A must-have cosmetic that every girl should possess is a good mascara. Just a single swipe of mascara opens up your eyes and makes you look put together. Even if you skip applying eyeliner and eyeshadow, applying mascara can do wonders for your face. Every year, there are new launches in eye makeup and mascaras are no different. Manufacturers make tall claims about "no clump", volumizing and lengthening mascaras but not all of them stand up to these promises. It is best to read mascara reviews before you make your purchase. So what are the best mascaras of 2012? Here we will review some of the best mascaras in the market and guide you on what you should purchase this year. Not all mascaras are made equal and shifting the good ones from the bad is a tough job. Fortunately we are here to help you. Before you purchase a mascara, you need to know what kind of effect you are looking for. If you have scanty or sparse lashes, then you will need a mascara that has thickening and volumizing properties. If you have short lashes, then you will need a lengthening mascara. Straight lashes? No problem. What you need is a curling mascara which will give your lashes a voluptuous look. ❆ Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes Doll Lash Effect Mascara If you are looking for a mascara that will give you a wide-eyed look, then Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes Doll Lash Effect Mascara is just right for you. It is a lengthening and thickening mascara whose USP is the unique brush. Its cone-shaped brush separates and lifts each individual lash and gives an extremely smooth finish. You can keep building the volume of your lashes by applying multiple coats. This mascara is formulated with both hard and soft waxes which gives lashes incredible volume. It also contains shaping polymers that lengthens the lashes. ❆Dior DiorShow Iconic High Definition Lash Curler Mascara A great curling mascara that lasts all day long without smudging or streaking is the DiorShow Iconic High Definition Lash Curler Mascara by Dior. It comes in a very attractive packaging and has a nice mild fragrance. It has a thick angled brush applicator that deposits color from the root of your lashes all the way to the tip. Because of angled shape of the brush, it is very easy to deposit pigment on the lashes at the corner of your eyes. It is non clumping and non irritating and is safe for contact lens wearers too. It curls your lashes dramatically and it is also easy to take off. ❆CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mega Volume Waterproof Mascara If you are looking for a mascara that will thicken your sparse lashes, then CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mega Volume Waterproof Mascara is a very good option. It has a unique big and bushy brush that coats and lifts every single lash to give you a flawless application. After the second coating, you can see that your lashes are curled and you do not have to use an eyelash curler beforehand. Its non clump formulation together with its volumizing and thickening properties makes it one of the best drugstore mascara of 2012. ❆L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Explosion Mascara in Black If it is definition that you are looking for then you certainly need the L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Explosion Mascara in Black. It is 2012's best mascara that will help you to define your lashes with just a single coating. The jet black color of this mascara is very intense and gives your lashes a fuller look. It comes with a unique globe-shaped wand which helps in precise application in even hard-to-reach corner lashes. ❆Rimmel Glam Eyes Day 2 Night Mascara When you are looking for two formulas in a single mascara, then you should definitely opt for Rimmel Glam Eyes Day 2 Night Mascara. It has a dual effect brush that will help you create two different looks. For daytime, you have a comb like brush that helps in separating each lash and lengthening them. For night, you have a thicker brush that helps giving your lasher incredible volume. If you have thin lashes then this mascara is definitely for you. The brush allows you to deposit the maximum amount of pigment on the roots of your lashes as well as coat shorter lashes. It is easy to apply and even with one coat you can see that your lashes look more dense and thick. It not only volumizes your eyelashes but also lengthens it, giving you a wide eyed look. It is one of the best mascara 2012 and is not too expensive either. While choosing a mascara, look for formulations that will give your lashes super length and volume. The right mascara can enhance your eye makeup and give you a fresh new look.