Looking for the best curling mascara to give you maximum volume without any clumping? Look no further.
While there are hundreds of curling mascaras available, it can be difficult to find ones that don’t flake or clump your eyes. Plus, you may not want to try dozens of products, especially if you have sensitive eyes.
That’s why we’ve made this list – to take the guesswork out of buying.
Below, we’ve created a list of the top 15 best curling mascaras so you can achieve your glamorous, wide-eyed look without any clumping, smearing, or flaking. Plus, we’ve included some expert tips so that you can take your makeup look to the next level.
Top 15 Best Curling Mascaras:
1. Eyeko Black Magic Mascara
When you’re looking for a mascara that curls lashes, the brush is just as important as the mascara itself. The Eyeko Black Magic curling mascara features an arched brush that coats your lashes while lifting them for ultimate volume.
The carbon black finish is the perfect color for your dramatic eye look. It goes on smoothly and looks great without any clumping.
The formula, plus the brush, is designed to give your eyelashes the ultimate lift.
Keeping your lashes healthy is just as important though. That’s why the Black Magic mascara includes eye-healthy ingredients such as keratin and shea butter.
Keratin works to keep your lashes looking their best while also protecting them. At the same time, shea butter moisturizes.
Expert Advice: How you hold the brush can really make the difference when working with a mascara that curls lashes. Holding the brush horizontal will give you thick, fluffy lashes. Holding it vertical allows for a more natural finish.
2. Trish McEvoy Lash Curling Mascara in Jet Black
For volume and color that lasts, this mascara by Trish McEvoy is one of the best drugstore curling mascaras. It’s designed to give you up to 24-hours of high-intensity volume without any smudging.
Despite coming in jet black, which is almost always great for a dramatic look, this mascara is also good for a more natural look. Just be more careful during application so you don’t add as much if you want the look to be softer.
It’s cruelty-free mascara and made with jojoba oil for softer, healthier lashes.
Expert Advice: For extreme volume during the application, try wiggling the brush at the root of your lashes before swiping upwards. This will help separate each lash and make sure each one is coated thoroughly.
3. theBalm Mad Lash Full-Size Voluminous Mascara Set
Need waterproof volume? Look no further than theBalm Mad Lash curling mascara.
This kit comes with two full-sized mascara tubes so that you can stock up and always have one of the best drugstore curling mascaras on hand.
The arched, single helix brush shape allows for you to coat and lift every lash for maximum volume. Both tubes are a rich black color to give you a dramatic look that you can dress up or soften to make perfect for every event.
Each coat goes on smoothly without any clumping. This makes it great if you want to layer it for extra thickness and volume.
Just make sure to let each layer dry in between application to keep it from clumping or collecting at the tips of your lashes.
4. Too Faced Better Than Sex
Over the years, Too Faced’s Better than Sex Mascara has earned its place as one of the best mascaras for curling lashes. It goes on naturally but gives you thick, full lashes that last all day and into the night if need be, thanks to its waterproof durability.
To help keep your lashes from clumping, it’s important to keep your brush clean. Try wiping it down at least once a week to help prevent any clumping on the brush or on your lashes.
It has buildable coverage, with each new layer allowing for thicker, more voluminous lashes that stay put rain or shine. Too Faced’s iconic hourglass-shaped brush unlocks the volumizing formula that thickens, lengthens, and curls for extreme volume and dramatic lashes.
5. Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Super Curling & Lifting Mascara
Built to last while being easy to take off, Benefit’s curling mascara will stay put for up to 12 hours but won’t involve harsh scrubbing or chemicals to remove. It’s gentle on the eyes and designed for maximum volume.
Benefit’s mascara isn’t just designed to make your lashes look good, however. It’s also designed to keep them healthy.
This curling mascara is a formula with several lash healthy ingredients. This list includes Vitamin B5 and Serin, which will improve your eyelashes while you wear the mascara.
It’s important to note that this mascara is water-resistant not waterproof. While this quality does make it easier to remove, you’ll want to consider this if you’re going to be in or around water.
6. Christian Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara
Arched or helix-shaped brushes are your best friend with it comes to mega volume. This brush acts a lot like eyelash curlers in that they manually lift and curl your lashes as you swipe the mascara through.
This rich dark shade will make your eyes pop. It’s perfect for day or night, daily wear or big events.
Expert Advice: Looking for even thicker lashes? Coat both sides. When you’re applying your mascara usually, you probably look up and only coat the front side of your lashes. While is perfectly fine, it’s not your only option. After coating the front of your lashes, look down and coat the back. This will thicken and darken your lashes for a bold, intense look.
7. Marcelle Xtension Plus Curl Mascara
Specially designed brush hugs the natural curve of the eye and grabs even the smallest lashes. With evenly distributed bristles, eyelashes are spread out for a wide-eyed look.
The results are even bigger, bolder eyes that are sure to be the highlight of your makeup look.
Whatever your look, this highly-pigmented mascara helps instantly define lashes, making them look longer and fuller. Plus, the hypoallergenic formula is suitable for even sensitive eyes.
It’s designed to extend lashes for incredible length while lifting at the root to enhance lash’s natural curl without clumping or flaking.
In recent years, this mascara has been a popular choice in different subscription boxes with positive results.
