Yahoo Autos The 16 Best Volumizing Mascaras to Give Limp Lashes a Boost, Tested & Reviewed
Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
From puny to pumped up in a single swipe.
InStyle / Jessica Juliao
A thick set of fanned-out, fluttery lashes is the ultimate beauty goal of millions worldwide. “Everyone wants thick, full eyelashes,” says NYC-based celebrity makeup artist Ashley Rebecca. “Just like hair, the more volume, the better—why not apply this theory to your eyelashes?”
Easier said than done: Falsies are frustrating, eyelash extensions are pricey, and with too many mascara brands, formulas, and types to count, squished with every au courant beauty buzzword, each one tends to sound better than the last. But which one is actually the best to make lashes look full, lush, and doe-eyed without compromising lash health or triggering eye irritation? We had to know.
We tested 24 of the most popular, best-selling volumizing mascaras for over 300 hours, integrating each into our daily makeup routine for four weeks. We analyzed the mascara with each application to see how easy it was to apply, dry, wear, and remove. (If it required excessive rubbing or medical-grade soap, it got a hard no in our book.) Every day, we scrutinized our final eye look after each application and whether our lashes appeared sufficiently thickened, volumized, and fluffy. We ranked each to curate the list below of the 16 highest-scoring volumizing mascaras.
Best Overall: Tarte Maneater Mascara
Why We Love It: Volumizing mascara fans know that formulas in this category can be a little thick, but not Maneater: It adds bulk to lashes without weighing them down. The numerous tiny bristles glided through our lashes to coat each one with pigment that never clumped up, even when we applied multiple coats. Our lashes held up quite well throughout the day and never flaked. Surprisingly, despite the mascara’s longevity, it wasn’t too hard to take off—more than 90 percent slid off easily with a pass of a makeup-removing wipe.
Who It’s For: This is a top-notch mascara for those seeking an easy-to-remove, volume-boosting formula that won’t flake, smudge, or clump.
Just Trust Us: When you crack open the tube for the first time, the brush will not have a lot of product on it. Be sure to swirl it around a little bit to load it up before your first application to get that high-impact lash.
Key Ingredients: Jojoba, carnauba wax, vitamin E｜Waterproof: No, washable｜Shades: 2｜Brush: Molded custom brush with over 500 bristles｜Size: 0.3 oz
Best Budget: Maybelline New York Volum’ Express The Falsies Mascara
Why We Love It: Volum' Express The Falsies mascara from Maybelline acted like a push-up bra for our eyelashes—even when we skipped using an eyelash curler. While testing, this affordable drugstore formula lifted our lashes throughout the entire day without sagging, giving us a bright-eyed, awake look we loved. The large, broad brush easily grabbed tiny lashes, blanketing with a lightweight, inky black shade that we adore so much, we kept building it up to achieve the dramatic flutter we wanted. Even so, it dried quickly and never smeared, even at the corners of our eyes.
Who It’s For: If you are on a budget, have stubbornly straight lashes, and appreciate a mascara that can be built up to create a bold look, this formula is for you.
Just Trust Us: The curved brush makes it easy to apply this formula to lower lashes without any smudging, and it holds the perfect amount of product right from the get-go, so you won’t have to wipe off excess—don’t worry about clumps!
Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, carnauba wax｜Waterproof: No, washable｜Shades: 3｜Brush: Spoon-shaped brush with densely-packed and fluffy fiber bristles｜Size: 0.25 oz
Best Luxury: Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara
Why We Love It: Right from the jump, this Chanel mascara felt like a truly luxury experience. The cap is perfectly sized and weighted, allowing for a smooth application, while the brush’s elongated, spaced out bristles easily snatched and saturated each lash with its thickening formula. With just one pass, the inky pigment separated our lashes, created lift and curl, and added volume to each one to create a lush, dramatic look we loved. Once it dried, it stayed put, yet was easy to remove.
