Mascaras are the bread and butter of the eye makeup world, and L’Oréal mascaras have spent decades perfecting their formulas. And why not? After all, mascaras can make all the difference in a look with a quick sweep or two to elevate any set of eyes.
When it comes to mascaras, the list of what’s out there – colored, clear, etc. – is endless. And L’Oréal Paris doesn’t fail to deliver with its eclectic mix of different formulas designed to check off the needs of every kind of lashes.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best L’Oréal mascara options, followed by a look into the century-old company and its philosophy. You’ll also find a useful list of why a L’Oréal mascara is worth purchasing!
In this article:
- 19 Best L’Oréal Mascaras for Different Makeup Needs
- An Overview of L’Oréal Paris History
- L’Oréal Mascara Benefits
19 Best L’Oréal Mascaras for Different Makeup Needs
From lengthening to volumizing and lifting to curling, the L’Oréal mascara line has dotted its i’s and crossed its t’s in rolling out formulas that will have anyone batting their eyelashes for fun – all day long.
This L’Oréal mascara comes in a gorgeous shiny pink-and-gold tube. The mascara wand ends in a soft, wavy bristle brush, which is kind to sensitive eyes and engineered to provide length and volume. Simply sweep the brush from the base of your lashes to the tip. The formula is waterproof (removes easily with waterproof eye makeup remover) and is also flammable until dry, so, needless to say, stay away from heat!
It holds an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 and 752 reviews with 675 giving it 4 and 5 stars. According to reviewers, this mascara offers a smooth formula that applies easily and generously in one coat. Two coats make it prone to clumping, which can be fixed with a lash comb.
One reviewer said it lasted through a funeral – a bit dark but definitely a testament to the formula’s waterproof capabilities! Some customers have noted that the formula tends to dry out over use. You can purchase it from Amazon or Ulta.
A yellow, heavily-bristled brush sits at the tip of this mascara wand. Its Millionizer brush attests to its ability to leave on a smooth and thick finish on the lashes by separating and coating them to the max. Gently sweep from base to tip, without pumping the wand. The formula is fragrance-free, ophthalmologist-tested, as well as allergy-tested.
It’s easy to remove with soap and water and is collagen-infused. It isn’t as widely reviewed as the other mascara options and holds a 3.7 rating. Many reviewers speak of having to considerably build it up for the effects to show and note its tendency to clump in doing so. However, others have said it doesn’t flake, is easy-to-apply, and works well on long lashes. Buy this mascara from Amazon or Ulta!
A black mascara primer at one end and a fiber mascara at the other, the X Fiber is optimized for volume and length with a curved brush and an hourglass one. The pigment- and oil-rich primer helps build volume, whereas the mascara works to lengthen the lashes.
The way to use this L’Oréal waterproof mascara is by applying the primer first, coating each lash, and then applying the mascara on top before the primer dries. This L’Oréal mascara has been touted for its formula (it’s also the 2019 Glamour Beauty Award Winner!) as well as accommodating brush, which provides an even application.
Its waterproof characteristic, however, makes it a tad hard to remove, and a few customers have mentioned the formula’s tendency to dry quicker than the norm. Get this mascara from Amazon or Ulta!
This Allure Best of Beauty award-winning L’Oréal waterproof mascara carries ‘butterfly’ in its name because of its triangle brush’s capacity to stretch the lashes, like wings. The trademarked Butterfly brush is an asymmetrical wing tip shape to coat the lashes from corner to corner, from base to tip in a gentle sweep. The brush also holds Cocoon Fibers (also trademark) to maximize coverage, with customers noting that it takes at least two coats to achieve the desired lift and length.
Reviews for its quality and value of product far outweigh one or two, which largely speak to the formula drying out sooner than they’d prefer but still holding out better than other waterproof mascaras with the same issues. Grab it from Amazon!
Promising an up to 80% longer-lasting and nourishing look, the Double Extend mascara comes equipped with a base coat and topcoat. The former is infused with Ceramide R and D-Panthenol to protect and strengthen the lashes; it is also step 1 of 2 in using this mascara. Sweep the base coat up to the tip of the lashes and then immediately apply the top coat.
This mascara can be removed easily with either warm water or a cotton pad soaked in warm water. Ophthalmologist- and allergy-tested, customers rave about the formula’s abilities, highlighting its ease of removal, smudge-free look (no panda eyes!), and an all-day guarantee.
Many of the reviewers have been loyal users for years, with many calling it the next best L’Oréal mascara to falsies too! A few contact-wearers have noted slight irritation in removal. Find this mascara on Amazon or Ulta!
Like its waterproof counterpart, this L’Oréal mascara includes the same features with the signature Butterfly brush designed to reach, extend, and lift all lashes – down to the smallest ones. A gentle sweep from bottom to top fans out the lashes and leaves them veiled in a silky finish and a ton of volume.
