There’s a reason mascara is often the desert island beauty staple: Just a few swipes can make your eyes pop, opening them up and transforming your entire face. When you really want that wow factor, it's best to use a lengthening mascara over a volumizing or curling formula because it can take lashes to new heights and create a wide-eyed effect.
With so many lengthening mascaras on the market, it can be difficult to figure out which ones will truly give you the effect you desire. That’s why we consulted with professional makeup artists and put a handful of formulas to the test. When testing each mascara, we paid close attention to its ease of application, whether it smudged or smeared, how dramatically it lengthened our lashes, and how easy it was to remove. With our newfound knowledge in tow, we narrowed down the vast pool of lengthening mascaras to the few that will have people asking if you're wearing falsies.
Best Overall
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
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The formula is essentially lash extensions in a tube.
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If you want to apply multiple coats, you’ll need to do so while the mascara is still wet or clumps can appear.
If you want big, bold, long lashes, there’s no better mascara than Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara. There are many reasons why this pick stands out from the rest, but the main reason is how it lengthens. Many formulas use powder pigments to build upon natural lashes, but those are also prone to flaking. This one, on the other hand, acts like a tubing mascara — coating each lash from root to tip and building upon the hair with flake-free tubing technology.
In addition to offering wow-worthy length, this mascara’s fibrous tubes also hydrate and condition lashes with the help of shea butter, castor seed oil, and orchid stem cell complex, so it makes lashes prettier (and stronger) from the inside out. Even with the powerhouse formula, we never felt that it weighed our lashes down. Instead, this offered a weightless, falsie-level flutter.
Best of all, unlike so many tubing mascaras, the Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara is so easy to remove. We only needed a splash of water — not even a heavy-duty makeup remover — for the remnants to dissolve. While this might make you think the formula would be prone to smudging, we were thoroughly impressed that we didn’t experience any flakes, smudges, or running after a full day.
One little word to the wise, though: We could apply all the coats we wanted, but we had to do so while each layer was still wet in order to prevent clumping.
Benefits: Conditions, strengthens, and lengthens | Shades: 3 | Waterproof: No
Best Budget
Maybelline Sky High Mascara
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It delivers loads of length on a budget.
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The flexible brush requires a bit of a learning curve.
We love all of Maybelline’s products, but their mascaras are truly sensational. While the brand has a new product going viral on TikTok almost every week, none compare to the buzz that Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara garnered. After it first went viral in 2021, it was sold out everywhere for weeks. Thankfully, it has stayed in stock in recent months — but that doesn’t mean the hype has died down.
The results from this are so incredible that InStyle’s Commerce Editor, Mary Honkus, completely ditched her luxury mascara to use this. “It completely restored my faith in drugstore formulas. I receive endless compliments (and constantly get asked if I have lash extensions) when wearing this,” she says.
Like the name suggests, this mascara takes lashes sky high thanks to bamboo extract, extending them to eyebrows without weighing them down. Part of the reason it works so well is the exclusive Flex Tower brush — the flexible design ensures you can adequately coat every lash in the lengthening formula. Because of this, the brush can feel a bit flimsy at first, but with practice it becomes second nature to use (and it’s so much better at reaching baby lashes along the inner corners than stiffer wands).
Benefits: Lengthens and lifts | Shades: 4 | Waterproof: No
Best Splurge
Pat McGrath Labs FetishEyes Mascara
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The formula works to strengthen and condition lashes.
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The high-drama results aren’t for those seeking a natural look.
As one of the most admired makeup artists of all time, Pat McGrath’s creations simply do not disappoint — and this high-stakes mascara is no exception. “Not only does Pat McGrath FetishEyes Mascara have a great name, but it delivers truly long lashes and a super black finish,” says Jenna Kristina, Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist and Brand Ambassador for Maybelline New York.
Because the formula is so highly pigmented and thick, we were treated to a bold eye look from the get go. While we loved the results, we had to carefully apply it to prevent any mishaps, and wiping excess product off the wand was an extra step that made the process more seamless. Don’t let that deter you though — we found that the dramatic look this creates is truly hard to beat: The dark formula glided onto our lashes and made them look not only longer, but thicker, too.
