24 Mascaras to Lift & Lengthen Short Lashes 

Time to have elongated lashes around the clock. 

It is widely known that long lashes look stellar, so we love them. However, if we’re not lucky to have been born with them, nothing a coat of good mascara can’t fix—no more never-ending searches for the perfect miracle mascara.

The Best Mascaras For Shorts Lashes

We want to shine a little spotlight on the 24 mascaras that captured our hearts. 

Best Everyday: MAC Cosmetics In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash Mascara 

Volumize, lengthen, and curl with this revolutionary mascara.

Taking lash definition to a new level as only MAC can, this In Extreme Dimension 3D Lash Mascara will transform your eyes within minutes thanks to its whipped carbon formula.

Working to add dense volume and color to lashes that won’t result in hard flakes or smudges, the innovative wand is molded to hold optimal mascara in one go.

Try using the tip of the brush to refine lower lashes.

Best Volumizing: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push-Up Lashes Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara 

The search for lashes to match your pout is over, thanks to Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk mascara.

Its load and comb technology brush is shaped with diamond-like bristles that follow the geometry of the eye, providing a fanned-out, eye-opening, and lifting effect; there’s no chance of error.

Coat the lashes with the wand’s flat side before using the bristles to zigzag upwards from the root for full volume.

This eye makeup set is cruelty-free and paraben-free.

Best Luxury: Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara

A mascara that offers instant volume from the very first stroke for longer, plumper, and thicker lashes.

Lashes are coated in deep color, giving eyes a wide-open look—the perfect union of brush and formula for intense volume.

Initially developed exclusively for CHANEL, the brush sculpts volume thanks to its stacked and oriented disks for an impeccable finish.

The quick-drying fluid formula helps build a customized volume result.

Best High Drama: Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara

Deliver high drama, root to tip, with this volumizing mascara, the perfect partner to a smoky eye look.

Get thicker, fuller, bolder lashes in a single super-saturated stroke. This kohl-pigmented mascara delivers high drama thanks to its ability to build volume lash by lash.

A thicker brush base evenly combs through eyelashes from roots to ends, while a tapered tip grabs those small, hard-to-reach lashes.

The result is dramatically dark, stretched-out lashes instantly—the perfect complement to a smoky eye look.

Best for Sensitive Eyes: Sensei Mascara 38°C (Separating & Lengthening)

A kind-to-skin mascara inspired by the luster of the finest Koishimaru silk.

This mascara shows how optimum product performance is possible without harming or damaging the skin.

This mascara is a non-smudge formulation that resists sweat, tears, and humidity, washing off with water at 38°C.

Gently separates, conditions, and lengthens lashes for big and beautiful eyes.

Best Multitasking: HUDA BEAUTY LEGIT LASHES Double-Ended Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara

It doesn’t get more legit than this. Recognizing the need for products that complement and inspire each wearer, Huda Beauty offers up its Legit Lashes Double-Ended Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara.

Featuring two brushes and formulas, it’s the next great mascara to give you bigger eyes to see the world.

For a fluffier look, use the Curl & Length side first and finish with the Volume side.

Best False Lashes effect: Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara

Part of the Unlocked collection that supports the mission to unlock the cages of wild animals in captivity.

Californian beauty brand Hourglass is renowned for the ground-breaking formulas that make it easy to achieve your desired make-up look. It’s specifically designed to create high-octane drama.

The Unlocked Instant Extension mascara does exactly what its name suggests, delivering endless length, intense volume, and dramatic definition to resemble the look of lash extensions easily.

Made with film-forming technology, the smudge-proof formula coats each lash in lightweight fibers that lock in place for a fanned-out, high-impact finish.

For even more drama, combine with the brand’s expertly designed Lash Curler (sold separately).

Vegan-friendly and not tested on animals, Hourglass is a proud cruelty free brand.

Best Vegan: COVERGIRL Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara

Lengthening and waterproof, the famous COVERGIRL Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara is just divine.

It comes in an array of five different shades. It’s specially formulated to elongate and volumize lashes.

Plus, it’s cruelty-free, clean and affordable. 

Best Clean: Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara

The clean, two-in-one Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara works simultaneously as mascara and a primer to give you fan-like, extra-long lashes.

It’s infused with jojoba esters to nourish and moisturize your eyelashes.

This smoothing mascara is made without parabens, paraffin, silicones, and synthetic fragrances. Cruelty free. In addition, it’s dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested. 

Best Drugstore: Essence Lash Princess 

Essence Lash Princess is the drugstore mascara market lineup leader thanks to its long-lasting and lengthening powers. It’s affordable too.

The fiber brush makes it easy to use. No wonder it has over 297,000 rave reviews on amazon. 

