaking," and ultimately, the product "removes easily with just water."
| Benefits | Volumizing, lengthening |
| Colors | Black |
Pros
- Perfect scores for volumizing and lengthening
- Resists smudging
- Highly buildable
Cons
- May flake
What made it a winner: A past GH Beauty Award winner, this Yves Saint Laurent wand is overall "a great mascara that gives volume and length in two swipes."
Performance: It received perfect scores in GH Beauty Lab tests when it came to volumizing and lengthening, and performed best for being buildable.
Tester notes: The rich, true-black hue "gives a sexy, dramatic look without being too clumpy," one tester commented.
Wear/removal: A couple testers noticed some flaking by the end of the day, though multiple testers attested to its ability to withstand smudges even through tears, saying, "even when I rubbed my eyes, it didn't smudge."
| Benefits | Volumizing, lengthening |
| Colors | Black, brown, blue, green |
Pros
- Top scores for lengthening short lashes
- Non-irritating
- Super pigmented formula
Cons
- Not the best at curling or volumizing
What made it a winner: If you have short lashes (or just love a long, fluttery look), this lengthening powerhouse from CoverGirl is the pick for you. In GH Beauty Lab testing, it got a perfect score for not irritating eyes.
Performance: It scored best for lengthening lashes and not irritating eyes in our Beauty Lab tests. Keep in mind, though, it came in mid-range for curling and volumizing.
Tester notes: Users loved the inky, deep pigment of this mascara, saying "this is one of the deepest blacks I have tried." Another praised the brush, saying, "the bristles on the brush are well-spaced and abundant, so it layers on the lashes easily and evenly."
Wear/removal: Some testers found it hard to remove, but the majority agreed it "lasted throughout the day and washed off easily at night."
| Benefits | Lengthening |
| Colors | Very black, black, black brown |
Pros
- Top scores for curling and lengthening
- Easy-to-use wand
- Resists flaking
Cons
- Can be clumpy
What made it a winner: A newer addition to Lancôme's iconic Hypnose line, this curved wand's ergonomic shape received the top score for being easy to use in recent Beauty Awards testing.
Performance: It scored highest for curling and lengthening lashes in a recent expert evaluation, plus 100% of testers agreed it didn't smudge or irritate eyes. Testers did report that the formula tends to skew a bit clumpy, though.
Tester notes: “This mascara added SO much length and volume to my lashes," said one, adding it "truly opened up my eyes. Another added, "It noticeably lengthens my lashes [and] provides good volume."
Wear/removal: Save for what two testers separately called "a tiny bit of flaking," they said the washable formula "took just a few seconds to get off."
| Benefits | Curling, lengthening, volumizing |
| Colors | Black |
Pros
- Scored top for curling lashes and not smudging
- Didn't irritate eyes
- Also adds length and volume
- No clumping or flaking
Cons
- May take more effort to remove
What made it a winner: Give even wimpy lashes a major boost by combing through them with Mary Kay’s contoured, flexible brush. It’s coated in a “lightweight, super smooth” formula that didn’t smear in our evaluations.
Performance: In GH Beauty Awards testing, it earned the highest scores for curling lashes and not smudging or irritating eyes. Plus, the mascara performed well at adding length and volume without clumping or flaking. It wasn’t as buildable as some formulas, however.
Tester notes: “The curved brush made it easy to lift and separate my lashes,” a tester noted. Another fan raved, “This mascara defined my lashes so well that everyone in my family commented.”
Wear/removal: Testers found it more difficult to remove than others.
| Benefits | Curling, volumizing, lengthening |
| Colors | Black |
Pros
- Top Lab scores for lengthening and separating lashes
- Hypoallergenic, water-resistant formula perfect for sensitive eyes
- Creates a natural look
Cons
- May not give dramatic enough results for some
What made it a winner: A hypoallergenic formula that won't irritate sensitive eyes, CoverGirl’s orange tube is iconic for a reason. The comb-like wand and plastic bristles define lashes and give a natural-looking, separated look without adding too much bulk.
Performance: In our GH Beauty Lab consumer tests, Lash Blast got high scores for smooth application, volumizing, lengthening and separating lashes, and the formula got near-perfect marks for water-resistance, too. Just take note that this pick may not be high-impact enough for those who love a dramatic look.
Tester notes: "Makes my eyelashes the best version of themselves: Noticeably longer, fuller, darker and more defined, yet somehow natural-looking, like I was born with the most lush, fluttery lashes."
Wear/removal: A few reviewers noted that it can get clumpy during application, but our Lab gave it a perfect score for not running, smearing, or smudging when it's exposed to water. That means you may have to work a little harder at removing it.
| Benefits | Volumizing, lengthening, separating |
| Colors | Very black, black, black brown, brown |
Pros
- Top at boosting thickness and volume
- Adds curl
- Applies smoothly
- Mild, non-irritating formula
Cons
- Can be a little clumpy
What made it a winner: A few twirls of this GH Beauty Award-winning Revolution Beauty wand wrap lashes in tubing technology to make them instantly thick and lush.
Performance: The mascara was a top performer at increasing volume, applying smoothly, and adding curl, all while being gentle on eyes. Some testers reported a bit of clumping, however.
Tester notes: “It made my lashes look very full and truly eye-catching,” a tester revealed. Other users complimented the "smooth" application and "nice volume" it created.
Wear/removal: Testers gave it the highest marks for ease of removal. They also found the brush simple to maneuver and the formula resisted flaking and smudging.
| Benefits | Volumizing, curling |
| Colors | Black, brown, burgundy |
Pros
- Perfect score for smooth application
- Non-irritating formula
- Buildable, non-clumpy wear
- Separates and lengthens lashes
Cons
- Mediocre scores for volumizing and curling
What made it a winner: This gentle L’Oréal Paris formula strikes the perfect balance between being mild enough for sensitive eyes yet delivering lash-defining effects.
Performance: It not only got perfect scores in GH Beauty Lab testing for going on smoothly and not causing irritation or redness, but the buildable formula doesn't clump or flake even with extended wear. Despite its name, the mascara received mediocre ratings for volumizing and curling lashes, but the spiky, flexible wand does a great job at separating and stretching lashes.
Tester notes: "This formula is fantastic. I love how it made for natural lashes but it was buildable to a more dramatic look without being clumpy," said one tester, while another said, "made for a very soft, doe-eyed look."
Wear/removal: It "did not budge throughout the day; no smearing, smudging, or flaking, yet was easy to wash off at the end of the day," said another tester.
| Benefits | Defining, lengthening |
| Colors | Black, blackest black, black brown, brown, burgundy, blue |
Sabina (she/her) is the director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty and Personal Care Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she’s been doing hands-on testing of beauty products since 2022. She also covers aesthetic treatments like injectables and lasers. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims. When not at GH, you can find her wandering the beauty aisles of the drugstore.
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