Mascara is the eye filler of the makeup world. Trust me, mascara has the power to uplift you, your eyelashes, and them h8ers (just kidding!) The fact that one tool can liven up a look with just the swipe of a wand is both incredible and cost-effective!

As a beauty editor, I get sent a lot of makeup—to review, to admire and to write about! And through mediums like this blog and my Instagram, I always update other beauty aficionados about the best, and not-so-worth-it buys. Keeping that in mind, my makeup closet is filled with many lipsticks, eyeshadows, eyeliners and so on. Most of which I give to my mother, sisters or friends to make room in my closet for other things.

However, one item I refuse to give up is mascara! I have exactly 27 (28 if you’re counting a mini-sized one) mascaras and boy, oh boy, do they never bore me. It’s probably the only single tube of formula that gets me excited and happy. And while I care for all 28 of my children, there are 4 that I truly love and always go back to! Check out why I love these 4 mascaras…

A few things I look for in a mascara:

  • Lengthening, thickening and voluminising
  • Defining
  • Curling
  • Non-Clumping
  • Waterproof

1. Bobbi Brown Smokey Mascara

  • Enhances your natural lashes
  • Has thicker bristles that really holds the formula
  • The fibre bristles give you length and volume
  • Gives off a super full and dramatic look
Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara
Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara

2. Essence Plump No Clump Volume Mascara

  • A comb-like mascara with rubber bristles
  • Voluminises and curls
  • Great for defining short lashes
  • Doesn’t pick up too much product on the wand
Essence Plump No Clump Volume Mascara
Essence Plump No Clump Volume Mascara

3. Smashbox Super Fan Mascara

  • Has a flexible rubber tip with sufficiently spaced bristles
  • Lengthens and defines each lash
  • Has a dome-like fanned shape
  • Deposits the mascara equally
Smashbox Super Fan Mascara
Smashbox Super Fan Mascara

4. Too Faced Better Than Sex

  • Hourglass wand
  • P

icks up a lot of productHas a heavy and thick formula

  • Doesn’t clump up the lashes

Works in one swipe 

  • Waterproof
Too Face Better Than Sex
Too Face Better Than Sex

Here are a couple of tips when it comes to applying mascara:

  • Remove the excess from the wand
  • Wiggle the wand from the root of your lash to the tip
  • Apply a thin layer first, then coat on more
  • For the lower lashes, hold the wand vertically

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