I’ll always be the first person to admit that mascara is a very personal thing. It’s quite a hot topic among beauty editors because it always sparks such heated debate. One may love a certain formula with all their heart while another would throw it in the trash the first chance they get. There are, however, a few formulas out there that we can find common ground on. When I find a mascara that absolutely never clumps or flakes, there’s cause for celebration and an endless stream of praise.
If you’re also a fan of mascara that doesn’t give you spider eyes, then you’ve come to the right place. I asked beauty editors to share the clump-free mascara formulas that they just can’t be without. Ahead, find all their top picks.
“While my lashes are long, they are stubbornly straight and refuse to hold a curl unless I apply a couple of coats of mascara. Some formulas I’ve tried clump my lashes if I apply more than one, but not with Lancôme Idôle. I can layer this mascara to my heart’s content, and it still delivers definition, length, curl, and hold with a glossy finish. Zendaya also uses this mascara, and if it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for me.” — Eleanor Vousden, beauty editor, Who What Wear UK
“My favorite for really fluffy, natural-looking lashes is Victoria Beckham’s Future Lash Mascara. The wand is super skinny and grabs onto each individual lash hair, giving it length and lift. Plus, it has a tubing formula, meaning it’s super easy to remove with just warm water. Obsessed!” — Chloé Burcham, beauty editor
“I tried this mascara after WWW beauty editor Katie Berohn recommended it, and it was love at first swipe. Not only is the formula smooth and slick on my lashes (no clumps whatsoever), but it’s also incredibly buildable. I usually apply one to two coats, and I have long, fluttery lashes without excessive smudging or flaking. It’s a new favorite.” — Kaitlyn McLintock, associate beauty editor, Who What Wear
“I’m a drugstore-mascara connoisseur. After hearing glowing reviews of the Milani Anti-Gravity Mascara from editors and friends, I knew I had to give it a try. This mascara blew me away with its ability to separate, thicken, and lengthen the lashes with zero clumps. For maximum volume and length, I like to wiggle the brush as I apply the mascara, starting from the base of the lashes all the way to the ends. Even after a whole day of wear, there are no flakes on my under-eye area, and my mascara still looks as good as when I first applied it in the morning—a testament to its staying power. Needless to say, this mascara is a part of my everyday makeup routine.” — Emma Walsh, associate beauty editor, branded content, Who What Wear
If I could only use one mascara for the rest of my life, it would be YSL’s Lash Clash. The volume and length this formula delivers are truly something else. It has also earned the number one spot in my rotation because it never transfers, works amazingly with a lash primer, and never (and I mean never) clumps.
“I am truly so annoyed that I let this mascara collect dust in my cupboard for months before I whipped it out on a whim recently. It’s quickly become my new favorite thing and go-to mascara. It’s designed to add volume, length, curl, and definition, but it really excels (IMO) in the length, lift, and separation departments. I think the brush—which is slim, flexible, and designed to catch and fan out each and every lash—plays a huge part, but the formula also has three different naturally derived waxes and is subtly infused with an imperceptible hint of red for added depth.” — Erin Jahns, beauty director, Who What Wear
WWW assistant beauty editor Maya Thomas loves this formula from Rose Inc. It’s a rich, glossy serum-mascara hybrid that envelopes the lashes in squalane-treated pigments to lengthen, lift, and fortify.
Our entire beauty team agrees this one is a winner. This option is a great one that looks really natural (in my humble opinion) and gives a subtle lift and curl to the lashes without flaking or clumping. I’ve also noticed there is no transfer with this formula—another reason it has quickly become one of my most-used mascaras.
“I love this mascara because I think it makes my lashes look so long and voluminous without ever clumping, no matter how many coats I put on.” — Katie Berohn, beauty editor, Who What Wear
Lash Sensational is a top choice from Caitie Schlisserman, WWW’s beauty director for branded content. The exclusive Flex Tower brush on this one bends to volumize and extend every single lash without causing them to clump up.
Basically, the entire WWW beauty team has been raving about this one. I haven’t gotten my hands on it just yet, but believe me when I say it’s next on my list after hearing so many glowing reviews. Equipped with a triple-wave wand to lengthen and define each lash, this formula delivers a clean, non-crunchy finish.
Both Berohn and Jahns call out Glossier’s cult-loved formula as a favorite. It’s weightless and flexible and has tiny fibers that coat each individual lash from root to tip to create maximum definition and length. It’s designed to hug your natural lashes so closely that people won’t even know you’re wearing mascara.
