10 Best Mascaras For Boosting Volume
yurakrasil/Shutterstock By Reecha Kulkarni/Aug. 30, 2022 3:15 pm EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. If the ever-rising cost of eyelash extensions are only supporting your falsies obsession, a volumizing mascara might be the only way to wean off both. This mascara is the Fairy Godmother equivalent of a regular mascara; with a wave of its wand, your lashes transform into dramatic, fluttery charmers that make any Disney hero stop in their tracks.
And it’s not just any kind of wand. Volumizing mascaras often lengthen and curl, but their ability to lend fullness to your eyelashes comes from the shape of their wands as well as their formulas. A round and densely packed wand is more likely to give you volume than a skinny one. You could also look for an hourglass-shaped wand, which curls and lengthens while giving your lashes incredible volume (via Woman & Home). As for the formula, higher concentrations of waxes (whether it’s carnauba, paraffin, or beeswax) is definitely a good sign that your mascara will provide thickness to your lashes (via Prospector Knowledge Center) If you’re someone with sparse or lighter lashes (or just a magic enthusiast), find some of the best volumizing mascaras below.
Best splurge-worthy
Sephora
Almost every review of the Dior Diorshow 24h Buildable Volume mascara spoke highly of its formula and how it lives up to its ‘buildable’ claim. “I love how black and buildable this mascara is! It adds so much volume to my lashes and doesn’t flake after hours of wear. The brush is thick but doesn’t clump the product upon application. Love to wear it,” one reviewer on Sephora said. The rich and dark formula is infused with cornflower extract to hydrate lashes, according to the brand, and claims to last up to 24 hours. And if volume is the goal, the mascara’s long fluffy brush is the perfect tool.
“Diorshow has become one of my favorite mascaras!” another reviewer on Sephora said. “I have always had issues with mascaras smudging and leaving black clumps under my eyes with this mascara; that does not happen!” They went on to say that not only does the mascara provide “volume and length,” but its formula eases any mascara mess and prevents smudging. Price: Dior Diorshow 24h Buildable Volume Mascara retails for $29.50 at Sephora Size: 0.33 fl oz Number of Shades: 3
Best waterproof
Sephora
For the very specific situations of sobbing your heart out while watching your best friend get married (or watching Mufasa fall into a pit of hyenas), we’d recommend a mascara that doesn’t wash away with your tears. Enter Lancôme’s Monsieur Big Waterproof mascara — an iteration of the brand’s super popular washable version. This mascara promises smudge-proof and waterproof volume for up to 24 hours and is favorited by almost 20,000 people on Sephora.
One reviewer took it for a serious test run: “This mascara is awesome! [Spent] the whole day at a waterpark and it did not budge!! Highly recommend if you are looking for a great waterproof mascara.” Another said, “[The mascara] gives you the same volume and length [as the washable mascara] and it did not budge at all when I’ve gone swimming! I recommend using the Lancôme primer prior to using this mascara. It helps lock it in and stay intact all day, as well as providing amplified volume and length! this is definitely a summer makeup essential!!” Price: Lancôme Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara retails for $27 at Sephora Size: 0.33 fl oz Number of Shades: 1
Best vegan
Fenty Beauty
Every other product we’ve loved has the Fenty Beauty label on it; the brand really has some of the best glosses, lipsticks, and bases we’ve tried. Their Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl mascara is also on this list because it hasn’t seen disappointment. Equipped with a double-sided brush that lengthens and thickens as well as curls and defines, this mascara really does it all. Its vegan formulation includes synthetic beeswax, which means that your lashes will be hydrated and soft (via Byrdie).
Favorited by over 52,000 people on Sephora, the mascara is definitely a great vegan option to add to your beauty routines. One customer said, “Great for long lashes that point straight instead of up! I don’t even need to use an eyelash curler with this. Huge tube, so worth the money.” Another said, “I have sensitive eyes and had 0 issues, which is rare so it’s definitely clean. It doesn’t clump, volumizes like crazy. I’ve slowly begun throwing out my other mascaras as I keep reaching for this one every day.” Price: Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl Mascara retails for $24 at Sephora Size: 0.42 fl oz Number of Shades: 1
10 Best Mascaras For Boosting Volume
yurakrasil/Shutterstock
By Reecha Kulkarni/Aug. 30, 2022 3:15 pm EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. If the ever-rising cost of eyelash extensions are only supporting your falsies obsession, a volumizing mascara might be the only way to wean off both. This mascara is the Fairy Godmother equivalent of a regular mascara; with a wave of its wand, your lashes transform into dramatic, fluttery charmers that make any Disney hero stop in their tracks.
