When it comes to lash lengthening and conditioning, not all mascaras are equal — just ask the fabulous 83-year-old mogul and sometimes beauty influencer Martha Stewart. Known for her keen eye for finding the best of, well, everything, Martha loves to share her top picks with fans. When it comes to her go-to beauty products, Martha often reaches for products from high-end brands like Laura Mercier and Clé de Peau in her stylish tutorials.
In an interview with Allure, the domestic doyenne shared her “never leave the house without it” 10-minute makeup routine, which included Westman Atelier’s Contour Stick, which will set you back nearly $50 and a $140 sunscreen. But if you’re looking for a Martha-approved product that won’t hurt your wallet too much, she also revealed her favorite mascara is Ilia’s Limitless Lash Mascara, a relative bargain at $29.
Amazon
Illia’s gentle, non-irritating mascara features a dual-sided wand with a lash-separating comb, which means clump-free application.
“I have nice long eyelashes and I like to show them off,” Martha explained while applying this highly pigmented, award-winning mascara. The formula contains conditioning agents like organic shea butter and is made with beeswax to leave lashes soft.
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The lightweight, clean-beauty lash lengthener is not just a Martha Stewart fave: More than 10,000 customers snapped it up at Amazon last month, where it’s racked up over 4,000 five-star ratings. It’s wildly popular for good reason: In addition to being smudge-, flake- and smear-resistant, it’s also ophthalmologist-tested, safe for sensitive eyes and especially good for those who wear contact lenses.
We’re pretty sure you can trust a mascara loved by a woman who has called herself a “maniacal perfectionist.” (Getty Images)
“The length and volume is insane,” proclaimed one mascara maven. “Best ‘clean’ mascara I’ve tried!”
“Goes on smooth,” says another. “No clumping and no flaking. … This stays on and stays put. I have not had any issues with smudging. Comes off easily with a wet washcloth — no tugging or soaps necessary. Will definitely purchase this mascara again.”
Even mascara skeptics are smitten with this Martha makeup pick: “I am 71 and never enjoy putting on mascara, it always comes out clumpy,” explains yet another five-star reviewer. “But this goes on so nice and with a spin of the brush it separates the lashes. I was able to do my lower lashes too. Great product. Best mascara ever!”
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Ilia’s mascara is designed to come off with water, so it may not be quite as budge-proof as waterproof formulas. “I appreciate how easy this mascara washes off,” acknowledged one fan, who also noted: “Sometimes while wearing it, some of the mascara rubs off under my eyes, but that only happens if I’m sweaty or it’s more humid out.”
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Fans rave that this natural, cruelty-free mascara is the best nontoxic product they’ve tried and works for even the most sensitive eyes.
Ilia’s formula isn’t the only award-winning mascara Stewart recommends. Earlier this year, in a tutorial shot for the celeb-loved line Merit, she ran through her no-fuss makeup routine in real-time, demonstrating application techniques and the products she’s loving for her mature skin — including Merit’s Clean Lash, which is around the same price as the above Ilia option at $26 a bottle.
Merit
Stewart loves this award-winning, highly pigmented mascara (one of our best mascaras of the year)for lengthening and defining her lashes. The formulation is especially good for women over 40, whose skin and hair tend to be drier, as it contains nourishing ingredients like olive oil and vitamin B5, known for their moisturizing and conditioning properties.
Like Ilia’s Limitless Mascara, Merit’s Clean Lash is wildly popular and long-lasting — my most recent tube is still going after six months. Its effect is what many want out of a high-quality mascara: dark, fluffy, long lashes that remain soft yet look full thanks to rice bran wax, a thickening agent.
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
