31 Best Mascaras for Thicker and Longer Eyelashes, Tested and Reviewed in 2023

Maybelline's Sky High Mascara is kind of an overachiever. It uses tiny bamboo fibers to add a ton of length and volume to teeny-tiny lashes and it has a slim, flexible brush with a tapered tip that makes application quick, easy, and mess-free. Every time I use it, I'm shocked at how incredible my lashes look for such minimal effort. Did I mention it comes off easily with just warm water too? Obsessed.

• Benefits: Volumizes, lengthens, defines, curls
• Shades: Three (blackest black, cosmic black, very black)

THE REVIEW: "The brush is perfect for separating your lashes and preventing clumps," writes one tester. "I love that it stays on and won't smudge until you wash it off."

If you're looking for a mascara that lifts, lengthens, holds a curl, and separates your lashes, this is your MVP. The dual-sided wand has staggered bristles on one side to help you really load up your lashes, along with long, comb-like teeth on the other side so you can brush out any clumps while defining each lash. Oh, and the formula—like all Ilia products—is clean, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and made without potentially sketch ingredients.

• Benefits: Lifts, lengthens, curls, separates
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "Holy grail mascara!" according to one tester. "Incredible volume and length—no need to worry about clumping or flaking."

This mascara’s packaging has a squeezable base that, with every squeeze, builds the formula onto the brush, giving you a more dramatic finish. Want a regular, everyday look? Skip squeezing the bottle, or give it one baby squeeze and then apply. Talk about a truly custom lash look.

• Benefits: Volumizes, lengthens
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "I was initially reluctant to spend this much on a mascara, but it is literally the best thing I’ve bought," reads one review. "I love the way it makes my lashes look—highly recommend buying this one!"

It's hard to create a list of the best mascaras without a nod to this trending TikTok viral beauty product. Whether or not you believe Mikayla wore falsies on TikTok when raving about how lengthening this mascara is, I'm here to back up the product and say that no other mascara compares to how this one separates, holds, and lengthens my lashes. The rubber wand is super skinny and flexible, which means it bends and moves any way I need it to when I really need to get into the base of my lashes.

• Benefits: Lengthens
• Shades: Three (blackest black, black, black brown)

THE REVIEW: "My eyelashes are super straight and I could never find a mascara that would make them hold a curl but this has changed my life!" one reviewer notes. "I will be purchasing this again as I run out of this one."

Listen, this mascara is probs the only thing I'll ever be able to afford from Chanel, and I'm not mad about it. The wand is thick and dense with bristles, so you can seriously work the formula into your lashes for a volumized, falsies-level finish. Yes, it's expensive, but I would honestly buy this mascara even if I weren't a beauty editor.

• Benefits: Lengthens, curls, volumizes
• Shades: Two (black, blue)

THE REVIEW: "All I have to say is that this is the BEST mascara I've ever used!" one reviewer writes. "It's perfect in every way and gives me long, beautiful lashes. Buy it!"

If you hate how mascaras leave your lashes feeling stiff and straw-like, then pls try this volumizing and thickening formula from Rare Beauty. It's mixed with a touch of castor oil to keep your lashes feeling like, you know, actual lashes, and also helps to prevent flaking after layering it on.

• Benefits: Volumizes, curls, lengthens
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "This is honestly such an amazing mascara—it does everything really well," writes one tester, adding that "it creates lots of thickness and volume and holds a curl really nicely too."

Meet my all-time favorite drugstore mascara (really just mascara in general) on the market. The curved brush cups my lashes, which lightly curls them while building volume and length. But the best part? This formula is meant to be layered, so I can really wriggle it on without worrying about clumps.

• Benefits: Lengthens, curls, separates
• Shades: Four (very black, black, black brown, brown)

THE REVIEW: "I have used this Covergirl mascara for years—it's the best there is," reads one review. "It's easy to put on and stays fresh all day. The curved brush is really great too, it doesn't leave mascara on my lids or cheeks."

FYI: Tubing mascaras wrap each lash in tube-like polymers to create extra thickness and length that still looks super natural. It sounds strange, but trust me when I say it works so well and honestly holds up better than my traditional mascaras. Wriggle the wand through your curled lashes, and work quickly, since it dries fast to prevent flaking.

• Benefits: Volumizes, lengthens, curls
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "This was definitely an impulse buy after watching some videos on Instagram and YouTube but I can happily say I have no regrets," writes one tester, adding that "it does everything it claims—lengthens, volumizes, separates, and defines my lashes without flaking."

This mascara was a Cosmo beauty awards winner last year for good reason: it legit works and is super affordable too. Just wiggle on two coats for super-plush, high-volume lashes with tons of definition and separation.

• Benefits: Defines, volumizes, separates
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "I had never used L.A. Girl before but was so pleasantly surprised by this—it works very well!" notes one tester, adding that "it darkens and lengthens my lashes on the first application."

Want super voluminous lashes without the clumps? Enter: The Nars Climax Mascara. This full, dense brush will deposit a ton of pigment for ultra volume, yet its tightly packed bristles help comb out clumps before they happen. Plus, the formulation is made to be extra creamy in order to prevent smudges and clumps when layering. It's *magic.*

• Benefits: Volumizes
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "The two things I look for in mascara are how well it lengthens and thickens and whether or not it smudges on my face throughout the day," one review reads. "This mascara is excellent on both counts living up to the claims of being smudge-proof and clump-proof."

