The Best Mascara Of 2022

The year is coming to a close, meaning it's time to gather the best of the best. From the best (and worst) Hallmark movies of 2022 to the best skincare gift sets of 2022, there's no doubt everyone loves a good roundup at the end of the year. Beauty is no exception to this, with roundups like the best makeup gifts of 2022 serving as an ideal way to find a gift for a loved one (or yourself).

Moreover, mascara is a key component in most people's makeup routine. Everyone likes different things with their mascara, from barely-there wands that will give you a minimal look to mascaras that promise to deliver on drama and volume. It can be tough to know where to start if you're looking for a new mascara due to the hundreds on the market, which is why it's so important to research properly.

Whether you're stocking up on presents or looking for a mascara that will carry you through the holiday party season, you're sure to find a new favorite below. 

If you want volume for days (and throughout the night), the Volume Mascara by Kevyn Aucoin is the mascara for you. According to The Cut, this mascara falls in "the center of that perfect mascara Venn diagram of being smudgeproof (thanks to its tubular formula), volumizing, thickening, and lengthening." It is also suited to all eyelashes, no exceptions, whether they're sparse, straight, or short. 

Want to focus more on curling your straight lashes? Opt for Maybelline New York Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara. As reviewed by Cosmopolitan, this mascara aims to curl your lashes so you can cut out the step of a lash curler and save yourself some time (and frustration) in the process. It's also under $11, meaning you won't have to break the bank to achieve an impeccably curled set of lashes. 

Another affordable option is the e.l.f. Big Mood Mascara, which promises to keep the curl in your lashes until taken off and impressively costs under $10 (via Allure).

If you have a bit more to spend and want to treat yourself, you can't go wrong with the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. The cult classic is well-known in the beauty world, partly due to its name, and partly because, as Glamour states, you don't need to apply much to achieve the "dramatic and sexy volume to live up to the product's eyebrow-raising name." 

All about clean beauty? The Ilia Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara delivers on lengthening your lashes whilst remaining free of any harmful ingredients. Per Byrdie, the dual-sided wand works to curl, lengthen, and lift your lashes at the same time. Best of all, this mascara will get give your lashes some TLC due to the conditioning waxes used.

Last on the list but definitely no less good is the Twenty/Twenty Beauty Clean Sweep Mascara, designed to create "defined, lengthened and stronger lashes both immediately and over time." Perfect if you're looking for a mascara for sensitive eyes, this product is free from any of the typically irritating ingredients used in mascara (via Forbes) and is also suitable for contact lens wearers.