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The 29 Best Lengthening Mascaras That Are Love at First Swipe

The eyes have it.

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lengthening mascaras
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Ask anyone what's the first image that pops up in their head when someone mentions mascara and the results will range from supermodel Twiggy's iconic spider-like lashes to legendary pop stars Diana Ross, Cher, and Donna Summers's signature dramatic eyes. Others would likely mention the one reality TV scene that will be etched in our brains forever: Lauren Conrad's lone black mascara tear falling down her face as she addressed a conflict with her then-friend Audrina Patridge.

Let Conrad's meme-able moment be a lesson for us all: invest in a mascara that can withstand emotional conversations and deliver dramatic length that will make us forget about lash extensions. Of course, you can always go the lash extensions/falsies route but sometimes there isn't enough time to trim to size, glue, and wait for your fake lashes to dry down before you head out the door, and lash extensions can add up after a while. That's when you reach for a lengthening mascara. Unlike regular mascaras, lengthening mascaras amp up the volume from root to tip with formulas that make your lashes appear denser and fuller no matter what length you're working with.

Through blood, sweat, and mascara-filled tears, here are the 29 best mascaras for colossal length.

1
Best For A Natural Look

Glossier Lash Slick

Lash Slick

Pros

  • Subtle drama

Cons

  • Can dry out quickly

There's a lot to love about Glossier's Lash Slick, from an applicator with tiny bristles that coat each lash hair for natural volume to a weightless formula that doesn't clump or smudge.

2
Best For Fullness

Urban Decay Cosmetics Perversion Volumizing Mascara

Perversion Volumizing Mascara

Pros

  • Buildable formula

Cons

  • Can smear easily if not careful

Thanks to its creamy, lightweight formula, this mascara can be built up to your desired volume and thickness.

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3
Best Drugstore Option

Milani Highly Rated Anti-Gravity Mascara

Highly Rated Anti-Gravity Mascara

Pros

  • Super affordable

Cons

  • Can get flaky after a while

Milani's mascara will be added to your holy grail beauty list not only because it's $11, but the wand separates your lashes like a dream and lasts all day long.

4
Best For An Easy Application

Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Volume

Inimitable Waterproof Volume

Pros

  • Separates lash hairs like a dream

Cons

  • Pricey

No lash size is a challenge for Chanel's Inimitable mascara. The bristles are short, which allows the brush to easily separate and coat each lash hair for clump-free coverage.

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5
Best Flexibility

L'Oreal Paris Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Washable Mascara

Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Washable Mascara

Pros

  • Wand can bend in two directions

Cons

  • Too much product can create clumps

If you're looking for the ultimate lift, this mascara from L'Oreal Paris has a wand that bends into two positions to accentuate hard-to-reach areas on your eyes.

6
Best For Bottom Lashes

MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara

Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara

Pros

  • Fans out lashes for drama

Cons

  • Can get flaky after a while

MAC's Extended Play Mascara works best for those with long lashes but works wonders for the lower lash line. The small bristles impart a Twiggy-esque finish that doesn't flake by the end of the day.

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7
Best Clean Mascara

MILK MAKEUP KUSH High Volumizing Mascara

KUSH High Volumizing Mascara

Pros

  • Clean ingredients

Cons

  • Can get clumpy

Clean beauty lovers are obsessed with Milk Makeup's Kush Mascara because it's vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and more. Plus, it does its job. Formulated with ingredients like cannabis seed oil, the mascara nourishes your lashes while elongating them.

8
Best For Thickness

PAT McGRATH LABS FetishEyes™ Lengthening Mascara

FetishEyes™ Lengthening Mascara

Pros

  • Thickens and darkens lashes

Cons

  • Pricey

If spider lashes aren't your jam, the dense, thick brush on the Pat McGrath mascara wand helps to thicken your eyelashes and makes your lashes appear fuller thanks to its pitch-black shade.

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9
Best For Longwear

Huda Beauty Legit Lashes Double-Ended Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara

Legit Lashes Double-Ended Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara

Pros

  • Dual-ended for maximum effect

Cons

    For a mascara that will last through tears, look no further than Huda Beauty's Legit Lashes. As one user recalls, “This mascara doesn't budge. I full out cried when I got pulled over and it didn't even move.”

