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23 Best Lengthening Mascaras for Short Lashes

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Everyone wants fuller, longer lashes, and unfortunately, not everyone has them. While you can always go for false eyelashes to achieve the look, a lengthening mascara is an easier way to add some tangible drama to your peepers. A single swipe is all it takes to create a falsie-inspired look instead of spending hours getting extensions put in.

With so many mascaras out there to choose from, we’ve simplified the search by selecting the best lengthening mascaras that really deliver. From lash primers to multi-step options to those with fibers, this list has the best lengthening mascara for everyone. Try one of these great options today and add some seriously dramatic and sexy length to your lashes. 

1
Best Overall
Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara
Benefit Cosmetics Sephora.com
$25

Why get falsies when you can use a fantastic lengthening mascara? This one by Benefit Cosmetics is the perfect option to turn to when you don’t want to upkeep with false lashes. This sexy silver tube contains a long-wearing formula that will add lots of volume to your lashes and make them super glossy. Swipe it on with a brush that features staggered bristles for length and volume before using the custom-domed tip to reach even the tiniest lashes.

Just like so many other shoppers, you’ll fall in love with this mascara that gives the illusion of longer, fuller lashes. Reviewers state it’s a great filler and cheaper option when you don’t want to keep up with lash extensions around the year.

Do keep in mind that beauty gurus have mentioned that it can be hard to remove even with makeup remover and that lashes can look clumped if you don’t use the brush properly. Give this mascara by Benefit a shot. You can buy it on Amazon and Sephora today!

2
Best Waterproof
Tetyana Naturals 4D Silk Fiber Lash Mascara
Tetyana Naturals Amazon.com
$15.99

Looking for a mascara that is great for sensitive eyes without sacrificing lengthening benefits? The Tetyana Naturals mascara is for you! It comes in a cute rose gold and black tube filled with a natural, non-toxic formula that creates silky, feathery lashes. It’s also waterproof!

While the bristled brush can grab a lot of product, which can make lashes clumpy, it truly creates lovely lashes. Beauty lovers adore that their lashes are evenly coated and elongated, which allows them to only need to put on one to two coats of mascara for a great look. Save some time while looking fabulous by using this non-toxic mascara, now available on Amazon.

3
Best Brush Applicator
Lancôme Définicils Lengthening and Defining Mascara
Lancôme Nordstrom.com
$27.50

Lancôme is known for great makeup, and it definitely extends into their mascara! This award-winning formula contains polymers that help lengthen and define each of your lashes. The brush applicator inside the black tube contains grooved bristles that help brush on an even amount of product.

Shoppers love that it is super easy to apply as well as adds fullness to each lash, dries fast, and lasts long. However, they have also noticed that it can smudge after a couple of hours of wear as well as produce straight eyelashes if you don’t curl the brush. Give this Lancôme mascara a try today, and purchase it from Nordstrom!

4
Best Clean Formula
ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara
ILIA Sephora.com
$28

Have you heard about cult-favorites and are curious to see if they are worth it or not? The Limitless Lash mascara by ILIA is one of them and totally worth it! This paper-white tube contains a formula that is made of arginine to fortify lashes and shea butter to condition them. It’s also free of sulfates, parabens, and other harmful ingredients, as well as contains less than one percent of synthetic fragrances. It also comes with a dual-sided brush that can help separate lashes and is packed in recyclable packaging.

Besides falling in love with this mascara for being cruelty-free and gluten-free, beauty gurus adore that it doesn’t flake during the day and is easy to wipe away. They even state it helps the eyes look more youthful – what a compliment! But do keep in mind that it is a drier mascara and can clump at times. Try this 99% natural mascara by purchasing it from Sephora.

5
Best Everyday Option
Glossier Lash Slick
Glossier Glossier.com
$16

Want a lengthening mascara that also curls your lashes? Then look no further! The Lash Slick by Glossier is a baby pink tube that packs a punch. It contains a formula that is water-resistant – and washes off easily at night – cruelty-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and allergy-tested. The formula also contains super small fibers that help build your lashes.

Beauty lovers rave about this mascara doing its job as well as curling straight lashes without feeling heavy. However, do keep in mind that it can also dry up fast, so seal off that top well. Give this Glossier mascara a go and pick it up from their website.

6
Best One-Swipe Mascara
IT Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara
IT Cosmetics Amazon.com
$20

Shoot for the sky with some amazingly long lashes. This is the best mascara for short lashes, as it is formulated with peptides, proteins, biotin, lash-enhancing polymers, and collagen, as well as an elastic stretch technology to lift, separate, lengthen and volumize each lash. This sleek black tube also contains a Lash-Changing Power Brush that helps curl and lift your lashes for a fuller look.

This mascara saves the day, as many shoppers love that they only have to apply it once in order to create a good look. They also say that it doesn’t clump and creates a silky, smooth look. However, they have noticed that the mascara is not waterproof and can come off or smudge easily. Make your makeup routine heroic with this mascara. You can find it on Amazon.

