Best Mascara: The 2024 Glam Beauty Awards
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What would we ever do without mascara? We rely on it to make our lashes long and luscious, and without it, our eyes typically feel naked. After all, there's no such thing as a complete face without at least one coat of mascara, and we'd even argue that two is better. Since we can't try mascara on without purchasing it and opening the package, we can't really know if it's a keeper or tosser until it's too late and we're out of a few bucks. And then there are luxury brands where a single tube can cost $30, which is quite a gamble since it could be clumpy or not properly lengthen and thicken your lashes.
That's why we've done the work for you by testing 10 mascaras, ranging from drugstore picks to higher-end labels, to narrow down an overall winner and a full top five picks for 2024. That's right: We compiled our favorite mascaras for the 2023 Glam Beauty Awards, and we're back for another year of effortlessly full lashes. The ones that made it onto the 2024 Glam Beauty Awards list were ranked high by us for minimal to no clumping and how well they performed overall. Without further ado, let's break down the best mascaras of 2024.
Best Overall: ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara
ILIA may be a lesser-known brand compared to others on this list, which is why I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of its Limitless Lash Mascara. The formula is pretty dense without being clumpy, and I found that just one coat made my lashes thicker and longer. There was barely any need to go over them with a lash comb, and after I let the mascara dry, I went over my lashes with another swipe. Again, there was barely any clumping, and to be honest, the second coat wasn't even necessary — and this is coming from someone with sparse lashes.
The packaging is no-frills — the tube is plain white with ILIA's logo stamped onto the base in neat letters, which aligns with the brand's eco-friendly mission. According to ILIA's website, the mascara packaging has been reformulated to significantly lower carbon emissions and waste. The ingredients also don't contain carbon black, which is said to be a carcinogen. Instead, ILIA employs charcoal to attain its deep black color. The brush is a thin silicone with a slight curve in the middle to help hold a curl. It's not waterproof, but I didn't experience any flaking or smudging throughout the day. Plus, this formula was a breeze to take off.
Purchase the Limitless Lash Mascara at ILIA for $28.
Best Lengthening Mascara: Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
Maybelline is a leading drugstore brand for good reason, and its mascaras have a reputation for delivering high quality at an affordable price. The Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara does just what its name promises — it gave me lengthy lashes after just one coat. The formula is lightweight and buildable without looking overly thick, so you can get away with several swipes without your lashes looking spidery.
The mascara contains bamboo extract and fibers, which help your lashes get extra long. I don't know if it was the fibers doing their thing, but after the second coat, my lashes were noticeably longer. While they did look thicker, Maybelline's Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara is great for those who want super-long lashes. I tested the Cosmic Black color, which comes in a shiny black tube with pretty pink lettering. What's fun about this line is that the mascara also comes in shades of pink, burgundy, and blue, so if you want to hop on the colored mascara trend, you can with ease.
Purchase the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara at CVS for $12.99.
Best Volumizing Mascara: Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara
Rare Beauty has impressed makeup lovers everywhere since Selena Gomez launched the brand in 2020, and it's no surprise that the Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara made it on Glam's 2024 Beauty Awards list. If you're looking to beef up your lashes, this one is for you. The mascara comes in the standard petal pink Rare Beauty color and light gold lettering. And while I can write a paragraph about how pretty the minimalistic design is, I know you're here for the deets on how the mascara performed.
The fluffy brush combined with the formula gave me amazingly thick lashes upon the first application. While there was some clumping, it was minimal and easily remedied with a lash comb. There was definitely a lot more volume with the second coat, and to get the most out of the mascara, I recommend the wiggle-and-pull method on your lashes to deposit the product evenly. Rare Beauty mascara has a mid-tier price point, so it's pretty affordable at $20 a pop. If you want to try it out, you can get the mini version for just $11. A vegan and cruelty-free mascara that pumps up your lashes is sure to be a popular choice for many buyers.
Purchase the Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara at Sephora beginning at $11.
Best Natural Mascara: Covergirl Clump Crusher
If you want your lashes to pop subtly, you'll want to give the CoverGirl Clump Crusher a try. It has an amazing lightweight formula that lengthens and thickens your lashes without looking obvious. I was surprised at how easily the mascara glided onto my lashes on the first try. The curved silicone brush made it easy to slide the product on, while the stiff curved silicone brush helped swipe away any clumps. My lashes looked slightly beefed up but still maintained a feathery feeling, even after two coats. If you have naturally thick lashes and want to enhance them or are simply going for a natural look, the Clump Crusher is what you need.
The best part about CoverGirl's Clump Crusher is that you can layer it on as much as you want without it looking overly done-up. My lashes looked long and plump after two coats, but I tried out a third layer to see if they would experience any clumps. They definitely gained some volume, and while I did have to separate a small section of my lashes with a comb, they were mostly clump-free as promised. The cute lime-green tube also makes this mascara a gem.
Purchase the CoverGirl Clump Crusher at Ulta for $12.99.
Best Luxury Mascara: Lancôme Lash Idôle Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara
Let's face it: Sometimes we need a little splurge, and our lashes need some love, too. Lancôme's Lash Idôle Lengthening and Volumizing Mascara is the priciest on this list at $30, but it's worth it IMO. It instantly made my lashes thicker and longer while maintaining their natural softness. It's not waterproof, but the smudge-proof formula held up all day without smearing or flaking. The curved silicone brush helped maintain my curl, and the super short bristles made the application easy. The instructions suggest using the inner curve to create volume and the outside curve to make your lashes longer while separating them at the same time. I especially loved the tapered end, which helped get mascara on the inner and outer corners of my lashes.
Lancôme's Lash Idôle mascara is made from a gel formula and contains white tea extract to condition your lashes. If $30 is understandably too steep for you, there is also a travel size for $16, but the full-sized one is a great gift, especially to yourself.
Purchase the Lancôme Lash Idôle Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara on Amazon beginning at $16.