Who It’s For: This is a wonderful mascara for someone who appreciates splurging on a high-quality formula and wants a lightweight, long-wearing mascara that’s easy to apply.
Just Trust Us: While it won’t budge after drying down, it does go on rather wet, so you'll need to be patient and give the mascara a full five minutes to set; if you rush it, you're asking for a mess, especially if your lashes are naturally long and prone to smearing.
Key Ingredients: Acacia gum, beeswax, carnauba wax｜Waterproof: No, washable｜Shades: 3｜Brush: Molded brush with spaced-out bristles｜Size: 0.21 oz
Best for Length and Volume: Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara
Why We Love It: Quite frequently, you have to sacrifice separation if you’re hoping to achieve voluminous lashes, especially if you don’t have many lashes to begin with, but this YSL mascara delivers both and more. We didn’t know it was possible for our sparse lashes to look this fluffy and full! Application was easy thanks to the conical brush; the formula stayed damp but not wet as we layered on multiple coats, so we experienced no transfer. The product remained clump- and flake-free all day.
Who It’s For: This mascara is a must-try if you have thin, sparse lashes that have resisted the volumizing effects of other formulas. It also washes off quite easily with just water and a makeup eraser cloth, and sensitive eyes should have no issue.
Just Trust Us: This formula is quite lightweight, so it won’t weigh down your lid, but if you have very straight lashes, don’t expect this mascara to do any heavy lifting in the way of holding a curl. If you have super straight lashes, you know that most volumizing mascaras won’t really keep lashes curled—that said, swiping on a primer first will solve this issue.
Key Ingredients: Iris extract｜Waterproof: No; waterproof option available｜Shades: 3｜Brush: Conical brush with gradually tapered fiber bristles｜Size: 0.3 oz
Best for Length and Volume Waterproof: MAC Cosmetics Magic Extension 5MM Fibre Mascara
Why We Love It: This MAC formula never budged. The spoolie’s tapered shape allowed us to get right into the inner corners and along the lower lash line. It layered well, creating a voluminous, but not overly dramatic look. This formula is thick, almost sticky, which can make it a little hard to work with at first. You’ll have to put in some effort to create true definition and separation. However, it is not a wet formula, so it won’t transfer as you style your lashes. We layered with abandon (about four coats) to turn our blonde lashes into a deep charcoal, and even so, our lashes never felt heavy, nor did the product flake off.
Who It’s For: If you get teary during weddings or special events, you'll need this waterproof formula that holds up all day, even on lower lashes.
Just Trust Us: Because this formula is waterproof, it can take a little extra effort to remove if you apply numerous coats, so dedicate some additional time to your evening routine when using this mascara.
Key Ingredients: Bayberry fruit extract, carnauba wax｜Waterproof: No, washable｜Shades: 1｜Brush: Subtly conical brush with gradually tapered fiber bristles｜Size: 0.37 oz
Best Waterproof: CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara
Why We Love It: It’s hard to beat this waterproof formula at this price point. Its carefully designed brush is easy to use and combed through our upper lashes to create fast definition and separation, drying down quickly for a full-bodied finish with zero clumping. And even though the wand is rather fat, it also slid onto lower lashes without issue. We loved the formula's smooth, conditioning texture and its quick dry time, allowing us to swipe on multiple layers before rushing out the door.
Who It’s For: Try this mascara if you prefer a more everyday voluminous look rather than dramatic volume. We found that the formula faded throughout the day, kind of like an eyeliner would, which resulted in a softer look. That said, it’s great for someone who likes a natural, subtle look.
Just Trust Us: It’s a waterproof mascara, so you’ll need an oil-based makeup remover to take it off.