7
Best Non-Smudging
Estée Lauder Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara
Estée Lauder Sephora.com
$29

If you are someone who wants some amazing length without sacrificing a smudge-free formula, you’ve come to the right place. The Estée Lauder mascara comes in a sophisticated navy and gold tube for some serious lengthening work. The tube is filled with a formula that is ready to show great length and smudge-free lashes for up to five hours.

This formula is actually called the Smudge-Shield, as it contains polymers that lock the mascara onto your lashes and resists high temperatures, humidity, and perspiration. Don’t forget the brush! It has been designed to contain microfiber bristles that comb and detangle lashes as well as coat them in a solid swipe.

While shoppers say you don’t need more than one swipe if you have shorter lashes and that it can clump, they love that this mascara looks amazing on curled lashes. Try this lengthening mascara by Estée Lauder for a new look. It’s available on Sephora.

8
Best Drugstore
L’Oreal Paris Telescopic Original Lengthening Mascara
L’Oreal Paris Amazon.com
$8.44

Go big and gold with this mascara. It comes in both washable and waterproof and is known to add super length and lash separation. The formula in this gold tube has been allergy-tested and is suitable for sensitive eyes. The cool Flexible Dual Precision Brush dramatically impacts your lash length and separates each one. Hate rubbing the formula away at night? This mascara comes off with soap and water.

Shoppers have been talking about how they are thrilled that this lengthening mascara does not flake, smear, or give raccoon eyes, but they also state that the wand can be kind of awkward to use. It’s available for purchase on Amazon.

9
Best Buildable
Maybelline Define-A-Lash Lengthening Mascara
Maybelline Amazon.com
$7.92

Shine like a star wearing this lengthening mascara, as it will make each of your lashes appear like constellation connections. This bright lime green tube contains a formula that will not clump but will deliver stunning length and definition. It features a shaped-to-the-lash flexible brush, which means it will coat every lash from root to tip.

Buyers think this mascara is great for layering after using a curler. While they do think the applicator brush can bend too easily and be flimsy, the formula still swipes on graciously with a steady hand. Sparkle all night long with this mascara for short lashes that is available on both Amazon and Ulta.

10
Best Natural-Looking
Clinique High Impact Mascara
Clinique Nordstrom.com
$20

Love a big impact? The High Impact Mascara by Clinique creates the va-va-voom with a fragrance-free and sensitive-safe formula that kicks the volume up a notch with each coat. Your eyelashes will look bolder and super lush thanks to this mascara. Beauty gurus are raving about how it also makes lashes look natural. However, some think their lashes look too natural and would love even more drama – as well as wishing the brush were smaller. You can buy it from Nordstrom.

11
Best Lengthening Primer
Grande Cosmetics GrandePRIMER Pre-Mascara Lengthener & Thickener
Grande Cosmetics Sephora.com
$25

Go for a new color with this mascara. This pre-mascara lengthener will add length and thickness to your shorter lashes before you apply a single layer of your favorite mascara. This white tube is filled with peptides that create stronger, healthier lashes and a natural wax blend to promote volume and length. It comes with a molded brush that makes sure each lash gets its own coat from root to tip for a smudge-proof, water-resistant look.

While some shoppers have noticed the white coloring can be hard to fully coat with a different colored mascara, others love that it works with uniquely colored mascaras like blue to help make the color totally pop! This mascara will add a one-two punch to your makeup routine. You can buy it from Sephora.

12
Best Multi-Purpose
Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer
Honest Beauty Amazon.com
$17

Do it in two steps with the best mascara for short lashes. This Honest Beauty tube comes with both a primer and tinted mascara for an intense combination. This simple white and peach tube is filled with a formula made without parabens, silicones, mineral oil, or synthetic fragrances but comes with a brush with molded bristles that will make every lash stand out. Just coat your lashes with the primer to create an even base before swiping on the mascara to build your lashes even higher.

Beauty gurus love that the primer and mascara combo work amazingly together, as the primer dries clear. However, they have noted that the wand’s length is shorter, so it can make application difficult. Pick it up from Amazon!

13
Best Fiber
Dior Diorshow Mascara
Dior Sephora.com
$29.50

Make your world a runway with this mascara. This bestselling option is known for creating a lash-extension effect without all of the falsies. The black tube contains microfibers and silk proteins for extra luscious length and rose essence to create a standout shape. It also comes with an XXL brush that easily builds volume.

While this fiber mascara can get a bit clumpy and has a very large applicator, shoppers are happy that it doesn’t pick up too much product and can make barely visible lashes stand out spectacularly. Strut your stuff in this mascara, now available from Sephora.

14
Best Lash-Growth Formula
Chantecaille Faux Cils Longest Lash Mascara
Chantecaille Nordstrom.com
$73

If you got it, flaunt it. The Chantecaille mascara comes in a luxurious gray tube and is filled with a formula made with a peptide technology that enhances the length, thickness, and fullness of lashes. It comes with a double helix brush to swipe on the formula, which also contains natural waxes and rose oil.

