8 Best Mascaras for Length and Volume

Finding the best mascara can feel like a gamble, one tube gives you spider lashes, the next flakes into your eyes by lunch. Whether you want sky-high length, bold volume, or just a reliable everyday formula that doesn’t smudge, the right mascara comes down to the wand shape, the formula, and what your lashes actually need.

We rounded up eight standout mascaras that are easy to find on Amazon, spanning drugstore favorites and one premium pick. For each one, we looked at what the brand promises, the wand design, the formula type, and who it’s best suited for, so you can pick with confidence instead of crossing your fingers at checkout.

Comparison: Mascaras at a Glance

Product	Key Features	Price	Best For
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High	Flex Tower bending brush, bamboo extract, washable	~$10	Length + volume
L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise	200+ bristle wavy brush, caring oils, washable	~$9	Soft volume
L’Oreal Paris Telescopic Original	Two-sided Precision Brush, lash-by-lash separation	~$11	Extreme length
Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof	Lash-doubling formula, waterproof, conditioning	~$6	Budget classic
essence Lash Princess False Lash Waterproof	Conic fiber brush, vegan, waterproof	~$5	Waterproof on a budget
Maybelline Lash Sensational Washable Mascara	Lengthening and volumizing, full fan effect	Check current price	Length plus volume
L’Oréal Lash Paradise	72% natural-origin, vegan, hourglass brush	~$9	Clean formula
Benefit They’re Real!	Custom domed-tip brush, jet-black, long-wearing	~$29	Premium drama

1. Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High

Sky High is one of the most talked-about drugstore mascaras for a reason: the Flex Tower brush actually bends, which makes it easier to coat lashes from root to tip without missing the tiny ones at the corners. The formula contains bamboo extract and fibers, and according to the manufacturer it’s designed to deliver length and buildable volume without flaking or smudging.

This is a washable formula, so it comes off with soap and water, a plus if you hate scrubbing at night. It’s also ophthalmologist and allergy tested, and the brand says it’s suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

Key details: Washable (non-waterproof) formula; Flex Tower brush; available in shades including Blackest Black, Very Black, and Cosmic Black; 0.24 fl oz tube.

Pros:

• ✓ Bending brush reaches every lash, including small corner lashes
• ✓ Buildable formula, one coat for daytime, more for drama
• ✓ Removes easily with soap and water
• ✓ Ophthalmologist tested; brand says it’s suitable for sensitive eyes

Cons:

• ✗ Not waterproof, can smudge in heavy rain, sweat, or tears
• ✗ Layering too many coats can start to look heavy

Best for: Anyone who wants noticeable length and volume from a drugstore tube without a waterproof formula.

Who should avoid: If your mascara needs to survive swimming, workouts, or watery eyes, pick a waterproof option instead.

2. L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise

Lash Paradise aims for the full, feathery lash look, the brand describes it as “voluptuous volume and intense length” from a soft wavy brush with 200+ bristles. The smooth-glide formula is meant to deliver a full fringe effect in one coat, and it includes a blend of caring oils so lashes feel soft rather than stiff.

In a brand-cited consumer test, most participants agreed it gave intense, volumized lashes. It’s a washable formula that the brand says won’t flake, smudge, or clump, the classic trio of mascara complaints.

Key details: Washable formula; soft wavy bristle brush; infused with floral/caring oils; available in Black, Blackest Black, and brown shades; 0.28 fl oz.

Pros:

• ✓ Feathery, soft volume rather than a stiff, spiky look
• ✓ Large wavy brush loads plenty of product for quick application
• ✓ Caring oils keep lashes feeling conditioned, per the brand
• ✓ Removes with just soap and water

Cons:

• ✗ Not waterproof
• ✗ The large brush can be tricky for very short or straight lashes

Best for: Full, soft volume with minimal effort, great if you like a lush, fluttery lash look.

Who should avoid: Those with very short lashes may find the big brush hard to maneuver; a precision brush like Telescopic’s may suit better.