The formula can be removed easily with soap and water. It also runs a little dry, meaning that build up can be a bit tough if it dries before applying another coat. The brush, however, has rated well among users in terms of reach and result. Get it from Amazon!
This mascara’s collagen-infused formula results in significant volume and definition along with its Millionizer brush. The formula is buildable, smooth, and long-lasting. The tube also holds a built-in cleaning system to wipe the bristles free of clumps, leaving behind enough product to coat the lashes evenly. To apply, simply sweep to the tips of the lashes. To remove, use any eye makeup remover.
The brush does run a tad thick, so it might make reaching every lash in one sweep a bit tough. However, it also separates the lashes and provides length. Purchase the trademark Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara from Amazon or Ulta!
This mascara’s collagen-infused formula results in significant volume and definition along with its Millionizer brush. The formula is buildable, smooth, and long-lasting. The tube also holds a built-in cleaning system to wipe the bristles free of clumps, leaving behind enough product to coat the lashes evenly. To apply, simply sweep to the tips of the lashes. To remove, use any eye makeup remover.
The brush does run a tad thick, so it might make reaching every lash in one sweep a bit tough. However, it also separates the lashes and provides length. Purchase the trademark Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara from Amazon or Ulta!
Formulated to be clump-resistant as well as to soften the lashes, the Voluminous Original Mascara supposedly builds lashes up to five times their natural thickness and twice the intensity – talk about intense! It’s also suitable for sensitive eyes due to its fragrance-free formula, as well as being ophthalmologist- and allergy-tested.
The formula shows results in just one sweep – root to tip, minus pumping – and easily removes with soap and water. It runs a bit on the dry side, and some users note flaking and running but, overall, it delivers on volume! Get it from Amazon or Ulta!
The red-and-silver mascara tube features a short wand, which ends in a triangular brush that tapers at the end, great for catching the shorter lashes on the inside of the eye. This L’Oréal mascara also helps create a fanned-out look, showing more volume. Follow the basic application pattern – root to tip – and then twist a little at the end for extra lift.
The brush does take some getting used to and needs to be handled gently to avoid pulling off the lashes! There is some flaking at times, but the waterproof aspect holds strong. Grab this bold mascara from Amazon!
The newest addition under the Voluminous mascara line, the Million Lashes Excess has one stark difference to the other Million Lashes mascaras – a bigger Millionizer brush. There’s also a built-in wiper within the tube to catch any excess formula that might end up on the brush to avoid excess mascara clumping on the lashes.
With a 4 out of 5-star rating, the formula is deep black and leaves a dramatic, intense cover behind. This is the best L’Oréal mascara to add definition and volume, but it can flake. To apply, move the wand from the base to the tip – no need to pump. To remove, simply use soap and water. Get this from Amazon!
Available in black, blackest black, black-brown, cobalt blue, deep burgundy, and deep green, this mascara is the original in its line. It offers up to five times fuller and thicker lashes thanks to its Volume Maximizing brush, which separates and coats each lash. The formula also contains Panthenol and Ceramide-R, which help protect and condition lashes. It is easy to apply and easier to remove, with just soap and water.
With near 1,500 reviews, this is one of the best L’Oréal mascara options of all time. It holds decades-old customers that remain loyal to this product to date. The worst reviews left on this have more to do with one-off flukes (the wrong color delivered, dated formula) than consistent issues, however, a few have noted flaking. Buy it from Amazon or Ulta!
Another double-wand mascara, this one also features a primer at one end and a fiber-rich mascara on the other to build up to superstar lashes. Coat each lash with the primer and then apply the mascara on top before the primer dries out.
The formula rated well among those with sensitive eyes, but some have labeled it as sticky and hard to remove afterward. Others have highlighted its lack of clumping and running, though, so, at the end of the day, it comes down to the texture you prefer on the lashes. You’ll find it on Amazon or Ulta.
Available in black, black-brown, and blackest black, the Telescopic mascara is a popular product with near 800 reviews online. It promises 60% longer lashes and makes use of a two-sided brush – flat and comb – to separate and lengthen lashes. This mascara is widely touted as living up to the product’s lengthening guarantee, but the build of the brush is its weak link. Its flexible nature requires delicate handling to avoid breakage. Check it out on Amazon or Ulta!
Packed in a dramatic gold-rimmed black tube comes an equally dramatic mascara with its carbon black formula. It holds twice the number of pigments from L’Oréal’s regular mascaras as well as a flexible brush for precision in application – gentle sweep from roots to tips. The formula can be easily removed with soap and water.
Perfect for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers, the mascara has been highly rated across customers, but the wand falls short in comparison. The flexible nature of it requires gentle handling, otherwise, it tends to not go back into the tube. Other than that, the formula delivers on its lengthening and thickening capabilities, and you can buy it from Amazon or Ulta.
