The Best Mascara for Your Lash Type

Although it’s easy to dismiss mascara as a one-size-fits-all beauty buy, it’s actually much more complex than that. Every formula is expertly created to meet your individual lash needs — whether that be volume, length, or something in between. It makes choosing tricky, especially if you have lashes that require something otherworldly (short-lashed humans will know what I’m talking about) or lashes that won’t stay curled. We’ve rounded up our favorite formulas for special cases ahead — we promise they’re the best of the bunch.

Mascara for Straight Lashes

If your eyelashes are naturally straight, it’s likely you’ve struggled with finding a formula that will hold your stubborn lashes in place. We recommend using a lash curler before applying a waterproof mascara to hold the curl all day long. Looking for a low-maintenance option or hate removing waterproof formulas? Try a lash lift instead, which offers curled lashes for six to eight weeks at a time.

Our Pick: Maybelline New York The Colossal in Waterproof

One of our favorite formulas for straight lashes is Maybelline The Colossal Waterproof Mascara, a volumizing formula infused with collagen. Its biggest draw is its MegaBrush, which can withstand many swipes without clumping and is designed to give lashes 9x the volume.

Mascara for Naturally Curled Lashes

Those with naturally curled lashes are what we like to call #blessed, so it’s likely you’re looking for a formula that offers volume, length and maybe even a little extra lift. Luckily, lots of formulas are designed with those three goals in mind, so the options are aplenty.

Our Pick: L’Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara

If you’re in search of the holy-grail mascara you can use every day, we recommend trying L’Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara — the drugstore phenom that offers ultra-black pigment, enviable length and impressive volume. You can get a full-fringe look in just a few coats, making this a great option for anyone who still wants that I-woke-up-like-this look.

Mascara for Fine Lashes

Anyone who has fine lashes know the issue isn’t always making them look long, it’s that there aren’t many lashes to work with in the first place. That’s where volumizing and thickening mascaras come in, which will give you the appearance of thicker lashes without added extensions.

Our Pick: Yves Saint Laurent The Shock Volumizing Mascara

Yves Saint Laurent The Shock Volumizing Mascara works well for anyone with fine lashes thanks to its hourglass-shaped brush and volume-inducing formula. It grips and coats every lash in a single stroke and doesn’t require lots of wiggling and layers to work.

Mascara for Short Lashes

For the stubby-lashed among us, it can feel like you got the short end of the baby-doll-lash stick, but worry not — it’s easy to cheat with a good mascara. We recommend opting for a formula that offers length and definition, which will make lashes look longer and fuller than they naturally are.

Our Pick:Lancôme Définicils Lengthening and Defining Mascara

This iconic, award-winning mascara offers a natural but lengthened look, and its flexible polymers coat each lash from root to tip. The result are ultra-defined lashes that pop but still look and feel soft.

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