With just a few strokes, the perfect mascara can do wonders for your eyes. But no matter how long and strong our lashes may be, we’re always looking for ways to make them look bolder, thicker and lusher. After all, who can resist a little drama — even in the daytime. Enter volumizing mascaras, beauty’s best friend.
It seems every year, brands release a new and improved mascara designed to give you the bold lashes of your dreams. But not all volumizing mascaras are created equal. It’s important to find a formula that promises flirty, seductive, yet natural-looking lashes that won’t flake off or run a few hours later.
For thick, smudge-proof lashes, you can’t beat a dual-sided product that contains an eyelash primer on one side and volumizing mascara on the other. If two steps are too much for you, look for a standard thickening mascara formula that offers buildable volume in one or more coats. Read on for some of the best volumizing mascaras available right now.
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Volumizing Mascara
Best Volumizing Mascaras for Super Lush Lashes
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Volumizing Mascara #1
Dior Pump 'N' Volume Mascara, $29.50 at Sephora
Dior's new volumizing mascara comes in a squeezable tube that helps you warm and pump out the creamy mascara for a flawless — clump-free — finish every single time.
One reviewer said, "If you're a fan of dramatic lashes, you have to try this mascara! It gives my lashes amazing volume in just one coat, and makes me look like I'm wearing falsies with two coats."
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Volumizing Mascara #2
YSL The Shock Volumizing Mascara, $29.00 at Sephora
This ultra-thick volumizing mascara delivers dark, dramatic lashes that don't smudge. The hourglass-shaped brush makes swiping on a uniform coat a breeze.
According to this reviewer, it's well worth the price: "I have literally tried so many mascaras in my life. I am a pretty firm believer that drugstore mascaras are pretty good and there was never a reason to splurge on mascara...until... this one. I am blown away by how amazing this mascara is. It makes you look like you are wearing false lashes and every time I wear it I am always asked if my lashes are real! I am so impressed, trust me...try it!"
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Volumizing Mascara #3
Shiseido Full Lash Volume Mascara, $25.00 at Nordstrom
Add drama to your lashes by grabbing them at the roots with this innovative 360-degree radial brush, designed to fan lashes for a clump-free look. This light, layerable formula provides volume and curl, and can be removed easily with warm water.
As one reviewer put it: "Luv, luv, luv my mascara. Perfect for work and everyday. The brush is fabulous...separates and coats every lash...no clumps and no smudging."
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Volumizing Mascara #4
L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara, $7.99 at Ulta
This volumizing mascara promises lashes up to five times their original thickness. A single coat gives a dramatic look without clumping, flaking or irritating eyes.
One New York makeup artist is a fan, especially of the cobalt blue color: "I have tried a million and one colored mascaras, and nothing has come close to this blue beauty. This Mascara gives my lashes a subtle pop! If you're a Blue Mascara Bandit (like me) looking for the next hottest beauty look to steal - Look no further!"
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Volumizing Mascara #5
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, $23.00 at Sephora
This collagen-infused formula can be layered on to achieve full, defined lashes with one coat or intense, multidimensional lashes with three coats. The smudge-proof formula comes with an hourglass wand that separates, curls and coats each lash. No wonder it's the bestselling prestige mascara in the U.S.
This reviewer can't agree more: "This mascara lengthens and adds so much volume! The brush is so soft, no spiky bristles! I am constantly trying new mascaras but I always go back to this one because they do not compare!"
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Volumizing Mascara #6
Giorgio Armani Beauty Eyes To Kill Mascara, $32.00 at Sephora
Get stunning, bold, super-defined lashes in the blink of an eye with this volumizing mascara. The ultra-black pigments coat lashes for an extremely shiny and intense lacquered effect. A bristle weave design and blend of waxes provides both softness and volume.
One reviewer says it's her "everyday go-to product! I couldn't live without it."
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Volumizing Mascara #7
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Mascara, $5.47 at Amazon
This volumizing mascara comes with a huge density brush that opens eyes and coats lashes from their roots to tips, layer after layer. Drama without clumping and easy removal — all at an affordable price.
One reviewer raved, "Best performing mascara I have ever used! My always straight top lashes hold a curl all day with this mascara, whether I curled before applying or not. Bonus # 2: my sparse lower lashes have sprung to life."
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Volumizing Mascara #8
Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara, $25.00 at Ulta
This mascara promises big results: up to 12 times more volume in comparison to your natural lashes that won't smudge or flake all day long.
According to this reviewer, the mascara delivers: "I LOVE this mascara. Let me explain. I love it for an evening out on the town, a wedding or function or a date night. Even worn to work, if someone would so choose. Your lashes do look false and very long. They look fabulous!"
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Volumizing Mascara #9
Essence Lash Princess Sculpted Volume Mascara, $4.99 at Ulta
Essence's special tapered sculpting brush sweeps the creamy formula up to the tips of lashes for a remarkably lush, defined look. Reviewers say this under-$5 mascara beats brands that cost five times as much.
This reviewer sums it up: "Love this product!! Didn't think it'd be so good for the cheap price I got it for!! I don't like wearing false lashes and I love doing my lashes dramatic, long, bold and thick and this definitely does the job. Will be buying more!"
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Volumizing Mascara #10
Elizabeth Arden Grand Entrance Mascara, $24.00 at Ulta
Lashes get a boost of healthy shine from this formula rich in vitamins and emollients, while the wand's conical bristles help curl and lengthen lashes for a falsie effect. Water-resistant with no trace of flaking, this is one of the best volumizing mascaras out there.
This reviewer is certainly a fan: "Hands down, the best mascara! Let me preface this by saying I'm a mascara junkie. I've tried everything. This mascara wowed me from the moment I applied it. It continued to wow me as it wore from morning to evening—no smudging, no flaking and I could not believe the curl I still had!"
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Volumizing Mascara #11
Wander Beauty Unlashed Volume & Curl Mascara, $24.00 at Sephora
This hydrating, long-lasting mascara comes with an innovative hook-like brush to coat every last little lash. The formula offers gorgeous volume that's completely flake-free, clump-free and smudge-free.
This reviewer says the mascara has it all: "I've been looking for the perfect mascara for a while now. You know, the triple threat: lengthen, curls, volumizes. This is it. You will have sky high lashes that can fan you on a hot day. This mascara is so buildable, which is great when you're going from work to drinks. It's also something that others brands can't offer."
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Volumizing Mascara #12
Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara, $26.00 at Sephora
This pigment-rich, volumizing mascara offers major drama. The wand's curvy brush reaches every last lash, delivering smudge-proof length and volume in three strokes or less.
This reviewer is certainly a fan: "This is seriously the best mascara I have ever used. It's phenomenal. It made my lashes full with tons of volume. I don't have very thick lashes and when I tried out this mascara people thought I was wearing false lashes. It was amazing."
