How to Choose The Best Mascara For Your Lashes

Mascara is such an amazing makeup product and is a must-have in every makeup bag. Applying even just 1 coat of can really open up the eye area and make you look bright-eyed and refreshed in an instant. And that’s even without applying any other eye makeup products like eyeshadow or eyeliner. Plus, it only takes less than a minute to apply. However, choosing the best mascara for your eyes can actually seem so overwhelming. Which type should you buy? Volumising? Lengthening? What’s the difference between them all? Don’t worry. It really is so much simpler than you think. Let’s take a look at each one and find out how you can choose the perfect mascara for you.

The First Step To Finding Your Perfect Mascara

Before you even begin to go look at products, you want to first consider 2 things.

1. Your own eyelashes

Take a look at your own eyelashes.

How do they look?

Do you have thin eyelashes, long eyelashes, short eyelashes?

Once you’ve established this, you’ll be able to move on to the next point.

2. The type of look you want to achieve

Now that you’ve established what your own eyelashes are like, you can now think about the look you want to achieve.

Do you want your eyelashes to look thicker? Maybe you’d like them to look longer.

Once you’ve decided the look you’re going for, this will make it a lot easier to choose your perfect mascara.

Which type should I choose?

There are 4 main categories that mascara generally fall into. Let’s take a look at each one now.

1. Lengthening

This one does exactly what it says on the tin – it adds length to your lashes.

So if you have shorter eyelashes and you want to make them look longer, a lengthening mascara is the best mascara for you.

Even if you don’t have short lashes but you’d like to add more length to your lashes, a lengthening mascara is the one to go for here.

2. Thickening

If your lashes are a little on the thin side, this is the best mascara for you. A thickening mascara will make your lashes look thicker and fuller.

Now you may be thinking that this is what a volumising mascara does. But there is a difference. And I’ll explain this in greater detail in a moment.

3. Curling

Maybe you have very straight eyelashes that just refuse to hold a curl at all. If so, a curling mascara is the best mascara to help you with this, as the mascara wand is generally curved.

So this will help to really get that lovely curl on your lashes that you’re going for.

Tip:

Another great way to get a little extra curl in your lashes is to use an eyelash curler.

I know these can seem a little scary at first. But once you get the hang of using them, they’ll be a staple in your makeup bag.

If you do want to use an eyelash curler, ALWAYS curl your lashes with them BEFORE applying your mascara.

If you use the eyelash curler on your lashes after you’ve applied your mascara, you risk damaging and weakening your eyelashes.

Tip:

If you really don’t want to use an eyelash curler, there is another way you can get a curl in your lashes.

• Apply your mascara to your eyelashes.
• As you’re applying it, hold the mascara wand on your lashes for about 5-10 seconds.
• This will help give your lashes a bit more of a curl.

Now I will say that this method does not work as well as using an eyelash curler. However, every little helps. So give it a try.

4. Volumising

This one is basically a mix of all 3 of the above. So if you’re looking for length, fullness and a curl to your lashes, this will be the best mascara for you.

Mascara Wands

Something else that you might want to think about before you buy a mascara is the wand.

This is the tool you use to apply the mascara. It’s also another area where there is a lot of hype from many beauty companies. And again, this makes everything so confusing and overwhelming.

But if you already know me, then you’ll know that I like to keep things as simple as possible. So here are a few tips on choosing the best mascara wand for your eyelashes.

1. Consider the size of your eyes

The most important thing to think about when choosing the perfect mascara wand for you is the size of your eyes. If you have small eyes, it would be best to avoid mascara wands that are very large.

The reason is that you have less control over where the mascara is placed when you use a larger wand, as the wand tends to pick up a lot of product. This can result in too much product being applied to your lashes.

I don’t have small eyes, but I still prefer to avoid large mascara wands for the same reason.

I feel like I have to be really careful with the amount of product I’m applying if I use a large wand. Plus, it leads to more of the product smearing under and above my eyes.

Speaking of which, be sure to check out my short video tutorial on how to quickly and easily correct mascara mistakes.

2. Thin Wands

If you have short eyelashes and are looking for more length in your lashes, a thin wand with shorter bristles is best for you. This type of wand enables you to reach each lash from root to tip more easily, which will give you more length in your lashes.

I actually quite like these type of wands for giving more definition to my lashes too, as the small, dense bristles ensure that the mascara coats each lash evenly.

Plus, as the wand is thin, it’s perfect for reaching smaller lashes and for applying on the lower lashes too.

3. Soft Wands

Mascara wands that have very soft bristles tend to give a very natural-looking finish.

So if you’re looking for a look that’s not too dramatic and gives just a hint of definition and colour, this type of wand is perfect for you.

So which one is really the Best Wand?

To be honest, there really isn’t such a thing, as it really does come down to personal preference.

However, a good all-rounder that will suit almost everyone is a medium-sized wand. You really can’t go wrong with a wand like this and these are great to use until you get a bit more confident at applying mascara.

A Super Fun Way To Dispose Of Your Mascara Wands

Before you throw away your used mascara wands, I want to tell you about something really amazing you can do with them. You can donate them to the wonderful animal rescue organisation Appalachian Wildlife Refuge.

They use the wands to help remove fly eggs and larva from the fur of animals. The reason why the wands work so well is that the bristles are so close together.

Just make sure to wash the wands first before you send them. I absolutely LOVE this and it’s such a great way to recycle your mascara wands. ❤

And if you want to do even more to help our little furry friends, be sure to download your FREE Cruelty-Free Beauty Guide. Just click the form below to get your FREE guide instantly.

I really hope you found this post helpful. And hopefully, it won’t be as overwhelming next time you go to buy a mascara.

Now I’d love to hear from you. What’s your biggest struggle when it comes to mascara?

Are you sometimes overwhelmed by all the many types you see in the stores and in magazines? Or do you find it difficult to apply it?

Maybe you struggle with both of these issues?

I’d love you to share in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer any questions that you have.

P.S: Are you in need of even more help with your makeup routine and some 1 on 1 attention where we concentrate solely on the products and techniques that are PERFECT for YOU? If so, a personalised 1-1 lesson would be perfect for you. Make sure to take a look here to find out the types of lessons I offer as well as the details of what’s included in your lesson and how they work.

And if you need help choosing which lesson type would be best suited to your needs, just send me a message here and I’d love to help you decide what’s best for you. xo