Pop quiz: When was the last time you replaced your old mascara with a new one? If you can’t remember, or the answer is “a long, long time ago,” we have some kind of gross news for you.
In previous reporting, optometrists and cosmetologists told HuffPost that using old, expired mascara can spread bacteria to your eyes, increasing the risk of infection and irritation. They recommended a cadence of every two to three months for tossing that old tube and getting a new one.
For those of us who aren’t using up a whole tube every three months, it may be easy for this guidance to slip your mind when the time to replace it rolls around. Luckily, there’s an easy fix for that that you should only have to set up once: Automatic replenishment programs like Amazon’s Subscribe & Save, Walmart Subscribe, Dermstore’s Auto-Replenishment and Sephora’s Auto-Replenish let you set a specific frequency for shipping new replacements of products to your home, and in some cases, will charge you less for a subscription product than if you bought it as a one-time purchase.
So, if you wear mascara regularly, check out our list of a bunch of highly-rated mascaras that are eligible for auto-replenishment. (Tip: Some of these come in mini sizes too, so if you don’t think you’ll use up a full-sized tube in time, you can get a smaller one.) Pick your favorite, set the two- to three-month frequency, and enjoy your dolled-up lashes without having to set a reminder to run to the store. Easy-peasy.
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The tapered tip on the smaller wand of this Vivienne Sabó mascara makes it easy to apply precisely and get to all your lashes. The formula is clump- and flake-free with a true black pigment that defines, lengthens and volumizes your natural lashes for a fuller look.
Clip the coupon for a discount applied at checkout.
Promising review: “At 69 years old, I am a mascara snob! I grew up in the age of Twiggy and lots of eye makeup and believe me, I have tried high end, low end and everything in between.. My lashes have been thinnining and getting weird bent shapes and its been pretty awful. This mascara is FABULOUS! Between the formula of the mascara and the brush, its the perfect combination! You can reach every. single. lash and the formula is smudgeproof, very black and perfect!” — Janet Kissane
The flexible wand on this popular Maybelline mascara can bend to coat all of your lashes from root to tip, so you get full, long lashes with every swipe. This one is another great option for experimenting with color, since comes in a range of colors like black, brown, burgundy, blue and a sparkly Space Diamond white. With over 80,000 5-star reviews, shoppers can’t get enough of this mascara, so it’s a pretty safe bet if you want to try a new formula, especially at its low price.
You may have heard of the Lancôme Lash Idôle mascara, which has racked up 7,000 5-star reviews and counting at Sephora. The curved wand lifts and fans out lashes for a full, even coat of the long-wearing, volumizing and lengthening gel formula. This is another one that you can grab in a mini size and comes in both black and brown.
Why not get a mascara that delivers nourishment to your lashes at the same time? Grande Cosmetics’ conditioning mascara contains peptides and vitamin B5 to strengthen your lashes and prevent breakage, while the formula is also volumizing, buildable and water-resistant.
Promising Amazon review: “As I have gotten older, my lashes had been looking pretty pathetic – sparse and barely there, even with my go-to mascara that I had relied on for years. I tried going the false eyelash route but was a complete failure at applying them. My hair stylist told me about Grande Lash mascara so I gave it a try. I have been using it for 10 months and I can honestly say that I am now seeing a difference in the length and thickness of my lashes! I turned 60 recently and my lashes are looking healthy and full with this mascara. I feel like my eyes are noticeable once again. I am adding the ‘eyelash primer’ to my routine to see if that helps even more. I am really happy that I gave Grande Lash a chance.” — madagogo
An Allure Best of Beauty award winner, Ilia’s lengthening mascara can thank its efficiency for its really unique wand. It’s designed with a comb-like design that has one side for volumizing using the closer, shorter bristles and one side for lengthening and separating the lashes. The gentle formula can be removed with warm water but is flake-, clump- and smudge-resistant. If you wear contacts or have sensitive eyes, this formula could be perfect for you. Sephora sells this mascara in the mini size if you’d like a smaller tube.
