12 Best Volumizing Mascaras 2025 for Falsie-Level Drama

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IYKYK: There's no need to book an appointment with your lash tech to achieve a dramatic flutter—the best volumizing mascaras get the job done, and then some. These rich, nourishing formulas thicken without clumping, fan out lashes without stringiness, and hold up from dawn to dusk to date night. What’s more: All the pigmented goodness is complemented by wands with panoramic bristles for comprehensive, even coating‚ we're talking thoughtfully imparted pigment that doesn’t flake or smudge. unique lipstick packaging

We chatted with professional makeup artists, cosmetic chemists, AND our trusty editors to get the lash lowdown and simplify your shopping journey. Keep scrolling for the best volumizing mascaras on the market, and start fluttering away.

Jen Hussein applying MAC MacStack Mascara

Why it's worth it: The MAC Macstack Mascara won a Best of Beauty Award in 2022 for its clump-free, lengthening, and volumizing formula that grips each hair, sans stragglers. MAC's executive director of product development, Jamie Lynch, explained that the brush bristles "hug each individual lash from every angle, leaving no lash behind." She added that the uniquely staggered bristles make for uniform, complete coverage, "putting the power in your hands to create lash looks from natural to next level." The titular "stack" also has to do with its buildable formula, thanks to silica and clay mineral kaolin, which also staves off smudging, and helps with oil absorption. The mascara comes in two different brush sizes, Superstack Mega Brush, for longer lashes, and Superstack Micro Brush, for short ones. The formula is the same for each, so the only hard part is deciding which one to buy: Mega, Micro, or both (use the Mega brush for the top lashes and Micro for the bottom).

Hussein before using MAC MacStack Mascara

Hussein after using MAC MacStack Mascara

Tester feedback: "I love a wispy, doe-eyed look, and MAC's MacStack creates the 'effortlessly hot' look in just a few swipes," said commerce writer Jen Hussein. "This mascara won't replace falsies, but its curl- and length-enhancing formula gives lashes a dramatic but still natural-looking oomph." She adds that the mascara holds up even when heat and humidity are in play.

Key ingredients: silica, kaolin clay | Shades: 3 | Who it's for: people who want versatility

Sarah Hoffmann applying YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara

Why it's worth it: YSL Beauty's Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara is "your new go-to for big, bold, party-ready lashes," said former Allure editor Taylore Glynn. The secret is in the multifaceted formula—volume-building, lengthening, and jet-black—and its oversized yet easy-to-maneuver wand. New York City-based makeup artist Sara Talias also swears by this thickening recipe. "The brush is great for building volume with extra coats of mascara and allows you to grab all the lashes," she says.

We also love that this mascara is offered in chocolatey brown—a deeply underrated hue for more natural looks. Oh, and if your definition of "natural" is a bit outside of the box, you can grab this formula in blue, too.

Hoffmann before applying YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara.

Hoffmann after applying YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara.

Tester feedback: "As someone raised on a healthy diet of early-to-mid 2010s beauty YouTube, I was always taught that drugstore mascaras are just as good as high-end formulas and that mascara is one category where you can skip the splurge. But, while there are some fabulous affordable mascaras on the market right now, I will say that my ultimate favorite is, in fact, YSL Beauty's Lash Clash," said commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann. "Its thick, almost pasty texture adds so much volume and thickness that it's almost comical. I've been interrupted mid-conversation by people asking if my lashes are real while wearing this. The brush is giant, which makes it easy to coat every lash, and even though it's not curved, it magically adds a lifting curl to my lashes that rivals the best eyelash curlers I've tried. Sorry to my beloved beau-Tubers, but this was worth every penny."

Key ingredients: glycerin, shea butter | Shades: 3 | Who it's for: people who want shade options

Trade Editor Sarah Han Applying Chanel's The volume of Chanel Mascara

Why it's worth it: As soon as you grace your lashes with the Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara, you'll probably share your reaction with New York City-based makeup artist Joseph Carrillo. "It's like wow: thicker, fuller, drama, sexy, and sultry," he says. Pair this pick with your favorite liquid eyeliner for runway-ready drama, or wear it on its own for natural-looking length and volume. The wand features long and short bristles, ideal for lashes with an uneven growth pattern, and dries down quickly for instant va-va-voom. If you want a longer-lasting pop, prime your flutter with Chanel's La Base Mascara.

Han before applying Chanel's Le Volume de Chanel Mascara

Han Applying Chanel's The volume of Chanel Mascara

Tester feedback: "My itty-bitty lashes always need ample help, and Chanel Le Volume delivers noticeable volume from the very first swipe—and, importantly, doesn't make my lashes look overly spidery," says commerce editor Sarah Han. "I love that Chanel plays with non-black hues in its lineup because your girl can't pass up a brown mascara (I might have to try the blue next!). My only qualm is that it dries out a little faster than I'd like, but that's definitely not unique to this formula."

