Maybelline's Great Lash is a reliable staple in the mascara world and has won plenty of fans. It is relatively inexpensive next to pricier branded rivals, yet no less excellent in quality. Easy to use, it lets you tailor your lashes: light and lengthened, or more built up and thickened for a doe-eyed look; it is designed to produce few or no clumps and deliver intense colour. The cheerful packaging and small, very easy-to-handle brush make it a mascara for teenagers and grown-ups alike, effective and offering excellent value for money.

On the downside, it is worth having a good eye make-up remover to hand at the end of the day. And if your eyes are very sensitive, it is worth being cautious and checking the formula before you commit.

A star of the mascara world, this one is now something of a classic. Even its packaging promises great things: midnight blue, scattered with little silver Ds. Diorshow is luxury through and through, price included. So it is a bit of an investment, but a high-quality product; the creamy texture and beautiful colours are a pleasure, and it is meant to coat and thicken lashes and lengthen them prettily.

Navy mascara tube with a silver cap and a full brush
The midnight-blue tube that promises great things

It comes in a waterproof or regular formula, and it is worth noting that Diorshow Waterproof, according to the brand, resists water. That said, the usual advice is to alternate between waterproof and regular formulas to avoid damaging lashes: water-resistant formulas can be harsher.

Finally, this Dior mascara has a big, bushy brush that may not suit everyone, although it is well suited to giving lashes volume. Devotees of fine brushes, look away.

A little pricier than the Maybelline and a little cheaper than the Dior, L'Oréal Paris Cil Architecte offers a good middle ground between luxury and high-street beauty. Its main selling point is lengthening; the brush is designed to be easy to use, and the price remains reasonable for a faux-lash effect finish.

Gold- and black-bodied mascara with a fine brush on a marble ledge
The middle ground between luxury and high street

A luxury mascara for anyone after a feline eye look, Chanel's Inimitable has clean, chic packaging and, most importantly, an effective brush designed to limit clumps. It is presented as very easy to apply, with no need to go over and over to get a visible result, and as long-wearing throughout the day: in short, a very good product that unfortunately comes with a high price.

Sleek black mascara on an ivory background, chic look
The chic simplicity of a cleverly designed tube, all restraint

As for drawbacks, it is more about lengthening and separation than thickening. It is therefore for anyone after endless-looking lashes who is already well blessed in the thickness department.

After neat, polished make-up? Givenchy's Phenomen'eyes is the one to try. It has piqued the curiosity of plenty of mascara addicts, thanks largely to its small, spiky ball-shaped brush. Givenchy promises easy application and perfectly separated, clump-free, lengthened lashes; that is the promise, at least.

Chic gold tube and small mascara brush on black satin
The chic gold tube and small spiky ball-shaped brush for separated, lengthened lashes

Givenchy describes the texture as very easy to work with, made from liquid waxes; it is designed not to dry out or flake, and to wear well, so no panda eyes by the end of the day. What we like most is the precision this clever little brush allows: lash-by-lash application.

Volume, volume and more volume: Lancôme's Hypnôse mascara is built around a thick, creamy texture and a pronounced volume effect. It is therefore aimed at anyone short on volume: one coat is meant to give a pretty result, and two build the volume further. The brush is designed to help avoid clumps provided you apply it carefully, and the tube has soft, pretty curves.

Curved plum and gold tube and its generous brush on a pale stone
A thick, creamy texture for pronounced volume

On the downside, the formula is quick-drying: always close the tube properly, otherwise the texture soon turns to paste and clumps.

A real champion for staying power, it was designed with precisely that in mind: Clinique's Lash Power is aimed, according to the brand, at women in Asian countries where the climate is often very hot and humid. Formulated not to run, it is designed to stand up to sweat, humidity and tears. That said, it is not described as waterproof, so our advice is not to swim with it on; it is not designed for that.

Open make-up bag on a bed, gold tube and small fine brush
The gold tube and fine brush for a natural, defined look

Effective? The promise is there: it is designed not to run even in strong heat, applies easily thanks to a fine brush, lengthens lashes and gives a clump-free finish. That is plenty of plus points already. The result is meant to be fairly natural, so it will appeal to anyone who does not dream of an extra-thick faux-lash effect but wants a pretty, gently defined eye look.

Silver-green mascara and fine brush on a damp porcelain ledge
The silver-green tube and fine brush of Clinique Lash Power

On the other hand, removal is a different ritual: Clinique advises taking it off with warm water, in the shower, rubbing gently, rather than with make-up remover. Warm water does the job once you have got the hang of it, but it will not appeal to everyone.

A good option for anyone especially looking for volume, Yves Saint Laurent's Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils is built around a bold volume promise. It is designed to lengthen and thicken lashes, with real make-up impact and good wear. Its brush is small and therefore easy to use, and the pretty, very chic gold-clad tube is a nice bonus.

Gold tube of Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils mascara
The golden glow of a mascara that thickens the look

As a drawback, the formula is quick-drying, so it needs careful application to avoid clumps or slight flaking — never pleasant, especially with very sensitive eyes.

Even natural-make-up fans cannot resist adding a few strokes of mascara to their lashes: it is a star product that won us over, and no wonder: eyes look more intense, more awake and lifted. Definitely a keeper. That said, there are loads of mascaras out there, and they are not all equal: staying power, colour, tolerance, coating, lengthening, brush shape... every last detail counts. Besides, we are not all after the same thing, since nature did not bless us all equally: some dream of volume, others of extra-long lashes, and others still insist on a natural look or staying power. To find the right one, there is no secret: look at the brush, check the formula, and see how it wears on your own lashes over a normal day.

What a tube really costs

Price-wise, mascaras fall into two broad camps. On the high street and at pharmacies, expect to pay around £8–£15 for a classic mascara from the likes of Maybelline or L'Oréal Paris. At department-store beauty counters and from luxury brands (Dior, Chanel, Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Clinique), budget more like £25–£40 a tube. Price depends on formula (classic or waterproof), format and packaging, which often accounts for a hefty chunk of the cost. Mini sizes, sold singly or in gift sets, let you try without breaking the bank — and since mascara needs replacing often, they can sometimes be the most sensible choice. You will find them at beauty counters, on the high street, in pharmacies and on brands' official websites.