Key Ingredients: Carnauba wax, panthenol｜Waterproof: Yes｜Shades: 4｜Brush: Patent-pending, large molded brush with short bristles｜Size: 0.44 oz
Best for Natural Look: Dr. Hauschka Volume Mascara
Why We Love It: It separates, adds natural volume with one swipe (and has bolder and bolder payoff with subsequent coats), and leaves lashes feeling surprisingly moisturized. With its thicker brush, we could create our desired look with fewer passes, which was great for the upper eyelid, but it proved to be slightly tricker to carefully zone in on the tinier, lower lashes. The mascara was on the thinner and wetter side, but still set within a minute or two, leaving our lashes flexible without smudging throughout the day. We also enjoyed the packaging—the tube has flat sides, so it can’t roll off your countertop.
Who It’s For: This is the perfect do-it-all mascara for those who don’t want more than one formula on rotation. (Though this formula does pretty much everything, it won’t do much to add extra curl to your lashes. However, it won’t actively work against your lash curler, either.) If you don’t wear mascara often, but when you do, you want a workhorse of a formula, you’ll like this one.
Just Trust Us: Though it dries reasonably fast, wait a few seconds before opening your eyes widely after applying to avoid transfer.
Key Ingredients: Sugarcane extract, silk extract, castor oil, candelilla wax｜Waterproof: No, washable｜Shades: 2｜Brush: Brush with densely packed, medium-length bristles arranged in a spiral formation｜Size: 0.27 oz
Best for Volume and Curl: Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara
Why We Love It: We couldn't get enough of the red carpet effect from this lightweight formula. With an innovative, curved brush design, the bristles hooked onto each lash to deposit pigment, while adding significant, lasting curl to amplify the overall look. Wearing this mascara was also impossibly easy—we hardly noticed it, especially since it never clumped or flaked even during long days. We also liked how quickly it dried—we sneezed 30 seconds after applying one morning and there was no transfer!
Who It’s For: This exceptional formula has a lot going for it, and we'd even go so far as to say it's a must for anyone who loves highly dramatic, glamorous-looking lashes.
Just Trust Us: If you like to have multiple mascaras in your routine, this is the one you’ll want to reserve for bold evening looks.
Key Ingredients: Crambe abyssinica seed oil, cornflower extract, jojoba｜Waterproof: No, washable｜Shades: 5｜Brush: Curved brush with short, spaced-out bristles｜Size: 0.21 oz
Best Lengthening : Victoria Beckham Beauty Vast Lash Mascara
See at Victoriabeckhambeauty.com
Why We Love It: Even if you have lashes that are on the sparse side, you’ll get a gorgeous result from this mascara. It gave us an airy, fluttery look with extra elongated lashes. A gently curved brush made for a simple application for both upper and lower lashes, even in the trickier inner and outer corners. For one particularly special night out, we went a little wild and vigorously layered on five coats, which we fully expected to need to touch-up at least once. Amazingly, our lashes retained our foxy, full-bodied look without smearing, sticking together, or eliciting any other unappealing side effects.
Who It’s For: This mascara is ideal for someone who likes long, lush lashes, natural-looking drama, and sophisticated, display-worthy packaging. The brush in this tube of mascara is on the bulkier side, which may not be your preference, especially if you like to add a few coats to your lower lashes as a larger size can increase the risk of smudging. But if you have very long lashes, you’ll have no complaints.
Just Trust Us: To get the best definition, you’ll want to use an eyelash comb on your lashes before the formula has dried.
Key Ingredients: Microalgae, niacinamide, panthenol, vitamin E｜Waterproof: No, humidity resistant｜Shades: 1｜Brush: Curved brush with short bristles｜Size: 0.22 oz
Best Volumizing Mascara for Sensitive Eyes: Estée Lauder Turbo Lash High Powered Volume + Length Mascara
Why We Love It: Not only is this formula ophthalmologist tested and safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers, but it’s formulated with a blend of nourishing oils to help moisturize and soften lashes. Immediately, we were struck by the intensity of the jet-black shade—it's definitely one of the most opaque black shades we've ever seen in a mascara. Matching the shade's superiority, the brush pulled the perfect amount of formula out of the tube, never once needing to scrape some product off the sides, to flood lashes with rich color and texture. It created a doe-eyed, fanned-out look with just one coat.
