Best Overall

Hourglass Cosmetics Instant Extensions Mascara

$33 at Amazon$33 at SephoraView on Ulta

Shades: Black| Size: 0.17, 0.35 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

I’ve tried a ton of mascaras over the years, both tubing and standard, but never has a product impressed me like this one. A couple of swipes gave me everything I look for in a winning mascara—considerable length, lift, and volume—and I loved how it made my lashes look much darker (mine can look pretty sparse). The nylon-bristle brush made it easy to apply the formula evenly to every single lash, and it separated well without causing any clumping—even during application. The final result was a fluttery, fanned-out, dramatic look that wasn’t thick or clumpy. My lashes stayed upright all day without any smudges or flakes (even on the bottom lashes), and the mascara slid off quickly and easily with just warm water.

Best Drugstore

e.l.f. Lash Xtndr Tubing Mascara

$8

$8 at Amazon$8 at Ulta$8 at Target

Shades: Soft black, pitch black, deep brown| Size: 0.25 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

This mascara from e.l.f. can lengthen, lift, and add a slight curl for only $8. It has a silicone brush with short, spiky bristles that work to separate the lashes, and it adds a noticeable amount of length in just a few swipes. The consistency was smooth, and I loved that it created a natural look perfect for everyday. The shape of the brush made for a mess-free application, and it didn’t cause any smudges on my eyelids whatsoever.

Best Extensions Effect

Milani Highly Rated Tubing Mascara

$14

$14 at Amazon$15 at Ulta$14 at Target

Shades: Black| Size: 1.12 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

The majority of mascaras can make your lashes longer, but none of them have made it look as if I had lash extensions like this one from Milani. It only took two swipes for my lashes to reach above my eyelids, and every swipe after that just lengthened and separated my lashes even more to create a similar effect to extensions. The formula is very lightweight, and my lashes didn’t feel weighed down or irritated while applying or during wear. It also didn’t feel sticky or goopy while applying—it had a smooth feel that made for an easy, clump-free application. Once it dried down, I loved how it looked dramatic but not overdone. It adds minimal volume, but the extreme length makes up for it.

Best Curling

Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara

$15

$15 at Amazon$28 at Sephora$28 at Ulta

Shades: Black, brown| Size: 0.27 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

While I have somewhat long lashes, they’re stick-straight and point downward, so it’s hard for me to create any sort of shape with mascara. This is the first formula I’ve used that was able to curl my lashes backward instead of sticking straight up, which I absolutely loved. The brush has a ton of little bristles that are shorter than those of other brushes I tested, making it easier to swipe through the lashes so that they are all curled to make a uniform shape. It didn’t make them as long as other formulas I tried, but I loved how separated and dark my lashes looked. While removing, it came off easily in the shower and didn’t leave any flakes in my eyes.

Best for Length

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extension Tubing Mascara

$32

$31 at AmazonView on Thrivecausemetics.com

Shades: Rich black, brown black, purple, pink, deep blue, green| Size: 0.38 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

After major length? The Liquid Lash Extensions mascara from Thrive Causemetics delivers. When applying for the first time, I was shocked that my lashes got longer and longer with every single swipe—as if it was literally extending them. It has a firm bristle brush that grabs onto the lashes to separate and lengthen evenly, and I didn’t have any clumping or smudging while applying. The formula is on the liquid-y side, which makes reapplication while it’s still wet much easier—and I love that it comes in multiple fun shades when you want to liven up your everyday makeup look. The tubes slid off easily and quickly in the shower, and the formula didn’t cause any irritation during the day or removal.

Best for Every Day

Merit Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara

$26 at SephoraView on Meritbeauty.com$26 at Kohls.com

Shades: Black| Size: 0.3 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you prefer a more subtle eye makeup look and want something that can add a little bit of oomph without being too dramatic, you’ll love this mascara from Merit. It adds a good amount of length and lift, and the formula stays soft on the lashes so that it won’t create that chunky, spidery look even with multiple coats. It has a fluffy brush applicator that combs through the lashes and coats them evenly without creating any clumps. My lashes looked even better as the formula dried, and it didn’t flake whatsoever—even during a long walk in humid summer weather.

