Mascara Buying Guide

Whether you are looking for extreme femme fatale lashes or a natural lash tint, mascara  can be a great addition to any makeup routine. When used correctly, mascara can make your eyes pop and look more awake, fresh, and youthful. Many people make mascara their one and only part of their makeup routine. A quick swipe can be all you need to go from sleepy and plain to bright-eyed glamourous. 

How to Choose a Mascara

• If you want a natural look, use your hair colour to determine what mascara colour to use. Brunettes and those with black hair will do best with a black mascara , while blondes and redheads should opt for a brown mascara . Colourful mascara shouldn't be worn with conservative outfits, but if you are just going out for a fun night on the town, why not try a blue  or purple mascara ?
• Examine the mascara brush. If your lashes are naturally full and long, you'll need a thicker brush. Likewise, if you have sparse or small lashes, a small thin brush will suit you best. A tear-drop shaped brush helps curl your lashes, but not as well as a real eyelash curler  does.
• You have to choose whether water-soluble or waterproof mascara is best for you. Water-soluble mascara comes off easily without makeup remover, which reduces the amount of rubbing you'll have to do around your eye area (which can lead to saggy skin). However, for occasions when it is likely that crying will be involved (a wedding or a tear-jerking movie, for example), water-soluble mascaras will leave you looking like a mess. Athlethes and those with oily skin should opt for waterproof mascara. Use waterproof mascara for occasions when it is likely that you will cry, sweat, get rained on, or be in the sun for long amounts of time.
• Examine the texture of the mascara. Those with naturally long lashes do best with thicker mascaras, while lighter mascaras suit those with shorter lashes.
• If you have a lot of allergies or sensitive skin, use a hypoallergenic mascara .

Types of Mascara

Non-Mascara  Clear mascaras  and lash tint . The look is natural. Great for first time mascara wearers or those with long but light colored lashes who wish to make them stand out without adding volume or length. It can double as eyebrow gel .	Soft and Natural  These claim to give feathery, natural looking lashes without clumps. They build the lashes slightly to give them color and definition. Ideal for young girls or those who like a "natural look." Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara	Lengthening  Lengthening mascara gives you mile-long lashes but sometimes thickness is sacrificed. The look is elegant and glamorous. Good for those with thick or thin lashes that are shorter than they would like. YSL Intense Lengthening mascara	Volumizing  Volume mascara is what gives you the "false eyelash" look of ultra-thick, fat lashes. This is ideal for wearing out at night to give a sultry look to your eyes. A must-have for those with thin lashes.

Quick Picks

YSL Luxurious Mascara  Gives a great false-lash effect!	Benefit Bad Gal Lash  For attention-grabbing, false-like lashes. The brush is extra thick!	Diorshow Mascara  This was inspired by runway shows and is getting rave reviews. The brush is extremely long and curved, making thick, long lashes.	Stila Fibre Optics Mascara  Ths mascara actually plumps your lashes-- in a mere seconds! Great for transforming tiny, thin lashes into pure feminine beauty.	Le 2 de Guerlain  Guerlain introduces a two brush mascara for individually defined lashes. The larger brush transforms thicker lashes with a single stroke, while the smaller brush goes on after to enhance finer, smaller lashes. Perfect for a more natural, long-lashed look.

Related Guides

Eyeliner	Eye Shadows	Illuminating Cheek Makeup	Bronzers	Lipsticks

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
NL: Mascara Shopgids