We tried 9 popular mascaras and a £4 tube gave the best results without smudging
Finding your holy grail mascara is a mammoth task, and can take years, countless makeup wipes and potentially hundreds of pounds until you find the perfect match for your peepers. I’ve loaded up my lashes and been left disappointed by the results on far too many occasions, having tried dozens - if not close to 100 - mascaras in recent years.
A big part of the challenge is the sheer volume of options out there, from tubing mascaras to waterproof formulas, to ones that promise to lift your lashes to the ceiling while others say they’ll lengthen, curl and thicken without the need for extensions, serums or falsies.
Our team of beauty experts have spent hours researching the best mascaras to try in 2024, putting them through their paces and rating them on their formula, results, quality and price and were perhaps a little shocked to discover you don’t have to spend a fortune to find the ultimate lash beauty buy.
Upon testing brands like No7, Benefit, Huda, MAC, Maybelline and more, we discovered that a £4 Boots mascara could just be our all-time favourite. Here’s what we found when we tried some of the beauty world’s most loved mascaras.
Mirror Choice Best Mascara: 17. Extreme Extension Lengthening Mascara:
When it comes to mascara, I’ve never found one that has won me over. I’ve tried super cheap mascaras from the likes of Natural Collection and even Aldi ’s Lacura and not had the best experiences, but equally, I didn’t really get along with mid-to-high end mascaras either, with Sweed’s £22 mascara leaving me underwhelmed, and Benefit’s Bad Gal Bang being far to ‘wet’.
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And just when I was about to lose all hope and probably never buy another mascara again, I saw that, not so long ago, TV presenter Angellica Bell, swore by an
The £4 mascara from 17.I figured that, if there’s anyone that knows where your money is best spent besides Martin Lewis himself, it’s got to be the co-host of The Money Show, right? The 47-year-old is a Boots Value Ambassador and, in an interview with The Mirror, said shoppers shouldn’t be afraid of trying lower-cost products - as you could be pleasantly surprised.
She revealed that she swapped out her mascara for one from the commenting: “Don’t be afraid to try own brand products, I think that’s really important. Be savvy and keep an eye out. Boots always has deals on big named brands too - like Fenty, MAC Cosmetics, Drunk Elephant, Anastasia Beverly Hills as you know. Also if you’re going to buy a blusher, that could double up as an eye shadow.
“Also, Let’s just talk about that mascara! Sometimes it’s worth trying new brands out and giving them a go because you might be pleasantly surprised.”
Some of you may well be thinking ‘didn’t Boots discontinue 17?’ - and yes they did, back when I was working for the retailer. I was devastated because I had adored their brand and their liquid liner saw me through high school. I used my staff discount to stock up before it vanished from the shelves for good.
However, the brand made a triumphant comeback in 2022, with being one of the launch products. It’s said to give your lashes definition and extreme length with an ecofiber formula, all for the price of a takeaway coffee.
The 17 mascara really lifted Beth's eyelashesIt has a which I immediately gravitate towards over a bristly brush, and takes the notion of a ‘fine tooth comb’ rather literally, with little teeth that seem to grab every last lash with more precision than a lash tech with a pair of tweezers. Application was a dream. It’s a thick formula but the brush doesn’t hold too much excess product, and it means you’re much less likely to smudge when applying, too. It’s fragrance-free, and coated my lashes from root to tip with relative ease.
I decided to really in terms of layering it up to see when it would start to become clumpy, but it just kept building and building, adding volume and length without going flakey or spidery, either.
Usually £4, the vegan mascara is and is without a doubt the best I’ve used, and I am fussy. In fact, just before Christmas I bought eight tubes to make sure I don’t run out any time soon because I simply couldn’t bear to be without it.
Best alternative mascaras:
Our beauty-obsessed shopping writers have tried a lot of mascaras, and if the Boots 17 budget buy isn’t for you, then maybe one of these will be. We’ve rounded up some of the other mascaras we love for creating luscious long lashes and defined peepers ranging from £4 to £27. Here are some of our favourites:
Boots annual 70% off sale is returning with some deals already available
Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Sky High MascaraBethan Shufflebotham said: “When it comes to viral makeup sensations, few products have captured the hearts and peepers of thousands of beauty buffs quite like . Soon after its launch in 2021, the drugstore lash product skyrocketed to the top of the charts after going viral on TikTok for delivering gravity-defying lashes. Adored by beauty enthusiasts and influencers alike, this has become the secret weapon for achieving flawless, fluttery lashes that almost seem too good to be true.
“With its innovative formula and unique brush design, promises to deliver ‘full volume and a limitless length look’, which is unique in itself as mascara’s tend to offer one or the other, proving that the lash game has been forever changed by the American beauty brand.
My lashes after using the Maybelline Sky High mascara“My lashes looked longer than they truly are, thanks to the that offer weightless length and thickness, without looking all spidery. They didn’t stick together or clump up to leave me looking like a 90s throwback, nor did I get it all over my face in the application process either, which ticks some pretty big boxes for me.
“Wearing the throughout the day, it was very comfortable, leaving my lashes still feeling flexible rather than brittle. As such, there’s no wonder that the beauty buy has been constantly in and out of stock for the last two years.”
Mac Stack Mascara (Boots)Gemma Sherlock said: “MAC took more than two years to develop this , creating a Fibre Melt Technology and a Lash Flex Polymer, which grabs and coats each lash without bunching up.
“Straight away the volume was noticeable and it made me look less tired, and dare I say a tiny bit younger. I found myself being drawn towards my eye more when glancing in the mirror and I felt it really made my eye pop.
“I quickly did the other eye to see the full effect and noticed that both sets of eyelashes immediately appeared longer and fuller. The took well to my bottom lashes too and I didn't notice any clumps despite there being a lot of formula on the brush.