Best Brush

Milk KUSH High Roll Defining + Volumizing Tubing Mascara

$29

$28 at Amazon$29 at Sephora$29 at Ulta

Shades: Black| Size: 0.3 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

I’m usually not a fan of mascaras with stiff nylon brushes, as it can sometimes feel like they’re pulling on my lashes too hard. This one is different, though—and it’s perfect. It has hundreds of tiny bristles that coat the formula evenly on every single lash, and it has a somewhat grippy feel to reach every single crevice. After about two swipes, there was a noticeable difference in length and volume, and after a couple more, my lashes were longer than most mascaras could achieve. I also love that the formula was flexible and a little wetter than standard tubing formulas, so I could apply multiple coats seamlessly without it drying too quickly.

Best for Sensitive Eyes

Clinique Lash Power Mascara

$27

$22 at Amazon$27 at Ulta$27 at Target

Shades: Black Onyx, Dark Chocolate| Size: 0.6 oz| Cruelty-Free: No

As someone who has dry, easily irritated eyes and wears contact lenses, wearing and removing mascara sometimes isn’t worth the hassle. That’s why this tubing mascara from Clinique has been a staple in my makeup routine for years. It’s probably one of the only formulas that doesn’t cause my eyes to get scratchy as the day goes on, and it comes off smoothly without causing any irritation. The soft-bristle brush makes for easy application without any clumps or smudges on the lids, and it creates a lengthened and separated look that always looks pretty. While it doesn’t create much volume, my lashes look noticeably darker for a little more impact. This one has also been tested by ophthalmologists, so I feel safe wearing it multiple days in a row knowing that it won’t cause my eyes to become inflamed and irritated.

Best Volumizing

Caliray Come Hell or High Water Mascara

$25 at SephoraView on Caliraybeauty.com$25 at Kohls.com

Shades: Black | Size: 0.37 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

I usually don’t see a big difference when using volumizing formulas since I have pretty thin eyelashes, but I was impressed with this pick from Caliray. As I was applying, I noticed that it made them look fuller and darker, and I loved that it somehow looked like I had more lashes than I actually do. The formula is on the drier side, but it was easy to apply multiple coats without feeling like I was pulling on my lashes. The brush also helps since it’s a soft-bristle type that feels gentle. Instead of making my lashes stick straight up, the mascara created a slightly curled shape, and it kept that form all day without falling due to the lightweight formula. This pick could have done a better job at lengthening, but it was excellent at separating each lash.

Best for Dark Lashes

Kulfi Badi Lash Mascara

$26 at SephoraView on Kulfibeauty.com

Shades: Black | Size: 0.34 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

This mascara from Kulfi is a must for dramatic lashes. After just one to two coats, my lashes looked noticeably darker and longer. It has a unique brush that has bristles on all sides, which creates amazing lift and separates the lashes effectively. I love that with each coat, it adds more and more length—reaching to the tops of my eyelids. With a formula including castor oil and peptides, my lashes also look healthier with each use. While it can clump slightly during application, the brush makes it easy to comb them out before the formula sets.

Best Lightweight

Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara

$45 at AmazonView on DermstoreView on Kevynaucoinbeauty.com

Shades: Black | Size: 0.18 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you hate the feeling of a heavy mascara, you’ll love this option from Kevyn Aucoin. After applying, it felt like I had nothing on my lashes—but they were noticeably longer with more volume. It has a super slim brush that makes for effortless application, and it doesn’t smudge on the lids or make a mess during use. It separates each individual lash well, making it a great option for a spidery look. The mascara is smooth and subtle, which almost makes it seem as though you have naturally long lashes—it doesn’t look like you’re wearing a chunky mascara formula. It is slightly smaller than other options I tested, but you don’t need a lot of coats to make a major impact.