I Tried e.l.f.'s 5 Most Popular Mascaras—Here's How to Choose Between Them (2024)

POV: You spend a good amount of time perfecting your eye look, only to have your mascara start smudging and flaking a couple of hours later. For me, that is far too often the reality. With my short lashes, I can achieve a nice lift at first, but that lift seems to disintegrate fast. All I want is a mascara with staying power that can give me the lift and length I need.

So, I decided to put five e.l.f. cosmetics mascaras to the test. Some claim to provide major volume, while others promise sky-high length or a flawless curl that lasts all day. But which ones actually deliver? Read on for my honest breakdown of how each mascara performs—including how it looks, how long it lasts, and whether or not it lives up to its promises.

Lash XTNDR

The Lash XTNDR Mascara has a sleek, lightweight tube that fits perfectly in your makeup bag. The formula focuses on lengthening and lifting, and the wand has tiny bristles that really catch onto each lash, ensuring even application. And there's no clumping here: After applying two to three coats around 10:30 a.m., my lashes looked instantly defined, with length noticeable enough for people to actually comment on it.

I went about my day, doing a mix of event planning and catching up on Ugly Betty, and by 2:30 p.m., my lashes still looked lifted and clump-free with zero flaking or smudging. Fast forward to 8:30 p.m., and the length and lift were still intact. For a mascara that promises lengthening and definition, it was basically perfect. The removal was quick and easy as well. Off to a great start with e.l.f. mascaras!

Lash 'N Roll

Lash 'N Roll's curling and lifting claims immediately caught my attention. The wand has an intriguing curve (featuring a mix of short and long bristles) and the formula feels lightweight. While I noticed a good amount of definition, it didn't quite deliver the volume I was hoping for.

By midday, my lashes still looked put together, although the curl was more pronounced than the lift. I think this mascara is ideal for those with naturally long lashes, but even with short lashes, I found it provided a level of curl that other mascaras have never given me. By the end of the night, my lashes were still curled and lifted, but I missed that fullness and volume. On the bright side, I experienced no flaking or smudging throughout the day, and taking it off was easy—with just a little eye makeup remover, it was all gone.

Big Mood

I was genuinely excited to try the Big Mood Mascara. With a larger, hourglass-shaped wand, it's designed for volume, lifting, and lengthening—the trifecta of what every mascara should do. Initially, I worried that the size might create a mess, but it grabbed onto my lashes beautifully and didn’t clump at all. One coat looked amazing, with no need for a second!

I did notice some mascara residue on my eyelid after the first application, but I removed it quickly with a cotton swab. I was honestly surprised at how well it delivered on all its promises: I wore it all day, and this mascara really made my short lashes pop. By the end of the day, I had zero flaking or smudging—my lashes held onto their length, lift, and volume. When it came time to take it off, I just used a makeup remover balm. All in all, this has quickly become my favorite mascara!

Lash It Loud

Lash It Loud is specifically designed for volume and definition. The wand features both vertical and horizontal bristles to reach those tiny, hard-to-reach lashes other mascaras tend to miss. The slim wand allows for precise control, and despite its small size, this mascara added significant drama and lift to my lashes without any heaviness.

When I applied it I experienced a little smudging, but no clumping. By the end of the night, my lashes still looked full and lifted, though there was a slight smudge near the inner corner of my eye and a single flake. I used eye makeup remover to take it off, and it was tougher to remove than the other mascaras I tried. Still, Lash It Loud was easy to layer and provided impressive results that lasted for hours.

Lash it Loud Waterproof

The Lash It Loud Waterproof Mascara features a slightly thicker wand and a richer formula than the other options in this lineup. Upon first application, it didn't grip each lash as smoothly as the others, resulting in a bit of clumping, though it wasn't too excessive. Similar to the original Lash It Loud mascara, the waterproof version provides major volume and definition. Around 4 p.m. I was happy to see no flaking, but I did spot a small amount of smudging on my eyelid (barely noticeable though).

To truly test its waterproof capabilities, I wore it to a HIIT class and watched a sad movie. Overall, it held up well, and I didn't look like a raccoon. My lashes maintained some lift and volume throughout the workout and movie. The removal process took a while, which is expected with a waterproof mascara. For just $6, I can definitely see myself reaching for it, despite that minor smudge.