Truthfully, there’s no “better” wand between the two options. “I really find that that’s a matter of preference,” says Thomas. “It’s up to the user whether they prefer a brush that carries more product or helps them to define and separate better.” Traditional wands tend to hold a lot more mascara than molded brushes as there are more nooks and crannies between wire bristles for the formula to get into — this means you’ll be able to load on some significant pigment for a more bolder look with boosted volume. Molded brushes, especially those that have spiky tips, are helpful for creating separation and definition, says Thomas. This mascara from Gwen Stefani’s makeup line has been receiving a great deal of hype —and it’s actually worthy. The formula doesn’t dry stiff (a pet peeve of ours), but rather leaves lashes feeling soft, flexible, and natural while creating a doe-eyed look. This is due to the castor and argan oil-infused formula, which actually conditions lashes with wear.

Perversion Mascara contains Hairdensyl, a complex blend of proteins and amino acids—including marine glycogen, known to stimulate lash growth. Honey extract provides deep nourishment, sea idrolized elastine stimulates the hair follicle, and marine collagen protects. In addition to providing impressive length, it worked wonders in terms of giving the lashes a curled and lifted finish. If you struggle to coat your inner lashes as one of our testers does, this could be just the mascara you need. She explained that while she usually struggles to lengthen the small lashes at her inner corners, this product eliminates that problem. She did note that she wished the application was more even but admitted that the issue could be attributed to the shape of her eye, so everyone may not have the same experience. Lastly, consider how you sleep. Of course, you’ll be going to bed after fully removing your makeup (right?), but sleeping on your face can wreak havoc on your lashes. “If you are a face sleeper, a silk pillowcase can be especially helpful for retaining moisture in your skin and hair,” recommends Thomas.Ultimately, this formula is best used for a more natural and flirty aesthetic, so if you are trying to build up layer after layer, you may just see more of the same. That said, we do enjoy using it as a “base coat” of sorts for bolder looks, giving lashes a nourishing foundation beneath standard volumizing mascaras.

Of all the formulas we tested, we felt this one yielded the most impressive results. That’s due to the fact that it delivers well-rounded benefits. Instead of just offering length or volume, The Big Clean provides both while curling and making lashes look denser. The combination of all of these benefits in one formula means that in just one coat, it appears like we’re wearing a set of ultra-plush, high-quality falsies.Urban Decay For lashings of sex appeal and high voltage drama, introduce Perversion Mascara into your make up bag. Effect: Defining, lengthening | Formula: Washable and waterproof versions | Brush type: Skinny, low-profile brush with sparse, short bristles