Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Leleita McKill, Getty Images, Retailers
In our column “What I Can’t Live Without,” we’ve interviewed hundreds of famous people about their favorite products — and here, we’re going deep into their favorite mascaras. Whether they discovered their chosen wands through their makeup artist, mom, or friend, many celebrities told us that once they find a mascara that works for them, they stick with it. (In fact, one celebrity told us she has been using the same one for more than 20 years.) This list includes tubes from drugstore staples like Maybelline and L’Oréal to pricier prestige brands like Giorgio Armani and Yves Saint Laurent to TikTok-famous brands like Glossier and Tower 28. In cases when more than one celebrity has recommended the brand, we’ve included all of their quotes.
Jessel Taank
“I’ve been using this mascara since I was maybe 15 years old. It was the first one I ever tried because of my mom. She would pick it up at this pharmacy in England called Boots (it’s like a CVS), and her eyelashes were amazing. I’ve tried everything on the market — Chanel, Saint Laurent, every brand you can imagine — and I always come back to this. It is so good. A lick of it gives me those big eyes I want. I think Kim Kardashian said it was one of her favorites, too. We’re onto something, Kim and I.” —January 2024
Victoria Justice
“My mom also introduced me to this mascara years ago when it first came out. I’ve tried others since, but I haven’t really loved another mascara as much as this one. The formula really lengthens lashes while separating them, and it’s buildable. The wand is superthin, so I can really dig into my lashes and apply the mascara fully. This is really the only mascara I use.” —October 2023
Loren Gray
“I’ve been using this mascara since middle school. My friend told me about it and said it was a life-changer, and she was right. It makes your lashes look superlong, and you can layer it to have more volume. It stays on really well, and it never flakes off. It’s also super-affordable.” —March 2020
Sanaa Lathan
“The best mascara ever — and so affordable. When I was working on The Affair last year, the makeup artist turned me on to it, and I’ll tell you: It puts all the other expensive mascaras at the department stores to shame. It stays on forever and almost makes you look like you have false eyelashes on; it’s so good.” —September 2018
Lynda Carter
“It’s just Maybelline, baby. I’m still a Maybelline girl. It’s still the one that doesn’t flake. It’s inexpensive. I can go to any drugstore and pick up my favorite mascara. It’s still the best one on the market. The pink and green. It’s a classic formula, and it always works. I’ve been using that since I started wearing mascara. Particularly on my lower lashes — when you’ve got moisturizer on, they flake, but Maybelline doesn’t flake. And it comes off when you wash your face. Oh, Maybelline [sings]. It just still is the one, and I’ve just tried them all.” —December 2023
Skai Jackson
“Even without makeup on, I want my eyes to pop. This mascara makes your face look ten times better, I have to say. It’s my go-to mascara. I’ve only been using it for a couple of months, but I can’t imagine trying anything better. What’s great is that it doesn’t make my eyelashes clumpy. You know how sometimes mascara makes them look like spider legs? It’s not cute. They also make eyelashes ten times longer and darker. Other mascaras also harden my eyelashes so much that they can fall out, which this has never done.” —February 2017
Vivica A. Fox
“I’ve been using this mascara since back in the day! When I do wear my makeup, it sets the brows just perfectly. I’ll use it to keep them in place and have been since I first started acting — what, 20 or 25 years ago? I like the clear and the black mascara. It’s the perfect drugstore buy that never disappoints.” —August 2018
Shannon Maldonado
“I’ve tried expensive mascaras — I’ve tried Benefit — and this is the only one I’ve ever used consistently. It’s no-frills, I get it at Rite Aid, and it’s usually on sale. I have curly eyelashes and like my eyes to look like bunny eyes, and for whatever reason, this brush works with my lashes. I go superheavy top and bottom. I like it in Very Black because it’s a heavier black.” —February 2021
Chanel Iman
