Best Mascara in Australia (2026)

Mascara looks like a simple buy, but the wand shape and the formula both change the result, and a high price does not guarantee a better rating: the dearest of our eight picks holds 4.5 out of 5 while the top pick holds 4.6 out of 5.

We went through the Amazon Australia mascara shelf and pulled out eight tubes, each with a star average and review count on its listing, that answer a different problem: short lashes, straight lashes, a summer that ruins everything, a face that suits brown better than black, and a budget pick for the least money.

What is the best mascara in Australia right now?

The best mascara in Australia for most people is the Maybelline New York Sky High Mascara. It holds the highest star average of our eight picks at 4.6 out of 5 across 58,354 ratings on Amazon Australia. Its Bendable Flex Tower brush flexibly reaches every lash, and the listing says it suits sensitive eyes.

If your lashes are short and length is what you want, the L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Original Mascara is built for that job: the listing claims it lengthens lashes by up to 60 per cent, and the title rates it for up to 36 hours of wear. And if you want a working mascara for as little as possible, the Rimmel London Extra Super Lash Mascara is the cheapest of our eight picks and still sits at 4.3 out of 5 across more than 15,000 ratings.

The five that follow cover narrower jobs: lifting lashes that point down, surviving a humid summer, maximum drama, one splurge tube, and a softer brown for fair colouring that could not be bought on 16 October 2026.

How do our eight mascara picks compare?

Maybelline Sky High leads our eight picks at 4.6 out of 5 across 58,354 ratings. The Rimmel Extra Super Lash is the cheapest, and the Lancome Lash Idole is the dearest at 4.5 out of 5. Seven of the eight could be bought on 16 October 2026; the essence Lash Princess could not.

Star averages and review counts come from the live Amazon Australia listings. The spread of formulas matters more than the spread of prices: lengthening, volumising, lifting, tubing and waterproof are different products, not marketing synonyms. Essence and Max Factor tie for the lowest star average of our picks, both at 4.2 out of 5.

How did we choose these mascaras?

Last checked: 16 October 2026. We checked the eight Amazon Australia listings, including the maker's bullets and product information tables, for the star rating, review count, stock and the Amazon Best Sellers Rank, and we did not test any tube ourselves.

Who sells these mascaras on Amazon Australia?

Seven of the eight listings show Amazon AU as the seller. The exception is the Heroine Make Long and Curl Up, which is sold by sukiyaki japan and shipped from Amazon, and which its listing describes as made in Japan. The essence Lash Princess listing could not be bought on 16 October 2026.

How should you read the star ratings?

Read each rating with its count. The Maybelline Sky High holds 4.6 out of 5 across 58,354 ratings, while the L'Oreal Telescopic Original holds 4.5 out of 5 across 313 ratings, the smallest review pile of our eight, so its score carries less weight. Ratings, review counts and stock change, so confirm them on the listing before you buy.

• We started from the live Amazon Australia mascara pool, then read each listing for what the formula actually claims.
• Star averages and review counts were read from each listing, and where a review pile is small we say so, as with the L'Oreal Telescopic Original at 313 ratings.
• Where a mascara sells in washable and waterproof versions we picked one and named it, so you are not comparing the same tube against itself.
• NestPath researches and studies listings, reviews and formulations rather than running lab trials, so claims below are listing statements unless we say it is our view.

Best overall mascara: Maybelline New York Sky High

The Maybelline New York Sky High Mascara is our best overall pick. It carries the highest star average of our eight picks at 4.6 out of 5, across 58,354 ratings on Amazon Australia, the deepest review pile on this page, and its listing shows a Best Sellers Rank of 2 in Mascara. Nothing else here has as many ratings.

The listing describes a waterproof, buildable formula in a 7ml tube, applied with what Maybelline calls a Bendable Flex Tower brush that flexibly reaches every lash. Maybelline lists the formula as ophthalmologist tested and suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers, and describes the effect as lengthening and volumising together.

