The Best Lengthening and Volumizing Mascaras of 2022

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Eyeing a fluttery fringe without falsies? So do stars on the red carpet, which is why Hollywood makeup artists still rely on the best lengthening mascaras to give their clients’ eyelashes a wide-awake look that's fit for close-ups.

Whether you’re preparing for the fall event circuit, you’re in between lash extension appointments or you’re looking for everyday lash-boosting options, we’ve rounded up some of the best mascaras that promise to lift your strands and give you a wide-awake look. Ahead, see some of the best lengthening and volumizing mascaras, including waterproof formulas and products loved by beauty experts.

BEST LENGTHENING MASCARA OVERALL

There's a reason why Benefit Cosmetics consistently earns raves reviews for its best-selling They’re Real! lengthening mascara. We (and thousands of satisfied reviewers) turn to this product for its consistency in lifting and curling lashes while adding volume and definition. We’re fans of the longwear formula the domed wand's bristles that grab onto lashes of all lengths.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Benefit | Sephora | Ulta

Benefit Cosmetics

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Look wide-eyed and awake with Too Faced's cult-favorite Better Than Sex Mascara which has an hourglass-shaped wand that lifts every strand and delivers definition and volume. The formula contains collagen for a plumping effect, while a film-forming polymer helps to lock curls in place. Makeup artist Emily Cheng uses it on clients such as Yara Shahidi. (We’re fans of the waterproof formula, too).

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Too Faced | Nordstrom | Sephora | Ulta

Sephora

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One swipe of L’Oréal's Telescopic lengthening mascara (also available in a waterproof formula) will bring dramatic length and double the pigment of other basic black mascaras.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Amazon | Target | Ulta

Amazon

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BEST LONGWEAR MASCARA OVERALL

Charlotte Tilbury's smudge-resistant Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes delivers 24 hours of lift and voluminous strands, thanks to a special brush that thoroughly combs the formula into each lash. The mascara contains the conditioning ingredient Kerestore to leave lashes looking thicker and the larch tree-derived polymer naturally lifts and holds strands.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Charlotte Tilbury | Sephora | Nordstrom | Violet Grey

Charlotte Tilbury

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BEST NATURAL LOOK

Our go-to for a natural look, Glossier's Lash Slick mascara is a flexible and weightless formula that uses tiny fibers to individually coat each lash. It's smudge-free and water-resistant for up to 12 hours, and it contains nourishing ingredients such as pro-vitamin B5 and biotinyl tripeptide-1 to condition your lashes during everyday wear.

Glossier

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A favorite among celebrity makeup artists including Daniel Martin, Jessica Alba-founded Honest Beauty's Extreme Length mascara is a two-in-one product that has a conditioning primer on one end and a lengthening and volumizing pigment on the other. Prep with the built-in primer for longer wear, then use the flexible want to evenly coat lashes with the clean formula.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Honest | Amazon | Target | Ulta

Amazon

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BEST LENGTHENING AND CURLING MASCARA

Designed to lift and curl, Rare Beauty's Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing mascara lets you channel founder Selena Gomez (or her onscreen sleuth, Mabel Mora) in just a few swipes. Castor oil helps to soften, condition and nourish lashes, and the curved, multi-length brush grabs onto all lash types.

Rare Beauty

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Nathalie Eleni (Anya Taylor-Joy and Jessica Plummer are clients) is among celebrity makeup artists who swear by Ilia. The clean beauty brand's Limitless Lash Mascara has a nourishing and fortifying formula (thanks to beeswax, shea butter and keratin) that lengthens and holds curl.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Ilia | Detox Market | Nordstrom | Sephora |

Sephora

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BEST COLORED MASCARA

For eye-catching lashes, Addison Rae-founded Item Beauty's Boost Juice mascara adds a bright pop of blue or purple and length to your look. The formula doubles as a conditioning primer, and you can wear each shade alone or with another mascara.