Not only is this mascara’s formula filled with moisturizing CBD oil, but it also has little bb fibers that legit lock onto your lashes, leaving you with volume, length, and curl. Plus, the wand has teeny-tiny bristles at the top, perfect for reaching those inner-corner lashes.

• Benefits: Volumizes, lengthens, curls
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "I'm a nurse who works 18-hour shifts and I'm telling you at the end of those days my lashes look just as curled and amazing as they do the beginning," writes one tester. "My lashes are still soft to the touch and taking it off is not painful like it is with other mascaras."

Got watery eyes? Rest assured, this mascara is safer for sensitive eyes (it's even been tested by dermatologists and ophthalmologists) and those who wear contacts, too. And, according to reviews, the formula is surprisingly easy to remove with a standard face wash, which means less irritation for you.

• Benefits: Lengthens, separates
• Shades: Two (black, black brown)

THE REVIEW: "It’s not the first product that comes to mind when I think of Neutrogena but it really is an excellent mascara," notes one reviewer. "I was very impressed—it provides the right amount of definition and length. A hidden gem."

When you're traveling and need to consolidate your makeup bag, replace your separate eyelash curler and mascara with this handy hybrid product. On the inside of the tube, it's a curling mascara, and on the outside, it's a clever compact curler. Genius.

• Benefits: Curls, volumizes, lengthens
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "I am a professional makeup and makeup effects artist in TV/film production and I have tried every prestige brand out there as well as drugstore brands—this is my absolute favorite," one reviewer notes. "I wear it exclusively because of the amazing color, curl, length, and volume."

Struggle with sparse lashes? This cult-favorite formula has an hourglass-shaped wand that separates and curls each lash, giving even the sparsest of lashes extra volume and length. The result? An intense and doe-eyed finish. But the best part is that the waterproof formula is going to last you all day, yet it's gentle and easy to remove—in other words, you won't be stuck scrubbing your lashes with soap in the PM.

• Benefits: Volumizes, defines
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "If you are like me—a contact lens-wearing, allergy-sufferer with runny eyes—then you know that most mascaras don't stay in place, but this one really does," one reviewer notes. "It's totally waterproof!"

It's not every day you see a natural mascara that's both effective *and* formulated with naturally derived ingredients, which is why I'm so obsessed with this option from Saie. It gives your lashes lots of length and volume, while the comb-like bristles separate each and every lash to avoid any clumps. Plus it contains beeswax and shea butter to give your lashes a soft, flexible feel.

• Benefits: Lifts, lengthens, strengthens
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "I love this clean mascara," reads one tester's review. "It doesn’t make my eyes watery and I love the applicator! The tip is the best way to get those inner and outer corners for full coverage!"

Not a fan of brown mascara? Oh, so you’re not a fan of ridiculously good-looking lashes, huh? Seriously, brown mascara—like this MVP from Eyeko—can leave your lashes naturally defined and curled without giving off the vibe that you’re wearing makeup. And, thanks to this formula’s added shea butter, you won’t feel like you’re wearing stiff and crunchy mascara, either.

• Benefits: Volumizes, curls
• Shades: Two (black, brown)

THE REVIEW: "This is my favorite mascara for the fall season," reads one review. "I love wearing it when I want to change up my look from basic black and create a warm, sultry brown look."

The wand applicator on this mascara is flat on one side (for curling your lashes) and fluffy on the other (for volume), so you can get multiple looks with one product. If you have trust issues with mascara because of all the times you've been let down by the claims of thick, elongated eyelashes, this formula here might help you restore your faith.

• Benefits: Curls, volumizes
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "I was considering lash extensions and then I found this!" one reviewer notes. "It's amazing and separates and lengthens so I have long lush eyelashes again."

The bristles on this mascara are all twisted, and that's totally on purpose. This design helps the brush latch on to each and every lash to separate and define them. The result? Big-ass lashes—i.e., longer and thicker with more intense definition, as if you’re wearing a set of falsies.

• Benefits: Separates, thickens, defines
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "It’s been my go-to for years!" writes one tester. "I can’t hype this enough—it won’t flake, doesn’t bleed, adds tons of volume and definition, and is totally okay for my sensitive eyes."

If you hate the feeling of thick, heavy mascara, don’t worry—this formula uses incredibly light ingredients that feel like nothing on your lashes. Really. Plus, one swipe of this long-wear mascara (it’s supposed to last 36 hours, but please, wash your face and don't keep it on that long!) will make your lashes look instantly voluminous and long as ever.

• Benefits: Volumizes, separates
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "This is the best mascara," according to one reviewer. "I love that the wand separates the lashes and really makes them look much longer, without it looking spidery or clumpy."

With strengthening peptides, moisturizing panthenol, and special waxes and emollients that help seal in moisture, this lash serum-slash-mascara delivers a clump-free application that will leave your lashes looking amazingly thick and glossy.

• Benefits: Volumizes
• Shades: One (black)

THE REVIEW: "First, I love that it didn't make my lashes clumpy, which always happens to me with other mascaras," one reviewer notes. "Second, after about three weeks of daily use, my lashes grew thick and long like I was using a lash serum. I'm on my second tube and I'm obsessed!"