8 Best Curling Mascaras for a Lash-Lift Effect Anytime, Anywhere

28.03.2026, 14:38 allure.com

Ask any beauty editor, and they’ll tell you the best curling mascaras are like falsies in a tube. Unlike formulas that are more focused on dramatic volume or length, curling mascaras lift, fan, and define each lash like a lash curler would, so your eyes look wide awake even before your first coffee. These formulas strike the ideal balance of locking in lift without weighing lashes down or leaving behind a stiff, crunchy, or clumpy finish. Many are infused with hydrating and nourishing ingredients like vitamin E and castor oil to help strengthen lashes over time.

When it comes to curling mascaras, the brush matters just as much as the formula—think curved wands with a mix of short and long bristles designed to grip and create that eye-opening, lengthened effect. Whether you’re after a soft, fluttery look or full-on drama, there’s a curling mascara out there for you. We put countless tubes to the test to find the standouts that truly lift, hold, and leave lashes looking sky high and longer than ever.

Tower 28

Amazon

Revolve

Sephora

Allure commerce writer Lily Wohlner applying the Tower 28 Make Waves Mascara

Why it’s worth it: The secret to Tower 28 Beauty’s lash-lifting MakeWaves formula? A curved, triple-wave wand designed with shorter bristles that hug the lash line to really grab onto your roots, and longer bristles to lengthen and define.

You may have heard of Aquaflex Technology in hair care (think: volumizers and hairsprays to create body and hold). It’s also featured in this mascara to help hold curl and lift in place, while a conditioning castor-oil blend keeps lashes conditioned and minimizes breakage. “The formula stays flexible so the curl never falls flat, affirms Renée Loiz, a makeup artist based in Los Angeles. (Translation: Your lashes won’t feel weighed down, nor will you have to deal with stray mascara specks, by midday.) We love how easy it is to build, too. Go in for a few extra coats and lashes still look airy and clump-free. And true to Tower 28’s sensitive-friendly core mission, the ophthalmologist-tested formula is gentle on sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers, so you can swipe on without a worry.

Allure commerce writer Lily Wohlner before applying the Tower28 Make Waves Mascara

Wohlner after applying the Tower28 Make Waves Mascara

Tester feedback from commerce writer Lily Wohlner

“This mascara always lives at the top of my drawer because I know my lashes will look long, fluttery, and lifted every time I swipe it on—and the curl actually lasts all day. I love a voluminous lash, but I can’t stand when formulas make them look thick or chunky, and this one never does. As a contact lens wearer, a lot of mascaras make my eyes water, but I’ve never had that issue here.”—Lily Wohlner, commerce writer

Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin

"The hold on this mascara is incredible. I have short, dense, and straight lashes that are just so stubborn—but this coaxes some length and curl out of them! This is one of the few mascaras I can actually use without any kind of irritation. While it's not the most lengthening or curling formula you can get your hands on, it's so comfortable and doesn't flake or smudge. I love that it provides the perfect amount of natural-looking weight to my eyelashes so you can actually see them." —Shanna Shipin, shopping director

More to know

Well People

Amazon

Ulta Beauty

Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin applying the Well People Expressionist Curling Mascara

Why it’s worth it: Made with plant-based oils and vegan waxes (hi, olive oil and carnauba), the Well People Expressionist Curling Mascara helps nourish lashes while delivering lightweight hold, making it a great pick for those with brittle, short eyelashes. The curved brush does most of the heavy lifting here, gently separating each lash one by one (without pulling!) to keep clumps at bay. The bristles are super flexible, so they move with your lashes instead of tugging against them for a smooth experience, from start to finish. One side of the brush features short, dense bristles that deposit rich black color and build volume, while the longer bristles on the other side help guide lashes upward. We like to gently wiggle the wand at the base of the lashes before sweeping upward to get even more separation and lift.

