I Tested All 6 Benefit Mascaras—Here's My Full Ranking With Before and After Pics
Including details on how to get a bunch of them for 50 percent off right now.
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One of my best friends bought me a Benefit Cosmetics kit for my birthday in high school, featuring all of their top products, including the now-iconic-but-then-brand-new Roller Lash mascara. Since then, I've been a loyal Benefit mascara user. I'll test every formula the brand releases, knowing it'll give my lashes length, volume, separation, or a mix of all three—without all the smudging and smearing and flaking. But which is the best Benefit mascara of all? That's a mission I was ready to take on.
I coated my lashes exclusively in Benefit mascara for two months to fully engage in this experiment. What constitutes the best mascara in my book? It definitely depends on your vibes. If you like major drama and volume, a separating natural mascara prob won't cut it for you. Love a smudge-free formula? You're gonna love a waterproof mascara, though. Don't worry, I broke it all down, including before and after shots on my own lashes to show you what they look like to compare for yourself.
FYI: Almost all Benefit mascaras are 50 percent off from February 16 through February 19 for National Lash Day (!!) on BenefitCosmetics.com. So if you were thinking about trying a new one, now's your chance. Keep reading to help decide which ones to pick up, per my very in-depth analysis.
Pros
- Separates lashes for a fanned-out effect
- Natural bristle wand helps coat every single lash
Cons
- Might be a little dry for some testers
Sooooo, I'm in a committed love affair with this mascara. I never go on a single trip without it. I've actually begged the Benefit team to please make a brown shade, because then it would truly be perfect. Let me explain my adoration. This mascara volumizes and lifts, but also somehow separates every lash so it looks like I have about a zillion lashes that are all super healthy and thick. It gives such a stunning doe-eyed effect that every time I wear it I, too, believe I should be in the Bambis squad on Traitors (Gabby, Chrishelle, Nicki, call me).
The wand has a slight curve that hugs my lashes to help get an even layer on every single one. Meanwhile, the natural bristles are great for really loading up product while also brushing it through. And the fanned-out effect lasts for hours—I can go a full workday without needing to reapply this. Maybe just before going out to dinner or going out at night, I'll add on an extra layer for some drama. But overall, it stays on until it's time to massage it off at night with cleansing oil.
- Best for: Fanned out, long, voluminous lashes
- Shades: 1 (black)
One Cosmo editor says: "Hands down, this is the best Benefit mascara, and dare I say, my favorite mascara ever. I feel so confident whenever I wear this one because it makes my eyes look so awake and bright." — Beth Gillette, beauty editor
Pros
- Has a double-sided wand that helps coat and comb through lashes
- Doesn't flake during the day, per my testing
Cons
- Not as dramatic as others I've tested (which might be a pro for some people)
Some Benefit mascaras and I are in love at first sight. But BadGal Bounce and I had more of a slow burn. Upon my first few applications, I definitely loved how much volume my lashes had, but I was missing some of the separation and fanning of my other favorites (see above). But once I figured out the best way to apply it, I fell hard over how fluffy this makes my lashes. Genuinely, my eyelashes look like they got a BBL with this on, because they're so plush and weighty. But, ya know, without actually feeling all crusty and heavy either.
The trick is using both sides of the brush to comb through your lashes and distribute the formula. I load up my lashes with the flexible fiber side that packs on the mascara, but then you have to twist the wand to the plastic comb side to help get through clumps.
- Best for: Volumizing without clumping
- Shades: 1 (black)
One Cosmo editor says: "Whenever I swipe this mascara on, I'm guaranteed to get compliments or questions about my lashes. The formula isn't overly clumpy, and the wand does a great job at separating my lashes. Also, the black formula is suuuuper pigmented, so it really makes my eyes pop, which I love." — Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editor
Pros
- Doesn't get too clumpy, per my testing
- Easily coats my inner corners and lower lashes
Cons
- Transfers a bit on oily eyelids (which is why I <3 the waterproof version)
When I want my lashes to look seriously long and full (like, false lashes-level), I reach for this BadGal Bang. It's been a best-seller for years because it does it all, but without making lashes super clumpy or heavy. The tapered wand is also great for getting into the inner corner of my eyes as well as lower lashes. And if you're into a seriously long-lasting wear, try the waterproof version, which is my go-to. It doesn't budge for 10+ hours, even through sweaty workout classes (I can attest).
- Best for: Length, volume, separation—all the drama
- Shades: 3 (black, blue, brown)
One Cosmo editor says: "Wowowow, this mascara makes me look like I just stuck on a pair of fake eyelashes, but without all the fuss. I wear it whenever I want to go for a more bold vibe—smokey eye, red lip, the whole nine." — BG
Pros
- I love how easy the brush is to coat my lashes
Cons
- Smudges a bit on my oily under-eyes if I don't powder
Before this trial, I hadn't swiped on the O.G. They're Real mascara in probably a decade. And gosh, now I'm annoyed, because I have been sleeping on this fantastic lengthening mascara. The domed spikey end of the brush is fantastic for adding extra product to my outer corners for a winged-out look, but it doesn't pack on too much mascara either (an important distinction). The wand is also plastic so it's flexible and thin, getting into all the lil nooks and crannies of my eyes.
- Best for: Lengthening
- Shades: 1 (black)
One Cosmo editor says: "I get why this is a global best-seller—it really does make my eyelash look long, yet also natural. The brush helps separate my lashes so they don't clump together too much." — BG
Pros
- Helps hold a curl for longer than other mascaras I've tried
- Lengthens a lil bit
Cons
- Doesn't add much volume
Although I am the queen of an extremely dramatic eyelash look, I've been enjoying a softer, subdued situation lately, which is where Roller Lash comes in. It helps curl and lengthen my lashes but doesn't add tons of extra weight to them. It's great if you like a natural look, or if you have very straight eyelashes and just wanna give 'em a little more oomph to hold a curl. The curved wand helps give your lashes a little bit of shape, while the narrow bristles easily get to the root of my lashes for some lift.
- Best for: Curling, or holding a curl for longer
- Shades: 1 (black)
One Cosmo editor says: "Sometimes I can't be bothered to curl my lashes before I apply mascara, and on those days, I reach for Roller Lash. It makes my eyelashes look a teensy bit more curled and fluffy with just one or two coats." — BG
Pros
- Lifts and lengthens lashes
- Legit looks like I'm wearing false eyelashes
Cons
- Can be a little bit clumpy, according to reviews
When this mascara launched, I owned at least four tubes at one point. I couldn't get enough. It truly made me look like I got a fresh set of eyelash extensions every time I swiped it on. The inside of the brush contains a magnet that actually attracts the mascara formula to the very tips of your lashes to seriously extend them and increase length. But it also helps majorly lift at the root, which further gives the appearance of extra-long eyelashes.
- Best for: Lengthening and lifting lashes
- Shades: 1 (black)
One Cosmo editor says: "I cannot possibly ever be bothered with lash extensions—I need to be able to use face oils, mmk—but this comes in as a pretty damn close second option instead. My lashes look extremely long and fluttery with just two coats." — BG
Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories that range from cherry makeup inspo to setting spray. For this story, she tested every single Benefit mascara over a few months to decide which formulas work the best for different lash types and looks.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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