Like finding your one true love, hunting down the perfect mascara often seems like an impossible task. It has to tick all your boxes, perform to perfection and last as long as you need it to. Although the high street is awash with thousands of options, the majority of them aren't worth wasting your hard earned cash on - there's a definite knack to developing the perfect black mascara. I've tried hundreds and right now these five are my definite favourites, providing everything I need and more. Here's why I love them so much my heart is all a flutter...
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1. L'Oreal Miss Manga (£8.99)
I'm always pretty dubious when it comes to budget buy mascaras, but every so often you stumble across a gem. This launched at the beginning of the year and promised Japanese Manga inspired lashes, wide and voluminous to make your eyes seem far more awake. This is my go-to mascara on a daily basis, as it provides me with lots of volume and length that looks perfect with a nude makeup look. The brush is super bendy, allowing you to get to all the little lashes, while the formula can be built up for a more impactful result. At £8.99, this is definitely one to pick up ASAP. (There's a full review here.)
2. Eyeko Black Magic (£18.00)
This mascara has definitely been a grower, rather than one I instantly fell in love with. The curved brush makes it easy to work lashes upwards, opening the eyes and creating a natural result. The formula is also quite dry, meaning it's incredibly difficult to clump - perfect if you struggle with spider lashes! A great mascara to use both day and night, it also comes in a navy blue version which brings out the whites in your eyes and perfectly complements a blue iris. (A more in depth review is here.)
3. Clinique Lash Power Feathering (£18.00)
Possibly my favourite launch of the last couple of years, this mascara offers me everything I want and more. Its gloopy formula works well to build lashes and create an incredibly natural flutter that looks as soft as a feather, while the small wand makes it easy to create volume from even the smallest of lashes. It provides the look of false lashes, without the need to faff around with glue. I can't sing the praises of this mascara enough, so simply get out and grab one now! (Check out the full review here.)
4. Clinique Bottom Lash (£12.00)
This lingered in my mascara drawer for quite some time before I started using it, but boy I'm glad I did. Traditional mascara wands aren't designed for the intricacy needed to cover your bottom lashes, often ending up in a gloopy mess and dark marks on your lower lids. This super cute mascara is great at covering every single bottom lash effortlessly, helping to open eyes and provide a delicate doll like effect. I use it with pretty much every mascara, as it provides much more control.
5. Lancôme Hypnôse Drama (£22.50)
It's called 'drama' for a reason - it packs some serious punch. Great for creating a powerful and dramatic flutter, this is the mascara I turn to on a Saturday night when I'm after some serious smokey eyes. The thick brush ensures you can pile on the product, building lashes up to create both volume and length. It has great staying power too, lasting all night long (and even through to the next morning if you're naughty!)
So these are my current mascara lust-haves. What are yours?![]()
1. L'Oreal Miss Manga (£8.99)
I'm always pretty dubious when it comes to budget buy mascaras, but every so often you stumble across a gem. This launched at the beginning of the year and promised Japanese Manga inspired lashes, wide and voluminous to make your eyes seem far more awake. This is my go-to mascara on a daily basis, as it provides me with lots of volume and length that looks perfect with a nude makeup look. The brush is super bendy, allowing you to get to all the little lashes, while the formula can be built up for a more impactful result. At £8.99, this is definitely one to pick up ASAP. (There's a full review here.)
2. Eyeko Black Magic (£18.00)
This mascara has definitely been a grower, rather than one I instantly fell in love with. The curved brush makes it easy to work lashes upwards, opening the eyes and creating a natural result. The formula is also quite dry, meaning it's incredibly difficult to clump - perfect if you struggle with spider lashes! A great mascara to use both day and night, it also comes in a navy blue version which brings out the whites in your eyes and perfectly complements a blue iris. (A more in depth review is here.)
3. Clinique Lash Power Feathering (£18.00)
Possibly my favourite launch of the last couple of years, this mascara offers me everything I want and more. Its gloopy formula works well to build lashes and create an incredibly natural flutter that looks as soft as a feather, while the small wand makes it easy to create volume from even the smallest of lashes. It provides the look of false lashes, without the need to faff around with glue. I can't sing the praises of this mascara enough, so simply get out and grab one now! (Check out the full review here.)
4. Clinique Bottom Lash (£12.00)
This lingered in my mascara drawer for quite some time before I started using it, but boy I'm glad I did. Traditional mascara wands aren't designed for the intricacy needed to cover your bottom lashes, often ending up in a gloopy mess and dark marks on your lower lids. This super cute mascara is great at covering every single bottom lash effortlessly, helping to open eyes and provide a delicate doll like effect. I use it with pretty much every mascara, as it provides much more control.
5. Lancôme Hypnôse Drama (£22.50)
It's called 'drama' for a reason - it packs some serious punch. Great for creating a powerful and dramatic flutter, this is the mascara I turn to on a Saturday night when I'm after some serious smokey eyes. The thick brush ensures you can pile on the product, building lashes up to create both volume and length. It has great staying power too, lasting all night long (and even through to the next morning if you're naughty!)
So these are my current mascara lust-haves. What are yours?