Who It’s For: It was very easy to remove (we used a simple cleanser and cloth)—without losing a single lash and no tugging necessary. If you wear contacts or your eye area leans sensitive, you can still enjoy a vampy look with this rich lash conditioning mascara.
Just Trust Us: If you want a very dramatic look, building up multiple coats won’t cause clumping or flaking, but it may make your lashes feel heavy. Light-colored lashes may feel burdensome after two coats.
Key Ingredients: Maracuja oil, argan oil, castor oil｜Waterproof: No, washable｜Shades: 1｜Brush: Brush with graduated-length bristles and three reservoirs｜Size: 0.27 oz
Best for Short Lashes: Hourglass Cosmetics Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara
Why We Love It: It can be hard to bulk up short lashes without making them clump or look even stubbier, but the narrow brush in this mascara gets the job done and then some. With quite literally just one pass of the wand, our short, curly lashes looked much longer, fuller, and more glamorous. The super thin and short bristles on the brush helped build the formula up on our lashes without causing them to clump; with two coats we definitely understood why this mascara is called “Instant Extensions.” At the end of the day, it comes right off, even when you use water.
Who It’s For: Shorties rejoice! Teeny lashes will get all the fun drama and volume without wearing a dozen layers. However, because it’s so easy to remove with just water, anyone with seasonal allergies or a teary-eyed sensibility may find the formula too runny for their watery eyes.
Just Trust Us: This formula comes in travel size, which we’d highly recommend, as its removability makes it ideal for bringing on the go.
Key Ingredients: Carnauba wax, shea butter, castor oil｜Waterproof: No, washable｜Shades: 1｜Brush: Molded brush with short, spaced-out, tapered bristles｜Size: 0.35 oz
Best for Mature Eyes: Benefit Cosmetics Fan Fest Fanning Volumizing Mascara
Why We Love It: This Benefit mascara proves that it’s not impossible to achieve a voluminous look on thinning lashes. Our testing proved that it can define and lift them the entire day—so long as we removed excess product from the brush first (which was easy with a quick wipe against the tube). After a quick dust-off, we could wear multiple layers without experiencing a heavy upper lid or clumpy spidery lashes. As a major bonus, the formula is humidity-resistant, which was extremely valuable for the 94 degree day during the testing period.
Who It’s For: Kaitlin Clark, senior beauty commerce editor, raves about the strength of this mascara against thick humidity, buckets of sweat, and occasionally watery eyes due to her contact lenses. "A lot of formulas say they're waterproof, but believe me, as a fellow sweaty person who'd probably feel flushed in the Arctic, very few mascaras are actually sweat- and humidity-proof and I just kind of accepted it as a bummer," says Clark. "But I spent one afternoon during the test at a Yankees game, sitting in full sun, feeling miserable knowing that I probably had insane black puddles around my eyes, but I did not! I'll be wearing this all year long."
Just Trust Us: To get an even loftier lift from this mascara, curl your lashes before applying it.
Key Ingredients: Rice wax, panthenol, cranberry extract｜Waterproof: No, water resistant and humidity resistant｜Shades: 1｜Brush: Long, curved brush with medium-length bristles｜Size: 0.3 oz
Best Long-wear: Lancôme Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting & Volumizing Mascara
Why We Love It: Drying and setting in mere seconds, our lash volume lasted hours and hours, looking the same at the end of the day as it did when we first put it on: A lengthy, curly lash that made our eyes pop. It layered well, making it easy to build up to a bolder and fuller look that was perfect for nights out. Even though it was extremely durable—it didn’t flake, run, or transfer—this mascara was surprisingly easy to remove. We didn’t experience “raccoon eyes” when taking it off, nor did it burn our eyes during the process.
Who It’s For: Anyone who doesn’t want to fuss with touching up their mascara and wants length and curl should test this mascara.
