Short lashes can be tricky—especially if mascara smudges, clumps, or misses the tiniest lashes. The right formula and wand can make lashes look longer, more defined, and lifted in just a few coats. It’s essential to choose a mascara formulated for short, sparse lashes—one that adds length, lift, and definition without clumping. Some mascaras are infused with conditioning ingredients to help support lash health, while others use microfiber or tubing formulas that give the appearance of lash extensions.
I researched extensively to find the best mascara for short lashes. Lash Paradise Mascara and Perfect Strokes Mascara by Selena Gomez are excellent options for short lashes because they can visibly enhance and add natural-looking length and definition. The other mascaras on this list have received glowing customer reviews and high ratings due to their reliability, quality ingredients, and longevity. Many of them are especially suitable for short, sparse lashes that need extra length and definition.
How We Choose the Best Mascara for Short Lashes
To choose these mascaras, we focused on wand shape for short lashes, formula type (fiber/tubing/washable vs. waterproof), wear time (smudge + flake resistance), ease of removal, and suitability for sensitive eyes/contact lens wearers. We also considered overall customer ratings and common feedback trends—especially mascaras consistently praised for length and definition.
If you have short lashes, you’re in the right place. It is not something to feel concerned or embarrassed about. It’s completely natural—some people have long lashes, some medium, and some short. There is no mascara that permanently lengthens eyelashes instantly. Some mascaras contain fibers that attach to your lashes and make them appear thicker and longer. These formulas give you the look and feel of longer eyelashes for as long as you wear the mascara. When lashes clump together or overlap, they can look shorter and less noticeable.
Different mascara wands are designed to lengthen, curl, or add volume to lashes. You can choose a mascara that suits your specific lash needs and preferences. For short lashes, wand shape is especially important. If you are looking for lengthening mascaras, try a wand with flexible, rubberized bristles. These bristles help to grip, separate, and define each lash from root to tip. A product with a thicker wand and more densely packed bristles is usually better for building dramatic volume, but very short lashes may still benefit more from slimmer, precision wands.
A small, precise brush helps separate short lashes and coat the tips for a lengthened look. If you also want to support natural lash growth, lash serums may help support the appearance of healthier-looking lashes over time with consistent use.
Thicker wands can help build volume in 2–3 coats, but too many layers may cause clumping—especially on short lashes. A curved wand can be especially helpful for curling and lifting short, straight lashes. When used correctly, it helps create and hold a lifted curl throughout the day.
Mascaras can contain different ingredients depending on their formula. Some mascaras include conditioning ingredients like castor oil and shea butter. These ingredients help to condition lashes and support a smoother application. Argan and marula oils are other popular ingredients that help nourish lashes and enhance the look of fullness. If you are looking for vegan or clean mascaras, always check the ingredient list and brand claims carefully. For example, Ilia Limitless Lash Lengthening Mascara is a popular clean formula that focuses on length and definition.
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Best Mascaras for Short Lashes – Detailed Overview
I’ve listed top mascaras for short lashes, including luxury, affordable, waterproof, and long-wearing options. Continue reading to discover the best mascaras for short lashes and how they perform.
L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Makeup Lash Paradise Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
If you’ve tried many mascaras over the years, you may be looking for a formula that finally delivers. Lash Paradise aims to create a full lash fringe that feels soft and smooth, with minimal flaking, smudging, or clumping. It focuses on adding both volume and length. According to the brand, consumer perception tests reported dramatic improvements in the appearance of volume and length. One common complaint is that a brand-new tube may pull out a bit too much product on the wand at first.
If you have oily skin or watery eyes, a waterproof version may help reduce smudging after a few hours. The waterproof version is designed to last all day and resist smearing, even with tears or humidity, although results can vary. It can be removed with a gentle oil-based cleanser or coconut oil. Some mascaras can irritate sensitive eyes, but many users find this formula comfortable to wear. Individual sensitivities may still occur. Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara is another popular option for short eyelashes, but Lash Paradise is an excellent, more affordable alternative.
