If you’re after a long and full look, try a lengthening mascara that delivers an eye-opening fringe. This one from the clean beauty brand Thrive Causemetics has a thin brush that separates and coats every eyelash for a smooth, natural finish.
It also contains honey extract and marine collagen to nourish and fortify lashes. Plus, it’s smudge-proof.
Lengthening
Unlike volumizing mascaras that tend to build layers on each lash, lengthening formulas are designed to stretch out lashes evenly for a natural look. A favorite of clean beauty brand Jones Road, this mascara for long lashes features a tapered brush that gets even the hard-to-reach lashes and a nourishing formula with orchid stem cells, shea butter and castor oil that helps lashes appear thicker and nourished.
Lengthening mascaras with a bit of color can help your lashes stand out and give you a dramatic effect. This pick from Koh Gen Do is a red tube that adds a pop of color to your eye makeup while still looking sophisticated for work or play.
Boost your eyelash length with this two-step set from jane iredale that includes the PureLash Lash Extender & Conditioner and the Longest Lash Thickening and Lengthening Mascara. The conditioner helps moisturize and protect your lashes from breakage while the mascara contains plant fibers that latch onto each lash for a feathery, fluttery appearance.
Volumizing
A great lengthening mascara can elongate your lashes and provide a dark, glossy finish. Most of these formulas feature tiny fibers that latch onto each lash and add thickness for a fuller look.
A good lengthening mascara should have a thinner brush with lots of rubberized bristles that will help you comb out and separate each lash without clumping. This is why the wand on Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara is so well-loved. It’s also a tubing mascara that coats each lash in a layer of polymers to boost volume and length.
A great color mascara can add a pop of eye-catching color to your look. Many red carpet makeup artists love using this trick for a wide-awake, eye-catching look that’s perfect for close-up shots. Try a fun shade like cobalt blue or purple, or go for classic black that will complement most skin tones.
Thickness
Whether you want to thicken your lashes or add volume, a lengthening mascara will give them a feathery effect and elongate each lash. Look for a formula that incorporates waxes or nourishing oils, as well as tiny fibers that latch onto your natural lashes to extend their tips and make them appear longer.
Thrive Causemetics’s cruelty-free Liquid Lash Extensions mascara has a thin, rubberized brush that allows you to comb the formula through each lash without clumping. It’s also infused with jojoba and rice bran oil to nourish your lashes for a fuller, longer look.
Another option is Clean Beauty brand Well People’s Limitless Lash Mascara, which features a tapered brush to reach those tricky lashes in the corners of your eyes. The vegan formula is fortified with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, beeswax and keratin to keep your lashes looking healthy and long. This product is also available in bright pops of blue and purple if you’d prefer a colorful effect.
Smudge-Proof
A mascara that won’t flake, smudge or run is essential to the makeup bag of anyone who wears lashes regularly. But it can take some trial and error (hello, raccoon eyes) to find one that’s truly smudge-proof.
This long-wearing mascara from Kevyn Aucoin is formulated with porcelain flower extract and conditioning peptides to help lashes feel healthy and strong. It also features film-forming polymers that hold up against sweat, hot showers and teary moments.
This waterproof mascara from Selena Gomez’s beauty line Rare Beauty has a special trick up its sleeve: It contains castor oil to keep lashes soft and supple all day long. And its curved leaf-shaped brush delivers a lengthening and volumising effect, along with natural-looking separation. It’s also suitable for sensitive eyes.