The 12 Best Mascaras for a Natural Makeup Look

1. Best Curling Mascara:

BENEFIT COSMETICS Roller Lash Mascara in Black

If your stick-straight lashes need all the curling help they can get, this mascara is ready to come to the rescue. The cult-favorite formula is a go-to among makeup artists, and an impressive 97 percent of people who wore this mascara reported seeing a noticeable lift in their lashes. This water-resistant formula (which is inspired by hair rollers) uses a patent-pending "Hook ‘n’ Roll" brush with tiny hooks designed to catch, lift, and curl those defiantly straight lashes for up to 12 hours.

"My favorite mascara. Doesn’t run or smudge," writes Ipster KMVollmer. "Does a great job of accenting my natural lash without feeling gunky."

2. Best Healthy Mascara Formula:

JUICE BEAUTY PHYTO-PIGMENTS Ultra-Natural Mascara

A natural-looking mascara made from natural ingredients? What a power combo. This mascara formula is packed with plant-derived pigments for a buildable, feathery-soft look. While the unique spiral-shaped brush coats every lash from all angles, the organic formula volumizes, hydrates, and separates using ingredients like tapioca, aloe juice, and vitamin E.

"This stuff is really great," says Ipster amethystdragon76. "Great coverage, wonderful wand for application. I've used their skincare line as well and I'm overall impressed with their quality."

3. Best Brown Mascara:

FLOWER BEAUTY Lash Warrior Mascara in Fierce Brown

While black may be the most popular mascara shade, it's certainly not the only option. If inky black formulas tend to look too bold for your liking, try using brown mascara instead. A little closer to your natural lash shade, this hue is perfect for adding subtle length and fullness without going over the top. This particular formula from Drew Barrymore's beauty brand is all about clump-free volume. The spiked bristles grab onto every last lash, coating it from root to tip in the natural dark brown shade.

4. Best for Active Days:

TARTE SEA Surfer Curl™ Volumizing Mascara

Looking for something subtle you can swipe on before a quick workout or weekend hike? This sweat-proof mascara has the perfect combination of staying power and healthy ingredients. While the tapered bristles on the brush reach every length of lash to lift and curl, nourishing ingredients like algae extract and vitamin E soothe, protect, and condition the lashes with every use. 

"This formula is the best," writes Ipster sometimesnj1. "Not too wet, but certainly not dry. The wand is also the perfect thickness and makes lashes go from small and dull to big and long, without looking fake or overdone."

5. Best Growth-Boosting Mascara:

BAREMINERALS Strength & Length Serum-Infused Mascara

If you're trying to get to a place where your natural lashes are full and long enough to sometimes skip mascara entirely, this grow-boosting formula can help get you there. It’s made with red clover peptide to strengthen and lengthen your lashes while also protecting against fallout so they’ll eventually look thicker, too. 

"Not clumpy & not irritating to my eyes! It's a win for this mascara," writes Ipster Mojopin628. 

6. Best Volumizing Mascara:

BELLÁPIERRE COSMETICS Volumelash Waterproof Mascara

If your primary goal is to create volume, this waterproof formula is what you need to instantly thicken up that lash line. The flexible brush expertly coats every last lash (even those teeny tiny ones) with this nourishing black mascara. In addition to making lashes appear thicker right away, it also helps them stay full in the long run with conditioning vitamin E and growth-promoting castor seed oil. 

"I usually do not wear waterproof mascara because so many are difficult to remove," writes one Ipster. "This came off easily with a makeup wipe after staying in place through a very emotional day. The wand is long and makes it easy to get to the inner lashes." 

7. Best Smudge-proof Mascara:

ITEM BEAUTY Lash Snack

If you tend to catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror around 3 p.m. and almost always find two raccoon eyes staring back at you, a smudge-proof formula may be in order. This mascara from TikTok star Addison Rae's new beauty line manages to stay impressively locked in place all day long while also nourishing your lashes. It's a real best-of-both-worlds situation. As the micro wand subtly separates, lifts, and volumizes each lash, the castor seed oil, glycerin, and coconut oil-packed formula coats the lashes in a protective layer to keep them strong and healthy.

"Love this, doesn't clump too much and actually makes them look longer and fuller without looking gross," writes Ipster sacredxxheart94. 

8. Best Waterproof Mascara:

TOO FACED COSMETICS Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara

Finally, one of the most famous mascaras on the market gets a waterproof upgrade. With its iconic hourglass-shaped brush, this mascara lengthens, curls, and volumizes for a noticeable boost in just one swipe. While the Better Than Sex mascara can create have a dramatic lash effect after multiple layers, one quick swipe is the key to achieving a natural look in seconds.

"The brush is the best for application," writes Ipster wlmeli4. Another Ipster cheekily adds, "And it's waterproof?! Can it get any better than this?"

9. Best for Fiber Mascara:

SERAPHINE BOTANICALS Curl Imperial Mini Mascara

This formula features jet-black mascara-tinted polymers that wrap around each lash to curl, darken, and define, allowing each and every lash to be the center of attention. When you're feeling dramatic, the buildable formula can bring the intensity, but for a no-makeup makeup look, one quick coat with the hourglass brush is just right to give your lash line a hi-def, eye-opening effect. 

"I really loved my IT [Cosmetics] Superhero mascara, but if I’m honest, this mascara is really nice as well," writes one Ipster. "I actually really love the brush, the mascara doesn’t get NEAR as clumpy. It wears well, doesn’t rub off easily. I accidentally slept in it and it barely came off lol!"

10. Best for Fanned Out Lashes:

BOBBI BROWN COSMETICS Eye Opening Mascara

This mascara's jumbo brush expertly fans out the lashes while also giving them a lengthening lift. Talk about a multitasker. To top that off, the formula's rich, carbon-black hue also thickens, providing an eye-opening effect around the lash line — so much so that you might even be convinced to skip eyeliner. Made without parabens, gluten, or sulfates, it's a gentle way to give those lashes a healthy boost. Oh, and if you prefer a formula that can be removed easily at the end of the day, this stuff comes right off with a bit of warm water.

"This mascara adds volume and lasts all day without flaking," writes Ipster brightenmeup5. "I love that it’s easy to remove."

11. Best Mascara for Sensitive Eyes:

MAËLLE BEAUTY Above & Beyond Mascara in Black

For sensitive eyes, mascara can be a tricky beast. When it goes wrong, it can go really wrong. Thankfully, this formula is designed to set sensitive eyes up for success. The multitasking mascara (it's got volumizing, curling, and thickening handled) is gluten-free, mineral-oil-free, fragrance-free, and made without parabens, SLS, or phthalates. With natural-looking results and formula free of nasties, this is a total sensitive skin win.

"This is my new FAVORITE MASCARA," writes Ipster Lisaoxenrider. "I have used it every day since receiving it, and I’m just in love. It doesn’t make my eyelashes clump together, gives me great dimension and length. I’ll never turn back from this product!!"

12. Best for Short Lashes:

IT COSMETICS Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara

If your lashes are naturally quite short, a big, bulky brush may not be the best option for you. Instead, try this formula that features a wand specially designed to grab even the tiniest of lashes. Once the applicator brushes over those lashes, it'll coat them with ingredients like biotin and peptides (to strengthen), polymers (to lift), and collagen (to plump). It's time to give those short lashes the spotlight they deserve.

One Ipster writes, "Overall, my favorite mascara ever. Very natural and long lashes."

Want to discover even more natural-looking makeup must-haves? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started. Already an Ipster? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and Twitter @IPSY.

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