This mascara tends to stay on the lashes instead of running under the eyes. Many users can go a whole day with minimal transfer or shadowing. It also comes off with less rubbing when you use an appropriate remover. The curved brush makes it easier to coat more lashes in a single swipe. Use 2–3 coats to build more volume and length; avoid too many layers to prevent clumping. If you like dramatic yet soft-looking lashes, you may really enjoy this mascara.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Perfect Strokes Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
Rare Beauty has quickly become known for high-performing makeup, and Perfect Strokes Mascara is one of the top choices for short lashes, alongside Lash Paradise. The mascara is vegan and works well on a range of lash lengths, helping provide additional length, definition, and volume. The curved wand features alternating long and short bristles that help evenly distribute the castor-oil-infused formula. It’s easy to build, and it resists clumping when applied in thin layers.
The formula is vegan, cruelty-free, ophthalmologist-tested, and safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. It adds noticeable length while still maintaining a natural finish. It lifts the lashes and offers buildable volume that holds throughout the day without feeling heavy. For a more dramatic look, apply one to two coats while the formula is still wet. Adding too many layers may cause clumping. It stays in place throughout the day without flaking. It removes easily with warm water or a gentle makeup remover.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Mascara is a popular product that works well for short lashes, especially those that need extra curl and thickness. This volumizing formula is designed to make lashes darker, fuller, and more defined. It contains film-forming polymers, which help lift and set a curl, and Acacia Senegal gum, which adds volume. A combination of conditioning ingredients helps condition the lashes with each coat.
This mascara comes in a signature baby pink tube with a large, flat brush. The hourglass brush separates, curls, and coats individual lashes, helping lashes look more defined and volumized. The brush shape can be large for very small eyes; apply carefully. Let the formula dry slightly before you apply more coats to avoid clumping. For the best results, use this mascara with lash primer or eyelash curler.
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
You don’t need expensive mascaras to achieve gorgeous, elongated lashes. The best budget Maybelline New York Lash Stiletto mascara grabs every lash and coats it with the vitamin-rich formula, which creates an incredibly long and fluttery look. Ideal for those who want definition without the clumps and heavy fibers found in some mascaras. Although it is washable and lightweight, it may transfer slightly with heavy tears or sweat. However, it generally doesn’t create heavy streaks or dark patches on the cheeks or pillows. It’s a great lightweight option for everyday wear.
The elongating mascara visibly lengthens short lashes with a stunning shimmer for a wide-eye effect. The formula uses the Pro-Vitamin B-5 to smooth and condition your lashes for an impressive shine. It comes with the Grip and an Extend Brush that grips every lash and coats it from every angle. Ophthalmologist-tested and suitable for wearers of contact lenses.
➡️ Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara Review, price and availability.
Lancôme Définicils High Definition Lengthening Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
Lancôme Définicils High Definition Lengthening Mascara not only adds a long, luscious length to your lashes but also gives you incredible volume. The mascara gives lashes a natural fullness and prevents clumping and flaking. The brush’s “finely tapered bristles” are responsible for creating an even and gradual application of mascara. For best results, many users like to apply a lash primer before mascara. You can add mascara layers to your lashes, but make sure they dry first.
essence Lash Princess False Lash Waterproof Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
This Essence mascara is designed to create a ‘false-lash effect’ by adding visible length and thickness—especially helpful for short lashes. Although the formula may seem a little thick on first application, it sticks to the lashes and adds volume once dried. We recommend applying only two coats because the fiber-rich formula can clump if over-layered. This product has an especially appealing feature: despite being priced at a drugstore, it is still a high-quality, vegan, and cruelty-free formula. The ingredient list doesn’t contain oils, parabens, or fragrances. The formula can be used with the conical-shaped fiber brush to lift and lengthen lashes, giving them a fuller, more vibrant appearance.
The essence volume booster lash primer is the perfect companion to your favorite mascara! Instantly enhance any lash style by using this blendable formula. There are no falsies required. This primer helps separate and define natural lashes while boosting volume for any mascara applied on top. The iconic shape of the fiber brush is used to shape individual lashes for definition and volume, with no clumps or globs. This waterproof mascara is budget-friendly and performs well for the price.
