10 Best Korean Mascaras & Their Reviews For 2021
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What’s the best Korean mascara?
The Korean beauty industry is rapidly gaining some well-deserved attention, which started predominantly through skincare and is now moving to the makeup industry as well, so here we have the best Korean mascaras and their reviews.
Perhaps one of the most advanced products in Korean beauty is their mascaras which is partly due to the culture.
Highly idolizing having long, bright lashes, Korea is reported to have an extremely high ratio of double eyelid surgery, especially when compared with western countries.
However, that emphasis leads to the production of a lot of high-quality mascaras that manage to retain curl throughout the day and focus on adding length and volume.
What’s especially great is that most of these mascaras carry out all those functions, and yet, don’t break the bank.
Contents
IN A HURRY? HERE’S OUR FAVORITE PICKS…
Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
innisfree Skinny Microcara Eye Mascara Long Lash Makeup, 1 Count (Pack of 1) | View on Amazon | |||
TONYMOLY Perfect Eyes Long kinny Mascara | View on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
10 Best Korean Mascaras Reviewed
Fortunately, we’ve scavenged the internet and gathered the 10 best Korean mascaras.
1. Innisfree Skinny Waterproof Microcara Mascara
Of course, we had to start with the Innisfree skinny waterproof mascara.
If you know anything about Korean beauty products you’ve probably heard of this one.
It’s gained recognition as one of the most popular Korean mascaras out there.
Due to the nature of its design, this is the mascara for anyone looking for a great everyday natural look.
This mascara is the perfect product for lengthening the lashes without clumping them up too much or making them too overly dramatic.
However, if you’re really after lashes that look like falsies and make a statement you might not enjoy this mascara.
Probably the unique feature about this mascara is its wand, which as the name implies consists of an extremely thin 1.5mm brush allowing you to coat every lash.
The skinny design gives it a certain precision that makes it perfect for coating the thinnest lashes, and even the lower lash line without the product getting everywhere.
It also cannot be ignored that this mascara is waterproof which is a must-have for hot climates, rainy weather, or when you’re just feeling a bit more emotional than usual.
The brand also produces a non-waterproof version as well as one in brown color, if that’s your preference.
Pros & Benefits:
- Affordable
- Perfect for everyday use
- Waterproof
- Portable
2. TONYMOLY Perfect Eyes Long Kinny Mascara
If you like the sound of the Innisfree mascara, but perhaps care about taking that extra step in looking after your precious lashes, look no further.
Similar to the Innisfree mascara, it features a 2mm brush that allows for extreme precision.
It also makes it great for coating your bottom lashes without making it look like you haven’t slept in a week.
Don’t we all hate when that happens?
The thin brush creates a natural, effortlessly long look without forming any clumps along the way.
This mascara is highly praised for its ability to add a little extra curl to the lashes, which enhances the eye while still maintaining the “no make-up makeup look” essence.
However, the selling point of this mascara is its distinctive blend of ingredients, containing black pearl powder, ceramides, panthenol, and diamond extract.
These ingredients are key in maintaining healthy lashes, providing your lashes with an abundance of nutrients.
Ceramides, for example, really help maintain hydration as well as repair lashes.
Overall, the product contains a long-lasting, no clump formula, which ensures an even coating and gives you that effortless natural look.
Pros & Benefits:
- Everyday Use
- Separates lashes
- Natural Ingredients
- Affordable
3.
As a whole, this brand is well renowned for having exceptional mascaras, but this one is probably the most underrated.
In addition to its curved wand, its fibrous formula makes it essential for anyone trying to achieve those long, fluttery eyelashes.
For those of us who are not blessed with naturally thick lashes, fibrous mascaras are crucial for adding thickness.
The fibers easily attach to the lashes and almost act as tiny extensions.
They are also easily buildable so you can add more thickness if desired.
This mascara will lift your lashes and hold the curl throughout the day and give you the thickness and volume you are desiring, without making them look too artificial.
Don’t worry, you won’t have to fight your eyes for 30 minutes at the end of the day to wash them off.
Despite giving you thick lashes, the product remains easily washable.
Moistening the lashes with water and slowly pulling off the mascara is enough to get it off with little to no residue; no harsh chemicals or makeup remover is required.
Eliminating the need for harsh makeup remover minimizes any harm to your lashes.
Minimizing harm to your lashes seems to be what this mascara is going after as it is also enriched with a nourishing complex to keep them healthy.
The product is composed of a bio-HGF complex to protect your lashes and keep them in their healthiest form.
Pros & Benefits:
- Holds Curl
- Adds volume
- Maintains a somewhat natural look
- Nourishing formula
- Curved wand
4.
For all those busy working women out there, we hear you.
It’s a real struggle to find a mascara that will stay on from the minute you leave to work, to picking up your kids from school, to go to that yoga session after dinner without smudging.
