The 18 Best Lengthening Mascaras for Barbie-rific Lashes, According to the Pros
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We all know that long, fluttery eyelashes are the ultimate sign of glamour. However, if you’re part of the vast majority of the population who wasn’t born with an Elizabeth Taylor-like set and you don’t want to splurge on extensions and refills (which can also be irritating to your eyes), you’ll need to do what millions have been doing since the 19th century and turn to a trusty lengthening mascara.
While many mascara brands promote their product's thickening, darkening and volumizing effects, length is one of the most important factors for achieving that doll-like look. So where do you even start with finding the right option for you? We’ve vetted some of the top options on the market with the help of celebrity makeup artist Priscilla DiStasio and cosmetics guru Juliette Perreux.
Best Lengthening Mascaras at a Glance
Meet the Experts
What is the Best Lengthening Mascara?
While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, there’s no doubt that some mascaras lengthen your lashes more than others. There are many options out there that will suit your lash-lengthening needs, from the budget-friendly ($15), to the vegan ($15) and waterproof ($29). But according to DiStasio, the best lengthening mascara you can get your hands on now is Thrive Causemetics' Liquid Lash Extensions mascara ($25), which she loves for its ability to simultaneously volumize and define as it lengthens. For Perreux, the favorite is Armani Beauty Eyes to Kill waterproof mascara ($33), which she says both lengthens and holds a curl without the worry of runny eyes.
What to Look for in a Lengthening Mascara
Keep in mind that mascara should be replaced in as little as three months, so you’ll have to restock regularly to be sure you’re using them to their full potential. Pro tip? DiStasio advises that keeping your mascara refrigerated will help extend its lifetime.
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1. Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
Meet the mascara that DiStasio swears replaces the need for false lashes. Thrive Causemetics' Liquid Lash Extensions is formulated with flake-free tubing technology that coats and lengthens lashes from root to tip while conditioning them with the brand's orchid stem cell complex. According to Thrive, the complex supports healthier, longer lashes over time. DiStasio says it doesn't leave any residue under her eyes and doesn't bleed throughout the day, which she notes is especially helpful if you have oily skin.
2. Armani Beauty Eyes to Kill Mascara
Chosen by Perreux as her favorite lengthening mascara, this waterproof formula from Armani Beauty includes micro-waxes that are blended with a fineness agent so they'll go on smoothly while adding both volume and length. Perreux also calls attention to the brush, as it has a nice mid-size that she finds easy to handle. She also notes that the pigment is very rich to make lashes stand out.
3. Benefit BadGal Bang! Mascara
When it comes to mascara, we're Benefit fans for life. PureWow Commerce Director Nicole Briese has a strong affinity for this pick, which she says makes her eyelashes instantly pop and looks amazing in photos. It's got that tapered brush that's thinner near the end, making it ultra-defining (and easier to get at those bottom lashes), and it's packed with ProVitamin B5 to thicken and strengthen, according to the brand. It's also formulated to be smudge-proof, so you won't have to worry about constant touch-ups throughout the day. Our one complaint? Briese likes a little more volume than it provides, so she tends to pair it with Mac's Macstack (also on our list below).
4. Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara
Friends to the animals will appreciate that this one is cruelty-free, keeping furry friends safe in its formulation process. It will also appeal to fans of that fanned out look thanks to its molded applicator, which is intended to target each and every lash. Although it coats them in innovative “film-forming” technology for a dramatic lengthening look, reviewers note it's still easily removed with a simple face wash. Assistant Commerce Editor Natalie LaBarbera loved how it both separated her lashes and gave them volume in addition to lengthening them: "This mascara glides on easily, creating a natural-but-amplified look, and gave me both the volume and length I'd been looking for after my previous favorite mascara was discontinued."
5. Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara
This vegan mascara is formulated with a plethora of useful ingredients, such as olive esters that aid in moisturizing, Pro Vitamin B to hydrate and rice bran wax, which can help bind the mascara to your lashes. What it's not formulated with? Nasties like mineral oil, parabens and phthalates. Lights, Camera, Lashes is also a reportedly smudge-proof and flake-free choice with a short-bristle brush to help with precise application.
6. Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
This buildable mascara from clean brand Ilia uses ingredients such as shea butter and beeswax to nourish your lashes while lengthening them. It also gives you a separated, natural look with its unique dual-sided brush, which Senior Director of Special Projects and Royals Rachel Bowie confirms allows for a clump-free application: "The brush mechanics make all the difference when it comes to … the top and bottom lashes," she says. "It has staying power, too, and is all natural. Huge fan!"
Use the longer side for ultra-long lashes that know no limits and the shorter side to curl and define. And if that's not enough, Commerce Editor Olivia Dubyak calls out how this formula stays flake-free throughout the day: "Limitless Lash is a hard-to-beat option. It makes my lashes so long and I never find little flakes on the bottoms or tops of my eyes throughout the day."
7. Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push-Up Lashes! Mascara
If you're craving length without the stickiness, Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk mascara is here for you. Not too heavy and not too light, this award-winner isn't so dramatic that it looks like we're wearing falsies, but we certainly saw an improvement in our length when we tried it. Its formula features the brand's own Kerestore keratin ingredient, which is intended to condition and thicken lashes, and it stays put for a good long while. Plus, the unique applicator brush has micro-precision, diamond-shaped bristles that work to really fan lashes out as it makes them look longer.
8. Clinique Lash-Doubling Mascara
Another favorite of Commerce Director Nicole Briese, Clinique's Lash-Doubling mascara has a tapered applicator brush that she says really does feel like it's doubling the fullness of your lashes as it lengthens, even for makeup newbies who aren't great with application. The formula has also been allergy-tested, so you can feel good about using it even on sensitive eyes, as confirmed by reviewers.
9. Mac Macstack Mascara
This long-lasting mascara from Mac is the customizable formula we've been looking for thanks to its buildability. It comes in both a micro and a mega size option, with the micro targeting definition and length and the mega aiming for volume. The micro brush is ideal for short and lower lashes because of its precise application and smaller size. (Briese swears by the larger one for fullness and often layers it on top of Benefit's Bad Gal Lash.) Note that the brushes must be bought separately if you want to use both, making this a pricer option.
10. Essence Lash Princess Mascara Pack
When it comes to cheap lengthening mascara, you simply can't beat Essence Lash Princess. From the very first swipe, you'll see a major sculpting effect, and at this price, it's a good contender for those looking to replace their pricier luxury mascaras. The formula is thick and heavy, however, so if you're the type who likes the no makeup look, it likely won't be for you. (Shoppers with weaker lashes mentioned it weighed down their natural curl, though we've had no problems with it.)
11. Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky-High Mascara
We couldn't wait to try this mascara after it went so viral on TikTok that it sold out at most retailers. (Peep those 86,000-plus 5-star ratings.) Coming in the blackest of black (along with many other shades if that's not your thing), it has a flexible tower brush that allows you to coat your lashes in bamboo extract from multiple angles for a full, fluttery look that won’t feel too heavy. Having tried it for ourselves, we think Essence is the better buy overall when it comes to a budget-friendly option. However, bamboo extract is antimicrobial, so it may be a good choice for those who tend to get eye infections easily.
12. Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara
The waterproof version of this cult-loved mascara (which DiStasio calls out as a great option for girls' night thanks to not only its lengthening effects, but the dark color and volume it offers, too) delivers decent length in even the wettest of conditions. This version comes with an extra-stiff hourglass shaped brush to deliver results that stay put all day, according to 94 percent of users.
13. Estée Lauder Double Wear Mascara
For those who prefer to get their long lashes without looking like Alice Cooper by the end of the day, there's this tubing formula. According to the brand, it won’t budge for a whopping 15 hours due to its “special polymers,” aka molecules, that are designed to withstand even the most humid (or sweatiest) of days. The applicator is designed with micro-fiber bristles that are intended to detangle and separate lashes to deliver a rich coat of color, and shoppers say the brush's larger size makes it "easy to get into corners."
14. Lancôme Définicils Mascara
With a brush that has innovative, precise “hedgehog” like bristles, this lengthening mascara gives you ultimate separation and definition for a natural-but-long look without pesky flaking, according to the brand. Formulated without sulfates or formaldehydes, it comes in a deep black shade, but has a softer brown option if subtlety is your thing. Just note that the retailer, Ulta, writes this mascara may be challenging for sensitive eyes, so if you find mascara to be easily irritating, you may want to opt for another pick.
15. BareMinerals Strength and Length Mascara
While many mascaras claim to make your lashes healthier, this one is unique, because it reportedly keeps maximizing growth even after removal with its red clover peptide serum. In one clinical study conducted by the brand, 100 percent of users reported that their lashes felt stronger and noticed less fallout. Not only that, its brush with five rows of bristles evenly distribute pigment for a lengthened, lifted look.
16. Glossier Lash Slick Mascara
If you’re looking to simply enhance the appearance of your natural lashes, then Glossier has the product for you. This water-resistant, weightless mascara coats and conditions them with tiny fibers for a mini lifting and lengthening effect to make you the queen of the “no-makeup makeup” vibe, as shared by PureWow's Senior Food Editor Katherine Gillen. "I'm more a fan of natural looking mascara that adds length without looking spidery, and this checks those boxes," she says. The mascara has also been deemed suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
17. Pat McGrath Labs FetishEyes Mascara
Yes, this one is pricey. At $34, it's one of the most expensive mascaras on our list. But it's also formulated by pro makeup artist Pat McGrath herself and features hydrating and conditioning peptides that condition to maintain the softness of your lashes while protecting from free radical damage, according to the brand. It's also buildable, leading to a more custom length and lift for your lashes.
18. L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara Pack
DiStasio calls out this L'Oreal mascara for its ability to add some life to your lashes at a budget price, giving them a long-yet-natural look. According to the brand, the mascara is also formulated to resist clumping while reportedly thickening lashes by up to five times their natural state. To get even longer, fuller lashes, the brand suggests pairing it with the Voluminous conditioning primer ($17).
Need a Mascara That Doesn't Flake? We Asked Editors and Experts to Share Their 13 Faves
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