The brush is the real argument for it. In our view a flexible wand that reaches every lash is easier to control than a rigid one, and the listing describes a buildable formula, so you can add coats deliberately rather than by accident.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

This is the waterproof version, so plan for a proper removal routine at night. The listing says it is easily removed with soap and water or makeup remover, and it names the shade Blackest Black, so check that suits your colouring.

What is the best waterproof mascara in Australia?

Maybelline Sky High is the waterproof pick to buy first: the listing describes a waterproof, buildable formula that comes off with soap and water or makeup remover. For heat and sweat, Heroine Make Long and Curl Up is a waterproof fibre tubing mascara, and the listing says it resists tears, sweat, water, oils and abrasions.

Sky High and Heroine are listed in black shades, and the Lancome table lists its colour as black, so there is no brown waterproof mascara among our eight picks. Choose the Sky High if you want the biggest review pile behind a waterproof formula, at 4.6 out of 5 across 58,354 ratings. Choose the Heroine if you want a tubing formula, which forms small sleeves around each lash and generally comes off with warm water. Waterproof is the better choice for swimming or heavy water exposure, and for mascara that smudges under the eyes it is worth trying tubing.

Best mascara for short lashes: L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Original

L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Original is our pick for short lashes. Its listing claims it lengthens lashes by up to 60 per cent and separates and defines every lash, and the title rates it for up to 36 hours of wear. It holds 4.5 out of 5 across 313 ratings, the smallest review pile of our eight.

The listing title gives 8.4ml while the contents line says 7 ml, so treat the tube size as unconfirmed. L'Oreal describes a smudge resistant formula rated for up to 36 hours and a claimed lengthening effect of up to 60 per cent; treat the percentage as marketing. The listing describes it as suitable for sensitive eyes and clump free.

The listing sells length and definition rather than volume. If your lashes are sparse rather than short, the Max Factor further down is the better fit, since its listing says it fattens even the thinnest of lashes. If they simply disappear at the tips, this is the right one.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The review pile is the thinnest of our eight picks, so the star average carries less weight here. The listing does not describe it as waterproof, so check before taking it to the beach.

Best mascara under $10: Rimmel London Extra Super Lash

Rimmel London Extra Super Lash is our budget pick, and the cheapest of our eight. The listing says it defines, lengthens and curls lashes in a black black shade, with a vitamin E enriched formula and no clumping or sticking. It holds 4.3 out of 5 across 15,384 ratings, the second deepest review pile of our eight.

Rimmel describes the formula as defining, lengthening and curling, built on film formers, waxes and pigments with hydrogels for an ultra smooth film and vitamin E in the mix. The shade is listed as black black. If you go through mascara quickly, or want a spare tube for a gym bag, this is the sensible buy.

What you give up at this price is drama: the listing sells definition, length and curl rather than a false lash look. For a first mascara, or a spare tube at work, it is hard to argue with.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The product information table lists it as water resistant rather than waterproof, and nothing in the listing calls it long wearing, so check before relying on it through a hot day or a swim.

Best mascara for straight lashes: Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift

Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift is our pick for straight lashes. Its listing describes a double curved lifting brush that grabs lashes at the root to lift, and a fibre infused formula that thickens and lengthens. It holds 4.4 out of 5 across 2,603 ratings and is listed as ophthalmologist tested.

Maybelline describes a fibre infused formula in an ultra black shade, and the product information table lists it as washable. The listing frames it as a lash lift look without the cost or hassle of a salon, and lists it as suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lenses. In our view the curved brush is the point: it lifts at the root, so the wand does the work rather than your wrist.

Because the product information table lists it as washable rather than waterproof, check the pack for removal directions. If you do not own a curler, our heated eyelash curler guide covers the powered alternative to the clamp style.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The curved brush may take some practice to get facing the right way. The product information table lists the formula as washable rather than waterproof, so it is not the pick for swimming.

What is the best mascara for sensitive eyes?

Maybelline Sky High is our pick for sensitive eyes. Its listing says it is ophthalmologist tested and suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. The Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift, L'Oreal Telescopic Original, Rimmel Extra Super Lash and Max Factor listings also say they suit sensitive eyes. These are listing statements, not our own testing.

