Rare Beauty Mascara vs The Competition: The Ultimate UK Showdown

Hello, makeup lovers!

Let’s be honest: the quest for the perfect mascara is a lifelong journey. It’s the beauty product we use most often, and the one that can make the biggest difference to our face. A great mascara can make you look awake, polished, and confident. A bad one can lead to panda eyes, clumpy lashes, and frustration.

If you’ve spent any time on beauty TikTok or Instagram, you’ll have seen the buzz around Rare Beauty’s Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara. Founded by Selena Gomez, Rare Beauty has built a reputation for high-performance products with a positive message. But in a market flooded with incredible options, from affordable drugstore gems to luxury favourites, does it really deserve a spot in your makeup bag?

I’ve conducted a full, wear-tested investigation. I’ve compared the Rare Beauty mascara against four of the UK’s most popular mascaras across every category that matters. This isn’t just a first impression; it’s a deep dive into the brush, the formula, the wear-time, and the final result.

Get ready for the ultimate mascara showdown. Let’s find your perfect match.

Also Read: Your Ultimate Guide to Finding a Sally Beauty Supply Near You

What Are We Testing For? The Criteria for a Perfect Mascara

Before we meet the competitors, let’s establish our judging criteria. A perfect mascara is a balance of science and art. Here’s what we’re looking for:

1. The Wand & Application: Is the brush easy to use? Does it reach the tiny corner lashes without smudging?
2. Lengthening Power: Does it make lashes look noticeably longer?
3. Volumizing Power: Does it add thickness and fullness without looking spidery or clumpy?
4. Curling Hold: Does it keep lashes lifted all day, or do they droop?
5. Smudge & Flake Resistance: The ultimate test for UK weather – will it survive rain, humidity, and a long day?
6. Ease of Removal: Can it be removed without a major struggle that could damage your lashes?
7. Value for Money: Is it worth the price tag?

Also Read: The Ultimate Guide to Huda Beauty Lip Stains: Finding Your Perfect Shade

Meet the Contenders: A Guide to Our Mascara Line-Up

We’ve selected a diverse group of mascaras to represent different price points and iconic benefits.

1. The New Volumizer: Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Mascara

   • Price: £20
   • Claim: “Universal volumizing mascara for defined, full-volume lashes that don’t flake or smudge.”
   • Key Feature: Unique, skinny plastic brush with uneven bristles.
   • UK Link: Buy Rare Beauty at Cult Beauty

2. The High-Volume Icon: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

   • Price: £25
   • Claim: “Our #1 selling mascara that delivers the ultimate volume, full curves, and intense black colour.”
   • Key Feature: Large, hourglass-shaped brush.
   • UK Link: Buy Too Faced at John Lewis

3. The Viral Lengthener: Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara

   • Price: £12.99
   • Claim: “Lengthening mascara for limitless length, with a buildable formula that doesn’t flake.”
   • Key Feature: Flexible wand with tiny fibres to grip and extend lashes.
   • UK Link: Buy Maybelline Sky High at Boots

4. The Precise Definition Expert: L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara

   • Price: £12.99
   • Claim: “Lift and lengthen lashes from root to tip for a wide-eyed, false lash effect.”
   • Key Feature: Ultra-slim, flat plastic comb.
   • UK Link: Buy L’Oréal Telescopic at Superdrug

5. The Sensitive Eyes Hero: Clinique High Impact Mascara

   • Price: £22
   • Claim: “An ophthalmologist-tested mascara that conditions while building bold volume and length.”
   • Key Feature: Gentle, hypoallergenic formula.
   • UK Link: Buy Clinique High Impact at Boots

In-Depth Analysis: The Wand & Application Experience

The wand is your tool – its design dictates everything.

• Rare Beauty: The wand is a standout. The skinny, tapered plastic brush has short, spikey bristles of varying lengths. This design is genius for precision. It effortlessly coats every single lash, even the hard-to-reach inner corners and lower lashes, without touching the skin. The formula is well-balanced—not too wet, not too dry—allowing for smooth, controlled application.
  • Score: 10/10
• Too Faced: The large, voluptuous hourglass brush is designed for maximum product pickup. However, its size can be its downfall, often leading to messy application and smudges on the eyelid for those without a steady hand. It delivers a lot of pigment quickly.
  • Score: 6/10
• Maybelline Sky High: The slim, rubberised wand is incredibly user-friendly. It’s easy to wiggle at the base of the lashes to build length from the root. The flexibility helps prevent poking your eye, making it a great choice for beginners.
  • Score: 9/10
• L’Oréal Telescopic Lift: The flat, comb-like brush is unparalleled for separation and definition. It’s like a fine-tooth comb for your lashes, meticulously coating each one without any clumps. It requires a slightly more technical application but delivers a clean, fanned-out effect.
  • Score: 9/10
• Clinique High Impact: A classic, bushy brush that gets the job done without any fuss. It’s straightforward and reliable, if not particularly innovative.
  • Score: 7/10