“I wear very little makeup when I go out and run errands, but this plus my brow kit is my daily routine. Compared to other mascaras, this adds so much more volume, and I find that it lasts all day long.” —April 2024
Stacey Bendet
“From the moment I used this mascara, I haven’t used anything else; I have had it in my makeup kit since. Because (1) it doesn’t run — it literally lasts 24 hours — and (2) it’s not terrible to get off at night. You put it on and your eyes light up. It’s thick enough to give you volume. The brush has almost an hourglass shape and goes on very quickly and easily.” —November 2023
June Diane Raphael
“If I was left alone on a desert island and could only bring one thing, it would probably be mascara. There’s nothing that changes and brightens your face up like mascara does. Every makeup artist I’ve ever worked with is so disturbed by how much I put on, but I love mascara. I love the feeling of putting it on. There are other mascaras out there, especially drugstore mascara — you can find a good drugstore mascara. To me, it’s not like foundation or other products where it’s like going high-end makes that much of a difference. You can go to whatever price point to find a decent one. But this really has the wand that separates your lashes, and you can just get in there and get to the root. And I love how black it is.” —March 2024
Kristin Cavallari
“I’ve been using it for more than ten years. I like it because you can build it up as much as you want. I’ll do one coat during the day for running around, and that’s the only makeup that I put on. If I’m really going all out, I’ll do a few coats. It never clumps and makes my lashes thicker and longer. I think it’s the perfect mascara. I was first introduced to it by a makeup artist. That’s how I get all the latest and greatest makeup: through the makeup artists that I work with.” —October 2020
Rebecca Hessel Cohen
“My makeup artist, Tracy Murphy, introduced this mascara to me. Our goal is always ‘thick, thick, thick lashes,’ and this YSL mascara is absolutely the best for that. Tracy taught me how to apply it to get that gorgeous, full, crazy-thick look. Basically, you just apply a ton of layers and cake it on. Lots of layers for the top and the bottom lashes. I sometimes mix up the colors, too, like aubergine with black or brown. And the mascara doesn’t fall throughout the day; I don’t know why people keep using their mascara when it gives those little flakes under their eyes. This one lasts a long time: I apply it in the morning, and it’s there until I take it off at night. I won’t leave home without applying.” —December 2019
Julia Fox
“I have rosacea, so my cheeks always look like I have blush on. So I kind of already look like I’m wearing makeup, which is why I don’t wear a lot of makeup. I get my eyelashes done. I get my top lashes done and then I use waterproof mascara for my bottom lashes. It’s an easy regimen. This is what I use on my bottom lashes. It will match my false eyelashes, and it doesn’t run. I have a problem with mascara running, which is why I get my eyelashes done in the first place. I think I just have naturally oily skin. But this does not run and makes my eyes pop. I’ve tried every single one, and this is what I stuck with.” —December 2019
Jane Seymour
“This is my new go-to. It’s called Full Fat Lashes. The reason I use it is it goes on beautifully, better than any other mascara I’ve found. Since I wear individual false lashes, I find that it connects my natural lashes and gives a very natural look. It doesn’t spread anywhere, and when I take it off, it comes off very easily. It doesn’t irritate my eyes, and no particles fall on my face.” —March 2019
Hayley Kiyoko
“My makeup artist and I struggled to find the right mascara for my performances. I cry a lot onstage because I’m super-emotional. I started using this on tour two years ago. It’s very forgiving. I can wipe my face and cry a lot, and it’ll still have its moment. This definitely gives me a more lifted look, too. I use the eyelash curler, put this mascara on, and I’m ready to go. I mostly just use it for performances — day-to-day, I try to keep it as natural as possible. But every once in a while, I love to curl my lashes, put mascara on, and put concealer and bronzer on my face.” —January 2020
Yuna Zarai
