One thing all beauty lovers can bond over is how difficult it can be to fall in love with a makeup brand that continuously offers high-quality products at scarily high prices. While there are a number of heritage brands that have remained in reach of the "average" consumer through accessible price points, there are a few whose formulas have stayed unaltered in the face of increased production demand over time. As a beauty editor, I pay special attention to the brands that set themselves apart from others, taking note of which core products never fall out of style.
Enter Lancôme—a Paris-based brand offering elevated makeup, skincare, and fragrance essentials since 1935. While Lancôme's extensive product selection has become world-renowned, the brand remains focused on its French roots. It's no wonder the fashion-forward French crowd flocks to it during their pharmacy shopping sprees. The brand's mascaras, especially, are second to none, offering formulas that boost the the length and volume of natural lashes with astonishing longevity.
Below, we're sharing our curated edit of the best Lancôme mascaras for all your lash goals along with our honest opinions and glowing reviews from customers. You may even spot a few more makeup must-haves we love from the brand.
What To Look For
If you want to add a new Lancôme mascara to your makeup routine, you've come to the right place. We asked three professional makeup artists for the biggest things they look for in their mascara, and some insight on getting the most out of their products. For our experts, mascara brushes stand out the most. "I need something that glides on without clumping, builds well, and doesn’t flake or irritate the eyes (especially since I work with so many different people and eye shapes)," explains makeup artist T. Cooper. She prefers mascara brushes that provide ample volume to make lashes visible in person and on camera.
Los Angeles-based makeup artist Kimberly Williams echoes the sentiment. "I love when a brush is fluffy and textured. I personally don't like a silicone brush for my type of lashes," explains Williams, in reference to her long, curly eyelashes. "The textured brushes give way more volume, length, and separation." Makeup artist, Michelle Waldron agrees, highlighting the role of wand shapes. "It’s important to know whether you want a volumizing, lengthening or separating look," she says. "Volumizing wands tend to be more dense and a nylon bristle brush. Lengthening wands are slim and more conical, while separating mascara wands are more comb like and made from silicone/rubber."
Choosing The Right Formula
Additionally, it's important to take note of how well a mascara formula can build for maximum impact. "Time is of the essence when I’m working with my clients, so I don’t have time for a formula that needs four coats to show up," says Cooper. Lately, she's also been favoring mascaras with colored formulas since they offer a flexible way to transform a makeup look. Cooper likes using blue and burgundy shades to make the eyes pop while adding personality. Waldron advises choosing a mascara shade that matches your makeup goals, "Do you want it to be a dramatic black or a natural black or brown shade that only slightly enhances your lashes? Or, do you want a fun bright color mascara?"
For the best results, the selection process shouldn't stop there. Cooper likes using formulas that are smudge-proof, waterproof, or water-resistant if you want your mascara to stay on all day. Got sensitive eyes? Make sure you're using mascaras with hypoallergenic formulas. Now that you know how to select the best mascaras for your needs, keep scrolling to find out which Lancôme products these celebrity, editorial, and event makeup artists keep within reach.
The Best Lancôme Mascaras, Listed
- Best Overall: Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara
- Best For a Natural Finish: Lash Idôle Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara
- Best for Waterproof Protection: Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Waterproof Mascara
- Best for a Doll-Like Look: Hypnôse Doll Lashes Extending & Separating Mascara
- Best for High Definition: Définicils High Definition Lengthening Mascara
- Best for Pumping Up the Volume: Monsieur Big Volumizing Mascara
- Best for Falsie-Level Length: Le 8 Hypnôse Serum-Infused Volumizing Mascara
- Best for Priming Lashes: Cils Booster XL Enhancing Lash & Mascara Primer
Best Overall: Lancôme Hypnôse Instant Full Body Volume Mascara
Both Williams and Cooper love this one. "I always say that I’ve only got like three hairs on my eyelids, but this mascara makes my lashes look so full. It’s my personal fave," Cooper explains. Not only does it deliver up to 17 times more volume and 24 hours of wear, but it has a buildable formula that uses 2% bonding complex to give the lashes a fuller appearance and intense onyx black pigments. No wonder people as Williams if her eyelashes are real when she wears it!
Customer Review: "I really enjoyed wearing this mascara. It lengthened my lashes without making them feel dry or crunchy like some other brands. I wore it all day and also didn’t have any fallout or raccoon eyes."