Felbin before applying the Well People Expressionist Curling Mascara

Felbin after applying the Well People Expressionist Curling Mascara

Tester feedback from senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin

I use this product a few days a week, as part of my regular makeup routine. I curl my lashes and then apply two coats. My standards for mascara are pretty high—I have oily eyelids and watery eyes, so the formula needs to stay put all day (no flaking or transferring to my lower lash line) without irritating my eyes. Well People's Curling Mascara checks every box, and then some. I love that the brush is curved—the shape makes it super easy to coat every lash, from corner to corner. I also like that I can build up multiple coats for a more dramatic effect. And, the application lasts all day without smudging or running. This is a super-solid, daily mascara for me—it's just the right amount of lengthening and volumizing, rolled into one formula.”—Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor

More to know

Kulfi Beauty

Sephora

Kulfi Beauty

Allure senior commerce director applying the Kulfi Beauty Badi Lash Mascara

Why it’s worth it: Inspired by South Asian lashes—often naturally full and straight—this mascara turns the dial all the way up, delivering a lifted, eye-opening effect in just a few swipes. The instantly volumizing tubing formula wraps each lash for va-va-voom length without smudging, melting, or clumping. And, its flared-tip brush is shaped to mimic your natural lash line, so it can catch those tricky inner-corner hairs while fanning everything out for that wide-eyed, fluttery finish. With this formula, it's not just about the look: a conditioning blend of castor seed oil, rambutan extract, and a tripeptide complex works behind the scenes to soften and strengthen lashes over time. The tubing formula means it removes like a dream—just warm water and a gentle slide, with no rubbing required.

Shipin before using the Kulfi Beauty Badi Lash Mascara

Shipin after using the Kulfi Beauty Badi Lash Mascara

Tester feedback from Shipin

"Kulfi's mascara gives me jet-black lashes with the kind of curl and volume they absolutely do not have naturally. I hardly ever use an eyelash curler, and really don't feel the need to when I have this mascara on me. It has hours of hold and with just the teeniest bit of fallout since it is technically a tubing mascara. One of my favorite things is that it wards off smudges—crucial for me since I reapply moisturizer, SPF, and sometimes use a misting spray when I'm feeling extra dry. If you want the drama, this will bring it."—Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director

More to know

Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann applying YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara

Why it’s worth it: A 2025 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner and one of our favorite mascaras ever, the YSL Beauty Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara delivers the kind of bold volume that’s hard to ignore—and the staying power is just as impressive. Some of our testers say the effect borders on falsies, thanks to an oversized brush that’s surprisingly easy to maneuver and grabs onto every lash. “It’s great for building fluttery volume with extra coats and really helps catch all the lashes,” says New York City–based makeup artist Sara Talias. It’s also seriously pigmented (even the brown color), so if you’re racing out the door, one coat still makes a big impact. That said, we’re partial to layering it up because it builds fluffy volume without tipping into clumpy territory.

Hoffmann before applying YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara

Hoffmann after applying YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara

Tester feedback from 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." —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer

More to know

Lancôme

Amazon

Nordstrom

Ulta Beauty

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Lancôme Lash Idôle Curl Goddess Mascara

Why it’s worth it: Skip the hours-only appointments and the high price tag of lash extensions. Lancôme’s Lash Idôle Curl Goddess Mascara gives you longer, more curled lashes in just a few swipes. The twisted brush is designed to grab even the shortest lashes for a separated, fluttery effect that still looks natural. It features low-density setting polymers, which make lashes appear thicker and add volume, but they also set them in place so they hold their curl all day without falling flat. The brand claims this formula can wear without smudging for up to 30 hours, and although we've never tried it for that long, our tester experienced only slight smudging during her all-day wear test, which, for a non-waterproof mascara, gets a big green check.

Han before applying the Lancôme Lash Idôle Curl Goddess Mascara

Han after applying the Lancôme Lash Idôle Curl Goddess Mascara

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

“My lashes are short, straight, and stubborn. I never apply mascara without a curler, but for this story, I went without—and I was pretty darn impressed. While my lashes weren’t crazy-curled (again, they’re super stubborn!), I definitely noticed a lifting effect, and it held throughout the day, which is even more notable. I dealt with a little smudging but that’s not uncommon with non-waterproof mascaras, especially if I’m not maximizing application with a curler. In short, I don’t plan on ditching my curler but, i