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13 Best Lengthening Mascaras That’ll Take Your Lashes to Sky-High Heights

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@thrivecausemetics / Instagram

Whether we’ve got an hour for our full makeup routine or we’ve got to be out the door in five minutes flat, there’s one step we rarely skip—applying mascara. Mascara is one of those rare beauty products that can instantly enhance your eyes in just a few quick swipes, but it can be hard to figure out what the best one is for the look we’re trying to achieve.

If you're looking for a mascara that will make your eyelashes pop (without falsies), check out this member-approved list of the best lengthening mascaras for gorgeous, long lashes. Whether you have sensitive eyes or are looking for the perfect no-smudge waterproof formula, there’s a perfect lengthening mascara for you below.

P.S. If you're looking for the best volumizing mascara, we've got you covered with our guide to the best mascaras for major volume. We also have in-depth tips on how to apply mascara like a professional makeup artist.

THRIVE CAUSEMETICS Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara™ in Brynn (Rich Black)
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THRIVE CAUSEMETICS Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara™

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Best Lengthening Mascara That Mimics Extensions:

There’s no need for falsies or expensive lash extensions when you have a fiber mascara like this. It has a lengthening and volumizing wand that acts like a mini lash curler, creating buildable volume and length that instantly defines your eyes. Bonus: The patented Orchid Stem Cell Complex also helps to give your lashes a full, thick, fluttery appearance.

IPSY member thelxlabeauty describes this mascara as "liquid eyelashes in a bottle." She says, "This made my lashes so full and wispy. Looked amazing! Recommend for anyone."

IT COSMETICS Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara
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IT COSMETICS Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara

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Best Lengthening Mascara for Strengthening Lashes:

Searching for a lengthening mascara with superhuman powers? You’ve found it. This mascara is packed with powerful, lash-boosting ingredients like biotin, peptides (known for their strengthening properties), polymers, and collagen to lift, lengthen, and plump your eyelashes. On top of that, this mascara stays put for hours without flaking, so your lashes remain strong and long all day.

One user writes, "This has been the absolute best mascara I have ever used. My eyes have become sensitive to makeup products over the last year, but this mascara not only gives me tons of volume, but it doesn't cause any irritation to them whatsoever!"

CIATÉ LONDON Triple Shot XXL Mascara in Black XXL
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CIATÉ LONDON Triple Shot XXL Mascara

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Best Lengthening Mascara for Different Lash Lengths:

The first CIATÉ LONDON mascara featured on this list is all about creating ultra-dramatic long lashes—hence the "XXL" in its name. This innovative mascara features a unique flower-shaped fiber formula that gives even those teeny tiny corner lashes noticeable lift and length.

"Super thick, dark formula. I love the brush," says user clarkekn. "I’m so picky about mascaras and this one definitely impressed!"

TARTE™ big ego™ mascara in Black
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TARTE™ big ego™ mascara

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Best Flake-Free Lengthening Mascara Formula:

Not only does this longwear formula stay flake-free for up to 16 hours, it also coats your lashes in rich black color that's infused with healthy ingredients. It’s made with nourishing babassu oil and hydrating glycerin to condition and strengthen—and did we mention it's also vegan, paraben-free and cruelty-free? A total win-win.

BENEFIT COSMETICS They're Real! Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara in Supercharged Black
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BENEFIT COSMETICS They're Real! Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara

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Best Clump-Free Lengthening Mascara Formula:

Eyelash extensions? False lashes? Nope–they're all natural! A few swipes with this technology-infused mascara wand gives you falsies-level length and volume with no clumping, smudging, or flaking. The secret? The brush itself is magnetically charged, which helps to pull out the complementary formula from the tube. The result? Sky-high lashes that are separated evenly and perfectly every time.

IPSY member Amy A. wrote, “1 Of BEST MASCARAS EVER, I am CONVINCED! I LOVE this and ROLLER lah, Benefit has the LOCK on Mascaras!”

MAËLLE BEAUTY Above & Beyond Mascara in Black
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MAËLLE BEAUTY Above & Beyond Mascara

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Best Thickening and Lengthening Mascara:

Say goodbye to parabens, SLS, and phthalates and hello to thicker, longer, more voluminous lashes. This product's unique curved wand adds lift and helps the formula adhere to even the smallest of lashes. The formula is also gluten-free, mineral-oil free, and fragrance-free, making it an ideal choice for anyone with sensitive eyes.

"This is my new FAVORITE MASCARA," one fan of the product writes. "I have used it every day since receiving it, and I’m just in love. It doesn’t make my eyelashes clump together, gives me great dimension and length. I’ll never turn back from this product!"