Key ingredients: acacia gum | Shades: 3 | Who it's for: people who want a fast-drying option

Allure shopping contributor Annie Blackman applying the Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara

Why it's worth it: You'll be pleased to hear that tubing mascaras can be just as volumizing as their traditional counterparts. Take Tarte's Tartelette Tubing Mascara, an editor and TikTok favorite known for its flake-resistant, smudge-proof, and moisturizing formula. The secret? A blend of shea butter, castor oil, and carnauba wax that delivers full, soft lashes. We love how it holds up through a day of wear—no raccoon eyes in sight.

Blackman before applying the Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara

Blackman after applying the Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara

Tester feedback: "I used to steer clear of mascara because it always traveled to my under eyes within hours, but the Tartelette Tubing Mascara has proven me wrong," said contributing shopping writer Annie Blackman. "This stuff stays put, and I love the mascara's chocolatey brown hue that keeps things looking natural."

Key ingredients: niacinamide, biotin, panthenol, shea butter, castor oil | Shades: 2 | Who it's for: people wary of transferring

Annie Blay applying Benefit's Fan Fast Mascara

Why it's worth it: Long story short: Benefit's Fan Fest Mascara treats your lashes like the masterpiece they are. This separating, volumizing formula lasts all day, fanning out lashes with a thoughtfully curved brush that follows their natural contours for fullness without over-the-top va-va-voom. It's nourishing, too, with provitamin B5, cranberry wax, and rice wax to coat and condition. "The more mascara you have on your lash, the more likely it is to clump," explained Maggie Ford Danielson, director of brand outreach at Benefit Cosmetics. "It's not meant to give you mega-mega drama," senior vice president of global product and service innovation, Kate Helfrich, added. Frankly, we love a product that knows exactly what it is.

Annie Blay before applying Benefit's Fan Fast Mascara

Annie Blay after applying Benefit's Fan Fast Mascara

Tester feedback: "My lashes are short and thin with a bit of curl to them, and I find that most mascaras don't really give me the length and fullness I'm looking for, which is why I typically resort to wearing falsies," said associate beauty editor Annie Blay. "I tried Benefit Cosmetics' Fan Fest Mascara for the first time at the office while getting ready to go to an event later that night. The rest of my makeup was simple, so I wanted my lashes to be subtle yet wispy—and long enough to be noticeable. Fan Fest successfully completed the mission."

Key ingredients: provitamin B5, cranberry wax, rice wax | Shades: 1 | Who it's for: people who want more subtle volume

Why it's worth it: Professional makeup artists and Allure editors regularly reach for the beloved Dior Diorshow Mascara. Stoj, a makeup artist based in New York City, appreciates its buildable, extreme-volume capabilities. "This mascara is enriched with microfibers to give you the most voluminous lashes," he says. This pick also stays put without smudging for up to 24 hours. Los Angeles-based makeup artist Molly R. Stern added that you can "slobber and splash in the Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara, and it will stay on."

Tester feedback: "Just as the full name of Diorshow implies, the dry formula allows you to sweep on layer upon layer to build up volume. It's thin, so no matter how many coats you add, your lashes won't start looking chunky," said former beauty editor Devon Abelman.

Key ingredients: cornflower extract | Shades: 3 | Who it's for: people who want a durable, buildable formula

Why it's worth it: This 2024 Best of Beauty winner is a fan-favorite for its tapered brush, rich pigment, and budget-friendly price tag. Expect up to 24 hours of clump-free, smudge-resistant wear thanks to an even-coating brush with multi-level bristles that catch lashes of all lengths. The result? A long, soft, unfurling blink. Better yet, it washes off effortlessly—no tugging or tearing at the bathroom sink.

Tester feedback: "Every bit as elegant as pricier mascaras, this bold formula is my drugstore beauty staple," said deputy beauty director Elizabeth Siegel.

Key ingredients: beeswax, carnauba wax, glycerin, bamboo extract | Shades: 1 | Who it's for: people who want a budget pick

Why it's worth it: If you have sensitive eyes, we suggest picking up a tube of Ilia's Fullest Volumizing Mascara, stat. This sensitive-eye-friendly mascara has a weightless, barely-there finish that coats your lashes evenly and thoroughly but washes off effortlessly when your day is done—kind of like our favorite tubing mascaras. You may already be a fan of Ilia's Limitless Lash Mascara, but there are plentiful differences between the two products. Founder Sasha Plavsic told Allure that this mascara "offers similar benefits to our Limitless Lash Mascara [another fave of ours], meaning it won't flake, smudge, or weigh lashes down, but give lashes more oomph and fullness than Limitless."

Tester feedback: "I usually don't go for drama but this would be a great going-out mascara for me. It offers surprisingly good separation and, most importantly, doesn't make my lashes clump together like a sea of sticky bodies at a Coachella show," Han attested.

