Besides his own mascara, celebrity makeup artist Erwin Gomez — who works with Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria — says that L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara is a must-try.
"L'Oreal makes some of my favorite drugstore brand mascaras and their classic Voluminous mascara in carbon black is a must," he says. "Their waterproof formula is superb and the price point is perfect for any budget, especially as a makeup artist who goes through a lot of mascara." Gomez adds that it's an ideal "everyday mascara" that will instantly bring life to your eyes and can easily be layered for a more dramatic finish.
Makeup artist Sara Drury agrees completely. "It is the absolute best bang for your buck," she says. "It really makes your lashes look just how it says: voluminous. I've tried many drugstore options, and this is by far my favorite."
"Inika Organic Long Lash Vegan Mascara is organic and vegan, which resonates with many celebs these days," says celebrity makeup artist Mary Wiles, whose client roster includes Alicia Silverstone, Rachel Brosnahan and Hilary Swank. "I especially love the black mascara. It's amazing for lengthening. The brush is also a great size to apply both top and bottom lashes. It's 100% natural and safe for sensitive eyes."
For application of any mascara, Wiles' best tip is to curl your lashes beforehand and then to make sure you apply as close to the lash line as possible, wiggling upward. Let it dry, then repeat two or three times depending on how much length and volume you want. "With lower lashes, apply close to the lash line, avoid taking [the wand] right to end of lash to avoid spidery or smudged lower lashes," she adds.
You might not be too familiar with the W3LL People brand but it's gotten some serious hype from makeup artists, makeup lovers and beauty pubs in recent months. Jessa Blades, a natural beauty expert with Credo's Clean Beauty Council, is also a big fan.
"This wand and formula are great for one coat of a natural-looking lash and then it can be transformed to a full lash that's ready for a night out with two coats," she says. "I love the black, but just in case you are needing a little bit of blue mascara for a special occasion — or just a way to spice up a Tuesday — they have the perfect blue."
Another one of Wiles' favorite mascaras is Dior Diorshow Mascara, which is perfect for days when you want to add a ton of volume without having to mess with falsies. "It stays in place and adds great volume, due to the microfibers in the formulation," she says. It comes in black, purple, blue and brown, and you can also find it in a waterproof version.
It's got a name that'll stop you in your tracks, but does Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara live up to its moniker? According to Drury, it totally does. "I love the length and 'wispiness' of lashes with this one. It never looks clumpy or spidery, and it's honestly one of my all-time favorites. A must have!"