Apply 1-2 coats of Volume Booster Lash Primer Mascara from the root to the end and allow to dry completely. When dry, you can follow it up with the lashes using Lash Princess Lash Effect Mascara or Lash Princess Lash Effect False Lash Waterproof Mascara (or either!) for the ultimate dramatic eyelash style!
➡️ essence Lash Princess False Lash Mascara: Review, Price, and Availability.
MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
The M.A.C. Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara creates a lifted, defined look using tiny tubes that wrap around each lash, resulting in a finish reminiscent of false lashes. It is great for holding curls and keeping your natural lashes separate from each other and lifted. Makeup artists recommend wiggling the brush at the base of the lashes before applying it all the way.
If you want to step up to bolder lashes, wait for your first coat to dry, then use the M.A.C. Mascara Fan Brush to add another layer. You can sweep it from the bottom of the lashes upwards, then focus it on the bottom corners of the lashes. The brush is straight rather than curved. While this does not give a large amount of curvature on the lashes, it does a fantastic job of lifting them and giving them a curly look.
Many users prefer using the water-resistant version of Extended Play Gigablack mascara, and it didn’t stain or flake, nor did it seem to be faded.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
If you have short, straight lashes that struggle to hold a curl, try the “Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara” for extra hold and drama. This popular mascara can also be used for designing the bottom lashes. It is a waterproof black volumizing mascara with an hourglass-shaped brush that separates, coats, and curls every lash to a voluminous perfection. Now available in a waterproof formula, Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara features water-resistant, high-performance polymers designed to help it last through sweat and humidity.
The mascara boasts one of the sexiest names that have ever been attributed to beauty products. Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara was an instant success for dramatic lashes. However, it resists smudging for many users. The wand is shaped like an hourglass brush with densely packed bristles that instantly curl the lashes.
The formula has collagen and Acacia Senegal tree extract for intense lashes. With just one coat, you can achieve a bold, high-impact look. Many users praise this mascara for delivering bold, dramatic lash results. The Award winner mascara comes with an hourglass-shaped brush that is a perfect fit for each lash and increases the length and thickness of each during the process. A single swipe delivers rich black pigment for high-impact lashes.
It’s more intense than what many people consider a natural appearance. Keep going until you’ll have long, thick eyelashes. It creates a bold, dramatic lash look. This buildable mascara can create a false lash effect. The formula can be clumpy if too much is applied. Too Faced Better Than Sex is one of the brand’s most popular mascaras. This product is excellent for all kinds of lashes.
IT Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
It helps lashes look fuller and thicker and can create a lash-extension-like effect. It is a game-changing mascara that provides lashes with an appearance of length, volume, and stretch with only one coat. The exclusive Elastic Stretch Technology stretches the appearance of your lashes to be wider and lengthier.
The lash is wrapped in a stretching, volume-boosting super-conditioning coating of color and support to give the strongest, dense result that is most distinct. Highly effective lash-lifting polymers that volumize collagen-boosting biotin proteins and peptides with super black pigments and the Lash-Changing Brush are combined to coat each lash from root to tip.
Other Popular Mascaras for Short Lashes
There are many other popular mascaras on the market, including both waterproof and washable formulas.
Lash Extensions Mascaras or Lengthening Mascaras
You can’t go wrong with cruelty-free and vegan mascaras like Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara. The vegan formula is created using shea butter and castor seed oil to moisturize the lashes. It may dry out fast when left open too long. Tubing mascaras like this are designed to help prevent smudging and flaking.
Glossier Lash Slick Mascara is for ladies hoping to achieve a natural look. It is gentle on your lashes but provides enough boost to let people know they are there. It adds subtle volume and length to lashes without becoming clumpy or smudging. Glossier Lash Slick is for everyday use because it gives the lashes enough extension to be seen easily.
