13 Best Mascaras That'll Transform Straight, Short Lashes

Lengthening and defining is the name of the game for Lancôme's Definicils High Definition Mascara, which is basically the LBD of mascaras. What sets it apart from the rest — that is, aside from several Best of Beauty and Readers' Choice Awards — is its innovative brush: According to the brand, it offers a grooved hedgehog bristle pattern that allows for an even distribution of product from root to tip — sans any clumping. Choose from three hues: Black, Deep Black, and Deep Brown.

MAC is no stranger to makeup artist kits worldwide but we'd like to shine a spotlight on the Extended Play Lash Mascara, which forms "tubes" that hug your lashes to create the illusion of falsies. The inky-black formula won't clump and droop as the day wears on, either, as it's smudge-, sweat-, flake-, and humidity-resistant. As stubborn as it is when it's coating your lashes, the "tubes" slide right off with some warm water and the tiniest bit of pressure.

Much like mononymous celebs, this iconic lengthening and volumizing mascara enjoys the same one-word recognition as Cher and Madonna: Diorshow. Perhaps Stern, who names this as a favorite to perk up straight lashes, put it best: "I know it’s a classic, but that's for good reason." Available in three shades (Black, Brown, and Blue), the beloved mascara is designed to stay in place for 24 hours without running or smudging.

Pro tip: To take your lashes to the next level, swipe on some of the brand's Diorshow Maximizer 3D Triple Volume Plumping Lash Primer before going in with the aforementioned mascara. Not only does this oil-serum-primer hybrid condition improve the health of your lashes, but when layered underneath mascara, it boosts curl and volume.

Maybelline's New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara has achieved peak TikTok fame for its almost-unbelievable results — seriously, don't be surprised if people think you're wearing falsies. Don't believe us? Just take it from Allure shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis, who wrote that this 2021 Best of Beauty Award winner "really does exactly what its name says: make your lashes sky-high." This is, in part, due to the ultra-flexible brush, which is easily bendable so that it coats each and every lash.

Meanwhile, cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson also noted that the mascara is formulated with bamboo extract, which helps moisturize the lashes while boosting volume. The under-$13 pick comes in three shades of black (Cosmic Black, Blackest Black, and Very Black), plus a subtle yet lovely brown.

Enriched with fatty acid-rich coconut oil and antioxidant-loaded bamboo oil, YSL Beauty's The Curler Mascara comes highly recommended by Guerra, who describes the mascara as "smudge-proof" and "long-lasting." Meanwhile, he says, the mascara brush delivers "precise definition, while the fiber bristles create dimension and curl" for a fanned-out effect. Last but not least, the makeup artist tells Allure that "the rounded shape of its curve is ideal for larger, rounder eyes."

"Waterproof formulas can also help in holding the curl much longer than regular mascara," says Guerra. With this in mind, he especially loves the Clé de Peau Beauté Perfect Lash Mascara, which he credits with separating, lengthening, and curling every single lash. The smudge- and sweat-proof mascara offers a squared brush, which is especially ideal for those with almond-shaped eyes since its "base curve is a bit flatter than most curved mascaras." This mascara gets bonus points for its nourishing formula, which includes fatty acid-packed argan oil and moisturizing glycerin.

Benefit's fan-favorite Roller Lash (the name is a nod to those retro hair rollers) is a favorite for many, instantly creating doll-like, curled lashes without clumping or flaking. The wand, which features a patented design, is truly a game-changer for reaching even the shortest, straightest of lashes for maximum lift. Bonus: Not only does this The Best of Beauty-winning mascara offer a 12-hour wear time, but it is also enriched with pro-vitamin B5, a naturally-occurring moisturizer.

Milk Makeup's Kush Mascara, which contains conditioning CBD oil, creates an instantly dense thicket of lashes. It also happens to be another favorite of Stern's, who describes the formula as "bulky" in a good way. Its buildable vegan formula has a distinctively creamy texture that glides on smoothly and, similarly, comes off with ease — no tugging or pulling required. Meanwhile, the mascara's ultra-fluffy brush featured a tapered tip, making it easy to get into hard-to-reach areas such as your inner corners and bottom lashes.

A three-time Allure Readers' Choice Award winner and a 2019 Best of Beauty Clean winner, the Ilia Limitless Lash Lengthening Clean Mascara is renowned for its sulfate-, paraben-, and phthalate-free formula. Instead, this clean beauty staple features ingredients like conditioning shea butter and nourishing keratin. According to Allure contributor Kat Suico, the mascara has a unique dual-sided brush: “One side is shaped like an hourglass, the other like a straight comb,” which she credits with building volume while simultaneously separating lashes.

"If your lashes are on the shorter side, a lengthening mascara can be a game changer," says Guerra. With this in mind, you may want to consider snagging the wallet-friendly L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Washable Mascara. Best described as a lash lift in a bottle, the mascara offers up to five millimeters of visible length and a wear time of 36 hours. The brush is specially designed with double-hook bristles to lift and coat every lash. The result? Ultra-fluttery lashes that’ll last for hours on end.

Even the straightest of lashes are no match for the Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara. The best-selling vegan formula — which, yes, is a tubing mascara — is beloved by Allure contributor Marisa Petrarca, who wrote, "It successfully faked the look of lash extensions — giving them that wispy, lifted appearance that I've shelled out $150 for in the past." Additionally, according to cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline, "castor oil, shea butter, and carnauba wax help plump and give a volumizing effect to the lashes while conditioning them, so the lashes don’t get dry and brittle."