“The eyelash wand isn't too long either, and the brush itself is slightly thicker at the bottom than it is at the top, making it a great tool to avoid clumping.
“If you want a that you can layer up to suit a look you're after, without clumps then this is totally worth the . Yes it's slightly more than others but honestly I would rather have a mascara that can deliver no clumps and volume than one that gives volume and clumps.”
The MAC Stack Mascara Mega Brush gave Stacey Dutton incredible, instant resultsStacey Dutton added: "The MACStack Mascara gave me an instant, perfectly fanned lift. With tired eyes, it even gave me a hand with looking like I was more awake too - altering the appearance of my eyes, to complete a natural look for a night out with friends"
Stacey Dutton said: “The has previously gone viral for being the one beauty product you need to get your hands on if you love a dramatic, full lash look. No other beauty brand has such an extensive collection of mascaras as Maybelline, and it seems that no other beauty brand can go viral as well as them, either.
Maybelline's Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara on Reviews Editor Stacey“What I tend to look for most in a , and I think most women can vouch for this, is a clump-free formula. I wear mascara daily so a natural curl but with plenty of volume is an everyday look I prefer. This mascara did just that from the very first coat.
“I have used Maybelline's previous viral mascaras which others have raved about but I was not a huge fan. Usually, for a daytime look I would still do two coats of any mascara I use, but could still give enough volume with one coat.
“What a great product, and if you watch the before and after, you can see the huge difference it makes and how open my eyes appear with that extra curl and lift.”
Sarah Bradbury said: “The latest launch by Anastasia Beverly Hills gives you the most natural, lengthy lashes without lashing of mascara. Priced at £26, the new Lash Sculpt Mascara gave me the most gorgeous lashes ever, whilst still looking incredibly natural - basically my lashes but better, I’m obsessed!
“If you want the perfect ‘doll-like’ lashes on a day-to-day basis, just apply one coat. For a more intense and extension-like look, you can add up to three, generous coats. And forget about clumping or flaking, as the buildable formula will sculpt, stretch and separate the lashes from root to tip!
“What I really loved about this mascara is the luxe feel the packaging had as well! And the brush - we need to talk about how amazing the brush is too, as I really felt like it found every lash, and coated it evenly. Now of course you can add more layers and take your lashes to the next dimension - but I was pretty happy with just two.
“As for the , it contains biotin; to help support strong, healthy-looking lashes, collagen; to help create the appearance of boosted lash volume and peptides; to help create the appearance of lash length and fullness.”
The only downside to Glossier's mascara is that it can feel quite dryingRebecca Astill said: “I picked the up from Glossier’s for £18 and the wand is unlike other mascaras I have used previously. The end is long and thin with tiny little stubs, making the wand much easier to target and separate individual lashes.
“The is so easy to layer without clumping or looking heavy. Its main features are lengthening and separating, there is not much thickness or volume added so a more heavyweight mascara is probably more desirable for evenings.
“It is perfect for me, as I have pale skin and pale eyelashes so anything too black and thick looks silly on my face. The best part is it lasts all day without smudging under my eye.
“The only downside to this mascara is that it dries hard on your lashes, making them feel quite brittle throughout the day. It is also harder to take off at the end of the day than others I have used before, but with a strong cleansing balm like the from , it is no bother.”
Emily Sleight found the No7 mascara to be a little clumpyEmily Sleight said: “This mascara , so I was desperate to see if it was worth the hype. No7 claims the product gives your lashes ‘3x more volume’ without the hassle of false eyelashes, because let’s be honest, they can be annoying.
“The ‘bamboo fibre enriched formula’ is said to help build up lashes for an extended lash effect. I noticed the formula itself was very black and dark, which definitely emphasised the ‘dramatic lash’ aspect. The eyelash wand was definitely on the thicker side with plenty of grip to really grab onto the lashes.
“After one coat of this , my lashes had already extended massively and definitely appeared longer. I’ll admit, there were a few clumps here and there, but that was probably because I did around three coats.The mascara took really well to my bottom lashes as well as my top lashes, creating a generally voluminous look.
“I really liked the fact that this required minimal effort, so if you're often rushing around in the morning, this could be a great product. Just a couple swipes over my lashes and I was good to go, this mascara was definitely staying put. If you’re looking for a mascara that gives you volume but you don’t mind a few clumps here and there, I’d definitely recommend this product.”
Sarah Bradbury said: “For years, I have been obsessed with mascaras from Benefit - whether it’s the OG Bad Gal Mascara, Roller Lash Curling Mascara, They’re Real Lengthening Mascara and out of this world, BADgal BANG!. So you can only imagine my joy when we heard they were launching a new one, aptly named ‘Fan Fest’.
“Yes the latest launch to take pride of place in my makeup collection, and on my very own peepers is the Fan Fest volumising mascara - priced at £25.50. With the perfect brush to help fan from side-to-side, it’s never been easier to amplify volume and multiply the look of lashes in seconds.
“Over 2,600 people have already given this mascara a go, including myself, and I have to say, my outer-corner lashes have never looked thicker, longer or with better lift! Just take a look for yourself - and would you believe that’s just one coat too? Before applying the mascara in a sweeping motion, I curled my lashes - for an extra bit of drama.
“The brush applied the perfect amount of - no clumping, dry ends or excess, making its way onto our eyelid either. Because of the brush design, it really made sure our lashes were pushed upwards, to really make them look wide-awake.”
Jada Jones wearing the Nars mascaraJada Jones said: “My go-to Mascara has been Too Faced's Better Than Sex (and I'm quite partial to the travel size as you are supposed to replace your mascara fairly regularly) but that was before I tried NARS Climax.
“The brush allows for a buildable look that can go from everyday to night time glam.It has a soft feel and a strong finish that really ”
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