Promising Amazon review: “I always need a non-toxic mascara as I have sensitive eyes. This mascara is perfect! Doesn’t get all clumpy or anything crazy. Easy to remove. The wand is really cool because it has different sides with different brush types for all corners of my lash line! Also a great price point doesn’t hurt!” — Kristin Kelly
Another L’Oreal Paris option, this mascara currently has a spot on Amazon’s beauty bestsellers list. The product delivers a lengthening, natural look with its flexible wand that’s on the thinner side if the dramatic volume isn’t for you. Like Lash Paradise, the Telescopic mascara also offers 24-hour wear and a clump-free formula. You can get this in a couple of washable colors, some waterproof options and even a waterproof version of the black.
Heads up: Clip the on-page coupon on Amazon for a discount applied at checkout.
With 4.3 stars across more than 84,000 reviews on Amazon, this voluminous L’Oreal Paris mascara is clump- and smudge-resistant, ophthalmologist-tested for sensitive eyes and long-lasting, promising up to 24 hours of wear. Available in several washable shades, including a brown and navy, the washable mascara is designed to create the look of full, feathery lashes.
Clip the coupon for an extra discount at checkout on Amazon.
Who among us hasn’t dealt with mascara smudging under the eyes for that dreaded raccoon look? That’s where a smudge-proof tubing mascara like this one can come in handy: The polymers in tubing mascara are like, well, little tubes that wrap each individual lash, lengthening the appearance of your natural lashes without the oils and waxes in traditional mascara that are prone to smudging and flaking. This Caliray mascara is waterproof and flake-free, but like most tubing mascara, is also made to be easy to remove, so it’s great for sensitive eyes.
This one of the mascaras that comes in a mini size, too, so you don’t have to commit to a full-sized tube. Sephora offers 5% off all subscription deliveries with Auto-Replenish.
Promising review: “The search is over…found my holy grail! I don’t even try other mascaras anymore. Now, if they’d just make this in a true BROWN I would be so happy!! Never smudges, hardly ever flakes (I work 12 hour shifts,) removes easily.” — ShondraRN
Get the best of both worlds with this double-ended tube, which contains both a conditioning primer with biotin and peptides, and a water-resistant volumizing mascara. The primer is bright blue, so you won’t confuse the two sides, and the blue also adds depth to your lashes when you put the topcoat mascara over it.
With Dermstore’s auto-replenish option, you can save $5 on this two-in-one purchase.
Promising review: “This is my favorite mascara and eyelash primer. My lashes are so long after using their serum and with this primer and mascara they are as full and thick as some fake lashes, only they are are my real ones!” — Amanda
If you’d like to branch out to colored mascaras — which makeup artists previously told HuffPost can make your eyes pop — but you’re intimidated by bright colors, you can test things out with Covergirl’s Lash Blast Cleantopia mascara. It. comes in this stunning Ultramarine black color that’s tinged with blue. The mascara has a smudge-proof, gentle formula that’s also easy to remove when you’re ready to take it off.
Promising Amazon review: “I got the blue colored one and have been really surprised about how cute it is on and how long it makes my eyelashes look. I have brown eyes and would of thought that the blue would only work with blue eyes but I’m so happy I saw an ad for this and decided to give it a try. The blue tone really adds that extra which makes all eyes stand out a little more.” — crystal p.
This Wonderskin mascara can do it all, from lengthening to volumizing. The wand has an hourglass-shaped brush to evenly coat lashes and the formula is designed to curl lashes upon air contact so you get the eyelash-curler look without having to actually use one.
Promising review: “I love this mascara. It goes on really smooth and doesn’t clump. The wand makes it easy to apply and definitely gave my eyelashes a longer and fuller look which I love. It also goes on really clean and doesn’t seem to smudge as much as some of the other mascaras I have tried.” — Hope & Hale
If you like the look of wearing false lashes but hate the feeling of actually wearing them, this might be the product for you: Essence’s Lash Princess False Lash Effect. It’s one of Amazon‘s top sellers and has an astonishing 262,000 5-star ratings.
It has a straight conic fiber brush that’s designed to keep the mascara from clumping or globbing on your lashes. It’s also cruelty-, oil- and fragrance-free — so even those with sensitive eyes can enjoy using it.