This mascara is quite intense which makes it great for a doll-eye look, but at the same time won’t smudge everywhere.
The killer combination of being waterproof with triple coated polymer works against any oils that would get in the way of conserving the curl of the eyelashes and minimizes smudging.
Rumour has it this mascara will even stay on through a storm and one coat of this stuff is more than enough to hold your curls in place.
The product itself is a very dark black which is great for going for a bold look.
However, it can feel a bit stiff so if you’re going for a more natural look, this is not the mascara for you.
The brush is on the thinner side and slightly curved.
The curve is not too extreme so it perfectly fits especially those who have straighter eyelashes.
The thinness of the brush makes it more controllable and easy to evenly coat all the lashes.
If all those qualities don’t already grab your attention, then the neon pink packaging certainly will.
Pros & Benefits:
- Waterproof
- Holds curl
- Doesn’t smudge throughout the day
- Good for dramatic, doll eye effect
- Bright, cute packaging
5. Holika Holika Magic Pole Mascara
For those of you who struggle with finding volumizing lash products that won’t irritate your sensitive eyes, we also hear you.
Volumizing mascaras are often really intense and taking them off can be a struggle.
The constant rubbing needed to take them off can easily irritate sensitive eyes and can be quite damaging.
Similar to the Peripera Air Wing Volume mascara, this product is another example of a polymer mascara.
Therefore, it makes the washing off experience incredibly easy and smooth.
Just simply wetting your eyelashes and gently sliding the product is enough to take it off.
That’s it!
As for the performance, it does a good job of adding volume and length to your lashes while maintaining a safe formula that won’t irritate.
This mascara strikes a balance between really natural and overdramatic eyelashes.
It will simply separate your lashes and add a bit of volume and length, but won’t give you a “falsies” look if that’s what you’re going for.
The applicator is unique, with a ball shape at the tip.
The wand shape supposedly helps in declumping after applying but not much declumping is needed anyway.
Pros & Benefits:
- Non-irritating formula
- Adds a bit of volume
- lengthens
- Not clumpy
6.
Because of its fiber-infused formula combined with its gentle, natural ingredients, Touch In Sol’s Paper Pusher mascara is a must-have for those with sensitive eyes who are still after the “falsies” look.
This mascara is a holy grail if you want full, long lashes without having them look like spider legs.
The product consists of a fiber formula that is completely paraben and sulfate-free.
As previously stated, a fiber mascara is vital for adding volume to lashes as they attach to your lashes to create more volume.
This product, in particular, is unique and interesting as it is infused with lightweight paper fibers.
Usually, the fibers in mascaras are made out of materials like silk or nylon.
These materials can be slippery and don’t absorb the product.
Using a paper fiber instead absorbs the product better and attached to the lashes easily.
This also allows for buildable coverage.
As for the applicator, it consists of a small, curved wand that makes it very easy to control the amount of product as well as follows the natural shape of your eyelash curves.
Unlike most mascaras on the more intense side, it also stays intact without flaking and is easy to wash off.
Simply washing your face with a daily face wash is enough to loosen the grip and rinse it off your eyelashes without giving you raccoon eyes.
Besides, the product lasts a very long time without drying out so you don’t have to keep repurchasing it every few weeks.
Pros & Benefits:
- Natural, gentle formula
- Will not flake
- Creates full lashes
- Easy to take off
- Long-lasting
7.
For those of you with “stick straight lash syndrome”, we feel your pain.
However, your pain can be slightly elevated after trying Etude House’s Lash Perm Mascara.
It’s so difficult to find mascara on the market that will hold the curl as it claims especially when there’s not much curl, to begin with, but this mascara doesn’t disappoint.
As the name implies, it is almost like giving your lashes a beautifully curled perm.
One of the most appreciated things about this mascara is its staying power.
This mascara is formulated to keep your lashes curled for up to 24 hours and will not flake or smudge.
The curling effect helps brighten and open up your eyes.
If you want your lashes to stand out, this is the mascara for you.
It comes in four colors: black, brown, plum burgundy, and pink, in case you’re feeling like going for an extra edgy look!
It is especially good for those who struggle with oily skin weighing down your lashes as the ingredients in the formula absorb oils and allow it to hold shape.
The formula is leaning towards the wet side, but it dries up relatively quickly.
It is also waterproof, so, crying with this mascara on won’t be as dramatic as in the movies.
However, keep in mind that because of its intensity, it can be a bit hard to remove.
You will need to have a good makeup remover to get this off, which also guarantees that a little bit of sweat won’t ruin your makeup for the rest of the day.
Pros & Benefits:
- Affordable
- Waterproof
- Lifted lashes
8. Chateau Labiotte Wine Angle Mascara
After seeing the insanely adorable packaging of this mascara, how could we not include it?
Shaped like a tiny wine bottle and featuring grape wine extracts, it ironically has the same effect of drinking your worries away.