And it’s not just any kind of wand. Volumizing mascaras often lengthen and curl, but their ability to lend fullness to your eyelashes comes from the shape of their wands as well as their formulas. A round and densely packed wand is more likely to give you volume than a skinny one. You could also look for an hourglass-shaped wand, which curls and lengthens while giving your lashes incredible volume (via Woman & Home). As for the formula, higher concentrations of waxes (whether it’s carnauba, paraffin, or beeswax) is definitely a good sign that your mascara will provide thickness to your lashes (via Prospector Knowledge Center) If you’re someone with sparse or lighter lashes (or just a magic enthusiast), find some of the best volumizing mascaras below.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
And it’s not just any kind of wand. Volumizing mascaras often lengthen and curl, but their ability to lend fullness to your eyelashes comes from the shape of their wands as well as their formulas. A round and densely packed wand is more likely to give you volume than a skinny one. You could also look for an hourglass-shaped wand, which curls and lengthens while giving your lashes incredible volume (via Woman & Home). As for the formula, higher concentrations of waxes (whether it’s carnauba, paraffin, or beeswax) is definitely a good sign that your mascara will provide thickness to your lashes (via Prospector Knowledge Center)
If you’re someone with sparse or lighter lashes (or just a magic enthusiast), find some of the best volumizing mascaras below.
How we selected
Alena Sadreeva/Shutterstock
But just in case democracy wasn’t the most reliable source, the selection process took the quality of the formulas into account. Higher concentrations of wax, hydrating and lash-loving ingredients, were prioritized for this list of mascaras, along with vegan alternatives. For those of you with lash extensions who just need that extra oomph without damaging your lashes, we found some thickening extension-safe formulations. These aren’t limited to a single price point, either. You’ll find mascaras that are worth the dent in your wallet but also others that sit pretty in a drugstore aisle. And they all have “volumizing” in their repertoire of skills.
Best overall
Size: 0.28 fl oz
Number of Shades: 4
Best budget
Beauty YouTuber Tati Westbrook’s first impression confirmed that the mascara “[is] definitely giving off a lot of thickness…Out of all the mascaras that I have tried recently, this is the most intense richly pigmented one.” After wearing it for a few hours, she came back to report, “I am so incredibly pleased. This mascara is nap-proof…it’s not clumping, or like flaking or smudging…this mascara is totally for the win right now.”
Size: 0.4 fl oz
Number of Shades: 3
Best drugstore
Made without carnauba wax, this mascara is a great option for those with sensitive eyes or lash extensions (although, it’s best to consult with your lash specialist). The lack of wax also makes the pigment — and your eyes — really stand out.
Size: 0.34 fl oz
Number of Shades: 2
Best splurge-worthy
Sephora
Almost every review of the Dior Diorshow 24h Buildable Volume mascara spoke highly of its formula and how it lives up to its ‘buildable’ claim. “I love how black and buildable this mascara is! It adds so much volume to my lashes and doesn’t flake after hours of wear. The brush is thick but doesn’t clump the product upon application. Love to wear it,” one reviewer on Sephora said. The rich and dark formula is infused with cornflower extract to hydrate lashes, according to the brand, and claims to last up to 24 hours. And if volume is the goal, the mascara’s long fluffy brush is the perfect tool.
“Diorshow has become one of my favorite mascaras!” another reviewer on Sephora said. “I have always had issues with mascaras smudging and leaving black clumps under my eyes with this mascara; that does not happen!” They went on to say that not only does the mascara provide “volume and length,” but its formula eases any mascara mess and prevents smudging. Price: Dior Diorshow 24h Buildable Volume Mascara retails for $29.50 at Sephora Size: 0.33 fl oz Number of Shades: 3
“Diorshow has become one of my favorite mascaras!” another reviewer on Sephora said. “I have always had issues with mascaras smudging and leaving black clumps under my eyes with this mascara; that does not happen!” They went on to say that not only does the mascara provide “volume and length,” but its formula eases any mascara mess and prevents smudging.
Price: Dior Diorshow 24h Buildable Volume Mascara retails for $29.50 at Sephora
Size: 0.33 fl oz
Number of Shades: 3
Best waterproof
For the very specific situations of sobbing your heart out while watching your best friend get married (or watching Mufasa fall into a pit of hyenas), we’d recommend a mascara that doesn’t wash away with your tears. Enter Lancôme’s Monsieur Big Waterproof mascara — an iteration of the brand’s super popular washable version. This mascara promises smudge-proof and waterproof volume for up to 24 hours and is favorited by almost 20,000 people on Sephora.