Benefits: Lengthens and defines | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best Fiber Mascara
Milk Makeup Kush High Volumizing Mascara
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Its hollow heart-shaped fibers create the effect of thicker, longer, and fuller lashes.
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Sometimes it can clump.
The reason fiber mascaras are extremely effective is because they contain tiny fibers — typically silk, nylon, or rayon — that cling to lash tips, extending the length and fullness of your flutter. This vegan formula is infused with heart-shaped fibers (though, they’re so tiny that they don’t actually look like hearts to the plain eye) to build up each individual lash, resulting in an eyelash makeover. The large brush also features crisscross bristles to catch every last lash, and because the wand is weighted, we found that it offered even more control during the application process.
As much as we loved the wand and brush, it’s worth mentioning that, thanks to the size, it does pick up quite a bit of product. Because of this, we found that the best approach for a mess-free experience was to wipe off the excess product before applying. But don’t worry: Wiping didn’t lessen the mascara’s effect. It only took just a single pass to fully coat our lashes in length-boosting goodness.
If you’re craving a va-va-voom appeal, this formula is buildable — we were able to easily build the drama. As long as we let the mascara dry between each coat, we avoided any clumping and were left with a gorgeous, eye-opening look. Plus, even after three coats, our lashes didn’t look dry or crusty. This was thanks to hemp-derived cannabis seed oil that nourished and softened our lashes.
Benefits: Volumizes and lengthens | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best Clean
ILIA Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara
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The buildable formula gives lashes a natural-looking boost.
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It’s not the best at holding curls.
“I love the dual-sided brush of Ilia Limitless Lash Lengthening Mascara,” says Karissa Bodnar, founder and CEO of Thrive Causemetics. What does a double-sided wand do, though? During our testing, we found that it boosted lash appearance in a few ways: On one hand, it ensured that the product was evenly distributed and made it easy to brush out clumps, so we didn’t have to worry about spidery-looking lashes. On the other, the two sides allowed us to easily tailor our lash look. Specifically, we found that the shorter bristles helped boost volume and curl, while the longer bristles offered eye-opening length. (The curl is nothing to totally write home about — but that’s nothing a good lash curler can’t fix.)
Benefits: Volumizes and lengthens | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best with Primer
Honest Beauty Mascara + Lash Primer
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The dual-ended tube has a primer on one end and a mascara on the other.
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The primer wand is a tad small which made it difficult to maneuver.
If regular mascara isn’t giving you the results you're after, you should try a lash primer. This two-in-one pick from Honest Beauty has a primer and a mascara that work in tandem to take lashes to new lengths. The two-step process was extremely easy to follow: First, we brushed on the primer to coat our lashes with jojoba esters that strengthen and protect them. After waiting 30 seconds, we applied a coat of mascara to give our lashes length and lift. Overall, our lashes looked longer and fuller, not to mention notably darker.
While this undoubtedly enhances lashes, it doesn’t make them look cakey or overly dramatic compared to a natural flutter. Instead, you can expect natural-looking lashes, without any clumping or product transfer in sight.
Beyond how long your lashes looked and how well the formula performed, we appreciated the cruelty-free formula and 100 percent tree-free paper carton made with upcycled sugarcane. One thing we’d change about the product, though, is the length of the primer wand. It was quite small, which made it a bit tricky to reach every lash — but with practice, it gets easier.
Benefits: Primes and lengthens | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best Tubing
Caliray Come Hell or High Water Mascara
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The tubing formula prevents smudges yet is easy to remove.
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It can start to flake after a few hours.
A true triple threat, this tubing mascara delivers it all: Volume, length and curl. Its brush is its secret weapon, with wavy fibers and a defined tip to catch and separate each and every lash. Then there’s the formula itself, which is spiked with two percent argan oil to nourish, along with a triple-wax mix and film-forming agents to lengthen while fighting off smudges (but be wary that after a few hours it can begin to flake ever so slightly). The tubing technology means the mascara comes right off at the end of the day, but the formula is water-resistant until then. For a feel-good bonus, the clean formula comes in a tube made from 100 percent recycled ocean plastic.