If you’re as obsessed with the packaging of this as we are, be sure to also check out their other products which come in equally adorable packing.
Already, the packaging gives it a huge bonus in making it fun to carry around and show off to your friends.
However, what’s especially great about this brand is that they are a botanic brand that bases all their products around completely natural ingredients.
In this case, the product is based on grape wine extracts and organic acids.
These extracts are great for nourishing and strengthening those delicate eyelashes.
Grape wine also has a high amount of antioxidants which slows down aging and that is always a bonus.
This mascara is great for volumizing but will not be too dramatic.
It is one of those mascaras that give a very natural, voluminous look.
It features a curved which makes even the innermost lashes more accessible and hugs the natural curls of your lashes.
This is a simple mascara that adds a bit of volume and boldness, but overall, maintains a natural look.
For those of you with watery eyes, it does a good job of not giving you panda eyes by the end of the day.
Pros & Benefits:
- Natural-looking
- Cute packaging
- Does not smudge
9.
While most of the previous options are tailored for big, dramatic looks, some prefer more easily buildable options that provide versatility for both everyday and dramatic looks.
If that sounds like you, this is the mascara you’re looking for.
This mascara contains a lightweight formula that makes it great for an everyday, go-to look.
It can be a bit on the wet and runny side but it dries up within 10 seconds.
Just make sure you don’t rub your eyes before it dries up!
The lightweight formula also means that you’ll barely feel it and it won’t weigh down your eyelids.
However, it also easily builds up for those days when you’re in the mood for fuller lashes.
One coat is good for everyday use.
If you’re feeling bolder that day, then just adding a few more coats should do the trick.
As for longevity, it can hold the curl for around 9 hours and lasts the whole day without smudging.
The wand is slightly in a zigzag shape, making it extremely easy to wiggle the brush while applying.
Pros & Benefits:
- Lightweight
- Buildable
- Long-lasting
10. Etude House Dr. Mascara Fixer
Although technically advertised as a primer, it doubles as a clear mascara if you are looking for something extremely natural.
Some days you just want to make your lashes a bit more apparent without adding any extra color.
Unlike the usual mascara, it comes in a small, squeezable tube.
The squeezable tube is great for controlling the amount of product.
The clear gel provides volume and curls while being waterproof.
It is infused with black food extracts that will condition the lashes and protect them from any chemicals in the mascara you place on top if you choose to do so.
With some mascaras, especially the stubborn ones, taking them off causes a few lashes to fall out but the removal process for this one is smooth and painless.
On its own, it gives a subtle and natural look.
Since it is clear, this also means that there is no need to worry about any smudging or unwanted raccoon eyes.
If you’re looking for that extra step to make your lashes stand out, apply this under your regular daily mascara.
It will make the mascara last longer without smudging.
It will also help you get a thicker and fuller look while holding the curls in place throughout the day.
Pros & Benefits:
- Natural ingredients
- Clear for a natural look
- The squeezable tube allows some control over product amount
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Mascara
So, after reading this, you’ve found the perfect mascara for all your needs.
Does that mean your journey to your dream lashes is over?
It doesn’t just stop there.
A big part of why your mascara doesn’t seem to be doing its magic might be the way you use it.
Here are some tips about how to get the most out of any mascara.
The best way to ensure an even coating and a more separated lash look is to wiggle your brush as you apply the mascara; don’t just simply go in straight strokes.
If you want to get the maximum thickness, maybe try to coat the backside of your lashes too.
It may seem weird at first but once you get used to it, it will be easy to apply without making a mess.
Another mistake people make way too often is trying to achieve long eyelashes by brushing all the lashes in the upward direction.
To get the best results, flick the wrist outwards when you get to the lashes in the outermost corner of your eye rather than just going upwards.
This will help in achieving those cat eyelashes while still giving you the length in the middle sections.
If you’re still not convinced by any of the previous tips, the one thing you should take away from this is to never pump your mascara.
It may seem like the natural thing to do to get more product on the brush, but what this does instead is force air into the tube, drying the product out and making it easier for bacteria to spread.
The last thing you want to be putting near your eye is unwanted bacteria.
Instead, gently swirl the brush while pushing down.
Final Thoughts
After reading the article, it is clear that there are several best Korean mascaras for every possible eye shape and size and evidently, there is no such thing as one best mascara.
Each one is tailored to different needs, depending on what you’re looking for or even what you’re feeling like that day.
If you’re wanting to achieve a natural no-makeup look while still brightening your eyes, we’ve got you covered.
If you’re all about being bold and having big, dramatic lashes, there’s also a mascara for you.
Generally, Korean beauty can help you step up your makeup game, especially when it comes to eyelashes.
A lot of their products are unique and innovative, such as the Touch In Sol’s paper fiber infused mascara or the TONYMOLY mascara which is carefully crafted with diamond extract.
They come with advanced technologies that make sure you get the desired outcome and maximize how amazing your lashes look.