Packed in a gorgeous, two-wand tube, this mascara is part of the Voluminous line. At one end is the lash primer and, at the other, is a fiber-infused black mascara. Primer goes on first, followed immediately by the mascara. The brush is curved to accommodate all lashes, extending and thickening them. The formula is also infused with light-reflecting pearls to add a shine to the look and truly make it one for the red carpet.
It holds a 4.5 out of 5 on both the quality and value of the product. Overall, it holds high reviews online, with a few experiencing clumping when going behind one to two layers. You can purchase it from Amazon or Ulta!
The bottle-shaped mascara comes with a bendable wand to add ease to its application as it’ll coat the outer and inner lashes. Experiment with the bend to see which angle suits your application best and then sweep from root to tip, building the mascara until you reach your desired effect. Straight works best for lengthening, while a bent angle gives more lift.
A mass of 470 people reviewed this mascara and left it with an overall rating of 4.6 across the quality and value. Customers love the easy-to-apply and easy-to-remove formula, as well as the choice of bending the wand.
However, a fair number of users have noted that while the mascara meets their demands, its package tends to loosen with the stopper falling out many times and needing to be fitted regularly. Get this from Amazon or Ulta!
Providing up to 50% longer lashes, this mascara comes in a metallic blue tube and features a two-sided brush; one which is flat and works to visibly lengthen the lashes, while the other is a comb to help separate the hairs and minimize clumping. The formula is waterproof, fragrance-free, ophthalmologist-tested as well as allergy-tested.
For application, start at the bottom of the lashes and sweep to the top. The wand is a tad too flexible, however, so closing off the tube can be a bit of a hassle. The mascara, on the other hand, wears nicely and is easy to remove. Get it from Amazon or Ulta!
This curling and volumizing mascara leaves users with an instant eye-popping, wide-awake look. Its wide-eyes brush is equipped with a combination of short and long bristles to easily separate and coat lashes for a defined look. In a consumer test, 2 out of 3 women saw bigger eyes, and 7 out of 10 witnessed a no-clump build-up, however, a handful of user reviews have listed clumping an issue.
For application, move gently from the base to the tip of the lashes for a few swipes until the desired look is achieved. It’s been tested for allergies, so it’s suitable for sensitive eyes. The formula is better suited for volume (to be built up) as opposed to curling, but it works well for all-day use. Buy this from Amazon or Ulta!
An Overview of L’Oréal Paris History
The French-headquartered global beauty brand is the world’s largest cosmetics company, a feat it achieved throughout its century-long history. L’Oréal products initially focused on hair dye formulas but have since expanded into encompassing makeup, perfume, hair care, and skincare lines as well.
The beauty care organization’s products walk in line with the company’s slogan, “Because I’m Worth It,” in its dedication to creating products that push its customers to own their confidence and embrace their unique beauty.
The L’Oréal mascara line showcases the same essence with its offering of a diverse set of options across a multitude of colors and capabilities spanning lengthening, volumizing, curling, and lifting formulas, to name a few.
The L’Oréal mascara line includes well-known brands like Voluminous, Bambi Eye, Age Perfect Makeup, Telescopic, Unlimited, and Double Extend. While their main features may overlap, the biggest differences between these lie in their packaging and brush types, offering an eclectic line for customers to choose from based on the look desired and packaging preferred.
L’Oréal Mascara Benefits: Why Should You Consider Getting One?
You might be wondering, “why L’Oréal? What makes it stand apart from other brands?”. Several things, it turns out! L’Oréal mascaras are some of the best out there because:
- They are affordable: the price range of the L’Oréal mascaras listed above is $7.95-$12.99, with the average coming out at $10.50.
- They offer a wide range of products: aside from volumizing, waterproof, curling, lengthening, etc. formulas, L’Oréal Paris stocks a variety of brands, which (while offering the same base capabilities) cater to the specific needs and requirements of its users when wand handling and brush structures are taken into consideration.
- Their packaging is cute and practical: sleek, elegant, shiny – all with a good grip!
- L’Oréal mascaras are widely-reviewed: the more a product is used and reviewed, the easier it is for potential users to get a better insight into its wear and tear. The L’Oréal mascaras we have listed above have seen their fair share of reviews, offering a host of experience to peruse through.
- They are easy to access: drugstores, Amazon, or online, this brand is ubiquitous with plenty of stock to go around.
- Their customer care listens. Head over to any of the product listings on the brand’s website, and you’ll find concerns being addressed under any negative review. Almost every case was followed by a suggestion pointing the customer toward a different product plus a reference number assigned to their complaint to be addressed on a call.
Photos via L’Oréal Paris