Benefits: Volumizes, curls, and lengthens | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best Waterproof
Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara
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The luxe formula creates a dramatic flutter.
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The voluminous brush can sometimes smudge, especially if you have hooded eyes.
When you want to wrap your lashes in luxury, this is the mascara for you. A long-standing favorite among professional makeup artists and makeup enthusiasts alike, it delivers on drama — big time. Diorshow curls, lengthens, and thickens like few others, living up to its reputation as a runway staple. And the waterproof version means it’ll stay put even longer.
If you have hooded or smaller eyes, the big, voluminous brush may be too big and cause smudges. Other than that, though, the formula is so powerful that you can skip lash primer before applying. Plus, if you really want to make a statement, opt for the bright blue shade.
Benefits: Volumizes and lengthens | Shades: 3 | Waterproof: Yes
Best Volumizing
Lancôme Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting & Volumizing Mascara
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It delivers mega volume and length in a single swipe.
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The formula dries quickly, so you need to work fast if you want to wear multiple coats.
Want mega volume but struggle to find a formula that doesn’t weigh lashes down? Lancôme Lash Idôle is the solution. It creates a major fanned-out effect that rivals false lashes yet somehow feels completely weightless. The key is in both the formula and the brush. The former is enriched with white tea extract to nourish fringe, while the brush is completely covered with micro-bristles that latch onto every hair, ensuring that none are left behind. The brush also features a slight curve which pushes lashes up and out, giving them staying power for up to 24 hours. While buildable, you’ll need to apply each coat quickly because if you try to layer once the formula dries it can get clumpy.
Benefits: Volumizes and lengthens | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best Colored
L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara
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With seven shades to choose from, you can find the perfect hue to accentuate your eye color.
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The colors aren’t as vibrant as you might expect.
There’s no need to always stick to basic black mascara. “L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in burgundy offers a gorgeous pop of color that is both striking and subtle at the same time. I also love this shade because it is so inclusive and beautiful on all eye colors and skin tones,” says Alex Sanchez, California-based National Makeup Artist for Lancôme. Along with the burgundy hue, the mascara also comes in an assortment of fun colors including cobalt blue, deep violet, and deep green (though keep in mind that they’re somewhat muted).
The wide color range isn’t the only thing going for this mascara. It also amplifies lashes to five times their natural thickness, building a bit of boldness with every swipe. Clump-free and smudge-resistant, the formula is spiked with panthenol and ceramide-R to nourish and protect lashes, too.
Benefits: Volumizes and lengthens | Shades: 7 | Waterproof: No
Best Conditioning
Wander Beauty Treatment Mascara
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This mascara contains copper peptides to boost lash health.
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The formula is thick — this doesn’t affect the performance but can feel heavy at first.
Talk about a twofer — Wander Beauty Upgraded Lashes Treatment Mascara is essentially a lash serum and mascara in one, saving you a step. The jet-black formula contains conditioning copper peptides to boost collagen production and extend the growth cycle of hair follicles, while Widelash (the brand’s custom ingredient) aids with thickness and volume. The mascara has been clinically proven to deliver fuller, longer lashes in only two weeks, as well as minimize lash fallout.
There’s also the hourglass-shaped brush that’s coated in comb-like bristles to lift and separate every lash, creating buildable drama that won’t clump, cake, or smudge. While it’s expected because of the nourishing capabilities, it’s important to note that the formula is a bit thicker, which some people might not like — this doesn’t affect the overall performance, but it can feel a bit heavy during the first application.
Benefits: Nourishes, volumizes, and lengthens | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best Technology
Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara
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The clever science behind the magnetic formula delivers longer lashes and wear.
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The packaging can flake, leaving silver particles all over your vanity.
There is some serious science behind this lash-boosting formula. The name says it all — you might have to do some convincing to prove your eyelashes are real. Wondering what the secret is? The wand and formula are magnetically charged. The wand takes iron oxide pigments from the formula and deposits them on lashes. This helps each lash get an even coat, giving them a fuller appearance and extending the length by as much as 40 percent.
That’s not all, though: The formula has an impressively long wear, lasting for up to 36 hours, and the brush features zig-zag bristles to fan out and define every lash. We don’t have a single strife with the formula itself (and honestly, can’t get over the technology), but the packaging could use some work as silver flecks flake off after a few weeks.