“I’m really proud of my eyelashes. I’ve always been scared to use mascara — especially waterproof mascara — because I don’t want my lashes to fall out either from the formula or when I wash it off. Because this one has antioxidants and conditioners, I can wear it every day. My lashes don’t feel thin or dried out after wearing it all day, unlike a lot of other mascaras I’ve tried. And it’s easy to apply because it doesn’t clump at all.” —November 2022
Chloe Kim
“I have lash extensions, and when they start to fall out, I need a lash-safe mascara or one that’s oil-free and non-waterproof. I’ve done a good amount of research and digging and have tried a bunch of different oil-free mascaras. This one seems to be the best. It’s super-easy to remove, and it doesn’t smear too much, which is great for a non-waterproof mascara. Some of the other mascaras I tried would get a little clumpy, but I haven’t experienced much clumping with this one, and the brush shape applies the product evenly. It gives me the volume that I need, especially when my lashes are looking a little sparse.” —April 2021
Hailee Steinfeld
“Some mascaras that I’ve used in the past wouldn’t wear super-well, or when you go to wash it off, it pills and it’s all over your face. But this Tower 28 mascara — first of all, the wand itself is so awesome. It’s so buildable. It looks like I’ve applied lashes after I use this mascara. It’s an easy cleanup. I also love the packaging — I’m a sucker for some good packaging. But this mascara is my absolute go-to right now.” —September 2023
Devon Lee Carlson
“Every time I wear mascara, it usually falls under my eye and I look like I have raccoon eyes. The Glossier mascara is the only one I’ve used that never leaves flakes under my eyes. I’d have to say I’m obsessed with that. The bristles are very short, so it’s more of a natural lash. I’ll use the Milk Makeup Kush Mascara if I’m going for more of a clumpy, fuller-lash look. But if I want to have a no-makeup look but wear a little more, I go for the Glossier. The bristles always separate my lashes perfectly.” —August 2019
Tawny Cypress
“A friend of mine in New Jersey turned me on to Thrive mascara. I saw her lashes and said, ‘Babe, do you have falsies on? Because your eyes look amazing.’ I sound like a commercial right now, but I swear to God that’s exactly what happened. She told me about this, and I’ve used it ever since. It’s the kind of mascara that makes little poly-something tubes around your eyelashes, and it’s awesome. It doesn’t come off until I take it off. I’m 46 years old and my skin is 46 years old, so products that don’t move are a plus in my book.” —March 2023
Aly Michalka
“I’m one of those people who needs to have a tiny bit of mascara on in order to leave the house. This gives good length and volume but doesn’t feel clumpy, like some of them can. That’s definitely because of the wand.” —May 2021
AJ Michalka
“I’m a mascara freak. I really like this because it has a great wand. The product gives a lot of coverage because one side is a primer and the other side is the mascara. I used to be a drugstore-mascara girl because I honestly thought that the cheaper ones were better. This may be a little more expensive, but I think it’s high-quality and it has organic and natural ingredients.” —May 2021
Photo: Copyright Richard Pierce. All Rights Reserved.
Lauren Weisberger
“This is kind of crazy to be putting a $45 mascara on the list, but I’ve tried a couple of times to do the eyelash extensions, and I cannot stand them. They always felt so weird and uncomfortable, and I was always so aware of my ridiculously long, fake-looking eyelashes. I’m not sure of the appeal of them, and with most of the people I know who do them, I really just end up staring at their eyelash extensions. So this is the only mascara that’s ever made it look like I have long eyelashes. I swear by it.” —June 2018
Brooke Shields
“[IT Cosmetics has] a product called Tightline 3-in-1 primer, liner, mascara, and it has a wand that is the absolute thinnest I’ve ever, ever seen. A lot of the time when I’m putting on any kind of mascara, it can’t get into the corners of the eye because the wand is too thick, but this gets right in there. It’s so thin you can get in right over the top of your waterline over your eye and right underneath the waterline for under your eye without going over. It’s so thin it can go on under your bottom lashes without going onto your face.” —March 2018
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