Just Trust Us: The wand picks up a surprising amount of product, so be aware—you’ll want to wipe it off because it’s easy to accidentally get it on your nose when applying.
Key Ingredients: Carnauba wax, tea leaf extract, beeswax｜Waterproof: No, washable｜Shades: 2｜Brush: Molded curved brush with 360 bristles｜Size: 0.27 oz
Best Buildable : Milk Makeup Kush High Volumizing Mascara
Why We Love It: The star ingredient in this formula is hemp seed extract (hence the name), which is likely why this formula was so smooth to apply (and not irritating at all to remove). With its wetter-than-wet formula, you'll get a richly opaque shade of midnight dusk for a sophisticated, not overdone, look. (Although you could go that route if you wanted to, just let the formula dry between swipes and layer on up!) On finer lashes, we usually went with two solid coats for an everyday look, and ramped up to five when we wanted drama and mystique for a night out.
Who It’s For: No-makeup makeup lovers loyal to everyday minimalism will likely love the bit of added length and rich color. Overall, this formula does its best work creating a more subdued vibe.
Just Trust Us: To fully load up the brush, we recommend pumping your wand multiple times before applying—the initial amount of formula on the brush will leave you wanting more.
Key Ingredients: Carnauba wax, hemp seed extract｜Waterproof: No, washable｜Shades: 1｜Brush: Large brush with fluffy bristles｜Size: 0.27 oz
Best Volumizing Mascara That Doesn't Flake: ILIA Fullest Volumizing Mascara
Why We Love It: We’re prone to rubbing our eyes frequently throughout the day due to allergies, but this clean, comfortable formula never flaked out on us throughout the testing process. It applied on the thicker side, but didn’t cause clumping and dried surprisingly quickly—and, as an added bonus (in our opinion, anyway), the formula smelled like vanilla extract! The large brush features an hourglass shape that effectively coated all of our lashes. As fans of a more natural look, which this product created upon the first coat, we enjoyed the muted black hue of the formula.
Who It’s For: This is a good choice for someone who wants a clean mascara formulation that won’t flake and creates a softer, everyday glam look.
Just Trust Us: If you like applying mascara to your lower lashes with the tip of your brush, know that this one collects a lot of formula there—it’ll be tidier to apply it with your brush held horizontally instead.
Key Ingredients: Carnauba wax, beeswax, panthenol｜Waterproof: No, washable｜Shades: 1｜Brush: Large hourglass-shaped brush with fluffy bristles｜Size: 0.32 oz
Best Clean: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara
Why We Love It: Developed without parabens, this vegan mascara from Rare Beauty left our lashes looking full, glamorous, curly, and abundantly voluminous. It went onto lashes smoothly, though we found that applying more than three coats at once could cause a few outer lashes to stick together. It also dried quickly with zero transfer.
Who It’s For: Every day glamour is what you'll get with this clean option, and those who have no patience to spend a lot of time removing their makeup should also jump on board this Selena Gomez bandwagon. It'll wipe right off with a wipe or even micellar water.
Just Trust Us: To get even more definition from this mascara, try brushing a clean spoolie through your lashes before the formula dries.
Key Ingredients: Carnauba wax, castor oil｜Waterproof: No, washable｜Shades: 1｜Brush: Subtle hourglass-shaped brush with fluffy bristles of various lengths｜Size: 0.45 oz
InStyle / Joy Kim
What to Keep in Mind
Your Eye Health: Are your eyes or eyelids sensitive or reactive? Is your skin oily? Do you wear contacts regularly? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you'll want to use a specific formulation. Sensitive eyes or contact lens wearers should stick with hypoallergenic and ophthalmologist-tested mascaras to minimize the risk of irritation, says celebrity makeup artist and Lilly Lashes expert Alayza Casey.