Sephora

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Makeup artist Sabrina Bedrani (clients include Charlize Theron, Priyanka Chopra, Tessa Thompson and more) uses Dior's Pump ‘N’ Volume mascara for instant drama. The vitamin B-enriched product promises volume and definition with its clump-free formula, and the dual-material brush allows for precise application to create styled and separated lashes.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Dior | Bloomingdale's | Neiman Marcus | Nordstrom | Sephora

Courtesy of Sephora

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You don't need a blockbuster budget for a dramatic flutter — Maybelline's The Falsies Lash Lift washable mascara has proven to be one of the best drugstore lash products for a lengthened, no-smudge look. The double-curved hourglass brush separates and coats each strand with the fiber-infused formula to give an instant lift.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Amazon | Target | Ulta | Walmart

Courtesy of Amazon

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One of the best-selling mascaras on Amazon, Essence's incredibly affordable Lash Princess False Lash Effect has a cruelty-and gluten-free formula that offers buildable and dramatic length that stays all day without flaking. The long-lasting mascara's conic brush helps to sculpt and separate individual lashes.

Amazon

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BEST FAUX EXTENSIONS LOOK

Hollywood makeup artist Rachel Goodwin uses Hourglass Cosmetics’ luxe products for red carpet looks on clients such as Emma Stone and Brie Larson. (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a celebrity ambassador, too.) The brand's vegan Unlocked Instant Extensions mascara lengthens from the lash root to tip. Lightweight fibers coat each strand to lengthen for a dramatic feathery flutter that rivals falsies.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Hourglass | Sephora | Ulta

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BEST CLEAN BUILDABLE MASCARA

We’re fans of Saie's non-toxic Mascara 101 formula, which is buildable while leaving lashes flexible. Made of 100 percent natural or naturally derived ingredients, the mascara contains organic beeswax, carnauba wax and shea butter help to condition and moisturize lashes, and a hydra-mineral complex and arginine amino acid for strengthening strands.

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Yves Saint Laurent's new Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara delivers buildable volume with every swipe. The nourishing formula offers smudge-proof wear for 24 hours.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: YSL | Farfetch | Nordstrom | Sephora

Courtesy of Nordstrom

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If you’re not yet ready to commit to magnetic eyeliner and falsies, Benefit's They’re Real Magnetic Extreme Mascara might just be the next best thing. The brush's unique magnetically-charged core helps to pull up the magnet-infused pigment to extend lashes up to 40 percent longer, while the wand's zig-zag bristles help to create fanned-out strands with definition for up to 36 hours of wear.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Benefit | Nordstrom | Sephora | Ulta

Courtesy of Sephora

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If perfectly curled and lifted lashes are what you seek, Milk Makeup's Rise mascara weightlessly lengthens with a vegan wax complex that wraps each lash while monoi oil and marigold extract strengthen and condition hairs to leave them softer.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Milk Makeup | Sephora

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On heavy rotation in Hollywood makeup artists’ kits (including Genevieve Herr), Lancôme's best-selling Définicils Defining & Lengthening Mascara separates and coats each lash with polymers that lengthen the strand, resulting in a thicker and natural look.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Nordstrom | Ulta

Courtesy of Nordstrom

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Non-toxic beauty brand Well People's Expressionist Pro mascara is enriched with plant-based ingredients including castor and sunflower seed oils to nourish and condition lashes. The non-flaking formula lengthens and defines strands for a fluttery and lush look every time.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Well People | Amazon | Credo

Courtesy of Amazon

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For a cruelty-free and vegan pigment that promises all-day length, Thrive Causemetics’ Liquid Lash Extensions mascara uses a high-performance flake-free formula with orchid stem cell complex, castor seed oil and shea butter to condition and lengthen eyelashes.

Courtesy of Amazon

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Hollywood makeup artists including Jillian Dempsey (Jennifer Lawrence, Claire Danes), Sarah Vaughn (Connie Britton) and Jill Powell (Demi Lovato) have said they’re fans of Armani Beauty's mascaras. The luxury brand's Black Ecstasy formula accentuates the eyes using a multi-directional brush that coats every lash from root to tip and delivers volume, length and curl in seconds. The paraben-free formula uses a color-boosting polymer for an intense black pigment.

MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Armani | Farfetch | Sephora | Violet Grey

Armani Beauty

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