Hay Fever? In Spring? These Mascaras are Groundbreaking
September 25 | 3 minute read
Words by Arabella Roden
With itchy, sting-y, watery eyes now as ubiquitous as a floral sundress, it’s time to break out beauty’s seasonal staple: tear-proof, non-irritating mascara, because the streaky ‘panda’ effect is never in style.
And if the devil wears Prada, MECCA HQ wears tubing, waterproof and sensitive eye-safe mascara. Scroll on for our top picks…
Waterproof mascaras
A lifesaver for those with naturally straight eyelashes, waterproof formulas aren’t just insurance against ‘3pm raccoon’ – their formulas also help lashes hold the curl you get from the brush. Even better, some of your favourite mascaras now come in waterproof formats: Too Faced’s Better Than Sex (with the same iconic hourglass-shaped wand that’s made it a MECCA Hall of Famer), Urban Decay’s ultra-intense Perversion, M·A·C Cosmetics’ endlessly buildable, super-lifting, viral-hit M.A.C.Stack (left) and Smashbox Full Exposure Waterproof Mascara (a saviour against summer humidity, too!).
Tubing mascaras
Never tried a tubing mascara? Prepare to be converted. Made to be totally flake and smudge-proof, the formula literally coats your lashes in tube-like polymers rather than a liquid. This not only makes them look longer and gives them more definition and separation, but affirms tubing mascaras as the most long-lasting option – that you can also remove with just warm water (perfect for sensitive eyes).
For that wide-eyed, ‘doll lash’ look, turn to Half Magic’s Eyelectric Extreme Lengthening Mascara (bonus: it comes in on-trend teal and violet shades, as well as classic black!), Kevyn Aucoin’s legendary The Volume Mascara (right, with more than 2,500 five-star reviews) or Stila's Stay All Day® Mascara, which has all the staying power of the brand’s beloved Stay All Day® eyeliners, with a double-curved brush to coat every. Single. Lash.
Sensitive mascaras
No conversation about sensitive anything is complete without a mention of Tower 28, and their MakeWaves tube (left) is at the top of our list for gentle-on-eyes mascaras (plus, it has three flexible bands for maximum length, curl and volume).
Meanwhile, Westman Atelier’s Eye Want You Mascara delivers natural-looking length and luxurious pigment in one clean sweep, while ILIA’s MECCA Beauty Election-winning Limitless Lash Mascara has a super lightweight feel, and conditions lashes as you wear it with skincare ingredients like arginine and shea butter. Finally, with party season about to make an entrance – and rightly calling for thicker, more dramatic lashes – we love Polite Society’s Greatest Lashes of All Time and Charlotte Tilbury’s just-launched (and aptly named) Exaggereyes Mascara.