If a mascara irritates your eyes, stop using it and ask a pharmacist or doctor.

Best mascara for an Australian summer: Heroine Make Long and Curl Up

Heroine Make Long and Curl Up Waterproof is the pick for heat and sweat. Its listing describes a fibre tubing, waterproof formula with strong resistance to tears, sweat, water, oils and abrasions, a 5mm fibre and curl locking ingredients. It holds 4.4 out of 5 across 2,480 ratings and is made in Japan.

Tubing mascara forms small sleeves around each lash and generally comes off with warm water. The Heroine listing calls it a fibre tubing mascara and describes a 5mm fibre that lengthens with each coating, curl locking ingredients and a memory shape polymer to keep lashes curled, with strong resistance to tears, sweat, water, oils and abrasions while preventing smudge. It is sold by sukiyaki japan and shipped from Amazon.

In our view this is the tube for a summer wedding, a beach holiday, a hot commute, or anyone whose eyes water in air conditioning.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The listing leads with length, curl and water resistance, and its title also names volume; if heavy volume is the whole goal, look to the Max Factor below. Check the pack for removal directions.

essence Lash Princess Black Brown for fair lashes

Could not be bought on 16 October 2026: the listing shows a preorder. The essence listing describes a black brown shade for a more natural look, and it holds 4.2 out of 5 across 7,905 ratings.

essence describes a conically shaped fibre brush in a 12ml tube, with the shade positioned for a more natural look while the formula still claims length and dramatic volume for a false lash effect.

In our view a softer shade can suit fair colouring, since a dense black can read heavily against pale lashes. There is no other brown or natural shade pick among our eight, so this section is a note on the listing rather than a recommendation to buy.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

essence shares the lowest star average of our picks with Max Factor, both at 4.2 out of 5. The listing does not describe it as waterproof. A black brown shade will not suit everyone, and on dark hair and dark brows it may look softer than you want.

Best mascara for volume: Max Factor 2000 Calorie

This is our pick for volume. Its listing claims up to 3 times more volume from a bodybuilding formula that fattens even the thinnest of lashes, and says it is a great choice for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. It holds 4.2 out of 5 across 12,002 ratings, level with the essence.

Max Factor describes a 9ml tube and what it calls a bodybuilding formula, claiming up to 3 times more volume and up to 300 percent volume instantly. Read that as a marketing descriptor rather than a measured result.

In our view this is the tube for evenings, photos and anyone who wants lashes to be a visible feature rather than a tidy frame.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It shares the lowest star average of our picks with essence, both at 4.2 out of 5. The product information table lists it as water resistant rather than waterproof, so it is not the summer pick. If you like mascara you cannot feel, a volume formula is probably not for you.

Is a luxury mascara worth it? Lancome Lash Idole

The Lancome Lash Idole is the splurge tube. Its listing describes a dual sided elastomer wand with 125 bristle sizes and 360 micro bristles and a gel formula rated for up to 24 hours. It holds 4.5 out of 5 across 7,519 ratings, the dearest of our eight picks, and the listing cites a test of 103 women.

What you are buying is the wand. The listing says the dual sided elastomer wand is designed to volumise, lift and lengthen, where the inside curve builds volume and the outside curve lifts and lengthens lashes. The formula is a lightweight gel listed for up to 24 hours with no flaking or smudging, and the listing cites a consumer test on a panel of 103 women in which 95 per cent saw an instant lash lift.

Is that worth the gap over a lower priced tube? In our view, usually not, and we would not tell anyone to start here: the Lancome holds 4.5 out of 5 against 4.6 for the Sky High.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The bullets do not mention water resistance, but the product information table lists the water resistance level as waterproof, so check the pack before relying on it for a swim. Mascara is a consumable, so a dear tube is an ongoing cost.

Which mascara should you buy?

Pick by the problem you want solved. The Maybelline Sky High suits most people as one tube, the L'Oreal Telescopic Original suits short lashes, the Falsies Lash Lift suits straight lashes, the Max Factor suits volume and the Heroine suits heat and sweat. Check each listing before you buy.

