This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. I only link mascaras I’ve personally used. Thank you for supporting ForeverFace. Here is my pick for the best mascara for women over 40, plus the three I tested against it.
If you are looking for the best mascara for women over 40, the formula matters just as much as the brush. I compared four mascaras on my own thinning lashes, paying close attention to length, fullness, curl, flaking, and—most importantly for me—how easily each one came off. If you are refreshing the rest of your eye makeup too, this guide to soft, natural brows after 40 will help frame the finished look.
How My Lashes Changed After 40
Nobody warns you that your lashes change too.
I’ve been blessed with long, dark lashes — they’ve always been one of my favorite features. Overall they’ve held up well over the years, but just like everything else, they’ve started to thin, and I’ve done everything I can think of to keep them lush and beautiful for as long as possible.
Here’s what we tend to forget: our mascara is probably one of the most important parts of that. The wrong one can be a nightmare to remove, and all that scrubbing takes a toll — it tugs at the delicate skin under our eyes, pulls out the lashes that are already weak, and adds steps to a routine that’s usually full enough as it is.
Here’s the thing: I almost never go a day without mascara, and for years I’ve reached for the same one — Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions. It’s a tubing formula, and it’s been my ride-or-die for so long that I finally got curious. Was I loyal because it’s genuinely the best for my lashes… or just because I’d never bothered to look? So I tested a handful of challengers to find out. Here’s what I found.
Quick note on how I talk about these: I’m describing how they look and wear — fuller, longer, no flaking. That’s what I can see. No lash-growth claims, because that’s not what mascara does.
Thrive Liquid Lash Extensions: Best for Length
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions — my longtime holy grail
This is the one I actually know cold, because I’ve worn it almost daily for years — so this is a long-term, lived-in review, not a first impression.
It’s a tubing mascara, which is the whole reason it works for me. Instead of drying flat and flaking, the formula wraps each lash in a tiny “tube” that slides off with just warm water — no scrubbing, no raccoon eyes by evening, no tugging at the delicate skin around mature eyes.
It came onto the market when I was about 26, with two babies at home. I was already busy enough taking care of the little ones, and I needed a makeup routine that was as low-stress as possible. So when I found out they made a mascara that didn’t require a special remover or ten minutes of scrubbing, I felt like I’d hit the jackpot — and it hasn’t disappointed me since. Now that I’m in my 40s, I’ve decided it’s time to see what else is out there and make sure I’m not missing something better.
Here’s how it actually performs: my lashes are by far the longest with Thrive — looking at the photos, it’s the clear winner on length — and thanks to that tubing formula, it’s one of the easiest to remove. After all these years, it still delivers on exactly what made me fall for it.
One thing worth noting, though, and I only caught this in the close-up shots, not in the mirror: up close, it can look a little spidery, my lashes separating into distinct points rather than a soft, uniform fringe. In real life and at a normal distance I never notice it. But if you’re someone who wants a fluffier, blended look, it’s worth knowing. For me, the length and the effortless removal still win.
Three Mascaras I Tested Against Thrive
KISS ME Heroine Make Long & Curl: Best Waterproof Option
This one came in a close second for length, and it was the most different of the bunch. It’s the only one with a traditional bristle brush instead of a silicone wand, and the only curved one — which I think is exactly why it gave such a nice curl. Looking at the photo, my lashes genuinely look pretty with it.
But here’s my dealbreaker: it was by far the hardest to remove. It’s waterproof, so taking it off meant eye makeup remover and a real amount of elbow grease. And that’s the whole reason it’s crossed off my list — I already dread taking off my foundation at night, and I’m not about to add ten minutes of scrubbing my eyes on top of it. If you specifically need waterproof (a beach day, a good cry, a humid event), it earns its keep. For everyday? Not for me.
Shop KISSME Heroine Make Mascara Here
Prime Prometics PrimeLash: Best Overall for a Natural Look
If I had to crown a new favorite, this is the one. When I look at the close-up, it’s simply the prettiest result of the bunch: my lashes look long — but not spidery — curled just enough, and full. That fullness matters to me just as much as length does; it’s what makes lashes look healthy rather than sparse.
It goes on smooth, and it’s just as easy to remove as my Thrive — which, if you read the earlier part of this post, you know is my non-negotiable. No scrubbing, no fighting with it at the end of a long day.
Here’s my real-life stamp of approval, though: my 16-year-old daughter has been getting ready at my vanity in the mornings, and she’s already laid claim to this one the second I’m done with this post. When your teenager tries to steal your mascara, you know it’s good.
Shop Prime Prometics Mascara Here
Laura Geller Kajal Longwear: Best Easy-Removal Contender
I want to be fair to this one: if I’d tried it completely on its own, without four others lined up next to it, it would’ve been a winner. It holds a curl really well, it comes off clean with just warm water and a little soap, and my lashes look genuinely pretty with it on. I don’t have a single complaint.
It’s just that when I put all the close-ups side by side, the others edged it out by a hair. That’s not a knock — that’s a strong lineup. And I already love Laura Geller as a brand; their makeup is consistently great for mature skin, and this mascara is no exception. Someone can’t come in at #1 in a group of four, but “solid, easy, no complaints, from a brand I trust” is a genuinely good place to land.
Shop Laura Geller Kajal Longwear Mascara Here
Best Mascara for Women Over 40: My Final Verdict
Here’s what I didn’t expect when I started this: I think I found something better.
It’s genuinely hard to give up Thrive — we’ve got years of history, and it still wins on pure length. But looking at all four side by side, up close, the Prime Prometics is the one I see myself reaching for going forward. And the reason comes down to something I believe more and more the older I get: less is more.
At this stage, I’d so much rather walk out the door looking put-together than caked-on. And that’s exactly where Prime wins for me — it looks the most natural of the bunch. My lashes look long, full, and curled, but still like my lashes on a good day. The Thrive, as much as I love it, is obvious by comparison — beautiful, but clearly “a lot of mascara.” Prime gives me the polished, effortless look I’m after now, with the same easy warm-water removal I refuse to live without.
Two babies and twenty-some years later, my holy grail finally has real competition — and I’m here for it.
Mascara Comparison at a Glance
- 🏆 New favorite: Prime Prometics PrimeLash (Brown) — the most natural, put-together look; full, curled, easy warm-water removal. Daughter-approved.
- Longtime holy grail: Thrive Liquid Lash Extensions — the best for length and effortless tubing removal; just a bolder, more obvious look up close.
- Strong contender: Laura Geller Kajal Longwear (Brown) — holds a curl, cleans off easily, no real complaints; a great pick, especially if you love the brand for mature skin.
- Crossed off my list: KISS ME Heroine Make — pretty and great for length and curl, but waterproof means a real fight to remove. Save it for beach days and good cries.
See All Four Mascaras in Action
Sometimes a close-up photo only tells you so much — you want to see how a mascara actually moves and wears. So I put together a shoppable video comparing all four side by side, where you can watch each one go on and see the difference for yourself.
▶️ [Watch my mascara comparison on my Amazon storefront →]
All four mascaras are linked right there, so if you spot your new favorite, you can shop the whole lineup in one place. For more mature-eye makeup help, see my eye makeup techniques for women over 40 with hooded eyes.
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