The biggest complaint about this mascara is its price (at around $70 per tube), but those who have decided to make the cash splash say that the mascara really doesn’t clump, flake, or transfer but does nourish your lashes to create a fuller and longer look. Fall in love with this top-of-the-line lengthening mascara today. It can be purchased on Nordstrom.

15
Best Budget
Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
Essence Amazon.com
$4.09

Forget the falsies and reach for this lengthening mascara instead. It is focused on drama and length. This black and green tube contains a formula that is gluten-free and PETA-approved. Its brush is made of conic-shaped fibers that help sculpt a great lash look. While it’s not waterproof and can run, shoppers are thrilled that this mascara provides dramatic length and volume. You can buy it from Amazon.

16
Best for a Dramatic Look
Make Up For Ever Smoky Stretch Lengthening & Defining Mascara
Make Up For Ever Sephora.com
$24

How about adding some sultry, mysterious drama to this list? This black tube contains a lengthening mascara formulated with a Flex Control Complex to define and separate each lash. Its comb grabs each lash and coats it with a great amount of product for a natural look. Shoppers are raving about how it lengthens each lash without clumping. However, they have said that it can smudge and flake. Find the drama with this tube of mascara, available at Sephora.

17
Best Vegan
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara
Tarte Amazon.com
$13.56

Get the camera rolling. You’ll want to snap a few pics when you’re wearing this mascara. It lengthens, curls, volumizes, and conditions your lashes. This sparkly purple tube is a standout, just like its formula.

This mascara also comes in waterproof, as well as swipes on super easy for a thicker, longer lash complete in one coat. However, keep in mind that it can get super clumpy over time, and the brush doesn’t spread the eyelashes as much as you hope. Give this mascara a go. You can purchase it from Amazon.

18
Best for Volume
Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara
Kevyn Aucoin Nordstrom.com
$28

Create a classic look with this lengthening mascara that comes in a fashionable black and maroon tube. The formula creates a clump- and flake-free look, while the brush is super skinny but packs a punch when you swipe it on. Shoppers love that it is super easy to apply and dries quickly without clumps. However, they have also noticed that the formula is really thin, so it takes a couple of applications to build an impactful and noticeable layer. You can find it on Nordstrom.

19
Best Conditioning
MAC In Extreme Dimension 3D Lash Mascara
MAC Cosmetics Nordstrom.com
$24

Go for extreme color density with this mascara. It not only comes in a jet-black tube but also contains a formula full of pigment. This mascara is super lightweight but adds tons of volume, length, and curl – all while conditioning your lashes for total softness and flexibility. The giant brush has been molded, so the best amount of mascara clings to it while separating each and every lash. The tip of the brush helps to coat hard-to-reach lashes in the corners of the eye.

While beauty gurus state this mascara can clump, they love that it goes on super smoothly and stays on all day. You can buy it from Nordstrom.

20
Best TLC
Nudestix Lash Lengthening Mascara
Nudestix Sephora.com
$26

Why not get a lengthening mascara that also supports lash growth? This one not only makes your lashes look good when it’s on but also when makeup-free. This midnight black tube is full of peptides that support natural lash growth while also lengthening, thickening, and creating lash flexibility. It’s also great for those with sensitive eyes.

While beauty gurus have noted that this mascara can seem to ‘melt’ onto the area under their lower lash line, they adore the long and voluminous look it creates. Make your lashes stronger with this mascara that you can pick up from Sephora.

21
Best Tube
Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara
Jane Iredale Nordstrom.com
$35

The Jane Iredale mascara comes in a cute gold squeezable tube, filled with a formula with lots of natural ingredients like cellulose fibers to add extra length, and algae extract for conditioning. It also comes with a jumbo hollow fiber brush that helps boost length and thickness.

You’ll fall in love with the extra fluffy brush that increases lash volume. However, beauty lovers have noted that it can take multiple coats to build to a good lash thickness. Give this natural mascara a try and buy it from Nordstrom!

22
Best Pigmented
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
Urban Decay Ulta.com
$25

Make a bold statement with this mascara. It is a super creamy formula inside a black and lilac tube that is also non-clumping and incredibly curling. Some shoppers have reviewed that their lashes seem darker thanks to the pigment but aren’t as long or thick as expected once used. However, they are thrilled that the mascara truly does not clump. You can find it online at Ulta.

23
Best Long-Lasting
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara
Maybelline Amazon.com
$8.54

Let’s make these lashes stiletto-long. This Maybelline mascara contains pro-vitamin B5 and an elastic formula that stretches lashes to new lengths. Build your lashes to your desired look easily with this mascara that also lasts. While it can be extremely hard to take off, shoppers have said that they love that it doesn’t clump, isn’t heavy, and definitely stays on very well. You can find it online on Amazon.

Photos via Nordstrom, Sephora