Wakeup Your Makeup: Which Mascara Are You?

Mascara is no doubt many girls' best beauty friend. But sometimes it can be confusing when it comes to picking your mascara - should you get lengthening or thickening? Strengthening or curling? Just like everyone has different hair types, everyone also has different lashes - read on to find out what type of mascara is best suited to you!

1. Lengthening

Lengthening mascaras are best suited to those who have shorter lashes. They tend to have a thinner wand with dense bristles that allow you to get to get more mascara onto your lashes (especially on the tips, to help lengthen them). Try Bobbi Brown's Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara that has bristles that interlock with lashes like a zipper, so that each individual lashes are perfectly separated and coated from root to tip.

2. Thickening

Thickening mascaras are perfect for those who have long but thin or sparse lashes. These mascaras typically have a big brush that helps to create and build volume, as well as a thicker formula to make lashes appear bulkier. Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara has a paraben-free formula that offers exceptional volume, as well as conditioning properties with added vitamin C, Panthenol and bamboo.

3. Curling

Curling mascaras are those with curved wands, ideal for those with stubborn straight lashes (like myself!) The curved wand helps to lift the lashes by allowing the bristles to fit more precisely in between lashes. A great curling mascara is Australis' Lash TLC Conditioning Mascara in 'Black Curling'. The curved wand helps you to achieve enviably lush and curly lashes, while the conditioning formula also helps to protect and nourish the lash hairs.

4. Strengthening

Strengthening mascaras are ideal for those with weak and brittle lashes. These mascaras have nourishing and conditioning formulas enriched with vitamins that helps your lashes to grow stronger and longer over time. Almay's Get Up & Grow Mascara is a great example of a strengthening mascara - it has a pro-vitamin, anti-breakage formula coupled with a super soft brush for instant length.

5. Waterproof

Waterproof mascaras are suited to those who want their mascara to be smudge and smear-proof and lasts all day. Despite the name, most waterproof mascaras will still give you panda eyes if you immerse your face in water. But something else I have found with waterproof mascaras is that they also hold curls exceptionally well because of the synthetic formula. However, these formulas can sometimes be difficult to remove, becomming harsh on your lashes (to prevent breaking your lashes, try putting some Vaseline on them before you go to sleep). Lancome's Hypnose Waterproof Mascara allows for up to 16 hours of wear and has a formula that is enriched with vitamin B5.

6. Natural

For those who have sensitive eyes or wear contact lenses, it can be difficult to find a mascara that won't hurt or irritate. This is when a natural mascara is the perfect option. The Eye of Horus Mascara is naturally formulated in the style of the ancient Egyptians with plant based ingredients and waxes including carnauba wax, beeswax, rice bran wax and candelilla wax to be kind to eyes.