3. L’Oreal Paris Telescopic Original

If length is your priority, Telescopic is the specialist. Its patented two-sided Precision Brush is the star: the flat side is designed to visibly lengthen lashes (the brand claims up to 60% longer-looking lashes), while the comb side separates lash by lash for a clump-resistant finish.

The formula is fragrance-free and, according to L’Oreal, ophthalmologist and allergy tested for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. This is the pick for defined, separated length rather than chunky volume.

Key details: Washable formula (a waterproof version also exists); flexible two-sided Precision Brush; fragrance-free; 0.27 fl oz.

Pros:

• ✓ Excellent lash separation, defined, non-clumpy length
• ✓ Precision brush works well on short and lower lashes
• ✓ Fragrance-free; brand says suitable for sensitive eyes and contacts

Cons:

• ✗ Builds length more than dramatic volume, not the pick for a thick, bold fringe
• ✗ The slim brush holds less product, so very sparse lashes may need extra coats

Best for: Lash-by-lash definition and maximum-looking length, especially on shorter lashes.

Who should avoid: If you want big, thick volume in one coat, a volumizing formula like Lash Paradise will get you there faster.

4. Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof

Great Lash has been around for decades, and there’s a reason it never left the shelves: it’s a simple, reliable waterproof mascara at a price that’s hard to beat. The lash-doubling formula is designed to condition as it thickens, and the small lash-building brush makes it easy to get an even, natural-looking coat.

Because it’s waterproof, it holds up through humidity, sweat, and tears, but that also means you’ll need a proper eye makeup remover (the brand suggests micellar water) to take it off gently.

Key details: Waterproof formula; lash-doubling conditioning formula; small classic brush; ophthalmologist tested; Very Black shade.

Pros:

• ✓ Genuinely waterproof, holds through sweat, humidity, and tears
• ✓ Very affordable
• ✓ Small brush gives good control for a natural finish
• ✓ Long track record as a drugstore staple

Cons:

• ✗ Needs an oil-based or micellar remover, not a soap-and-water formula
• ✗ More of a natural/volume look than extreme length

Best for: A dependable, cheap waterproof mascara for everyday wear, humid weather, or emotional days.

Who should avoid: If you hate the extra step of waterproof removal, stick with a washable formula.

5. essence Lash Princess False Lash Waterproof

The Lash Princess line has a cult following, and the waterproof version brings the same conic-shaped fiber brush in a formula the brand says resists sweat, weather, and tears without flaking or fading. It’s vegan, cruelty-free (PETA-certified, per the brand), and free from parabens and fragrance.

At this price point, it’s one of the cheapest waterproof mascaras you can buy from a mainstream brand, a solid way to test whether the Lash Princess hype works for your lashes without spending much.

Key details: Waterproof formula; conic fiber brush; vegan and cruelty-free; paraben and fragrance free; made in Luxembourg.

Pros:

• ✓ Waterproof wear at a budget price
• ✓ Vegan and cruelty-free formula
• ✓ Conic brush separates while adding volume

Cons:

• ✗ Waterproof removal takes more effort, use a gentle eye makeup remover
• ✗ Some users find they need to wipe excess off the wand to avoid clumps

Best for: Budget waterproof wear with a cruelty-free formula.

Who should avoid: If you want a washable everyday mascara, the original (non-waterproof) Lash Princess or Sky High is less work to remove.

1. Maybelline Lash Sensational Washable Mascara

An iconic drugstore mascara with a curved fanning brush that grabs every lash. It layers well for both natural daytime looks and dramatic volume without heavy clumping.

Key features: Lengthening and volumizing, full fan effect.

Pros:

• ✓ Excellent length and volume in one
• ✓ Washable formula removes easily
• ✓ Huge shade range including colored options

Cons:

• ✗ Can flake by end of day on oily lids
• ✗ Wand is large for small eyes

Best for: Length plus volume.