One reviewer took it for a serious test run: “This mascara is awesome! [Spent] the whole day at a waterpark and it did not budge!! Highly recommend if you are looking for a great waterproof mascara.” Another said, “[The mascara] gives you the same volume and length [as the washable mascara] and it did not budge at all when I’ve gone swimming! I recommend using the Lancôme primer prior to using this mascara. It helps lock it in and stay intact all day, as well as providing amplified volume and length! this is definitely a summer makeup essential!!” Price: Lancôme Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara retails for $27 at Sephora Size: 0.33 fl oz Number of Shades: 1
One reviewer took it for a serious test run: “This mascara is awesome! [Spent] the whole day at a waterpark and it did not budge!! Highly recommend if you are looking for a great waterproof mascara.” Another said, “[The mascara] gives you the same volume and length [as the washable mascara] and it did not budge at all when I’ve gone swimming! I recommend using the Lancôme primer prior to using this mascara. It helps lock it in and stay intact all day, as well as providing amplified volume and length! this is definitely a summer makeup essential!!”
Price: Lancôme Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara retails for $27 at Sephora
Number of Shades: 1
Best lengthening
Notably, the formula uses tree berry wax — which is a vegan alternative to beeswax — that is just as capable at gripping onto your lashes. Many reviewers also attested to loving its lightweight yet pigmented formula: “My lashes are lengthened, coated, curled, volumized, and so dark black from this mascara. It is thick in a good way and the brush holds just the right amount of product,” one reviewer wrote.
Size: 0.40 fl oz
Number of Shades: 1
Best curling
Over 3,000 people on the internet agree. One reviewer said, “Y’all. I have spent way too much money on mascara during my life. It’s embarrassing. I’ve probably tried over 15-20 different brands. The Wander Beauty Unlashed blows all of the other products out of the water. I am OBSESSED. Curls beautifully and stays on all day! So glad I found this gem.” Another let us know that the product isn’t “sticky or heavy.” “You can swim (or cry!) and it won’t run all over your face. Easy to come off and it lasts all day. 100% recommended!” they attested.
Size: 0.32 fl oz
Number of Shades: 1
Best MUA-approved
The mascara also comes with raving reviews from customers, with many mentioning its precise brush. One reviewer said, “I will keep on buying this product. It does better than some very expensive mascaras I have purchased. I love how it separates all my lashes giving them so much volume. The wand is so small to get every corner.” And another, who claims that this is their favorite mascara, said, “I love the tiny little brush because I have blond eyelashes and it is so great at separating your lashes and giving them ‘OOMPH.’”
Size: 0.16 fl oz
Best for lash extensions
Size: 0.25 fl oz
Best vegan
Fenty Beauty
Every other product we’ve loved has the Fenty Beauty label on it; the brand really has some of the best glosses, lipsticks, and bases we’ve tried. Their Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl mascara is also on this list because it hasn’t seen disappointment. Equipped with a double-sided brush that lengthens and thickens as well as curls and defines, this mascara really does it all. Its vegan formulation includes synthetic beeswax, which means that your lashes will be hydrated and soft (via Byrdie).
Favorited by over 52,000 people on Sephora, the mascara is definitely a great vegan option to add to your beauty routines. One customer said, “Great for long lashes that point straight instead of up! I don’t even need to use an eyelash curler with this. Huge tube, so worth the money.” Another said, “I have sensitive eyes and had 0 issues, which is rare so it’s definitely clean. It doesn’t clump, volumizes like crazy. I’ve slowly begun throwing out my other mascaras as I keep reaching for this one every day.” Price: Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl Mascara retails for $24 at Sephora Size: 0.42 fl oz Number of Shades: 1
Favorited by over 52,000 people on Sephora, the mascara is definitely a great vegan option to add to your beauty routines. One customer said, “Great for long lashes that point straight instead of up! I don’t even need to use an eyelash curler with this. Huge tube, so worth the money.” Another said, “I have sensitive eyes and had 0 issues, which is rare so it’s definitely clean. It doesn’t clump, volumizes like crazy. I’ve slowly begun throwing out my other mascaras as I keep reaching for this one every day.”
Price: Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl Mascara retails for $24 at Sephora
Size: 0.42 fl oz