How do you match a mascara to your lash type?

Mascara has no size, so the fit is your lash type. Start with the problem you want solved, then pick the listing that sells that result: length for short lashes, a lifting brush for straight lashes, a thickening formula for sparse lashes, a waterproof or tubing formula for heat and swimming, and the Sky High if you want one tube.

• Short lashes: L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Original, whose listing claims lengthening of up to 60 per cent and separation and definition of every lash.
• Straight or downward lashes: Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift, with a double curved lifting brush that grabs lashes at the root.
• Sparse lashes: Max Factor Dramatic Volume, whose listing says its bodybuilding formula fattens even the thinnest of lashes.
• Heat, sweat and swimming: Heroine Make Long and Curl Up, a waterproof fibre tubing mascara.
• One tube for most people: Maybelline Sky High, at 4.6 out of 5 across 58,354 ratings.

These are listing statements, not our own testing, and star averages are a crowd signal rather than a lab result.

Match the tube to the problem rather than the price and the choice gets simple.

What type of mascara should you buy?

Buy by problem, not by price: a lengthening formula for short lashes, a lifting brush for straight lashes, a waterproof or tubing formula for heat and swimming, and a thickening formula for sparse lashes. Then check the listing for what the formula survives and whether it is washable, waterproof or tubing, because the three are not interchangeable.

Then decide what you need it to survive. There are three categories and they are not interchangeable:

• Washable is the listing's own word for the Falsies Lash Lift, whose product information table lists it as washable. Washable formulas are not described as waterproof, so check removal directions on the pack.
• Waterproof formulas are built to resist water, sweat and tears. Our top pick lists soap and water or makeup remover for removal, and the Heroine listing describes strong resistance to tears, sweat, water, oils and abrasions.
• Tubing formulas form small sleeves around each lash and generally come off with warm water. The Heroine listing calls its formula fibre tubing and waterproof.

Shade is the next decision. In our view a blackest black such as the Sky High suits dark hair and strong brows, while a softer black brown shade can suit fair colouring.

Finally, do not assume a higher price means a better rating. The dearest pick here, the Lancome Lash Idole, holds 4.5 out of 5, while the Maybelline Sky High holds 4.6 out of 5 and the cheapest, the Rimmel Extra Super Lash, holds 4.3 out of 5.

How do you care for a mascara so it lasts?

Replace mascara when it dries out or clumps, and follow the open period shown on the pack. Write the date you opened it on the tube with a marker if you will not remember, store it upright and capped, and wipe the wand on the neck of the tube before every application.

Twist the wand out of the tube rather than pumping it in and out, and do not add water, saline or eye drops to a drying tube. A claggy tube has reached the end.

Wiping the wand on the neck of the tube before every application removes excess product before it reaches your lashes.

Store it upright and capped, away from the bathroom windowsill, because an Australian bathroom in summer can get hot. A drawer is better, and a makeup organiser keeps tubes upright and visible so you notice when one is past it.

For removal, soak rather than scrub. Hold a soaked pad against closed lashes for ten to fifteen seconds before you wipe, and the mascara comes away without dragging at the lash line. For waterproof formulas, see our best cleansing oil guide as another removal option.

You'll also want these with your mascara

None of these are essential, but each solves a problem mascara alone creates.

• Tweezerman Classic Eyelash Curler for straight lashes. Curl before mascara, and squeeze at the root rather than clamping hard once. See our best eyelash curler guide for the clamp style.
• Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Make-Up Remover for waterproof formulas.
• Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water in Oil as a daily removal option for washable and tubing mascaras. More options in our best micellar water guide.
• Ogato Reusable Makeup Remover Pads so you are not buying a bag of cotton rounds every month.
• L'Oreal Paradise Lash Primer if you want more from a mascara you already own, applied on bare lashes before the colour coat.
• essence Lash Princess Mascara Primer as the cheaper way to try a primer before committing to one.

The competition: what we left out

We limited this guide to eight mascara tubes sold on Amazon Australia.