If your lashes are brittle or damaged, look for conditioning ingredients to encourage healthy growth, like strengthening castor oil and hydrating jojoba oil, says Rebecca. Anyone with watery eyes, or oily and hooded lids, says Casey, should only use waterproof or water-resistant mascaras to prevent a slip and slide on your eyelid.Formula: As soon as you open a tube of mascara, you'll know immediately whether it's a volume booster: A rich, creamy formula is a dead giveaway, and a thinner, watery consistency will do nothing for volume. But before purchasing a new mascara, Rebecca and celebrity makeup artist Natalia Thomas insist that you thoroughly read the ingredient list for anything that could trigger an allergic reaction.
Wand Shape: According to Casey, straight wands are ideal for separating and lengthening, while tapered wands are great for precision application to corner lashes. “Curved and hourglass shapes bring the most volume to lashes because of their ability to really get in there and distribute product on each individual lash,” says Rebecca.
However, not every eye shape or lid type will be compatible with every wand, and you’ll have to do some experimenting to see which wand suits you. Above all, make sure the wand you select helps separate your lashes, says Thomas. “When eyelashes get clumpy, they don’t create a voluminous effect,” she explains.Brush Density: Both Casey and Thomas seek out firm-feeling brushes with densely-packed bristles, although Casey prefers molded brush heads for their more flexible bristles. "Bendy bristles are easier to maneuver and control during application, and they also prevent clumping to ensure each lash is evenly coated for maximum volume."
Yet, if you have full, long lashes already, "you can use any brush and it will get the job done,” says Rebecca. “If you have shorter lashes, you will want to use more of a wand or stubby bristled brush that focuses on getting as much mascara onto your shorter lashes as possible.”
But the true secret to getting voluminous lashes is technique: Every expert swore by the wiggle process—start by getting the brush snuggled into the roots of your lashes, then wiggle it back and forth as you move up and outward to the end of your lashes.Wearability: There are a few common pitfalls that will inhibit the wearability of any mascara, starting with your skincare routine. “How much and where you apply your eye cream as well as how long you wait for it to absorb before applying your mascara is important,” says Thomas. “Eye cream will break down your mascara and cause the dreaded raccoon eye.”
Similarly, eyelash growth serums should be applied well in advance of your mascara, although many new mascara formulas contain ingredients to support lash growth. Other forms of moisture can also negatively affect your mascara, including humidity, oily skin, and teary eyes, all of which can be combated by using a waterproof formula, but you can protect your mascara from drying out too quickly by not pumping the tube full of air when you use it.
Your Questions, Answered
Should you wear volumizing mascara on your lower lashes?
“I like how it adds definition and drama,” says Casey. “If you choose to apply mascara to the lower lashes, use a lighter hand and focus on the tips for a more natural effect.” However, Rebecca recommends avoiding it: “We all know that mascara on the bottom lashes tends to run and smudge the most," so if you have runny eyes or oily lower lids, keep your bottom lashes bare.
Do I really need an eyelash primer?
Our experts typically don’t find that using an eyelash primer is necessary, but if you have brittle lashes that could benefit from a boost of moisturizing ingredients or very fine lashes to help grip the mascara, a primer could be helpful.
How do I apply volumizing mascara?
The key to getting super thick-looking and lifted lashes is by focusing on building volume at the roots. Before layering on mascara, Casey recommends curling the lashes first; this helps lift the lashes so that when you apply the mascara, it's easier for the wand to grab each lash hair and coat it with thickening color. After curling the lashes, place the mascara wand at the base of your upper lash line and "slowly wiggle the wand side to side, combing it through to the tips," layering as needed.
Why Shop With Us
Emily Orofino is a freelance writer, editor, and consultant with over a decade of experience in the beauty industry. Beyond the fact that she’s worked with brands to bring new mascaras to market, she exclusively wears volume-boosting formulas and is always on the hunt for the newest and best mascara. For this piece, she interviewed NYC-based celebrity makeup artists Ashley Rebecca and Natalia Thomas as well as Dallas-based celebrity makeup artist and Lilly Lashes expert Alayza Casey.
For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on InStyle.
