With so many people relying on expensive salon treatments, such as eyelash extensions, perms and tints, it's worth remembering that mascara technology has come a long way over the last few years, promising plump, sky-high, defined lashes with just a few swipes of a mascara wand. We all dream of it: Having long, voluminous natural lashes. Now, it's possible to bring that dream closer to reality with the innovative technology of tubing mascara. Though you can also get that dramatic look with fake lashes and lash extensions from brands like Lashify or magentic lashes, the benefit of using a tubing mascara is that it's easy and simple (all you do is swipe it onto your lashes as you would with any other product, and the tubing technology does the rest of the work). "Unlike traditional wax-based mascaras, this technology does not adhere/glue to a hair fiber," says Good Housekeeping Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann. "Instead, it encapsulates individual lashes by forming a tube-like coating." This results in excellent lengthening effects and more intense color. Mascara wands come in all shapes and sizes, and this factor really affects the results. Whitfield recommends different brush shapes depending on whether you want more length, volume, or curl: Indeed, clumpy mascara can also be the result of your technique. With excess product on the mascara wand, too much pressure, numerous coats, and an expired formula, you, too, could end up with clumpy-looking lashes. Yet for the most part, there are some excellent options out there that make it extremely hard to mess up because of their wand design and formulation. In other words, they're mistake-proof, and you can swipe with abandon without fearing spider lashes. No matter which formula you eventually choose, here’s a tip from legendary make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury on the best application technique: "As you drag the brush up from the base of your lashes, zig-zag the wand from side to side. This creates more volume as you are depositing more product onto your eyelashes."

Unlike traditional mascaras, tubing mascaras wrap around each individual lash, creating extreme length, volume, and curl. "A tubed formula is also pretty smudge-proof, since it seals a rubber-like tube around each individual lash — almost like a rain coat,” New York makeup artist Neil Scibelli previously told InStyle. Yet the tubes slide right off when removing them at night for less rubbing and pain. If I could only use one makeup product for the rest of my life, it would be mascara. I can have no other makeup on, but a simple swipe instantly opens my eyes, making me look more youthful and awake. With how often I — and pretty much every other makeup wearing person uses it — it makes sense to invest in a tube that truly delivers in length, volume, and staying power. Everyday there seems to be a new mascara on the market, though, giving me FOMO over whether I’m truly using the best one. Selecting a formula comes down to what’s important to you. Besides benefits like volume or length, you can choose between clean and vegan formulas (like Ilia Limitless Lash Lengthening Mascara), those with nourishing oils (our favorite is UOMA Drama Bomb Extreme Volume Nourishing Mascara), and/or tubing technology that offers more water-resistance (like Tarte Tartelette™ Tubing Mascara). Your Questions, Answered What’s the best way to apply mascara? If you’re looking for a mascara that allows you to build waterproof volume with minimal effort, this is a great option. This is the best mascara for all of your lash needs. It does everything: lifts, lengthens, defines andadds volume. Transforming your lashes in every way, it's infused with vitamin B5 to condition and nourish lashes (plus, it makes it super easy to remove).Kelli Anne Sewell is a professional makeup artist and founder of Makeup by Kelli Anne, a makeup tutorial platform. Emily Cieslak is an assistant commerce editor for InStyle, covering everything from the best makeup products to the latest fashion trends. Mascara is the only makeup product she uses daily, and she has tried every tube from department stores to drugstores.

Red, watery eyes are the last thing you want after applying makeup, right? Well, this clean formula is ophthalmologist-tested and won’t irritate even the most sensitive eyes. “My eyes tend to get irritated easily, so I am very cautious about what I use on and around them,” writes senior commerce writer Eva Thomas. “Other mascaras have caused my eyes to burn and water, but Ilia's almost feels like I'm not wearing anything on my lashes at all.”Caitlyn Martyn is a commerce writer on staff at Byrdie, where she covers beauty and style-related topics. She is an experienced product tester and has tried hundreds of mascaras over the years, including a number of the formulas that appear on this list. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ The only con worth noting: Some online reviewers say that it can take several coats to achieve significant volume. However, we noticed fuller, elongated lashes after one swipe. I love to coat both the top and bottom of the lashes by curling and combing the lash out from above before wiggling [the mascara wand] upward from the root,” says Whitfield. “This evenly distributes the product to keep the lash from looking heavy and less curled. You will also have less product transfering onto your under eye skin as the mascara is not solely underneath the lash.”

As for your bottom lashes, turn the brush vertically. "The thinner end will help you control your application with more precision," Charlotte adds. When selecting a drugstore mascara, you want to keep your overall goals in mind. If you have extremely light lashes, you may want a highly pigmented formula, like the e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Big Mood Mascara. If you have short lashes, a lengthening formula, like the Essence Cosmetics Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara, will be your BFF. If you have limp lashes, a volumizing and lifting formula—like the L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara—can help give them more shape. As for the aforementioned removal, it’s not that Big Mood is terribly difficult to remove—it’s just that it’s so pigmented that it required two cotton rounds soaked with micellar water to remove it completely. Still, that just goes to show the long-lasting wear power of this drugstore must-have. Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara is neither lightweight nor chunky. In just one coat, it noticeably lengthened and lifted our lashes. Also, the wand is made with spiked plastic, rather than with bristles, which we believe adds to the ultra-defined, easy-to-apply nature of the mascara. That said, the wand is very flexible (purposefully so), and the formula itself is lighter than we expected—both of which made it more difficult to adequately coat lashes from base to ends in one fell swoop. Instead, it required a few coats to achieve noticeably darker and defined lashes. But once we did apply a few coats, the results were noticeable.And then of course, the next decision is do you need a long-wearing, hardy waterproof formula? If you have watery eyes or are prone to smudginess, you may want to opt to shop a waterproof (or at the very least water-resistant) buy. The best tips for applying mascara Neil Scibelli is a makeup artist and beauty expert based in New York City. His clients include major supermodels, recording artists, and fashion houses. His work has been featured on national television, in print and online magazines, on the red carpet, and on runways during New York Fashion Week.

But change is good, right? So, which new mascaras are worth turning your head for? Which clever new wands and lash boosting formulas really are worth the hype? Be advised that this mascara isn’t labeled as cruelty-free, nor is it Byrdie Clean, as it contains paraffin and PEGs. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker but is more something to think about if you place a high value on those qualifications. Each mascara was rated on a scale of one to five for performance, separation and clumping, wand design, wear, and ease of removal. At the end of the testing period, Rebecca selected the top eight drugstore mascaras and offered input as to why the others didn’t make the cut. All testing was conducted at her home in the Washington, D.C. area.

While some waterproof formulas can be nearly impossible to remove without harsh rubbing with makeup remover, this one came off surprisingly well with just a few swipes of a cotton pad soaked in makeup remover. It’s not often that a brand groups a moisturizer and a mascara under the same line, but considering that Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost line is all about plumping and replenishing, it makes sense. Just like the iconic moisturizer, this mascara utilizes the power of hyaluronic acidfor its hydrating and plumping benefits. The nourishing formula and the tapered wand work in tandem to provide extreme volume and a silky feel in just one coat. Curl your lashes, focusing on the ends and corners. Make sure to clamp down for at least 15 seconds to allow the curl to set.