The Best Mascaras So Far in 2022

From lengthening to volumizing: the mascara brands that will give you the bang for your buck

What’s been on heavy rotation for beauty buffs in the pandemic? Skincare is likely one thing. Lipstick? Perhaps not so much. In the makeup category, the most used are probably eyebrows products and mascara, highlighting the one facial feature that’s most noticeable given the mask mandate.

When it comes to the latter, shopping for quality, top-performing mascara may feel like a game of trial and error. Luckily, however, the list ahead can trim that process down for you. From lengthening to volumizing, drugstore to high-end: which mascaras can give you the bang for your buck?

BADgal Bang! by Benefit Cosmetics, ₱1,660

Here are three things you can expect your lashes to look like post-application: longer, fuller, and more lifted. The BADgal Bang! mascara from Benefit Cosmetics has earned a cult-favorite status because of this, becoming a reliable go-to for wide-awake eyes and dramatic yet subtle lashes. Its formulation allows you to get the most out of a single coat, so you never have to worry about product weighing down your eyelashes throughout the day. Either way, multiple coats remain fuss-free and light upon application. 

4D Mascara by Missha, ₱300

Create dimension and lift with Missha’s 4D Mascara, a top-rated product from the famed Korean beauty brand that pairs its nourishing formula with an effective, specially designed wand. These two together let you create feathery, perfectly curled lashes without ever having to worry about any nightmarish clumping or smudging.

Long and Curl Waterproof Mascara by Heroine Make, ₱880

A mid-range item that makes a strong contender in the everyday mascara category, the Long and Curl Waterproof Mascara by Japanese beauty brand Heroine Make is not to be written off. Granted it comes in a cutesier type of packaging than most mascaras, it means serious business. It delivers budge-proof, waterproof, and smudge-proof lashes, curled to perfection for up to 10 hours.

Total Temptation Waterproof Mascara by Maybelline, ₱399

Maybelline has earned a stellar reputation for offering some of the best drugstore mascaras for decades. In 2022, its Total Temptation mascara is a testament to this as a low-maintenance product that creates high-impact lashes. This comes with a unique creamy whipped formula that gives you full, perky lashes, each one appearing perfectly coated and lengthened with precision.

Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara by Rare Beauty, ₱1,350

There’s a lot to love about Selena Gomez’s beauty line. In the roundup of the top three products to consider from her first release, you’ll definitely find the Rare Beauty mascara. Featuring a long-wearing formula that promises to curl, lengthen, and add volume, the Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara can give you falsies-like eyelashes in an instant. Straight, thinning, and short lashes don’t stand a chance.

Full Fat Lashes Mascara by Charlotte Tilbury, ₱1,750

One of the more premium mascaras of the bunch, the Full Fat Lashes Mascara by British makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury is one item that may as well count as somewhat of a beauty investment—but a smart one. Because it’s a multitasking mascara, it quickly became a favorite among makeup artists upon its release. It separates, curls, and lengthens while adding lightweight fibers that replicate the look of natural-looking eyelash extensions.

Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara by Too Faced, ₱1,625

A premium mascara that offers superior resistance to the elements, the Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara by Too Faced is a heavy-duty product that checks all the boxes. It lengthens while conditions the lashes; its hourglass-shaped brush “unlocks” and maximizes the mascara formula so curling is extreme and defined; finally, it gives off a deep black hue for the most dramatic eye looks ever.

Looking for other ways to get great lashes? For your consideration: magnetic lashes for a quick fix and bespoke lash extensions for the long game.