Tiny fibers make for natural-looking length and lifting lashes. Milk Makeup KUSH High Volume mascara provides length and volume to small lashes with no clumping. It comes with a big wand, which helps coat the lashes quickly. A great mascara for skimpy lashes with nourishing cannabis oil, heart-shaped thickening fibers, and pure pigments for a clump-free, intense black finish. It also features a natural blend of plant waxes, such as carnauba wax, sunflower seed wax, tree berry, and candelilla wax.
Buildable Mascara
The high-impact mascara by Clinique comes in black and brown colors, and it is perfect for adding maximum volume and length to short lashes. Clinique high impact provides a rich and intense color the whole day. The long-wearing formula feels very light and silky on lashes. This buildable mascara works great for short lashes; after several coats (applied lightly), you will get the desired volume and length.
Drugstore Mascara
Because of its long-lasting and lengthening capabilities, essence Lash Princess False Lash is extremely popular in the drugstore category at an affordable price of only $5 at Amazon. The fiber brush lets you apply up to three coats of mascara without becoming heavy or clumping. It’s not a surprise that people are switching from high-end mascaras and turning to Lash Princess.
Cruelty-Free Mascara
The Lash Princess False Lash Mascara separates and defines lashes while creating a stunning look. The iconic shape of the fiber brush provides dramatic volume and adds length that is sculpted without the appearance of clumps. This cruelty-free mascara is designed not to smudge, smear, or flake, making it the ideal all-day, long-lasting mascara. Essence Cosmetics is approved and recognized by PETA as a cruelty-free company. It’s a great mascara option for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers.
Smudge Proof Mascara
For a bold, smudge-resistant look: This smudge-proof mascara extends the lashes in the same way stilettos elongate the legs. The Grip and Extend brush grasps individual lashes and coats them from every angle. If your lashes are short and your mascara transfers easily, a smudge-resistant formula can make a noticeable difference. Pro-Vitamin B-5 hydrates and conditions lashes for a shiny, patent-like finish. Ophthalmologist-tested, suitable for contact lens wearers and sensitive skin.
➡️ Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Waterproof Mascara Review.
How to Remove Mascara Easily
Removing regular mascara is easier than removing waterproof mascara. Here are the simple steps you can follow to help avoid lash loss.
- Soak a cotton pad in Maybelline oil-free eye makeup remover; it is fragrance-free and friendly for sensitive eyes. You can also use Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. It is not recommended to remove mascara using makeup remover wipes. With makeup remover wipes, you often have to press and rub the lashes, which can increase lash breakage over time. Additionally, it is not a gentle process to remove any mascara.
- Close your eyes and keep applying slight pressure for five to ten seconds.
- Slide the cotton pad gently downwards and around the eyes to remove the mascara completely. Don’t forget to wipe from inside the lashes, outer and inner corners.
- Now you can clean the rest of your makeup. If you are wearing full makeup, wash your face with a gentle cleanser, and you’re done.
Here is the easiest way to remove mascara without damaging your eyelashes, helping them stay healthier over time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No, mascara doesn’t make your eyelashes grow. However, it can make them look longer, darker, and fuller while you wear it.
Conclusion
Finding the best mascara for short lashes doesn’t have to be frustrating. With the right combination of formula and wand design, even the shortest lashes can look longer, more defined, and lifted. Lengthening mascaras with precision brushes, flexible bristles, or tubing formulas tend to work especially well because they grip each lash and enhance its appearance without clumping.
Mascaras like L’Oréal Lash Paradise and Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes stand out for their ability to add visible length while keeping lashes soft and wearable throughout the day. If you prefer dramatic volume, options like Too Faced Better Than Sex or IT Cosmetics Superhero can help create a bold, eye-opening look when applied carefully in thin layers. For everyday wear or sensitive eyes, lightweight and smudge-resistant formulas may be the most comfortable choice.
Ultimately, the best mascara for short lashes is one that fits your lash type, lifestyle, and makeup preferences. Whether you’re looking for a natural lift, a waterproof formula, or a cruelty-free option, the mascaras in this guide offer reliable performance and proven results—helping your lashes look longer and more defined with every swipe.