Performance Test 1: Lengthening & Volumizing Power

• Lengthening Winner: Maybelline Sky High. There is simply no competition here. The formula, combined with the wand, delivers incredible, fibre-enhanced length that truly looks like lash extensions. It’s in a league of its own for this specific purpose.
• Volumizing Winners: Rare Beauty & Too Faced (Tie). Both deliver dramatic volume. Rare Beauty does so in a more controlled, buildable way that avoids clumps. Too Faced offers immediate, intense volume that can be overwhelming if applied heavily. If you want bold, dense lashes, both are excellent, but Rare Beauty offers more finesse.

The Ultimate Endurance Test: Smudge & Flake Resistance

I wore each mascara for a minimum of 10 hours, through work, a commute, and a workout, to test their limits.

• Rare Beauty: Flawless victory. This mascara did not move. There was zero smudging on the upper lid or under the eyes, and no flaking whatsoever. Its smudge-proof claim is 100% accurate, making it ideal for long days, weddings, or anyone with oily eyelids.
• Too Faced: Showed slight flaking towards the end of the day. It also transferred a little onto the brow bone, especially if the skin there is at all oily.
• Maybelline Sky High (Regular): Some minor transfer can occur. For guaranteed hold, the waterproof version is the better choice.
• L’Oréal Telescopic Lift: Good overall staying power with minimal issues, a reliable daily wearer.
• Clinique High Impact: Excellent performance for a gentle formula. It stays put without irritation.

The Night-Time Test: Ease of Removal

A good mascara shouldn’t require a battle to remove.

• Easiest to Remove: Clinique High Impact. It washes away cleanly with a water-soluble cleanser, which is a huge benefit for lash health and sensitive eyes.
• Moderate Removal: Rare Beauty, Maybelline (regular), L’Oréal. These all come off effectively with a biphasic makeup remover like Garnier Micellar Water or a cleansing oil without excessive rubbing.
• Most Stubborn: Too Faced. This one requires a dedicated cleansing balm like the Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter and a bit more patience to dissolve completely.

UK Availability & Value for Money: Where to Shop

• Rare Beauty: Available at Space NK and Cult Beauty. At £20, it sits in the mid-to-high range. Given its performance and packaging, it offers good value.
• Maybelline Sky High: Available at Boots and Superdrug. At under £13, it is exceptional value, especially for its lengthening power.
• Too Faced: Available at Cult Beauty and John Lewis. At £25, it’s a luxury splurge for those who prioritise extreme volume.
• L’Oréal Telescopic Lift: Available at Boots and Superdrug. Fantastic value for a precise, defined look.
• Clinique: Available at Boots and John Lewis. Priced at £22, it’s worth the investment for those with sensitive eyes or contact lenses.

Final Verdict: Which Mascara is Right for You?

Choose Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Mascara if:
You are looking for a high-performance, reliable all-rounder. You want impressive volume without clumps, a precision brush, and absolute confidence that it will not smudge or flake, no matter what the British weather throws at you. It’s perfect for professionals, busy parents, or anyone who needs their makeup to last.

Choose Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High if:
Your primary goal is maximum length and you want incredible results on a budget. It’s the best drugstore mascara for a dramatic, lengthened look.

Choose Too Faced Better Than Sex if:
You want instant, dramatic volume for a big night out and you don’t mind a potentially messier application process.

Choose L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift if:
You love a defined, false-lash effect and prioritise separation and precision over thick volume.

Choose Clinique High Impact Mascara if:
You have sensitive eyes, wear contact lenses, or simply prefer a gentle, easy-to-remove formula that still delivers beautiful results.

Conclusion

The Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Mascara isn’t just hype; it’s a genuinely excellent product that excels in several key areas, particularly its smudge-proof wear and intelligent brush design. While it may not be the single best at extreme length, its overall package makes it a standout winner for anyone seeking a dependable, high-quality mascara for daily use.

It’s a worthy investment that delivers on its promises, proving that sometimes, the new kid on the block can truly compete with the established giants.

What’s your holy-grail mascara? Have you tried the Rare Beauty one? Let me know your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Rare Beauty Mascara Showdown

You asked, and we’ve listened! Since publishing our ultimate mascara comparison, we’ve received so many brilliant questions. I’ve compiled the most common and important ones here to give you all the extra information you need before making your choice.