8. L’Oreal Paris Makeup Volume Building Mascara
Tired of black mascara? Looking to either soften or liven up your makeup look?
The L’Oreal Paris curling mascara comes in a variety of colors ranging from brown to green to blue. This allows you to experiment with your look and hone your inner makeup artists.
No matter which color you choose, you can expect high-intensity pigment and volume. It’s buildable and can be layered for either a soft look or bold glam.
L’Oral Paris Voluminous Original Volume Building Mascara is uniquely formulated to resist clumping, keep lashes soft, and build lashes up to 5x their natural thickness. The Volume Maximizing Brush quickly thickens and builds lashes evenly for a full and bold look.
Plus, it contains Panthenol and Ceramide-R to help protect and condition lashes.
9. Wander Beauty Unlashed Volume & Curling Mascara
As one of the best drugstore curling mascaras, the Wander Beauty Unlashed curling mascara aims to meet all of your needs while giving you beautiful lashes. Its flake-free formula lengthens and curls your lashes while coating them in rich black color.
It’s a vegan mascara that nourishes your lashes. Plus, it’s safe for even sensitive eyes.
The best part of this curling mascara however is its durability. It’s water-resistant so it won’t run while you wear it, even if you workout.
At the same time, though, it’s easy to remove – no scrubbing required. This is safer for your eyelashes and skin.
This natural mascara uses a proprietary blend of lash-loving ingredients:
Peach Leaf Extract conditions and moisturizes lashes, and Trehalose (glucose) helps strengthen lashes. At the same time, Castor Seed Oil nourishes, moisturizes, and strengthens lashes, reducing lash fallout and promoting eyelash growth.
10. Kevyn Aucoin The Curling Mascara
This mascara is designed to deliver high pigment without clumping up your lashes. It goes on easily, stays put, and lets you have big, bold, and beautiful lashes all day long.
Expert Advice: Looking for bigger and better lashes? The shape of your brush will directly impact how your lashes look. A brush with spikey teeth will comb through your eyelashes during application. This will add length and definition for a wide-awake appearance. A thick brush will fluff up your eyelashes for maximum thickness and volume. It’s good to have both brushes on hand. Even though most mascara tubes come with wands, you can also buy them separately so you always have the right tools on hand.
11. Yves Saint Laurent Mvefc The Curler
This rich black curling mascara is designed to make your eyes pop. It has an easy to grip handle and a single helix brush for maximum volume.
Expert Advice: Believe it or not, the secret to maximum volume for your lashes may just involve ditching your favorite curler. Manuel makeup curlings can crimp and crease your lashes, on top of causing damage that could cause your lashes to fall out. Plus, when it comes to volume, they might just not be enough to give your lashes the lift they deserve. Switching to a heated eyelash curler may be beneficial. These will gently heat your lashes and guide them upwards for crease-free volume that lasts all day. Plus, the heat will help prevent your curling mascara from clumping. It’s a win-win situation.
12. Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara
Say goodbye to spider lashes! The Clump Crusher Mascara is designed to give you 20x more volume without any clumping or sticking.
The result is flawlessly beautiful lashes that make you look wide-awake and ready to crush the day. The curved, single helix brush design with straight bristle edge custom fits to the curve of the eye, allowing root-to-tip volume
13. Guerlain Noir Maxi Lash Volume
This gentle creamy formula is easy to apply and coats both the brush and your eyelash smoothly. It’s infused with rich oils that help keep your mascara stay put without smudging and flaking.
It has a gentle rose scent that fades quickly and isn’t overwhelming. It also is gentle enough that it doesn’t irritate sensitive skin or eyes.
Related: Top Rated Face Washes for Sensitive Skin
It can be difficult to remove this mascara though. It also isn’t the best at holding its curl, so you may want to use an additional tool such as an eyelash curler.
The tube is easy to store and use, plus it has a nice design.
14. Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara
The Clinique High Impact curling mascara is a powerful mascara with striking effects.
It creates exceptionally long thick and curly lashes with maximum volume. Dress them up or down for a look that is perfect for any and every event.
It’s gentle with no pulling, tugging, or tearing when applied. It is designed to be long-wearing as well as smudge, flake, and smear-resistant.
The arched wand lifts each and every single lash for as much volume as possible.
Expert Advice: To thoroughly coat your mascara wand, twirl it inside the tube but don’t pump it. Pumping your mascara can introduce oxygen into the tube that will cause it to dry out faster. Twirling it will coat your mascara wand thoroughly without drying out your mascara tube.
15. Maybelline Lash Sensational Washable Mascara
The exclusive fanning mascara brush with ten layers of bristles reveals layers of lashes for a sensational full fan effect. As a result, you’ll have fuller, thicker lashes with more volumes with no clumping.
If you really like this product, there’s an option to purchase a double pack. This means you can keep one and share it with a friend, or stockpile so you’re never without your favorite mascara.
It’s also a gentle formula making it better for sensitive eyes.
Joan S. Wilson is a lifelong makeup and skincare enthusiast. She used to work as a makeup artist for 5 years. Joan is always curious and wants to learn more when it comes to makeup and skincare. She tries her best to make other people’s skin health better. This is why Joan is so passionate about writing articles on beauty topics. She always looks for products that are high-quality, dermatologist-tested, and does that it says on the label. In every article, she shares her knowledge to make your life healthier and happier!