13 Best mascaras to buy in Australia in 2024
Forget the panda eyes, this innovative mascara promises a smudgeproof and water resistant formula – and it rings in at under $50.
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Makeup trends might come and go, but full and long lashes are always in style.
Obviously, the easiest way to achieve this look is by using mascara, but it isn’t as simple as just applying a few strokes and hey presto, lash city.
Instead, it’s important to find the best mascara for your eyelash type and lifestyle, just as you would a foundation or lipstick.
Have long but sparse natural lashes? You probably want to try out a volumising mascara.
Struggle with stubborn straight lashes? You’re going to want something seriously lash lifting.
Live in a humid, hot climate? Waterproof or tubular mascaras are your best friend.
One of our favourites is the best-selling Benefit BADGal Bang Volumising Mascara. One of these mascaras sells every eight seconds and is loved worldwide. Not only is it water-resistant, volumising and smudgeproof but it also lasts for 36 hours too.
OUR TOP PICKS
EDITOR’S PICKS: BEST MASCARAS WE’VE TRIED
Benefit BADGal Bang Volumising Mascara, $49 at Adore Beauty
Benefit BADGal Bang Volumising Mascara
Tried and Tested by Philippa Tonkin, news.com.au Shopping Writer
Benefit’s BADGAL Bang Volumising mascara is water resistant, meaning it won’t smudge and is designed to last for up for 36 hours. It’s super easy to layer and contains ProVitamin B5 to help grow strong, thick lashes.
When I first opened the tube I was a bit put off by the thin angled brush but my concerns went away as quickly as they came. Applying the mascara is like a dream. I can easily reach the corners of my eyes that I normally struggle with and each lash gets perfectly coated. I wear it all day at work and have zero problems.
I normally don’t like to wear mascara to work as I am prone to accidentally rubbing them and ending up with panda eyes but this mascara is seriously smudge-proof.
I’ve tried a fair few mascaras in my life and this is one I will definitely repurchase.
Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Universal Volumising Mascara, $39 at Sephora
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
We’ve all heard great things about Rare Beauty, the beauty brand created by none other than Selena Gomez – but does it really live up to the hype? The Perfect Strokes mascara was one of the first products I tried and I was surprisingly impressed.
Full disclosure, my Greek hairy genes blessed me with super long lashes. So when it comes to a mascara, I look for something that doesn’t so much lengthen, but rather lifts and makes them look super curled and thick with volume.
I’ve been using this mascara exclusively for six months now and I simply can’t live without it. The brush manages to catch every lash – even the ones in the inner corner that just don’t want to be curled.
The formulation is super lightweight and buildable, so if you’re into the layered look, you can apply as many coats as you like.
I also love that my lashes stay curled and looking thick all day long.
For a celebrity beauty brand, I’m also super pleased with the price point. While it’s not an affordable chemist mascara, $35 is a price I would happily pay again for a great mascara like this one.
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
I have very stubborn lashes so I am incredibly picky with my mascaras. They can’t be clumpy, need to last all-day with no smudging or fallout and need to have a somewhat natural finish (think ‘my lashes but better’). I’m not asking for too much, right?
When my colleagues recommended this Rare Beauty mascara to me, I was pleasantly surprised because it actually ticked all those boxes.
Although the wand is quite big and chunky, the mascara itself is great at lengthening and adding volume to my lashes without looking OTT. I personally do one to two coats but you can definitely build it up with more coats to add extra volume and length.
I’ve worn it all day with no worries as it doesn’t flake or smudge, it’s not irritating and it’s very easy to take off – no panda eyes!
It’s become a fast favourite in my makeup routine and it truly is the best mascara I’ve ever used – an unexpected holy grail even (and I don’t say this lightly!)
Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara, $34 at Fenty Beauty
Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara
Tried and Tested by Hannah Paine, news.com.au checkout Editor
This mascara does exactly what it says – it gives serious volume to your lashes. I love this mascara for nights out as it’s highly pigmented and its brush manages to pick up every single lash for a voluminous black lash look. My only complaint is that it does tend to transfer onto my skin a bit (which I don’t love) so I haven’t found it to be sweat or transfer-resistant for me. But if you’re looking for a big dose of volume that looks like false lashes, this is the mascara for you.
BEST MASCARA FOR SHORT EYELASHES
MAC COSMETICS Extended Play Gigablack Lash, $48 at Myer
M.A.C COSMETICS Extended Play Giga Black Lash
What You Need To Know
The MAC Cosmetics Extended Play Lash mascara is a smudge-proof and flake-proof formula that promises to seriously lengthen and make even the shortest of lashes super long and fluffy.
The brush is long and thin, making it easy to catch every lash and define it with mascara.
The Extended Play Lash mascara has an average score of 4.5 out of five on Google Reviews from almost 3000 ratings.
Countless happy customers rave on about how well this mascara works to lengthen your lashes.