Gluten and cruelty free.

Best Long-Lasting: Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes

If you need a mascara that’ll stick around no matter what life throws at you? Check out Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes.

This wonder curls, conditions, lengthens and volumizes for 25 hours straight. 

Best Lengthening: Lancôme Definicils Lengthening & Defining Mascara 

The top-rated Wonderwall Lancôme Definicils Lengthening & Defining Mascara will save your eyelashes by lengthening them in an elegant, natural-looking way.

It’s infused with panthenol and vitamin B5 to condition and hydrate your lashes. 

Best Natural-Looking:  Maybelline Full N’Soft Mascara 

Maybelline Full N’Soft Mascara is a makeup bag must-have.

It’s infused with vitamin E to hydrate your lashes. The refined handy wand leaves a fuss-free, natural look, making it a go-to staple

Best Lengthening, Runner-Up: Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara

Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara has unparalleled lengthening powers.

The pigmented, jet-black coat is smudge-free. It makes sense as to why it’s loved by many. 

Best Conditioning: Milk Makeup RISE Lifting + Lengthening Mascara

Milk Makeup RISE Lifting + Lengthening Mascara is an essential weightless, clump-free makeup routine. It’s hard to come across a mascara that does it all.

This rare gem is enriched with monoi oil and marigold extract to nourish lashes. A four-plant wax complex blend includes carnauba wax, sunflower seed wax, tree berry, and candelilla wax.

Vegan and cruelty free.

Best Overall: Tom Ford Extreme Mascara 

This old-school favorite of makeup pros instantly volumizes and lengthens each lash.

Tom Ford Extreme Mascara is very intense and delivers unparalleled high drama. 

Best Bold: Maybelline Sky High Mascara 

Ready to fly to the moon with Maybelline Sky High Mascara that lifts you higher than any mascara could.

The Tik-Tok staple is lightweight, buildable, and leaves your eyelashes big and bold. Not to mention, it’s enriched with bamboo extract. 

Best Conditioning Mascara: Grande MASCARA Black Conditioning Peptide Mascara

This two-in-one formula lengthens styles and cares for your lashes.

The Grande MASCARA Black Conditioning Peptide Mascara simultaneously lends a bold finishing touch to your evening look while nourishing lashes with its moisturizing and natural growth-promoting formula.

Working to condition lashes to create a fuller, more voluminous finish both instantly and over time, it comes with an innovative styling brush for achieving ultra-precise results.

It’s infused with a lash-loving blend of peptides, panthenols, and natural waxes.

Best Fan-Effect: Maybelline Lash Sensational Lengthening Mascara 

If you’re looking for a full fan effect, pick the Maybelline Lash Sensational Lengthening Mascara.

The cult-favorite mascara has ten layers of bristles to curl each lash individually. 

Best Clean: ILIA Limitless Lash Lengthening Clean Mascara

For makeup aficionados looking for instant lift, curl, and definition, get the ILIA Limitless Lash Lengthening Clean Mascara.

It’s got buildable coverage for 3-4 coats, and it gets clumpy. Nonetheless, the sleek, shiny, healthy delivery is oh-so-worth it. 

Best Smudge-Free: COVERGIRL Professional 3-in-1 Curved Brush Mascara 

Get the lashes of your dreams with this magical COVERGIRL Professional 3-in-1 Curved Brush Mascara.

This soothing mascara is specially made for sensitive eyes and features a hypoallergenic formula.

The curved brush ensures pure perfection. It also comes in a straight brush and a waterproof version. 

Best Definition: L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara 

Stand out in the crowd with the breath-taking L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara.

The super-soft brush catches every lash with instant plush, dense fuller-looking lashes. The new formula is enriched with conditioning floral oil. 

Best Curling: Wander Beauty Unlashed Volume & Curl Mascara

Elevate your makeup game with the award-winning, glossy, black Wander Beauty Unlashed Volume & Curl Mascara.

This multitasking mascara lifts and curls lashes while it strengthens and lengthens them.

Hypoallergenic. Cruelty Free & Gluten Free.

Best Cruelty-Free: Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Mascara

Hot days, sweaty workouts, heavy rains – Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Mascara can ride any storm and come out on top!

The very intense blacker than black is super dramatic. The waterproof formula can withstand any weather, rain, or shine. 

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Final Verdict 
We’ve rounded out the 24 best mascaras from the drugstore, luxury, and clean to conditioning, lengthening, and volumizing mascaras out there. Our ultimate favorite is the Grande MASCARA Black Conditioning Peptide Mascara, which boosts your lash growth while it’s on. Our second favorite is the Wander Beauty Unlashed Volume & Curl Mascara, which strengthens and lengthens your lashes.