Curling Mascaras:

There a number of mascaras out there offering curl.  Curling the eyelashes gives a wide-eyed look, creating larger looking, dramatic eyes.  The formulation is thicker because of ingredients for hold and shape, like polymers.  The wand will have bristles tightly spaced to help in the upward curl motion. 

Works Well For...

If you have difficulty using eye lash curlers, this is a great option.  Also, if you found the mascara brushes awkward in the past the curve shape in this type of brush, may be more feature friendly to your eye shape.

Best mascara performance tip:   Step 3.  Carefully comb through lashes with a clean lash brush or comb, to remove clumps.  Step 4. in tip below.

The best mascara for this job?

Prestige Brand: Lancome VIRTUOSE Black mascara lengthens and curves lashes.

Mid-Range Quality Brand: A very inexpensive option that gets a good review is Rimmel's Exaggerate Full Volume & Curl Mascara.

Bold And Dramatic Mascaras:

Choosing the best bold and dramatic mascaras are really about the resulting style desired.  Formulations like this will offer it all; volume, length, intense color etc.. and use names that will help indicate they are glamorous and bold.

Best mascara performance tip:   Step 4. Wait for top lashes to dry before bottom lash application, to avoid speckling the upper lid with mascara.  Step 5. in tip below...

Works Well For...

Individuals who desire a bold makeup style and don't mind the look and feel of heavier mascara. The nature of your own lashes will help direct you in your product choice.  Additional products, like false eye lashes, and other lash enhancers will help very sparse, small eye lashes achieve a bold look.  If you have reasonably full lashes, start with this type of mascara, and take it a step at a time. 

The best mascara for this job?

Prestige Brand:  Well there are a number of great products out there that are clearly going for this outgoing makeup style. They range in formats, from application methods i.e. tube, cake etc to shimmering color selections.  The best mascara in this category is a little harder to pick since, the delivery does not need to be subtle.

Christian Dior "Show" Mascara delivers a "just off the catwalk" makeup style with this rich mascara that apparently delivers sexy volume and length, without clumps, in just one coat.

Mid-High Quality Brand: Bourjois Coup de Theatre False Lash Illusion - Duo Mascara

.  "Theatre" in the name should give you an idea of the result of this two step mascara.  One end of this dual ended mascara delivers a thickening lengthening coat, and the other end layers over with vitamin enriched intensely pigmented color.  

Natural Looking Mascaras

Natural Looking Mascara is the counter point to Dramatic Effects Mascara.  The end style desired is enhanced, thicker, longer lashes that still look and feel soft, light and natural.  Formulations need to have qualities that allow for high definition, length and volume without getting clumpy.

Works Well For...

Individuals who first of all like a more natural, less detectable look, and/or  have sensitive eyes.

Best mascara performance tip:   Step 5.  For bottom lashes, hold wand vertically, moving back and forth for precise controlled application.  Allow lashes to dry, comb through  and remove any flakes with a sweep of a powder brush.  

*If mascara on your lower lashes is too much for you, try using a clear mascara for definition (its great for unruly eyebrows too).

The best mascara for the job?

Prestige Brand: Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara is a mascara that comes recommended for its formulation that delivers luxurious, long and lush, natural looking lashes at a great price point. You can find Clinique at Sephora.com.

Mid-Range Quality Brand: Neutrogena Weightless Volume Wax Free Mascara, Brown Black has excellent customer reviews, has a patent pending, wax free long wearing formulation that doesn't clump, flake or smudge.  It is also Ophthalmologist tested , Hypoallergenic and safe for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes.  Sounds great!

Waterproof Mascaras

Waterproof mascaras are usually offered with every formulation style.  The above options all come in a waterproof version.  The difference is, the waterproof formulations used have ingredients that are no long water soluble, and require an oil based makeup remover to dissolve the makeup.

Works Well For...

Events and activities that will involve water ie. swimming, sweating, crying....

Best mascara performance tip: Waterproof mascara is not recommended for daily use.  Even the best mascara waterproof formulations, because of their staying power, can be drying to the lashes and create considerable wear and tear to the eye area, in their removal.  For those reasons I recommend use for special events, not daily.

Best mascara for the job?

If use is infrequent, you don't need to purchase a pricey product. I recommend this pro favorite Maybelline Great Lash - Waterproof Mascara, Very Black .  It also wins every year as the best waterproof mascara choice in In Style Magazine.  The pluses to this product... a great inexpensive price and when fresh, this stuff glides on smoothly and evenly.  A minus? This stuff gets old very fast.

Last words on the choosing the best mascara...

After reviewing the guidelines above, choosing the best mascara for you, should have become a far more simple task...Likely the remaining issue is related to to price.  With two price point suggestions it gives you a little room on that issue, however, all products are not created equal.  

Quality does range from cosmetic product to product,  in areas like these; quality of ingredients used in formulations, application ease and effectiveness, and overall performance.  But...

Since we can't assume the best mascara, or best makeup products for that matter, are always the most expensive OR the least expensive are always of lesser quality, I recommend getting feedback and recommendations from trusted sources.  Then you can decide where spending more is worth it, and you can save a little where you can.

Another way of boosting any mascara is by using a primer on your lashes first.... This primer or 'Super-Enhancing Mascara Base' is one of half a dozen great options available and is called
CILS BOOSTER XL.
"Give your lashes an XL boost. This innovative mascara base maximizes the result of any Lancôme mascara. Features micro-fibers for enhanced effect; triangular brush helps separate lashes."