Since the cosmetics industry has gone high tech, the best mascara comes in a variety of formulations to custom meet our needs.  By that I don't mean there are micro chips in the wand, but the world of mascara has become very innovative and very full of feature options.

The options are staggering...the amount of catering to our individual differences and desires, simply amazing.

So how do you pick the best mascara for you? 

Here are some general guidelines that apply to the new array of mascaras available. Plus, a few tips, tricks and extra 'f.y.i.' to help you find the mascara that suits you best.

Lancome DEFINICILS Black, a top spot as a best mascara pick.  This mascara won an Allure Magazine Reader's Choice Award and was In-Style Magazine's Best Beauty Buy for Overall Mascara April 2004 (read more details below).

Guidelines For Picking The Best Mascara (For You):

There are two main elements to consider when picking mascara; what type of lashes are you working with, and what is the desired result?  

Mascara companies generally market their products based on desired results i.e." lengthening", "volumizing", "curling", "bold", "dramatic", "natural looking" , "waterproof" lashes, etc. , sometimes a combination of several.  Their mascara formulations in combination with the type of wand being used, is what determines the results. 

Another factor is price point.  As you have likely noticed, their are some pretty hefty price points out there.  Luckily, those hefty price points aren't generally connected to the best mascara choices.  Listed with each type of mascara below, are two product suggestions.  This gives you the option of a well priced prestige brand or a mid-range quality brand.  

Lengthening Mascaras

Lengthening mascaras focus on formulations that are less dense, with ingredients for easy glide and smooth even coverage that will reach the very tips ( mascara application that effectively builds on the very tips is key to lengthening eyelashes ).  To assist with this, the wands tend to have bristles that are shorter and in more tightly packed groups, to ensure that every lash gets well coated in mascara, from base to tip.  

Works Well For...

I find that this type of mascara is great for those with reasonably thick eyelashes, short or long, because the emphasis is on lengthening and maximizing each lash.  I personally have found, you avoid clumpy looking mascara by choosing this type of formulation and wand.

Best mascara performance tip:    Step 1.  Avoid uneven application and clumping, by first removing the excess mascara formula on the tube opening, or dab on a tissue. Also make sure your lashes are clean, residue free and *curled.  *I highly recommend using an eyelash curler because of the dramatic eye opening difference it makes (always use before mascara and do it gently).  Step 2. in next tip below...

The best mascara for this job? 

Prestige Brand: Lancome DEFINICILS Black, as mentioned above, is a well supported choice with its top pick status by beauty editors and professional makeup artists.  One of the reasons is, its ability to really lengthen and separate lashes, defining beautifully (hence the name) without clumping. It also long wearing, fragrance free, suitable for contact lens wearers and Ophthalmologist-tested.

Mid-Range Quality Brand: L'Oreal Lash Out Lengthening and Separating Mascara, Black is a product that I have used for a long time, because it lengthens and defines without clumping, its "teddy bear" brush allows a high precision application (not easy to find at that price point) and it is easily removed with out a lot of wear and tear on the eye area.  The trade off on this product is its formulation dries out at around two months.  

"Volumizing" Mascaras

Volume building mascaras build thickness to the lashes creating a stronger visual presence.  With that in mind, the formulations have building ingredients like polymers and waxes that will help build on the lashes, as they are coated.  The wands for this task tend to have longer, fine, evenly spaced bristles for maximum quantity and even coats.

Works Well For...

This mascara is great for small, sparse, fine and fair lashes as it is designed to build presence with color, thickness and lengthening.

Best mascara performance tip:   Step 2.  Holding the wand horizontally, begin at the  underside base, jiggling the wand at the root to grip as many lashes as possible, and move up through to the tips.  Step 3. in tip below...

The best mascara for this job?

Prestige Brand: Lancome HYPNOSE Black is another award winning product with a patented "powerfull" brush that will thicken your lashes up to 6X, defining lashes without clumping.  Lancome is considered one of the best mascara makers.

Mid-Range Quality Brand: L'Oreal Double Extend Lash Extender & Magnifier Mascara, Blackest Black is another Allure Magazine award winner and gets great customer reviews.  It works in two steps beginning with a primer and then followed by a color coat, to achieve both longer and thicker lashes.

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 FLEXTENCILS Black this mascara won a beauty award for best new product.  The Flextencils formula is called  "PowerSHAPE™" and is applied with a patented brush that 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.