Pros: delivers up to 17 times more volume and up to 24-hour wear
Cons: none
Size: 1.07 oz tube
Brush Type: oversized S-shaped mascara brush with bristles
Number of Shades: One (Black)
Thomas wearing Lancôme's Hypnôse Drama Instant Volumizing Mascara.
Best for a Natural Finish: Lancôme Lash Idôle Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara
This legendary mascara has earned its unbeatable reputation. It targets every single lash for instant lift, length, and fanned-out volume without clumping. Infused with antioxidant-rich white tea extract to condition and care for the lashes, its formula lasts for up to 24 hours without budging. The mascara also uses a brush with 360 micro-bristles to lengthen every lash.
Customer Review: "Love this mascara. It feels light on the lashes, but makes the lashes kind and beautiful. Two coats makes it look voluminous. My new favorite additions to my collection."
Pros: delivers falsie-level, fanned-out length and volume to natural lashes
Cons: all-day wear may produce light flaking under and around the lash line
Size: 0.27 oz tube
Brush Type: curved mascara brush with 350 micro-bristles
Number of Shades: Two (Glossy Black and True Brown)
Best for Waterproof Protection: Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Waterproof Mascara
Finding a waterproof mascara that can offer the volume and length you're after can be challenging, but this mascara is the solution. You'll immediately notice how much fuller and longer your lashes appear after coating them with its fluid, creamy formula. My lashes are thick and short, so I love using this mascara's S-shaped, convex brush to ensure every lash is defined and separated.
Customer Review: "I love this mascara! The unique shape of the brush makes it easy for me to get into the corners of my lashes without overloading and clumping up the center. It holds [a] curl nicely and gives good volume and length. No issues with smudging in my experience either."
Pros: features a full-contact S-shaped brush that coats lashes for a lifted look
Cons: experienced slight clumping after two coats of product
Size: 0.22 oz tube
Brush Type: S-shaped convex brush with bristles
Number of Shades: One (Excessive Black)
Best for a Doll-Like Look: Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes Extending & Separating Mascara
I've always been told I have doll-like eyes. While I owe some of the credit to my genetics, the rest of it goes to this incredible mascara. The brand's FiberShine formula sculpts, lengthens, and thickens while the brush provides smooth application and definition for hard-to-reach lashes.
Customer Review: "I have naturally long and curly lashes. This is the only brush that is shaped to work with my lashes and makes sure the corner ones are well extended. The brush is very thick so if you have short thin lashes this will probably not work well for you. Of all the mascaras I’ve tried, this remains my favorite. Unbeatable!"
Pros: provides a lifted lash look that’s perfect for fine, thin lashes
Cons: individuals with oily skin may notice light smudging
Size: 0.22 oz tube
Brush Type: tapered mascara brush with nylon bristles
Number of Shades: One (So Black!)
Best for High Definition: Lancôme Définicils High Definition Lengthening Mascara
Lacôme's best-selling Définicils Defining & Lengthening Mascara is Waldron's top pick for lengthening lashes. It features an ergonomic brush applicator with grooved bristles that help deliver the perfect amount of product to the lashes for gradual, even application. Its buildable formula is also a favorite of mine since it offers longer, more defined lashes in seconds and does not smudge or flake.
Customer Review: "If combined with Lancôme’s lash primer, mascara will perform much better. The brush allows for individual lash color deposit, can lift lashes if applied starting at the lash root and as far as I’m concerned, no better mascara exists."
Pros: formula offers smudge-proof and clump-free application
Cons: none
Size: 0.21 oz tube
Brush Type: rectangular brush with grooved bristles
Number of Shades: Three (Black, Deep Brown, and Noir Infini)
Thomas wearing Lancôme's Définicils Defining & Lengthening Mascara in Deep Brown.
Best for Pumping Up the Volume: Lancôme Monsieur Big Volumizing Mascara
If your goal is to add more volume to your lashes without relying solely on falsies to get the job done, consider the Monsieur Big Volumizing Mascara. The smudge-proof, volumizing, and lengthening mascara features ultra-black pigments that coat each and every lash evenly while its soft brush uses wavy bristles for intense, clump-free volume. This one also happens to be a favorite of Cooper, Waldron, and Williams. "You don’t have to build it up, and it leaves the lashes looking full and fluffy," Cooper explains.
Customer Review: "After using Lancôme Monsieur Big Volumizing Mascara, I received many compliments on my lashes. It’s priced at a great amount, is easy to apply and doesn’t smudge. I really enjoy it and would buy it in the future."
