We Tested Mascara From Maybelline, Lancôme, Dior & 10 More | These FAILED

The mascara you applied this morning contains the same chemical used to coat non-stick frying pans. And the one sitting next to it on the shelf was named in a surgical case report — where doctors found fibers embedded beneath a woman's conjunctiva and had to remove them. You bought them because of five-star reviews, a viral TikTok, and a promise of longer, fuller lashes. Ten mascaras to stop using in 2026. Three that makeup artists actually recommend. And the number one product on the avoid list has been in more makeup bags than any other mascara in history — because it has been around since the 1970s and nobody ever stopped to ask whether it still deserved to be there. What we cover: Why Essence Lash Princess smudges within hours — and the wax-heavy formula that creates that dramatic look while guaranteeing transfer by mid-afternoon Maybelline Great Lash: the pink-and-green tube that sold a tube every two seconds at its peak — and why the same formula that made it famous in 1971 is the exact reason it disappoints in 2026 MascaraGate: the L'Oréal Telescopic Lift controversy that started with false lashes in a sponsored video and ended with millions of women questioning whether the results were ever real Too Faced Better Than Sex: the most confident name in beauty — and the smudging complaints that start a few hours after application, every single time Maybelline Sky High Waterproof: the TikTok sensation that stays exactly where you put it — and why that durability creates a nightly removal battle that dermatologists say increases lash breakage over time Benefit They're Real: the mascara that stays on so well some users can feel it all day — and the Reddit threads documenting lash loss after extended use Lancôme Monsieur Big: up to 12 times more volume, up to 24 hours of wear — and the clumping, flaking, and heavy lashes that arrive with the same formula delivering those dramatic results Dior Diorshow: luxury pricing, runway inspiration, and the same clumping complaints consumers expect from products costing a fraction of the price Fiber mascaras: the JAMA Ophthalmology case report, the nylon fibers embedded beneath the conjunctiva, the surgical removal — and what dry-eye specialist Dr. Laura Periman says about nylon-66 under a microscope Waterproof mascaras as a category: the removal battle, the repeated rubbing on the thinnest skin on your face, and the lash loss that builds invisibly over months Three mascaras makeup artists actually reach for — including one that removes with warm water and one that conditions your lashes while it coats them Products to avoid: #essence #maybelline #loreal #toofaced #benefit #lancôme #lancome #dior #fiber #YSL #ilia #tarte Not sponsored. All findings sourced from the 2018 JAMA Ophthalmology fiber mascara case report, the American Academy of Ophthalmology guidance on eye rubbing and keratoconus, Dr. Laura Periman's clinical commentary on nylon-66 fibers, the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology phenoxyethanol review (2019), and independent makeup artist evaluations. 00:00 Intro 00:41 Number 10 : Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara 03:09 Number 9 : Maybelline Great Lash 05:36 Number 8 : L'Oréal Telescopic Lift Mascara 07:32 Number 7 : Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara 08:22 Number 6 : Maybelline Sky High Waterproof 10:04 Number 5 : Benefit They're Real! Mascara 11:55 Number 4 : Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara 14:33 Number 3 : Dior Diorshow Mascara 15:57 Number 2 : Fiber Mascaras 19:27 Number 1 : Waterproof Mascaras 21:26 The 3 Mascaras Makeup Artists Actually Recommend 21:55 Number 3: YSL Lash Clash Mascara 22:52 Number 2: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara 24:20 Number 1: Tarte Tartelette XL Tubing Mascara Pull out your mascara right now. Check whether it is waterproof. Check whether it contains nylon fibers. Check whether it has been sitting in your bag for longer than three months. Because the mascara you trust most is sitting millimetres from one of the most sensitive organs in your body — and most of the brands on this list have never once had to prove it was safe to be there. Share this with anyone who has ever noticed more lashes on their pillow than there should be.