Mascara brushes make a *huge* impact on the way our lashes look. To help you get the most outta your next purchase, we’ve broken down the most popular styles so you can figure out which one is best for you. We included some of our fave high street and high end recommenations, too.
OG Classic
For a lil’ bit of everything, stick with the classic. These mascara brushes build definition, thickness, and length to our lashes with each coat we add. The only downside is they can cause our lashes to get a clumpy if we are too heavy handed.
High street rec: Rimmel Kind and Free Mascara (Dhs49, centrepointstores.com)
High end rec: Glossic Extreme Mascara (Dhs115, glossic.com)
Curved
via Instagram @lancomeofficial
Before lash curlers went mainstream, curved mascara brushes did the lifting trick. These eye-opening wands are still popular today, helping gals with straight lashes build up a natural looking, fanned out curl.
High street rec: Bourjois Volume Glamour Coup The Theatre Mascara (Dhs77, ae.boots.com)
High end rec: Lancôme Lash Idôle Mascara (Dhs145, ounass.ae)
Twist
via Instagram @bourjoismiddleeast
Sometimes we just need a whole lotta drama in our lashes (just plz not our love lives, tysm). Twisted mascara brushes offer just that, as they grab onto each and every lash, giving them a megadose of product. Best part is, they leave our lashes looking clump-free.
High street rec: Bourjois Twist Up The Volume Mascara (Dhs100, binsina.ae)
High end rec: By Terry Lash-Expert Twist Brush Mascara (Dhs122, lookfantastic.ae)
Thin
via Instagram @tartecosmetics
For lengthening short lashes, choose a thin brush that can easily reach the root of the lash and carry out the product to its tip. This gives the illusion of longer, more defined lashes. These mascara brushes are also fab for coating and separating lower lashes.
High street rec: Soda Baby Doll Mascara #Lashlover (Dhs69, watsons.ae)
High end rec: Tarte Maneater Mascara (Dhs125, sephora.ae)
Hourglass
via Instagram @toofacedmiddleeast
To widen eyes, choose mascara brushes that are hourglass shape. This style gives a babydoll, fanned out eyelash look. It volumises the inner and outer corner of the eyes with product and curls the center to give those middle lashes a lifting boost. Ngl, this is our fave.
High street rec: Kiko Milano Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara (Dhs75, namshi.com)
High end rec: Too Faced Better Than Love Mascara (Dhs136, sephora.ae)
Spiky ballz
via Instagram @itcosmetics
These mascara brushes look a lil’ funny, but trust us, they’re genius. For those who struggle with spidery-looking lashes or always seem to get one-upped by lash clumps, this handy seperator is exactly what your eyelashes need. They’re perfect to coat those hard to reach, inner corner baby lashes too. Just keep a steady hand. 🥲
High street rec: Wet N’ Wild Lash Renegade Waterproof Mascara (Dhs41, centrepointstores.com)
High end rec: It Cosmetics Hello Lashes (Dhs126, sephora.ae)
Paddle
via Instagram @ctilburymakeuparabia
For ladies with barely there lashes, this is the mascara brushes you need to add to your makeup kit. Its flat side allows you to evenly coat mascara on your lashes and its bristles give clump-free separation with a whole lotta lift. This is one of the trickier wands to use, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll look like you’re wearing falsies ~all~ the time.
High street rec: Sweed Lashes Lash Lift Mascara (Dhs99, lookfantastic.ae)
High end rec: Charlotte Tiilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes Mascara (Dhs145, Charlotte Tilbury stores)
Fluffy
via Instagram @narcissist
For OTT thiccness, choose a dense, fluffy brush. These lash hugging brushes are able to pick up *a lot* of mascara to generously coat lashes and give ’em some serious volume. These mascara brushes are fab for ladies with naturally long lashes.
High street rec: Essence Get Big! Lashes Volume Boost Waterproof Mascara (Dhs11, watsons.ae)
High end rec: Nars Climax Mascara (Dhs135, bloomingdales.ae)
Micro
via Instagram @shiseido
Micro brushes are pretty much the opposite of all the other mascara brushes. Instead of delivering length and volume, they simply tint the lashes to give them a slightly more defined look. Feeling low key? This is the way to go.
High street rec: 19/99 Beauty Lash Tint Mascara (Dhs73, revolve.com)
High end rec: Surrat Noir Lash Tint (Dhs166, lookfantastic.ae)
Tapered
via Instagram @fentybeauty
Tapered wands are thinner at the tip and gradually become wider towards the bottom. The small tip is the perfect size to give those inner corner baby lashes some love. The shape of the brush gives a natural looking cat eye as it’ll load up product on the outer corner lashes.
High street rec: Rude Obnoxious Volume Volumizing Mascara (Dhs33, 6thstreet.com)
High end rec: Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara (Dhs110, sephora.ae)
Rubber
via Instagram @tartecosmetics
For extreme lengths, opt for a spiky rubber wand. These grip every single lash for some seriously bold definition and lengthening. These work great for all lash types, especially those on the short side.
High street rec: Tower28 Making Waves Mascara (Dhs80, revolve.com)
High end rec: Tartelette Tubing Mascara (Dhs125, sephora.ae)