    10
    Best Transfer-Free Formula

    Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara

    Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara

    Pros

    • Transfer-free

    Cons

    • Lasts too long (mini size recommended)

    Any mascara that ends up on your eyelids or underneath your waterline is a big no-no. Rare Beauty's Perfect Strokes mascara is not to be included in that category. With its insane pigment, a little goes a long way.

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    11
    Best For A Faux Lash Extension Look

    Hourglass Caution™ Extreme Lash Mascara

    Caution™ Extreme Lash Mascara

    Pros

    • Lengthens with first coat

    Cons

    • Brush picks up a lot of product

    Fake the lash extension look with this fan favorite from Hourglass. You'll fall in love with it for its drama and long-wear, but also for how fluttery and long their lashes look throughout the day.

    12
    Best For An Even Coat

    ILIA Limitless Lash Lengthening Mascara

    Limitless Lash Lengthening Mascara

    Pros

    • Applicator evenly coats lashes

    Cons

    • Pricey

    The sparse brush gets even the most stubborn hairs and gives them the shine they so rightfully deserve.

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    13
    Best For A Dramatic Finish

    Bite Beauty Upswing Full Volume Mascara

    Upswing Full Volume Mascara

    Pros

    • Adds drama

    Cons

    • Can get clumpy if too much product is applied

    Another clean beauty favorite, the brush takes the drama up a notch by evenly coating the hairs with its thick, lightweight formula.

    14
    Best For Sensitive Eyes

    Wander Beauty Mile High Club Mascara

    Mile High Club Mascara
    Credit: Courtesy

    Pros

    • Non-irritating formula

    Cons

    • Watery formula

    If you have sensitive eyes, you can rest assured that this mascara won't cause any irritation. The deceiving formula leaves you with a “falsies” look and stays put all day long.

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    15
    Best For Fine Lashes

    Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara

    Huge Extreme Lash Mascara

    Pros

    • Gives fullness and length with one stroke

    Cons

    • Can get flaky

    Stila's mascara has a formula suited for those with fine eyelashes. The mascara is lightweight and extends the lashes so much that compliments are guaranteed.

    16
    Best For Realistic Length

    Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Lengthening Mascara

    They're Real! Lengthening Mascara

    Pros

    • Adds immediate volume

    Cons

    • Dries fast

    We all have a keeper in our beauty stash, and Benefit's They're Real is pretty much every beauty lover's favorite mascara for the insane volume and fullness they offer.

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    17
    Best For Everyday Use

    It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara

    Superhero Mascara

    Pros

    • Depp black shade for fullness

    Cons

    • Can dry out quickly

    What's great about the It Cosmetics Superhero mascara is its nourishing formula with biotin, collagen, peptides, and more.

    18
    Best Natural Shades

    Jane Iredale PureLash Lengthening Mascara

    PureLash Lengthening Mascara
    Credit: Courtesy

    Pros

    • Two different shades to choose from

    Cons

    • Picks up a lot of product

    Jane Iredale created a mascara that comes in two different shades—black and brown—as black can be too deep and bold for some folks and brown can be too subtle for those who want drama.

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    19
    Best Conditioning Formula

    Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Volume Mascara

    The Volume Mascara

    Pros

    • Infused with jojoba oil

    Cons

    • Pricey

    The mascara is very natural-looking which makes it ideal for work and daytime, but not for a night out on the town. It also scores major points because the formula packs jojoba, a natural fiber conditioner, that helps lashes grow thick and strong.

    20
    Best For Drama

    Uoma Beauty Drama Bomb Extreme Volume Mascara

    Drama Bomb Extreme Volume Mascara
    Credit: Courtesy

    Pros

    • Adds drama and fullness

    Cons

    • Can get clumpy

    Uoma Beauty designed its mascara in an hourglass shape, which fans out the inner and outer corners of your lashes while its packed bristles add volume and fullness.

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