Battle of the brands: Mascaras ranking

For the latest post in my battle of the brands series, I’m ranking my entire mascara collection to tell you which is my all-time fave.

My battle of the brands series is where I rank my makeup collection by a specific product type. From foundations and bronzers to lip liners and brow products, battle of the brands is my ultimate makeup collection rating, so you can see my holy grail products.

Starting from my least favourite product and working my way up to my number 1 product in any given category, this is the fastest way to see my thoughts on my makeup collection. I’ve previously ranked my powder bronzers, skin tints and tinted moisturisers, lip glosses, brow products, and more.

Find out which mascaras are my faves for volume, drama, length, darkness, and being transfer-proof.

* This post contains some affiliate links. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page *

8. Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara

£17 for 8ml + 20% off with my code EYEKOX20

The Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara is great. I recently used it for a 90s makeup tutorial. It adds length to lashes. This a lovely everyday mascara, as it’s very natural. The curved brush makes separating lashes easy. However, this one does have a bit of transfer and doesn’t add as much volume, curl, definition, or length as others in this list, so it’s not my fave.

7. MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara

£28 for 7g

The MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara is a vegan and cruelty-free tubing mascara. It’s budge-proof and quickly defines and separates lashes with zero clumpiness. This is a very natural-looking mascara, as it adds subtle length and lift to lashes but doesn’t make lashes look thick or dramatic. It’s also completely weightless. However, I typically prefer more length, volume, and drama from my mascaras. So while I enjoy this, it’s not my top formula.

6. UOMA Beauty Drama Bomb Mascara

No longer available in the UK

The UOMA Beauty Drama Bomb Mascara is one of the most volumising options in this post. It’s quite dark and makes lashes look fuller and thicker in an instant. I find this works well with smoky eye looks for a bit of va va voom. There’s a little transfer if you apply too much product, but it’s manageable with a less is more approach. I’d prefer the mascara to add more length and curl, so I don’t reach for it much.

5. e.l.f. Lash ‘N Roll Mascara

£6 for 9.2g

Now for the cheapest option in this post: the e.l.f. Lash ‘N Roll Mascara. This is fab. It adds length and curls lashes easily. There’s no smudging or budging, and it’s incredibly lightweight. There’s no clumpiness, which means you can layer mascara without any worry about it feeling thick or looking messy. Again, this is another natural mascara, so it’s great for a daily makeup look. I prefer mascaras to be a bit blacker and more volumising though.

4. Clinique High Impact Mascara 

£25 for 7g + 20% off at LookFantastic with my code LFTFBLOGSARAH

The Clinique High Impact Mascara is one I’m reaching for quite frequently right now. I’ve got this in black, and it adds both length and volume, but it’s more on the volumising side. It makes my lashes look darker and thicker, which adds drama to any makeup look. But it’s not clumpy, so you don’t end up with yucky spider eyelashes. Instead, the brush easily separates and defines lashes. I really like it.

3. Perricone MD No Makeup Mascara

£30 for 8g + 20% off with my code PMDM20

The Perricone MD No Makeup Mascara is one of my all-time faves. This one best defines the lashes out of all the mascaras in this post. It adds a lot of length and makes lashes look luscious and healthy. As it doesn’t add a tonne of volume or blackness to lashes, this is perfect for everyday wear. Yet it delivers more impact than the other natural-looking mascaras in this post. It’s budge-proof too. There’s no clumping, and it even feels nourishing. This is my go-to for day-to-day makeup looks.

2. By Terry Lash-Expert Twist Brush Mascara

£30 for 8.3g

The By Terry Lash-Expert Twist Brush Mascara is criminally underrated. This is a do-it-all product. It effortlessly adds length, volume, drama, blackness, and definition to lashes. The result? Gorgeous, fluttery lashes for impactful eye makeup. It doesn’t transfer or flake, and it’s easily buildable, so you can keep applying more product until you get your desired effect. I reach for this mascara a lot.

1. Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Volumising and Lengthening Mascara

£12.99 for 7.2ml + 20% off at LookFantastic with my code LFTFBLOGSARAH

My fave ever mascara is the TikTok-viral Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Volumising and Lengthening Mascara. This offers everything I want in a mascara:

• Extreme blackness and drama
• Length
• No clumpiness
• Lots of volume
• No smudging
• Non-drying and not flaky
• Easy to layer for more impact

It makes my lashes look full, thick, dark, and long. I’m obsessed with the formula and think it offers excellent value for money. I can’t fault it and always opt for this mascara when I want my lashes to look their best.

Sarah Sarsby is the owner of A Woman's Confidence. With over 5 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has oily skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.