If It's Full Lashes You're After, These 8 Mascaras Are Worth Your Attention

Mascara is easily one of my favourite makeup products to wear. It’s the one step that can completely transform your face in seconds, making eyes look more awake, defined and pulled together with minimal effort. And whilst I love a good lengthening formula or a natural “your lashes but better” finish, it’s volumising mascara that really makes the biggest difference. When lashes are lifted, thickened and fanned out just right, it instantly gives the whole face more impact—almost like you’ve done a full eye look, even when you haven’t.

Of course, finding a truly great volumising mascara isn’t always straightforward. So many promise big, bold lashes but end up falling short, either doing very little or, worse, tipping into clumpy, heavy territory that weighs lashes down, smudges and destroys any flutter. There’s a fine line between full and fluffy versus thick and spidery, and not every formula gets it right.

As a beauty editor, I’ve tested more mascaras than I can count, from luxury to budget mascaras, and volumising formulas in particular are where opinions tend to divide. What works beautifully for one person can look completely different on another, and it’s surprisingly rare to find one that delivers serious volume without compromising softness or separation.

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The very best volumising mascaras, in my experience, are the ones you can build up. A light coat for natural fullness, or a few extra sweeps for high-impact drama—without ever tipping into clumpiness or stiffness. They lift, define and amplify while still keeping lashes flexible and fluttery.

After years of trial, error, and more than a few disappointing tubes, I’ve finally narrowed it down to the volumising mascaras that genuinely deliver. These are the ones I keep coming back to—and the ones that never let me down when I want noticeable, full-bodied lashes without the crunch.

Best Volumising Mascaras 2026

1. Best Overall: L'Oréal Paris Volume Million Lashes
2. Best New Mascara: YSL Lash Latex Mascara
3. Best Brown Mascara: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
4. Best Long-Lasting Mascara: Milk Makeup Kush Big Hit Volumising Mascara
5. Best Easy-to-Remove Mascara: Vieve Modern Mascara

1. L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes

Why we love it: This L'Oréal mascara has been my go-to volumising formula for over a decade—and despite testing countless launches since, it still hasn’t been beaten. It delivers that rare combination of instant root-lifting volume and soft, fanned-out definition that makes lashes look fuller without ever feeling heavy or clumpy.

My review: The small, densely packed brush is key: it allows you to really work the formula into the lash line, wiggling from root to tip to build up a noticeably thicker base in seconds. A single coat gives beautifully enhanced, everyday volume, while a few extra layers transform it into the ultimate going-out mascara—dramatic, fluttery, and full-bodied without losing separation.

2. Yves Saint Laurent Lash Latex Mascara

Why we love it: This is one of those volumising mascaras that immediately makes lashes look more dramatic the moment it goes on. The ultra-black, slightly glossy formula gives that “latex” effect YSL is known for, coating each lash evenly to create instant fullness with a lifted, fanned-out finish.

My review: I strongly advise you add this new YSL mascara to your watch list. It adds next-level length that seems weightless and invisible at the same time. The best bit, though, is that it's formulated with a whole load of lash-loving ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and iris florentina root extract, to condition lashes and leave them looking fuller for longer (even when you're not wearing mascara).

3. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Why we love it: The brush is designed to grip every lash from root to tip, making it easy to build intense volume without needing multiple layers. It starts off delivering soft, wearable fullness, but can be quickly built up into a more statement, high-impact lash look—perfect for evenings or occasions when you want maximum drama without the clumpiness.

My review: Yes, Better Than Sex is probably up there with the most popular lengthening mascaras in the world. I've tried googling that statement to see if I'm right, and it would seem that we haven't yet developed a way to measure mascara popularity on a worldwide scale. What Google results do show, however, is that this mascara sells a lot, has a lot of five-star reviews and comes with a lot of fans. If it's long, voluminous lashes you're after, you're going to fall head over heels for this—trust me.

4. Milk Makeup Kush Big Hit Volumising Mascara

Why we love it: The brush is designed to load and lift each lash evenly, giving a dense, fanned-out effect from root to tip while still keeping separation intact. It builds beautifully too, going from soft everyday volume to a much more dramatic, almost falsies-style finish—without tipping into clumps or stiffness.

My review: This is a volumising mascara that really lives up to its name—one coat delivers an instant hit of fullness that makes lashes look thicker, darker and more defined straight away. It’s the kind of formula I reach for when I want noticeable volume fast, without having to build or layer endlessly.

5. Vieve Modern Mascara

Why we love it: The slim brush on this Vieve mascara makes it easy to coat every lash evenly, building smooth volume from root to tip without clumping or flaking throughout the day. What really sets it apart, though, is how easy it is to remove at the end of the day—no harsh rubbing or residue, just a gentle slip away with cleanser while still maintaining impressive all-day wear.

My review: This is one of the most polished volumising mascaras I’ve tried, delivering a clean, lifted fullness that looks effortlessly defined rather than heavy or overdone. It gives lashes an instant boost in density while still keeping them soft, separated and naturally fanned out.

6. No7 Intense Volume Waterproof Mascara

Why we love it: While the waxy formula helps to build deep-black, intense volume, the supersized brush ensures not a single lash gets left behind.

My review:"Whatever your lash wants and needs, I insist you give this mascara a go. It adds length, curl and, yep, you guessed it, heaps of volume. It's nothing fancy, but believe me when I say it makes for the ultimate daily mascara.

7. Chanel Le Volume Révolution de Chanel Mascara

Why we love it: This is one of those classic volumising mascaras that delivers instant impact from the very first swipe. It gives lashes a rich, inky fullness that looks polished and elevated, making it a reliable go-to when you want noticeable volume without overthinking your eye look.

My review: This Chanel mascara had a whole lot of hype when it first launched, but as time has gone on, it seems to have been forgotten about somewhat. And that is a shame. The brush (which is 3D-printed) has a unique honeycomb structure that somehow ensures it never becomes overloaded with product. Instead, it just allows the waxy formula to glide over lashes, leaving them looking impressively full.

8. Max Factor Masterpiece 2 in 1 Lash Wow Volume & Length Mascara

Why we love it: This is a brilliant volumising mascara for anyone who also wants a bit of added length without sacrificing fullness. It gives a soft yet noticeably amplified lash effect that makes eyes look more open and defined, while still keeping that key volumised finish at the root.

My review: The dual-length brush helps to evenly coat every lash, building light, fluttery volume that can be layered up for a more impactful look. It’s especially good for creating that lifted, fanned-out effect without clumping, making it an easy everyday option that still delivers a proper lash boost.

How We Tested

I tested each mascara over several weeks, wearing it in a mix of everyday settings and longer days to properly assess results. I focused specifically on how well each formula built volume without clumping, how easily it could be layered, and whether lashes stayed soft and separated throughout the day. I also looked at removal, checking which formulas came off easily without rubbing or residue, and compared how each one performed from first application to end-of-day wear.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.