Mascaras for a dramatic, voluminous false lash effect featuring Marc Jacobs, Make Up Forever, YSL & more!

I've never been one for natural, defined lashes - "go big or go home" is my motto when it comes to my lashes! I've often toyed with the idea of having lash extensions - not necessarily for length, more for volume, but I've heard some horror stories of natural lashes falling out so I've never been brave enough to actually go through with it. Instead, I depend on mascaras to give me the volume I crave and today I am sharing my five favourite mascaras for dramatic, voluminous lashes. I don't have any drugstore mascaras simply because I have yet to find one that will give me the results that high end ones do and a lot of them are priced at around €13-16, which is not exactly cheap, so I would personally prefer to spend a little more to get the results that I want, rather than spend that amount and not be fully happy. Having said that, I am yet to try Maybelline Lash Sensational and so many of my favourite bloggers rave about it so that is firmly on my "to try" list.

First up is YSL Faux Cils mascara, which has been my holy grail mascara for around 15 years. This mascara ticks all of the boxes for me: it gives me volume, it is really black, it doesn't make my lashes crispy, it doesn't flake, it doesn't smudge, it is easy to remove and it doesn't make my eyes water. The packaging is beautiful, as you'd expect from YSL and although some people say that it dries out quite quickly, I have never had that problem.The brush is a traditional bristle, rather than plastic, which I personally prefer and I love to get right in at the roots and the zig-zag my way through my lashes for extra volume. It is quite pricey at €32.50, but it is currently on offer in Boots at €21.66/£16.66.

Next is Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. I'm a huge fan of Too Faced products and this is one of my favourites from the brand, despite the ridiculous name! The formula of this is quite wet initially and if you sneeze just after you've applied your mascara, you will end up with serious panda eyes! The brush is hourglass shaped and it really does reach every single lash and multiply them. This is not for the faint-hearted as it really gives very dramatic, voluminous lashes and it ticks all of the same boxes at the YSL mascara but I find that this also gives some curl too. Two coats and you will have the false-lash effect, three coats and your lashes will be off the scale dramatic! This is priced at €23/£19.

Next up is Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara. This mascara is different from the others because it also seems to lengthen my lashes and the conical shaped brush means that it is easy to get into the very inner lashes without any mess, which ensures that every single lash is coated thereby adding volume. This is perfect for daytime volume because it can be layered without any clumping and it also gives definition. In the U.K. MUFE is sold in Debenhams and this mascara is priced at £18 & in Ireland, can be ordered directly from the MUFE site, priced at €23.

The fourth mascara is Estée Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara. This mascara has a tapered brush, similar to the MUFE one, but a lot narrower but it is possible to coat every single lash and add volume but also definition, curl and lift. Again, this can be layered without getting the dreaded spider lash effect. It also ticks all of the boxes with regards not flaking or smudging and being easy to remove. If you want volume but not necessarily a false lash look, this is the mascara for you. It is priced at €27/£21.

Last, but by no means, least is Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara. My love for this mascara is strong! It is the first mascara that I have used in the last 15/16 years that really rivals the YSL Faux Cils mascara. It does everything the YSL mascara does but it also makes my lashes look glossy, adds curl that lasts and gives a very fluttery look to the lashes due to the very lightweight texture. It ticks every single box and then some. The down side is that it is unavailable to buy in Ireland but it is sold in Harrods, priced at £20, which can be delivered via Parcel Motel or from Roses Beauty Store at £23 and they deliver direct to Ireland.

I have to give an honourable mention to Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara, which I love but just don't currently own. Unlike the mascaras mentioned here, it has a plastic brush but it gives volume and very black lashes without any flakiness or smudging.

Two mascaras that I have yet to try but really want to are Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes, which I have read mixed reviews on and tarte Maneater Mascara, which looks quite similar to the Clinique one I have mentioned.

I would love to hear what your favourite mascaras are? Do you go for ones that lengthen/add volume/curl? Also, I'd love to know if any of you have had lash extensions and what your experience of them was like? Please tell me in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

Don't forget to enter my Abercrombie & Fitch giveaway here!