9 Best Mascaras to Lift, Curl and Plump Lashes

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Colors: Black

Why we love it: A recent GH Beauty Award-winner, testers loved this tubing formula's “dramatic" and “impressive” results, earning it a perfect 100% satisfaction score.

Performance: Testers gave it the highest marks for volumizing and lengthening without smudging or irritating eyes, although it didn't excel at curling lashes; only 66% agreed that it curled well.

Tester notes: “My lashes looked fluffy and thick without any clumping,” one said, while another said, "it transformed my lashes more than any other mascara I’ve tried. Despite the added length and volume, my lashes remained flexible to the touch."

Wear/removal: Expert evaluators said the "lift and volume held up pretty well throughout the day without smudging or flaking," and ultimately, the product "removes easily with just water."

Benefits: Curling, lengthening, volumizing | Colors: Black

Why we love it: With over 388,000 reviews on Amazon and a certified cult following on Reddit and TikTok, this mascara doesn't disappoint, and at under $5, it delivers serious length.

Performance: In a past Lab test, it ranked highest for lengthening and got similarly high scores for volumizing and curling lashes — a triple threat.

Tester notes: The formula is thick enough to offer impact in one application, but thin enough to avoid clumps with additional coats. Testers said it went on smoothly and liked its deep pigment and granted it a perfect score for being non-irritating.

Wear/removal: Some testers found this mascara's look degraded with wear, citing flaking and clumping as the day went on. "It didn't last long," most agreed, but they found it "very easy to remove."

Benefits: Curling, lengthening, volumizing | Colors: Black

Why we love it: The newest addition to Lancôme's iconic Hypnose line, this curved wand's ergonomic shape received the top score for being easy to use in recent Beauty Awards testing.

Performance: It scored highest for curling and lengthening lashes in a recent expert evaluation, plus 100% of testers agreed it didn't smudge or irritate eyes. Testers did report that the formula tends to skew a bit clumpy, though.

Tester notes: “This mascara added SO much length and volume to my lashes," said one, adding it "truly opened up my eyes. Another added, "It noticeably lengthens my lashes [and] provides good volume."

Wear/removal: Save for what two testers separately called "a tiny bit of flaking," they said the washable formula "took just a few seconds to get off."

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening, separating | Colors: Very black, black, black brown, brown

Why we love it: A hypoallergenic formula that won't irritate sensitive eyes, Lash Blast's comb-like wand and plastic bristles define lashes and give a natural-looking, separated look without adding too much bulk.

Performance: In our consumer tests, Lash Blast got high scores for smooth application, volumizing, lengthening and separating lashes, and the formula got near-perfect marks for water-resistance, too. Just take note that this pick may not be high-impact enough for those who love a dramatic look.

Tester notes: "Makes my eyelashes the best version of themselves: Noticeably longer, fuller, darker and more defined, yet somehow natural-looking, like I was born with the most lush, fluttery lashes."

Wear/removal: A few reviewers noted that it can get clumpy during application, but our Lab gave it a perfect score for not running, smearing or smudging when it's exposed to water. That means you may have to work a little harder at removing it.

Benefits: Volumizing, curling, lengthening | Colors: Black

Why we love it: In a recent test, this tubing mascara climbed to the very top of the pack of all mascaras. Tubing mascara instantly mimics the look of lash extensions by encapsulating each lash in a tube-like coating, making it excellent for adding length to lashes.

Performance: According to testers, it was the ultimate winner in curling, resisting clumping, flaking and smudging, best for adding volume and length, and it earned rare perfect scores for going on smoothly and for consumer satisfaction.

Tester notes: The tapered silicone wand was a hit, easily applying the perfect amount of product for "good volume and lengthening without giving a clumpy or spidery look," said one tester. "Love the way this coats my lashes with a great balance between volume and length without looking clumpy," raved another.

Wear/removal: At the end of the day, removing it is a breeze: "It comes off with water, and no rubbing is needed," noted a tester, which is why it scored best for easy removal.

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Colors: Black, brown, blue

Why we love it: Overall? "A great mascara that gives volume and length in two swipes."

Performance: This YSL wand got perfect scores when it came to volumizing and lengthening, and performed best for being buildable.

Tester notes: The rich, true-black hue "gives a sexy, dramatic look without being too clumpy," said one tester.

Wear/removal: A couple testers noticed some flaking by the end of the day, though multiple testers attested to its ability to withstand smudges even through tears, saying, "even when I rubbed my eyes, it didn't smudge."

Benefits: Separating, lengthening | Colors: Blackest black, black, black brown

Why we love it: This winning formula strikes the ideal balance.

Performance: It not only got perfect scores for going on smoothly and not causing irritation or redness, but the buildable formula doesn't clump or flake even with extended wear. Despite its name, it only got mediocre scores for volumizing and curling lashes, but the spiky, flexible wand does a great job at separating and stretching lashes.

Tester notes: "This formula is fantastic. I love how it made for natural lashes but it was buildable to a more dramatic look without being clumpy," said one tester, while another said, "made for a very soft, doe-eyed look."

Wear/removal: It "did not budge throughout the day; no smearing, smudging or flaking, yet was easy to wash off at the end of the day," said another tester.

Benefits: Lengthening | Colors: Very black, black, black brown

Why we love it: If you have short lashes, this lengthening powerhouse is the pick for you. In testing, it got a perfect score for not irritating eyes.

Performance: It scored best for lengthening lashes in our tests. Keep in mind, though, it scored only mid-range for curling and volumizing.

Tester notes: Testers loved the inky, deep pigment of this mascara, saying "this is one of the deepest blacks I have tried." Another praised the brush, saying, "the bristles on the brush are well-spaced and abundant, so it layers on the lashes easily and evenly."

Wear/removal: Some testers found it hard to remove, but the majority agreed it "lasted throughout the day and washed off easily at night."

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening, separating | Colors: Black

Why we love it: Perfect for weddings, hot summer days and everything in between, this mascara doesn't budge and was the clear winner among all of the waterproof mascaras we tested.

Performance: Consumer testers said it excelled in volumizing, lengthening and separating while also creating a natural look. The coverage was so voluminous after one application that a tester decided to forego her eyeliner.

Wear/removal: It scored high in every single category, except for one: easy removal (but to be fair, that's the whole point of a waterproof option!). The tradeoff? A tester said it stayed on when she cried, sweat and even rubbed her eyes.