The six best mascaras according to the beauty professionals

Mascara Land is a minefield. Not only are there dozens of brands, there are also dozens of wands, formulas, and colours within each brand. Each one promises to be the best – but who can we trust? Here at IMAGE, we trust the beauty professionals. As such, we asked six of Ireland’s top eyelash artists (and nominees in this year’s IMAGE Business of Beauty Awards) to name their hero products. Here’s what they chose and why:

Harriet Mackey at The Blink Bar says, “When not using eyelash extensions, my hero mascara has always been L’Oreal Paris Telescopic, €16.99. It gives you the long, lifted look of lash extensions while in-between sets.”

Jennifer Mahon at The Brow Artist says, “The Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curl, €10.99, is my holy grail of mascaras. I’ve been using it for years – it’s my good old-reliable! It never smudges or flakes, gives great length and beautifully curves the lashes to increase volume. The curved brush makes it easy to apply to even the smallest corner lashes, giving you everything from a subtle look to a really dramatic finish.”

Olivia Fitzsimons at Olivia Fitzsimons Beauty says, “When I don’t have extensions, my favourite mascara would have to be the new Benefit BADgal BANG, €27. Even with extensions, if you’re looking for a mascara for the bottom lashes the wand on this one is so thin it won’t hit off those precious lashes on the top! Then my go-to eye cleanser would have to be Dermalogica’s soothing eye make-up remover because it’s oil-free, making it safe to use with lash extensions.”

Rachel Bryan at Claudine King Brows & Beauty says, “I would almost always recommend lash extensions over mascara for a longer lasting, more natural (or more dramatic) effect, as they can be tailored to each clients individual desired look. If you must use mascara, Soap and Glory’s Thick and Fast formula is fab for both length and volume. Revitalash is another hero product many women will have heard of already, and for good reason. It will encourage lash growth and boost lash health. I love the Mavala Double Lash Serum for the same reason. It contains silks and proteins to strengthen lashes and is a more budget-friendly option.”

Susan Fox at Eden Beauty Group says, “I have used the same mascara forever and it is a cult one… Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Blackest Black, €7.49. I love it and have worn it for over 20 years. It never clumps, covers evenly and adds great volume. And at less than €10, what more could a girl want?”

Zanda Wait at Burgundy Beauty says, “Benefit They’re Real Mascara, €27,” is her number one choice.

Olivia Fitzsimons, Zanda Wait, Christoph McCormack, Harriet Mackey, Jennifer Mahon, Rachel Bryan and Susan Fox are nominated for Best Eyelash Artist in the IMAGE Business of Beauty Awards.