“The best for short lashes … definitely recommend for short and fine lashes,” one five-star reviewer said.
BEST TUBULAR MASCARA
“A tubing or tubular mascara has a formula that wraps around the entire lash strand to create water-resistant ‘tubes’,” explains MCoBeauty and ModelCo CEO and founder Shelley Sullivan.
“They are usually flake-free, sweatproof, and last all day until easily washed off with warm water.”
McoBeauty XtendLash Mascara, $28 at THE ICONIC
McoBeauty XtendLash Mascara
What You Need To Know
Loved by celebrities like Celeste Barber and Martha Kalifatidis, MCoBeauty sells one of their XtendLash Mascaras every 39 seconds.
It’s designed to not only lengthen lashes but more importantly stay put all day, making it an ideal choice for work days.
“Our MCoBeauty XtendLash Mascara formula wraps around each lash for maximum length, definition and hold,” Shelley said.
“Once applied, the lightweight, glossy black formulation binds to lashes and will not run, smudge, clump, or flake – no more panda eyes.
“XtendLash’s innovative tubular formulation is buildable depending on desired look and lifts and coats each lash with zero-smudge tubes.”
It’s also been named the favourite by TikTok star @indyclinton, where she demonstrated applying it in this video here.
“Wow,” she says. “It makes a huge difference to my makeup routine.”
She adds, “This is the mascara that everyone needs.”
BEST AFFORDABLE MASCARA
Rimmel London Extra Super Lash Mascara, $6.97 (down from $8.39) at Amazon Australia
Tried and Tested by Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
This drugstore mascara comes highly recommended by several members of the news.com.au checkout team, who resoundly agree that it is one of the best value mascaras you can buy.
It did a great job at lengthening my lashes. I’ve even been mistaken for wearing falsies.
The downside is that it can clump, so it’s important to scrape any excess product off the wand before applying.
It promises to make your lashes longer and thicker without clumping or sticking them together in the process.
The Extra Super Lash Mascara contains vitamin E to nourish lashes for a healthy full lash finish.
BEST MAYBELLINE MASCARA
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara, $25.99 at Adore Beauty
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
What You Need To Know
Infused with volumising fibres and bamboo extract, the flex tower brush coats lashes evenly from root to tip.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara is also tested by an ophthalmologist, making it ideal for anyone who wears contacts or has sensitive eyes.
It has an average 4.4 star rating on Google from over 13,000 reviews, with five-star reviews calling it their “holy grail” and “the best mascara I have ever used”.
BEST L’OREAL MASCARA
L’Oreal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara, $31.99 at Adore Beauty
L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara
What You Need To Know
If you’re wondering why this mascara sounds familiar it’s because it nearly broke TikTok when it launched. One of the platform’s biggest beauty influencers Mikayla Nogueira posted a TikTok in January reviewing the Telescopic Lift Mascara but the before and after shots had people speculating she had used false lashes to boost the final look.
While Mikayla has never responded to the accusations she had some help boosting her lashes, it hasn’t stopped the positive reviews from rolling in for the now-cult mascara.
“I really wanted to hate this and say it was all hype, but it’s so good,” @melisdoesmakeup said in one TikTok review.
“I was upset that these influencers were lying, but I don’t think they're lying, this is good.”
This mascara is ophthalmologist-tested with a double hook brush that allows you to lift and separate lashes for ultimate length.
Five star reviews say it gives them “brilliant length and volume”, with one writing: “When I saw photos online of people using this mascara I truly thought they must be wearing false lashes, but this has given my lashes such length I’m in love with it!
“It’s a really pigmented black also so you get that ultra dark lash which I love.”
BEST MASCARA FOR SENSITIVE EYES
Eye Of Horus Goddess Mascara, $39 at THE ICONIC
What You Need To Know
Chock-full of natural botanicals used in beauty dating back to the days of ancient Egyptians, this mascara will not only give you high impact lashes but also look after them in the process.
Ingredients include beeswax to stop the mascara from running or smudging, rice bran to soften brittle lashes and nutrient dense moringa oil to fight free radical damage.
“As someone with super sensitive eyes, I was really excited to try this mascara,” Consumer Technology Reporter Lauren Chaplin says.
“It never feels itchy or irritating (which is something I’ve experienced with other products) and the formula is cruelty free, which is always a tick in my book.
“The formula is both volumising and lengthening and lasts all day without smudging. While it doesn’t offer a dramatic, ‘false-lash’ effect, it does a nice job of enhancing the lashes while maintaining a natural look.”
BEST CURLING MASCARA
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara, $49 at THE ICONIC
Tried and Tested by Hannah Paine, news.com.au checkout Editor
This mascara stands out from all the rest thanks to its patent-pending “hook ‘n’ roll” brush which has — you guessed it — specially designed tiny hooks to catch, lift and curl even the smallest of lashes.
It’s inspired by hair rollers and really delivers on its promise to curl lashes.