Benefits: Volumizes and lengthens | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Best Curling
NARS Climax Mascara
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Bold and beautiful, it curls lashes from root to tip.
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It has a tendency to smudge after longer periods of wear.
Flexible and buildable, this mascara will transform even the most lackluster lashes into a wow-worthy fringe. The lightweight product curls and separates lashes, creating a fanned-out look, sans any clumping or smudging. You can thank its innovative brush for those perks, as its ribbed bristles coat every lash to up the drama, curling them from root to tip along the way. The formula is infused with the brand’s Lash Moisture Complex that makes it feel creamy and whipped to lift and build, too. We suggest wearing this for shorter periods of time because it starts to smudge when worn for more than eight hours.
Benefits: Volumizes, lengthens, and curls | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No
Our Testing Process
We spent two weeks researching lengthening mascaras and taking notes on best-sellers. Once we had a firm grasp on the most popular products, we put a selection of top-performing formulas to the test in our Manhattan-based Lab. When evaluating the products’ quality and effectiveness, we focused on a few characteristics: To really see how well each formula lengthened lashes, we compared the difference after one, two, and three coats to see how far our flutter extended; we honed in on the wand itself, taking note of the weight, shape, and bristles, and how it impacted the overall application and end lash result; and we also took notes on how long it took for the mascara to dry down and whether or not it transferred at all.
After our testing was complete, we landed on five purchase-worthy picks. To round out our list, we consulted makeup artists and our team of editors for their recommendations and conducted extended market research to bring you the best lengthening mascaras.
What to Keep in Mind
Wand
Mascara wands come in all shapes and sizes, but when it comes to lengthening, thin wands with rubberized bristles will give you the best results. This design helps you comb the formula through each lash without clumping. The brush on Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara is one of the best at lengthening for this reason.
If you want other benefits beyond lengthening (like curling or volumizing), you may want to look for a thicker brush. NARS Climax Mascara has a bushier wand that simultaneously curls, volumizes, and lengthens, so it’s like using three mascaras in one.
Ingredients
While the main purpose of every mascara on this list is to lengthen, the ingredients vary vastly. This doesn’t matter too much when it comes to performance, but if you’re looking for a formula that will also strengthen and nourish lashes, you should look for jojoba, shea butter, peptides, and castor seed oil. Wander Beauty Upgraded Lashes Treatment Mascara is specially designed to provide lashes with an extra boost of nourishment, so if they need some extra TLC, this is a great pick.
Your Questions, Answered
How does lengthening mascara work?
Lengthening mascara works in a few ways, but it’s all in the formula. Some use powder pigments to build upon natural lashes. Other formulas, like Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara, utilize tubing fibers that envelope and extend each lash. No matter what type you use, each swipe builds upon lashes and extends them to new lengths.
How do you apply lengthening mascara?
"I always apply [lengthening mascara] as close to the base of the lash as possible to ensure you’re coating the full lash,” says Kristina. “Start by applying on the under part of the lash. Let it dry a little, then coat the backside/top part of the lash. That way your lash has a 360 coat of mascara.”
Bodnar tacks onto this, saying “for an especially fanned-out, lifted look, you can apply an extra coat on the outer half of your lashes to create an elongated cat-eye effect.”
Should you apply lengthening or volumizing mascara first?
“If you like to mix and ‘cocktail’ your mascara it's best to start with the thinnest formula first as a base coat,” Sanchez says. “Lengthening formulas tend to be thinner and wetter so they are perfect for building an elongated base on the lash for the volumizing formula to wrap around.”
Why Shop With Us
Celia Shatzman and Rebecca Norris are freelance writers for multiple publications including InStyle. They consider mascara an essential staple and have tested dozens of lengthening formulas over the years. To compile this list they pined over results from our Lab testing and consulted with Alex Sanchez, National Makeup Artist for Lancôme; Jenna Kristina, celebrity makeup artist and Brand Ambassador for Maybelline New York; and Karissa Bodnar, Founder and CEO of Thrive Causemetics, to find the best lengthening mascaras.