Key ingredients: glycerin, arginine, panthenol | Shades: 1 | Who it's for: people who want drama

Why it's worth it: Lancôme's best-selling Monsieur Big Mascara can transform even the shortest lashes into a falsie-level, fluttery finish, thanks to rivets in the brush that deliver the ideal amount of volume-boosting product with just one swipe. This long-wearing, deep-black mascara stays put for up to 24 hours and lends an extension-like finish without a trip to the salon.

Tester feedback: "A few coats of this stuff (on average, I go with about five to seven) and you've got thicker, darker, and longer-looking lashes, with volume being the most intense change you'll notice," said former digital deputy beauty editor Sophia Panych in her 2017 review. "It's the perfect option if you want bold, in-your-face lashes without having to go faux—it doesn't create as dramatic an effect as falsies, but in my opinion, it comes pretty damn close—and you don't have to worry about the glue and potentially losing a lash halfway through the night."

Key ingredients: carnauba wax, beeswax | Shades: 1 | Who it's for: people who want deep pigment

Why it's worth it: Is Too Faced's Better Than Sex Mascara actually better than sex? Well, that's subjective, but we can guarantee you'll be left more than satisfied. This lash-plumping formula is spiked with conditioners like peptides and collagen to enhance the look and feel of your natural lashes, even once you've washed the mascara off. Its jet-black hue defines each and every hair, while its jumbo, hourglass-shaped wand maintains lift and curl for up to 24 hours.

Tester feedback: "One swipe will give your lashes a nice, black rain slicker to wear—slightly more boosted than what I'd call a 'natural' lash look. Now, keep swiping, and you'll get some really fluffy, voluminous lashes," said former editor Sable Yong. "You could probably fan a breeze at someone with a few eye bats, that's how voluminous I'm talking. It's not the neatest mascara to wear, but that isn't the point, really. When you want your lashes to look like you grew a full strip of falsies out of your eyelids, this is the one for you."

Key ingredients: peptides, collagen | Shades: 2 | Who it's for: people who want a nourishing formula

Why it's worth it: Los Angeles-based makeup artist Fiona Stiles is a longtime fan of Charlotte Tilbury's Full Fat Lashes for her clients' makeup looks. "It's a great mascara that gives lashes a full, fluffy effect," she says. "I can always count on it not to clog up fake lashes when I apply it over them, which happens a lot with other mascaras." The formula is non-greasy without sacrificing glossiness and separating without looking spidery. It's well suited for bottom lashes and the top, careful not to clump or cluster.

Key ingredients: glycerin, carnauba wax, rice bran wax | Shades: 2 | Who it's for: people who want defined lashes

Why it's worth it: You probably already own an Anastasia Beverly Hills brow product or two, but it's time to expand your loyalty with the Lash Sculpt Mascara. Biotin, collagen, and peptides team up for your longest, fullest fan-out yet, thanks in part to the super precise wand. The black hue is soft matte but still juicy-looking, coating lashes from root to tip like a dream. Plus, you can build this formula to your heart's desire.

Key ingredients: biotin, collagen, peptides | Shades: 1 | Who it's for: people who want extra length

The difference between a volumizing and traditional mascara is more than tube-deep. "It's the wax-to-polymer ratio," explains cosmetic chemist Laura Lam-Phaure. "Volumizing mascaras need to 'bulk' up the lashes, so it's super helpful to have a higher wax or butter concentration—like beeswax, carnauba wax, shea butter, or cocoa butter—to help coat the lashes more thickly and provide perceived volume." Lam-Phaure adds that starches or silicas also boost the volume effect. "While lengthening mascara would have a high concentration of flexible polymers, they clump more easily, so having a lower concentration of waxes and butters [as seen in volumizing mascara] will help [mitigate that]."tk

Cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos reminds us that creamy, whipped-textured mascaras are best for building volume—so it pays to check the ingredients list. "Look for silica or cellulose on the label because these are powders that can bulk up lashes, as well as fibers made of nylon or rayon, which add significant volume and length depending on their shape," says Dobos. "Select formulas with beneficial ingredients like biotin or panthenol (a.k.a. provitamin B5), which can help nourish and strengthen lashes over time. It's also important to have a wand that works with the formula." Her tip? Go for fluffy, dense bristles to ensure an even, generous coat for a full-volume effect.

New York City-based makeup artist Joseph Carrillo recommends that, before swiping the wand all the way through your lashes, start by wiggling the bristles into the base of your lashes and lightly stamping the mascara against your waterline. Doing so will help even the sparsest fringe look instantly fuller by filling in the gaps between your lashes. Afterward, you can proceed with your usual application technique.

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?

For our review of the best volumizing mascaras for falsie-level drama, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product's performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete review process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine. You may simply be browsing for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from are folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we're able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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12 Best Volumizing Mascaras 2025 for Falsie-Level Drama | Allure