A great mascara is a staple in most makeup routine. But finding your dream mascara can be tricky, since everyone has a different standard for what constitutes as truly life-changing when it comes to lashes. If it's the best mascara for long lashes you're after, there are a few tips to follow to help narrow your search.
Obviously, the formula matters, but because mascara is applied so closely to your eyes, new formulas are highly regulated (which can get costly), so there's actually not a whole lot of innovation going on. In general, look for a formula that has polymers and/or fibers towards the top of the ingredient list, as they'll add more length, whereas a wax-heavy formula is more suited for adding volume.
The brush is where things get fancy, and the design can help determine exactly what kind of lash look you'll get. The two main types of mascara wands are wire brushes and plastic-molded brushes, and both models are able to be customized exactly how the manufacturer wants. Without getting too exhaustive here, wire brushes are made with nylon fibers twisted around the wire, making them great at pumping up lashes. Plastic-mold brushes tend to be better at lengthening and separating because there's greater design control over the bristles, but regardless of the type of brush, the thinner and more finely spaced the bristles, the more lengthening power you'll get. A smaller brush (or one that's tapered at the end) will also help give you more control when it comes to coating every last lash.