I am always on the hunt for the best mascara on the market. With summer quickly approaching, it’s becoming even more essential to find a mascara that makes your eyelashes look good, lasts all day and withstands heat, humidity and sweat.
The worst thing about wearing mascara is having to worry about it smudging or running throughout the day. Too many times I’ve come home from spending the day outside or running errands to look in the mirror and find my mascara is mostly around my eyes and no longer on my lashes.
With so many mascaras out there, it’s nearly impossible to try them all (nor do I want to), so Robyn and I figured we would ask some of her female pitmaster friends what their favorite mascaras are, in addition to some other questions related to mascara preferences. If you like to grill, you may be familiar with the problems that come with grilling and wearing makeup, especially mascara.
The perfect mascara would ideally make my lashes look full and long, wouldn’t clump up and would be smudge-proof. Taking some of Robyn’s friends’ responses into consideration, I’ve compiled a few of their top mascara choices that truly perform when put to the test.
Waterproof or Regular Mascara?
One of the questions we asked the female pitmasters was if they thought using waterproof mascara when grilling stays on better than regular mascara. Out of those we asked, 44.4% said they thought using waterproof stayed on better than regular mascara, 27.8% said they didn’t think it made a difference and 27.8% said they haven’t tried it.
Lengthening, Volumizing or Both?
We were curious what female pitmasters look for in a good mascara, whether that be volume, length or both. 83.3% said they look for a mascara that lengthens and volumizes their lashes, 16.7% said they look for one that just volumizes and nobody said they look strictly for a lengthening mascara.
General Mascara Tips
Maybe you have a particular way of applying mascara or you do something extra to help prevent it from clumping or smudging. We asked the female pitmasters if they have any tips to keep their mascara in place when they’re grilling.
Nicole Stover (@beachgirlgrills on Instagram) said she recommends curling your lashes before applying mascara so you only need one coat. Jackie Milligan (champion barbecuer who competes on Team Chupacabra) said she also just applies one light layer to only her top lashes.
@SeattleButchersWife and Maddie and Kiki said once their makeup is applied, they don’t touch their faces for the rest of the day and that helps prevent mascara streaks and smudges.
Laurie from LaurieCue.com suggested using setting powder first and then applying waterproof mascara. “It helps set it a little better when you have a dusting of powder on the lash first,” Laurie said.
Lauren Nagel from bonappeteach.com said, “Blink out the smoke and work through the pain ha! Just kidding, kind of… Just take a step back and dab underneath if needed but don’t wipe!”
The Best Smudge-Proof Mascaras, According to Female Pitmasters
Best on a Budget
Sometimes less expensive beauty products work just as good or even better than their more expensive counterparts, so why not save money if you can! Here are some budget-friendly mascaras that the female pitmasters recommended:
Covergirl says this mascara is “designed to max out every lash,” “creates ten times more volume instantly” and “evenly coats each lash with no clumping or flaking.” Covergirl Last Blast Volume is rated 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Sara Range from polygrill17.com picked this mascara as her favorite because she said she “love[s] the large, plastic brush and [it] layers beautifully without clumping.”
Maddie and Kiki said they love anything from Covergirl because “it’s inexpensive and always provides a classic look!”
- L’Oreal Voluminous – $6.74
This mascara is described as “uniquely formulated to resist clumping, soften and build lashes up to 5X their natural thickness” by L’Oreal and was rated 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Kara from @ScaleAndTailor and Laurie both said this was their favorite mascara to use.
“I like the way it applies. It gives me a great everyday look that has a balance of volume and length. I also like the brush used in the wand. It grabs the little fine hairs,” Laurie said.
- Maybelline Define-a-Lash – $7.74
Maybelline Define-a-Lash is also rated 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Maybelline describes this mascara as creating “zero-clumps, clean definition, and sensuous length…with a shaped-to-the-lash flexible brush and a washable formula for longer-looking lashes like never before.”
CassandraLee from @where_my_grills_at said when she doesn’t get lash extensions, she uses Maybelline Define-a-Lash because it’s available in most stores and it works well. “I like how it separates my lashes (like the name, really defines each lash),” CassandraLee said. “[It’s] not clumpy, natural looking, and I’ve never had an issue with it running. I have terrible allergies and rub my eyes a lot, and this doesn’t even smudge!”
Ms. D from @ms_d_smokin_with_soul and Sarah Barker said they also prefer using Maybelline brand mascaras. Ms. D said she likes Maybelline because their mascaras are “always available.” Sarah said she has been using Maybelline mascara since she was in high school and even when she played sports, she’s never had a problem with it.
Best Mid-Range Mascaras
Maybe you’re looking to spend a little more money on your mascara, but still want to keep it under $20. These two mascaras fall into that category and don’t smudge or run when you’re running errands or grilling something delicious.
Mary Kay says its Lash Love Mascara “helps the look of lashes reach their maximum length for an exaggerated, instantly intensified effect while lifting, curling and perfectly separating lashes. This eye-opening mascara also conditions and strengthens lashes in a nonclumping, flake-free formula that wears all day.” It received a 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Lauren Nagel uses this mascara and said, “It’s like a good bra… It lifts the lashes and separates them nicely. It seems to be smoke proof too when it inevitably gets in your face when grilling.”
Earning a 4.2-star rating on Amazon, Tarte describes its Maneater mascara as having a “soft-flex brush and lightweight triple-black formula” that “lifts lashes at the root, styles and fans them out to create amped-up fluttery fullness with no flaking or clumping.”
Patty from @pattycooksalot said she loves this mascara because it stays put all day.
More Expensive
When it comes to beauty, sometimes it is worth it to spend a little more to get a little more. These two mascaras are on the pricier side, but for two female pitmasters, they’re worth it.
Thrive Causemetics says you can “instantly create the look of lash extensions with this award-winning, best-selling mascara powered by technology that won’t clump, flake or smudge!” On its website, the mascara received a 4.3 rating out of 5 stars.
SeattleButchersWife loves this mascara because “it does not clump or smudge and it has extending fibers that make your lashes look amazing.”
Milk says its Kush High Volume Mascara has “plant-derived oil fuses heart-shaped fibers to lashes for thickness without the fallout. The hydrating formula also fills the hollow fibers for a double dose of volume.” On its website, the mascara got a 4.4 star rating out of 5.
This mascara is @fosterfeasts‘ favorite because of its’ “great coverage and lash look.”
Honorable Mentions
L’Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara – $8.98
NYX On the Rise Volume Liftscara – $10.97
Lancôme Définicils High-Definition Mascara – $22
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – $25
*Mascara prices were chosen based on cheapest price online*
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