Pros: formulated with ultra-black pigments that evenly coat each lash
Cons: product flakes with all-day wear and is challenging to remove
Size: 0.33 oz tube with a mascara brush
Brush Type: fluffy mascara brush with wavy fiber bristles
Number of Shades: One (Black)
Best for Falsie-Level Length: Le 8 Hypnôse Serum-Infused Volumizing Mascara
Did you know there are mascaras that make your your lashes not only look great when you're wearing them but also healthier in the long run? This mascara gives your lashes buildable, plush volume using a nourishing formula crafted with 91% black palm, shea butter, and eight nourishing amino acids. You'll have stronger, healthier lashes in four weeks!
Customer Review: "I've used this for the past two days and I've had so much volume. The curl holds all day. Length is lengthening! I never use high quality mascara and this has completely changed my mind."
Pros: uses an ultra-soft vegetal fiber mascara brush that smoothly coats all lashes
Cons: none
Size: 0.30 oz tube
Brush Type: hourglass mascara brush with vegetal fiber bristles
Number of Shades: Four (Noir Sculptural, Noir de Jaïs, Noir Grenat, Noir Malachite)
Best for Priming Lashes: Lancôme Cils Booster XL Enhancing Lash & Mascara Primer
While this pick isn't technically a mascara, it made the list because a couple coats of it will help all aforementioned mascaras reach their full potential. This Lancôme mascara primer creates a smooth surface for your favorite mascara to glide on to. It uses a conditioning formula of microfibers as well as vitamins B5 and E to give your lashes a fuller and longer appearance as well as to boost the pigment of your mascara.
Customer Review: "I know it’s on the pricey side but it is worth it. The absolute staple in my routine! Been using this primer for years and it has helped my lashes grow and stay strong. Also allows you to use nearly any mascara because it provides such a solid base"
Pros: separates and coats eyelashes with a nourishing, conditioning formula
Cons: formula feels very wet on the lashes upon application
Size: 0.18 oz tube
Brush Type: rectangle mascara brush with fiber bristles
Number of Shades: One (Clear)
How We Tested
Testing and reviewing products are all in a day's work for Who What Wear Beauty Editors. To determine which Lancôme mascaras meet and exceed our expectations, we tested a number of their best-selling products, paying particular attention to their formulas, ability to life and lengthen the lashes, shade offerings, and overall longevity. Our official edit of the eight best mascaras by Lancôme are based off our own testing experience in addition to expert recommendations and glowing customer reviews.
Why Trust Us
Since the official launch in 2006, Who What Wear has defined itself as a leading digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication. Through out first-person testing, reviews, and expert input, the goal is to provide our readers with products to help define and evolve their personal style and to shop smart. Think of Who What Wear as your #1 source for inspiration across beauty and fashion.
More Lancôme Makeup Favorites
When it comes to long-lasting, waterproof eyeliners, this Lancôme must-have is at the top of my list. Offered in two versatile shades, the eye pencil glides onto the skin without tugging or snagging for precise application and pigmented color that doesn't flake. The pencil's buttery, smooth formula is complemented by its built-in smudger for the perfect smoky eye.
If you ask any Who What Wear beauty editor, there's a high chance they have this eyeliner in the makeup kit to help them create sleek wings in seconds. The Idôle Ultra-Precise Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner offers one-stroke application with up to 24 hours of waterproof, smudge-proof, and flake-free wear.
We're also loving the hybrid gel eyeliner pencil. The aptly named product brings on the drama with six eye-catching pigments in matte, glitter, and metallic finishes that last for up to 24 hours. It has a blendable creamy texture that, once applied, won't smudge, fade, flake, or transfer.
Looking for a foundation that will give your skin natural-looking luminosity? This glow serum foundation by Lancôme offers up to 24 hours of wear with buildable medium coverage and SPF 24. Its also formulated with hyaluronic and mandelic acids to hydrate, smooth, and refine your skin for the ultra-glowy finish your after.
A good balm that not only nourishes the lips but adds a subtle flush of color is always a win, but this Lancôme lip balm takes things to the next level using a formula filled with 12% squalane, shea butter, jojoba oil, and ceramides to instantly provide shine and improve the skin's moisture barrier over time.
A setting spray can either make or break your makeup look, so it's important to choose one that works in tandem with your products for the best possible finish. Lancôme's anti-pollution setting spray sets and refreshes makeup while leaving the skin hydrated and shine-free for up to 24 hours using a mixture of vitamin C–rich kiwi extract, moringa seeds, and witch hazel.
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