Which Type Of Mascara Brush and Wand Is The Best?

You’ve just finished seamlessly blending a killer eyeshadow look and are now armed with a mascara brush, ready to give your lashes a bold boost that will complete your eye makeup. You place the wand at the base of your fringe and sweep up—only to end up with a splotch of black on your lid. The fact of the matter is, not all mascara wands and brushes are created equal. Finding the right one for your lash goals is just as important as the formula itself. To point you in the right direction, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to break down the best types of mascara brushes.

The Best Type of Mascara Brush For an All-Around Boost

If you want a brush that will give your lashes volume, length, and definition, you can’t go wrong with a classic mascara wand. This brush type resembles an oval with a slightly rounded tip. It features bristles all around to thoroughly coat and separate your fringe. A classic mascara brush can sometimes be prone to clumping, which is why it’s important to pair it with a clump-resistant formula. The L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Bold Eye Mascara is the perfect example of this winning combo.

The Best Type of Mascara Brush For Volume

To turn up the volume, look for a jumbo (also referred to as an oversized) mascara brush. As its name suggests, this wand resembles a classic brush, only super-sized. The large brush is typically packed with bristles of varying lengths, and that makes it a no-brainer for packing on volume. Pick up the L’Oréal Paris Air Volume Mega Mascara, Lightweight Mega Volume Washable, and you’ll see what we’re talking about.

The Best Type of Mascara Brush For Length

If length is what you’re after, turn your attention toward a skinny mascara wand. This brush is exactly what you’d think—a long, skinny wand that consists of short bristles. It can easily lengthen while simultaneously separating your lashes. There’s a reason why our best lengthening mascara, the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Original Waterproof Lengthening Mascara, is equipped with this type of mascara brush.

The Best Type of Mascara Brush For Full Coverage

Sometimes it can be difficult to coat every lash without ending up with some mascara in areas it shouldn’t be. This is especially true when trying to apply mascara to your inner corner. If you want to achieve a full coverage look with ease, a tapered cone brush should be your partner in crime. This type of wand is narrow at the tip and wider at the base, allowing you to wield it as you need to create a cat eye effect. You can find one on the primer end of the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous X Fiber Mascara.

The Best Type of Mascara Brush For Curling

Speaking of our fiber mascara, on the opposite end, it also happens to feature the best mascara brush for giving your lashes a curl: a curved wand. Thanks to its curved shape, this wand is a solid match for those who have naturally straight lashes in need of an extra boost.

The Best Type of Mascara Brush For Lift

If your lashes tend to stick straight out, making them nearly unnoticeable from the front, you’ve likely been on the hunt for a mascara brush that will help to lift your fringe. A bendable mascara wand, like the one you’ll find in the L’Oréal Paris Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Washable Mascara, can help with just that. The brush can be used straight or bent, so you can get precise application and a lash-lift effect.

The Best Type of Mascara Brush For Lower Lashes

Bold bottom lashes aren’t a new trend, but they’re a one that isn’t going away anytime soon. That said, achieving the look calls for a micro mascara wand. This brush is skinny and short, making it easy to use in small areas like your bottom fringe. You can also use it to coat other nooks and crannies, like the inner corner we talked about earlier.

The Best Type of Mascara Brush For Precision

To ensure your lashes are perfectly coated every which way, add a ball wand to your collection. It quite literally features a ball of bristles at the end of the brush. The small, rounded tip helps to coat small areas and build volume without causing clumps or mishaps.

The Best Type of Mascara Brush For Coverage and Volume

For those that want every inch of their fringe coated in addition to high impact volume, consider trying a corkscrew mascara wand. This brush type alternated between being full and tapered all the way down, allowing it to seamlessly weave between your lashes and pack on the formula.

The Best Type of Mascara Brush For Clump-Free Definition

It’s safe to say that no one wants a clumpy mascara look. If clump-free definition is your top priority, a comb brush will do the job. As its name suggests, this wand features a plastic comb on one side that can lace through your fringe, coating and separating each lash simultaneously.

Next: Your Guide To Eyeshadow Brushes