It’s also the mascara social media sensation Alix Earle uses in her highly sought-after lash routine.
In a TikTok that’s been viewed over 10 million times, Alix shared how she achieved her signature full lash look by using an eyelash curler, waterproof mascara and then finishing with Benefit Cosmetic’s Roller Lash Mascara.
“This does a really good at lengthening them and just separating them into the right place,” she said.
After seeing the results Alix achieved (and seeing others on TikTok rave about her results) I knew I had to give it a go as my lashes are stubbornly straight and blonde.
I used the same eyelash curler as Alix – the Tweezerman Deluxe Eyelash Curler. I didn’t curl them quite as intensely as Alix does but I did make sure to hold the curl for a few seconds each side.
I then coated my eyelashes in a layer of the MCoBeauty Waterproof Full Lash Mascara before following up with the Benefit Cosmetic’s Roller Lash Mascara which really lifted my lashes.
Applying two mascaras did cause a fair bit of smudging under and above my eyes but after a quick clean up I was impressed by the results.
Sure, it didn’t look like I had false eyelashes on, but my eyelashes did look more curled and lifted than usual. It’s probably a bit too heavy for me to wear on an everyday basis but I’d definitely do this again for a night out.
BEST LENGTHENING MASCARA
Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Eyes Mascara, $71 at Adore Beauty
What You Need To Know
This mascara is loved by Kim Kardashian, with her makeup artist Ash K Holm confirming that she uses two coats of it (and no falsies) to achieve the star’s gorgeously lifted lashes.
The cone-shaped brush helps coat mascara evenly through each lash from tip to end for a doll-like finish (as the name suggests). Plus, it really helps to add length and extends beyond your bare lashes.
“Awesome mascara to get a good even coverage and it spreads and curls lashes really well – no clumping,” one five star review reads.
BEST VOLUMISING MASCARA
Poni The White Knight Mascara, $32 at Esmi
What You Need To Know
Three words, one person: That’s all you need to know about this mascara. Beauty extraordinaire Zoe Foster-Blake has been raving about Poni’s tubing mascara for years, saying it is perfect “for swims with no panda eyes”.
“This one still has the best volume of any I’ve tried,” she said of The White Knight mascara on her Instagram story.
BEST WATERPROOF AND SMUDGE-PROOF MASCARA
M. A. C Mackstack Waterproof Mascara, $57 at Myer
M.A.C Mackstack Waterproof Mascara
What You Need To Know
Heading to an emotional day like a wedding or maybe even just about to watch a sad movie? Sometimes we all really need a quality waterproof mascara. And if you’re like me and you’re someone who cries at the drop of a hat, it’s more like every day when you need one.
This M.A.C. option is one of the best on the market. And not just when it comes to waterproof mascaras but mascaras in general.
It has a thin, sleek wand for easy access to the corners of your eyes and doesn’t leave your lashes in clumps either. Plus, five-star reviewers also say it’s easy to remove which isn’t often the case for waterproof mascaras.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING MASCARA
When choosing the right mascara for you, you’ll need to consider two things – your budget and the kind of formulation you want.
Prices of mascara can vary, all the way from $5 to usually under $100. You can find good picks at all price points, so don’t feel pressured to spend big on mascara if you don’t have the means to.
There are loads of different mascara formulations on the market – you can go for something traditional, a waterproof formula or even a tubing mascara. Plus, whether the mascara comes with a curved brush, a more slim style or an angled one can make a difference too.
You can also take your pick from a mascara that’s going to lengthen, add volume, add thickness, and make your lashes appear super curled – the list is truly endless!
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With hundreds of mascaras available, it’s impossible to test every one out there. To help you find the best mascara, we tested a few well-known brands at different price points. In addition, our shopping team read hundreds of customer reviews and looked at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best mascara for your makeup routine.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO APPLY MASCARA?
While certain products will have specific ways to apply their mascara, a general rule is start at the bottom of your lash line and work your way up.
“Sweep the mascara wand through the lashes from root to tip in a zigzag motion,” Shelley advises.
“Apply a second coat in the same motion for bolder, fuller lashes.”
HOW LONG CAN YOU KEEP MASCARA FOR?
Look — we’re all probably guilty of keeping beauty products for way longer than we’re supposed to, but it’s best to err on the side of caution when it comes to mascara.
“A good rule of thumb is to replace your mascaras every three months,” Shelley said. “This is because products used on/near your eyes have an increased risk of spreading bacteria.”
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO REMOVE MASCARA?
The best way to remove your mascara will depend on which one you’re using. Either way, you’ll want to be as gentle as possible.
“With a tubing mascara, the best way to remove it is to simply apply warm water and little gentle pressure to the lashes, which will easily slide the tubes of mascara of your eyelashes – no smearing down your face at all,” Shelley said.
“(The best way) to remove waterproof mascara and normal mascara is with a specific eye makeup remover, micellar water or an oil-based cleaner.”
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