We also left out two adjacent categories. Lash serums are excluded because they trade on efficacy claims we cannot verify from a listing, and heated eyelash curlers and magnetic lashes are separate tools with their own guides.

Mascara FAQs

What is the best waterproof mascara in Australia?

Maybelline Sky High is the waterproof pick to buy first: the listing describes a waterproof, buildable formula that comes off with soap and water or makeup remover. For heat and sweat, Heroine Make Long and Curl Up is a waterproof fibre tubing mascara, and the listing says it resists tears, sweat, water, oils and abrasions.

What is the best mascara for sensitive eyes?

Maybelline Sky High is our pick for sensitive eyes. Its listing says it is ophthalmologist tested and suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. The Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift, L'Oreal Telescopic Original, Rimmel Extra Super Lash and Max Factor listings also say they suit sensitive eyes. These are listing statements, not our own testing.

Which mascara is best for short lashes?

L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Original is our pick for short lashes. Its listing claims it lengthens lashes by up to 60 per cent and separates and defines every lash, and the title rates it for up to 36 hours of wear. It holds 4.5 out of 5 across 313 ratings, the smallest review pile of our eight.

How do I stop mascara smudging under my eyes?

For mascara that smudges, try a tubing formula, which forms small sleeves around lashes and generally removes with warm water. In this guide the Heroine Make Long and Curl Up listing describes strong resistance to tears, sweat, water, oils and abrasions while preventing smudge, and the L'Oreal Telescopic Original is titled smudge resistant.

What is the number 1 selling mascara?

On Amazon Australia the Maybelline Sky High ranks 2 in Mascara on the Best Sellers Rank and holds 4.6 out of 5 across 58,354 ratings, the highest star average and the biggest review pile of our eight picks. We cannot name one number 1 seller across every store.

What is the best rated mascara in Australia?

Of the eight mascaras in this guide, Maybelline Sky High holds the highest star average at 4.6 out of 5 across 58,354 ratings on Amazon Australia, the largest review pile here. A high score on tens of thousands of ratings is worth more than a perfect score on a dozen.

Which is the best mascara for older women?

There is no single mascara for older women, so match the tube to your lashes. For short lashes the L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Original separates and defines every lash, and for lifting straight lashes the Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift uses a double curved brush. Both listings say they suit sensitive eyes.

How often should you replace mascara?

Replace mascara when it dries out or clumps, and follow the open period shown on the pack. Write the date you opened the tube on it with a marker if you are likely to forget, and do not try to revive a drying tube with water or eye drops.

What is the difference between tubing and waterproof mascara?

Tubing mascara forms small sleeves around each lash and generally comes off with warm water. Waterproof mascara is the better choice for swimming or heavy water exposure. In this guide Heroine Make Long and Curl Up is the tubing pick, listed as fibre tubing and waterproof, and Maybelline Sky High is the waterproof pick.

Does expensive mascara work better than cheaper mascara?

Not reliably. In this guide the highest star average, 4.6 out of 5, belongs to Maybelline Sky High, while the Lancome Lash Idole, the dearest pick, holds 4.5 out of 5. The Rimmel Extra Super Lash, the cheapest pick, holds 4.3 out of 5 across 15,384 ratings. Star averages are a crowd signal, not a lab result.

Related guides for the rest of your routine

• Best setting spray in Australia for keeping mascara and everything under it from moving on a hot day.
• Best makeup brushes in Australia if the rest of your kit is still supermarket sponges.
• Best heated eyelash curler in Australia for straight lashes that a clamp curler cannot hold.
• Best magnetic lashes in Australia for the nights when mascara alone is not the look.
• Best makeup bag in Australia so tubes travel upright and capped.
• Best makeup mirror in Australia because bathroom lighting is why your mascara looks different at work.

About the author

Anish Puri founded NestPath in 2026 after going through the Australian first home buyer process himself. NestPath focuses on Australian first home buyers because the existing review sites are American, generic, or both. Anish handles editorial selection across the homeowner hub. Reach out: hello@nestpath.com.au