Who should avoid: Anyone needing a truly waterproof formula.

7. L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara

Lash Paradise is L’Oréal’s answer to high-end mascaras at a drugstore price, and it’s earned its hype. The soft brush with 200+ bristles coats every lash for voluminous, lengthened results without the clumps. The formula builds well, so you can go natural with one coat or dramatic with two.

Key details: 200+ bristle brush; volumizing and lengthening; available in waterproof.

Pros:

• ✓ Genuinely impressive volume and length for the price
• ✓ Soft brush separates lashes well, minimal clumping
• ✓ Waterproof version available for long days

Cons:

• ✗ Can flake by end of day on some users
• ✗ Needs a good remover, especially the waterproof version
• ✗ Dries out faster than some premium mascaras

Best for: Drugstore volume and length that rivals high-end.

Who should avoid: Those with very sensitive eyes prone to flaking issues.

8. Benefit They’re Real!

The premium pick of the bunch. They’re Real! is Benefit’s long-running bestseller, built around a custom brush with staggered bristles and a domed precision tip designed to grab lashes at the root and define even the tiniest ones. The jet-black, long-wearing formula is made to lengthen, curl, volumize, lift, and separate in one tube.

You’re paying several times the drugstore price here, so this is for the person who wants one do-everything mascara and doesn’t mind the splurge. The brand says the formula won’t smudge, clump, or dry out.

Key details: Long-wearing (non-waterproof) formula; custom staggered-bristle brush with domed tip; jet-black shade; 0.3 oz full size.

Pros:

• ✓ All-in-one: length, volume, curl, and separation
• ✓ Precision tip reaches small inner-corner and lower lashes
• ✓ Intense jet-black pigment

Cons:

• ✗ Significantly more expensive than every other pick here
• ✗ Not waterproof despite the long-wear claim

Best for: A splurge-worthy, do-everything mascara when you want one tube that handles length, volume, and definition.

Who should avoid: Budget shoppers, the drugstore picks above get you 80% of the way there for a fraction of the price.

How to Choose

• Waterproof vs. washable: Choose waterproof for swimming, sweaty workouts, humid climates, or teary eyes. Choose washable for everyday wear, it’s gentler to remove and kinder to lashes over time.
• Wand shape matters more than the formula: Big, fluffy brushes (Lash Paradise, Cleantopia) build fast volume. Slim, comb-like brushes (Telescopic) separate and lengthen. Curved brushes (Clump Crusher) follow the eye’s shape for even application.
• Match the formula to your lash goal: Lengthening formulas stretch lashes outward; volumizing formulas thicken them. If you want both, look for a hybrid like Sky High, or layer a lengthening mascara under a volumizing one.
• Sensitive eyes: Look for fragrance-free, ophthalmologist-tested formulas (Sky High, Telescopic, and Lash Paradise all make this claim). Waterproof formulas can be harsher to remove, which irritates sensitive eyes.
• Shade: Blackest black gives the most drama; brown-black or brown shades look softer and more natural, especially on fair skin and blonde lashes.

A Note on Safety

Mascara sits right next to your eyes, so hygiene matters. Never share your mascara, and don’t pump the wand in and out of the tube, that pushes air (and bacteria) inside. Replace mascara every three months; old mascara is a common cause of eye irritation and infections. Stop using any mascara immediately if your eyes become red, itchy, or irritated, and don’t apply mascara in a moving vehicle. Always remove mascara before sleep so it doesn’t flake into your eyes overnight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

Top pick: Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High, length, volume, easy removal, and a brush that genuinely works, all at a drugstore price. It’s the easiest recommendation on this list.

Best value: essence Lash Princess False Lash Waterproof, waterproof wear and a vegan, cruelty-free formula for around five dollars.

Best premium: Benefit They’re Real!, the splurge pick for an all-in-one mascara with serious brush engineering.

Pair your mascara with a flawless base, see our roundup of the best concealers for dark circles and blemishes.