Choosing a mascara: volume, length or waterproof

Volume or length

Most mascaras promise one thing above all.

• Volume. The formula thickens each lash, so lashes look fuller. Examples are L'Oréal Paris Volume Million Lashes, Lancôme Hypnôse and Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils.
• Length. A thinner coat that pulls lashes apart, so they look longer and more separated. Examples are Estée Lauder Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara and Sensai Separating & Lengthening Mascara 38°C.
• Both. Some mascaras name volume and length, such as Maybelline The Falsies Surreal.

Thin, fair lashes often suit a volume mascara. If your lashes are already full and tend to clump, a lengthening one gives more separation.

The brush

The brush shapes how the formula lands on your lashes. A thick brush with lots of bristles deposits more product and suits volume. A slim or comb-like brush reaches the small lashes in the corners and on the lower lid, and separates better. A curved brush follows the shape of your eyelid. The description or the product photo usually shows which brush a mascara has.

Regular, waterproof or tubing

Regular mascara comes off with your usual cleanser or micellar water.

Waterproof mascara is made not to run with water, rain or tears. Many well-known mascaras come in a waterproof version, such as Clinique High Impact Waterproof, Lancôme Lash Idôle Waterproof, Max Factor Masterpiece Waterproof and L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Waterproof. La Roche-Posay makes Toleriane Waterproof Mascara, which the brand describes as being for sensitive eyes.

Tubing mascara wraps each lash in tiny tubes. Brands often say these come off with warm water, without remover. Do read the directions on your own mascara, because some brands still point to an eye make-up remover. Sensai puts a temperature in the name: according to Sensai, the Separating & Lengthening Mascara 38°C comes off with warm water at 38 °C or above. One version of essence Lash Extreme is simply called Tubing.

Removing it without rubbing

Waterproof mascara does not dissolve well in water, so use a two-phase eye make-up remover with an oil layer that you shake before use. Lancôme says its Bi-Facil also removes waterproof make-up, and Biotherm Biocils is made for waterproof eye make-up too. Hold a soaked cotton pad on your closed eye for a few seconds, then wipe gently downwards, so there is no need to rub.

For regular mascara, micellar water is often enough, such as Bioderma Sensibio H2O. Where removing make-up fits into an evening routine is in the order of skincare.

How long does a mascara last?

Cosmetics packaging shows a small open jar with a number, such as 6M. That is how many months the product stays good after opening, according to the maker. Check that number on your mascara and close the cap firmly after use.

Compare every mascara and other eye product under eye make-up.