Q1: I have very straight, stubborn lashes that won’t hold a curl. Which of these mascaras is best for me?

A: This is a crucial question that goes beyond just the mascara formula. The key to lifting straight lashes is a two-step process:

1. Invest in a Good Lash Curler: Use a heated lash curler or warm your standard curler with a hairdryer for a few seconds (test the temperature on your wrist first!).
2. Choose the Right Formula: For stubborn lashes, the Maybelline Sky High Mascara in the waterproof formula is your best bet. Waterproof formulas contain polymers that create a stiffer, more rigid film around the lash, locking the curl in place for hours. While the Rare Beauty mascara has excellent smudge-proof qualities, its non-waterproof formula may not provide the same level of curl-hold for very straight lashes.

Q2: My eyes water easily, especially in cold or windy UK weather. Which mascara won’t give me panda eyes?

A: This was a key part of our testing! If watery eyes are your main concern, the undisputed winner is the Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Mascara. Its smudge-proof and flake-proof claims held up perfectly against moisture. The formula is designed to resist water (to a point, though it’s not fully waterproof) without being difficult to remove. The Clinique High Impact Mascara is also an excellent, gentle option that’s ophthalmologist-tested and resists smudging from minor watering.

Q3: Is the Rare Beauty mascara truly clump-free? I hate spidery lashes.

A: The combination of the unique brush and the formula makes it one of the most clump-resistant mascaras I’ve tested. The skinny wand with uneven bristles prevents too much product from being deposited at once, allowing you to build volume gradually. It’s very difficult to make this mascara look spidery. For comparison, the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara has a much higher tendency to clump if you apply more than two coats without careful combing.

Q4: How do these mascaras work on bottom lashes?

A: This is where the wand design is paramount. The Rare Beauty wand is the clear winner for bottom lashes due to its precise, skinny shape. It coats tiny lower lashes without smudging pigment onto the skin beneath your eyes. The L’Oréal Telescopic Lift wand is also quite good for this. The Too Faced wand is far too large and bulky for lower lash application without getting messy.

Q5: I wear contact lenses. Is there a mascara here that’s better for sensitive eyes?

A: Absolutely. Clinique High Impact Mascara is specifically formulated for this purpose. It is ophthalmologist-tested, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic, making it the safest choice for contact lens wearers and those with sensitive eyes. While Rare Beauty is also gentle, Clinique has a long-standing reputation and is specifically designed for sensitive eyes.

Q6: How long does a tube of Rare Beauty mascara typically last before it dries out?

A: Like most mascaras, you should replace the Rare Beauty mascara every 3-6 months for hygiene and performance reasons. The formula maintains its ideal consistency for a good 3-4 months with daily use. To extend its life, avoid “pumping” the wand in and out of the tube, as this introduces air and speeds up drying. Simply twist it gently to pick up product.

Q7: The Rare Beauty mascara is more expensive than drugstore options. Is it really worth the extra money?

A: The value depends on your priorities. If your main goal is extreme length, the Maybelline Sky High offers better value. However, if you are looking for a premium, all-rounder experience—including a innovative brush, buildable volume, and unparalleled smudge-proof wear—the £20 for Rare Beauty is justified. You are paying for a sophisticated formula and packaging that performs reliably. It’s an investment in a product you can count on daily without frustration.

Q8: Can I layer one of these mascaras over another for a custom effect?

A: You can, but technique matters. The most common “mascara cocktail” is using the Maybelline Sky High for length first, then layering Rare Beauty over it for added volume. The key is to apply the second mascara while the first is still slightly tacky, not fully dry. If you wait until it’s completely dry, the second layer can cause clumping. Always use the lightest, most defining mascara first, and the volumizing one second.

Q9: What is the best way to remove the Rare Beauty mascara without rubbing my eyes raw?

A: Because it’s a long-wearing formula, you need an effective, gentle remover. We recommend a dedicated biphasic eye makeup remover (like the Garnier Micellar Water Waterproof) or a cleansing balm (like the Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm). Soak a cotton pad, hold it against your closed eye for 20-30 seconds to dissolve the mascara, then gently wipe away. This prevents the tugging and rubbing that can lead to lash loss.

Q10: Has Rare Beauty ever had any controversies regarding its mascara formula or performance?

A: Rare Beauty, as a brand, has maintained a very positive reputation focused on mental health awareness and inclusivity. There have been no significant controversies surrounding the mascara’s safety or performance. The most common feedback mirrors our review: that it is not a lengthening-focused formula, which some users expecting an “all-in-one” product have noted. The brand is transparent about its volumizing focus, and the product delivers consistently on that promise.