PIXI BEAUTY LashLift 188 in Beyond Black
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PIXI BEAUTY LashLift 188

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Best Lengthening Mascara for Picking Up Short Lashes:

Looking for a mascara with bristles small enough to lengthen even the hardest-to-reach eyelashes? This formula contains two separate wands in one: a larger, upper-eyelash wand that volumizes and a fine, precision-tip brush that's great for separating and defining. Formulated with castor oil and polypeptides, clumping and flaking are a non-issue with this smudge-proof mascara.

Crayola21 says, "The larger brush separates my last really well. The larger brush works on the lower lashes, but the small brush is amazing on them!"

TARTE™ deluxe lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 mascara
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TARTE™ deluxe lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 mascara

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Best Curling and Lengthening Mascara:

TARTE describes this ophthalmologist-tested formula as a "pushup bra for your lashes." The multitasking mascara lives up to its name by lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning all at once. Rice bran wax helps to lengthen each eyelash while olive esters, carnauba wax, and provitamin B5 condition and hydrate. You'll even find vitamin C to protect lashes from free radicals. In addition to being vegan, it’s also made without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfates, or gluten.

"This is one of the best mascaras I’ve ever used and my absolute favorite from Ipsy," writes l_e_puckey. "It has incredible staying power and is the perfect weight and level of volume."

BROOKLYN & BAILEY Lash Next Door Mascara in Blackout
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BROOKLYN & BAILEY Lash Next Door Mascara

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Best Smudge-Proof Lengthening Mascara Formula:

For super glam, Twiggy-inspired lashes, reach for this inky black formula that expertly grips onto every hair to make each lash look miles long. While this isn't technically a waterproof formula, you can expect it to stand up against wind, snow, and runny eyes. Consider it the ideal in-between: It stays put all day long, but you don't need a heavy-duty makeup remover to take it off. "Wasn’t super clumpy and wasn’t too thin," says member baylee9273. "It lasted all day and wasn’t smudgy. Also, I love thick, full, stiffer bristled spoolies for applying my mascara, and this brand had that."

CIATÉ LONDON Wonderwand Mascara in Black Magic
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CIATÉ LONDON Wonderwand Mascara

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Best 24-Hour Lengthening Mascara Formula:

"This mascara is like having natural fake lashes! So long and FULL," says jaenafrye1. That's because the clump-free, smudge-free formula coats your natural lashes in carbon-black color and lifts them up with a trusty hourglass-shaped wand. Short lashes are given an immediate makeover and instantly transformed for a full 24 hours.

DR. LARA DEVGAN SCIENTIFIC BEAUTY Extreme Lengthening Mascara
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DR. LARA DEVGAN SCIENTIFIC BEAUTY Extreme Lengthening Mascara

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Best Lash-Fanning Lengthening Mascara:

DR. LARA DEVGAN’s products are all about using ingredients backed by science to achieve looks that last and this mascara is no different. It uses a fiber-based formula that grips on to each individual lash so you could cool down a room with a few blinks, thanks to its extreme fanning effect.

User jameschaps83 wrote, “I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS MASCARA!!!! It goes on extra smooth, grabs all of my lashes (even the super fine ones at the inside/outside edges of my eyes) and coats them all evenly without any clumping. Even better is that fact that after all day wear, there is NO FLAKING AT ALL.”

MILANI COSMETICS Highly Rated Anti-Gravity Mascara in Intense Black
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MILANI COSMETICS ANTI-GRAVITY MASCARA - 24 HR WEAR

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Best Gravity-Defying Lengthening Mascara:

This mascara is enriched with castor oil to encourage growth and healthy lashes as you wear it. It’s perfect for people who have lashes that stick straight out, instead of curling upwards. It’ll provide that anti-gravity boost you need to get the curling effect we’re all after.

IPSY member potterashley7 said, “Love this!! Good formula. doesn't clump and gives great length.”

M2Ü NYC Everyday Volumizing + Lengthening Mascara in Black
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M2Ü NYC Everyday Volumizing + Lengthening Mascara

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Best Clean Lengthening Mascara:

This clean formula goes on and lasts for 12 hours without smudging or flaking. The formula contains flexible polymers that deliver volume and length while also being water-resistant. That means it’ll be easy to clean off and won’t flake or smudge off during the day. We love a double duty formula!

User brittanielynnlewis said, “This does not clump! It separates your lashes nicely while smoothing and lengthening. One of my favorite mascaras now.”

Find a mascara you love above? Let us know which @IPSY

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About the author
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Brittany Leitner
Brittany is an award winning beauty, health, and lifestyle writer and author of the poetry book "23 Emotions." She has eight years of experience writing for brands like Elite Daily, The. Dr. Oz Show, Shape, Stylecaster, Bustle, and more.
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Article Last Updated May 1, 2023 12:00 AM