There's a reason Grandma Sue has been using the same tube of mascara since 1972: finding a great new formula you love can be more convoluted than finding the perfect fitted jeans, and can take the same amount of trial and error.
That's the bad news. The good news is that 2019 was the year that all changed. There is a new wave of mascaras hitting the market that promise to enhance your god-given assets — curling, lengthening, and fattening your lashes with aplomb.
Think it's all hype? Allow us to introduce you to the ones that actually live up to it, ahead.
First of all, a good clean mascara is hard to find. Using one often feels like you're gently highlighting your lashes with tinted coconut oil. But the Saie Mascara ($24) is so good, it might just be a cult favorite in the making. The rubbery brush really lets you define your lashes (it even has extra spikes at the end so you can get into the inner and outer corners), and the formula is layerable for tons of volume and length. It also won't smudge or flake, but it rinses off easily at the end of the day — the fact that it's clean is a bonus.
The ergonomic wand of L'Oréal's Makeup Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Mascara ($13) clicks into a 45-degree angle to help you get every last lash, but it does a damn good job separating and defining them in an upright position, too.
The Pat McGrath Labs FetishEyes Mascara ($28, out Feb. 14) is the one up-and-comer that will. not. clump. We put the formula to the test, adding layer after layer throughout the day, and experienced no clusters — no kidding.
Somewhere between bright blue and jet black is Maybelline Snapscara Washable Mascara ($8), an easy-on, easy-off formula that makes lashes look perfectly curled while leaving behind a subtle tinge of color.
Like everyone's favorite Better Than Sex mascara, the CoverGirl Exhibitionist Mascara ($8) has an hourglass-shaped wand that works volumizing magic — and never smudges, flakes, or clumps like it, too. And you can't beat that price.