Buzz
If you expect your mascara to hold a curl and lift your lashes but find yourself disappointed each time, the problem could lie in the formula or brush. This is particularly true if your lashes grow straight or downward.
Finding the right curl-boosting mascara is a tricky balancing act. You need a formula that has enough polymers to hold your lashes in place without making them feel heavy. Waterproof formulas are often the only ones with enough staying power for straight lashes, but they can be hard to remove and not everyone prefers them.
I was curious to find out if anyone with stubborn straight lashes had discovered the best curling mascara, so I combed through reviews. The result was a clear consensus, highlighting a list of top picks, which include some waterproof options, a few drugstore favorites, and several highly nourishing formulas.
1. A Japanese serum mascara
2. A conditioning mascara with a micro-bristle wand
Benefit Cosmetics' Roller Lash is designed to give lashes an eye-opening, long-lasting curl with a unique hooked brush that separates and lifts, paired with an instant-setting formula. It also conditions lashes with B5 vitamins and serin.
Promising review: 'Perfect mascara for stubborn, straight lashes. This holds my curl for several hours, whereas I used to rely on waterproof mascara. My only issue is that the formula dries out fairly quickly, but I tend to prefer drier formulas. It's easy to define lashes, and it doesn't smudge below my eyes or on the lower lash line.' — jessicageweke
Available at Sephora for $16+ (in three sizes).
3. An affordable mascara for curling lashes from a well-known brand
4. A high-end mascara with nourishing ingredients
Diorshow Overcurl mascara is designed with a curl-enhancing formula, but what truly sets it apart is the addition of soothing floral water, nourishing jojoba esters, and cotton nectar, which can add shine and strengthen lashes. It features a thick-bristled, perfectly curved brush to apply the rich black mascara, and it's available in up to three color options at Nordstrom and Ulta.
Promising review: 'My lashes are naturally long, but they don't usually hold a curl well. This is one of the few mascaras that keeps my lashes curled all day long.' —Kylieslauson08
Available at Sephora for $33.
5. A rich, lifting mascara
This mascara, exclusive to Sephora, is designed to add volume and hold curls in place. Its ultra-creamy and buildable formula is enhanced with lifting wax, ensuring lashes stay fanned out, curled, and in place.
Promising review: 'I can't believe how much I love this mascara. It really does what it promises. I was shocked. My lashes are naturally straight and never stay curled. This mascara actually works! I’m buying backups just in case they ever discontinue it.' —Jackieg862
Get it from Sephora for $7+ (available in two sizes).
6. A mascara with a clean, peptide-infused formula
This clean mascara from Iris & Romeo promises not just to curl, but also to lengthen, volumize, and define each lash. It uses a brand-exclusive emulsion wax that provides flexibility while maintaining hold. Plus, a blend of five peptides helps thicken lashes over time and prevent breakage.
Promising review: 'I stopped going to get my lashes curled after using this. It creates the perfect, curled, and lifted lashes, and I’ve never found a mascara so pigmented while being clean. I’ve been telling everyone I know (and even people I don’t know) because I keep getting compliments on my lashes! I’ll definitely repurchase.' —CROB4
Get it from Sephora for $15+ (available in two sizes).
7. A versatile water-resistant mascara
Fenty Beauty’s all-in-one mascara features a unique "flat-to-fat" brush that uses its wider side to load lashes with product and the narrower side to define and curl. Its water-resistant formula is a rich true black shade.
Promising review: 'My lashes always droop, even after curling and applying mascara. This mascara keeps my lashes up all day. I wore it for 11 hours, and my lashes still looked as fresh as when I first applied it. No smudging, no flaking. While it’s not the best for volume, it certainly curls and lengthens.' —sephoralover97
Get it from Sephora for $24.
8. A luxury fanning mascara with a hybrid brush
The YSL Curler mascara boasts a hybrid brush with curved elastomer combs paired with rounded fiber bristles to achieve fanned, defined, and dramatically curled lashes. Its clump-free formula is enriched with nourishing ingredients such as coconut, walnut leaf, and bamboo oils, which provide a healthy shine.
Promising review: 'I love it — this is the only mascara that actually curls my lashes and gives them a naturally longer look. It’s light on the eyelid, not heavy.' —Gfugjh
Get it from Nordstrom for $32.
9. A truly smudge-proof K-beauty mascara
10. A sculpting mascara with a curved applicator
Refy is widely recognized for its laminating brow wax, which can tame even the most stubborn brows. They've brought that same formula into this mascara, using a unique, dramatically curved comb-like applicator that separates, curls, and lifts each lash individually. The sculpting formula is said to deliver a high-pigment finish and long-lasting curl.
Promising review: 'This mascara makes my lashes look so beautiful and natural, giving them a lovely curl. It doesn't smudge or flake, which I never thought was possible — every mascara I've used before has ended up under my eyes. And I'm blown away by the curl — I didn't even use an eyelash curler before, but this mascara somehow miraculously lifts my lashes! I never imagined a mascara could do this — I'm amazed, and I’m now looking to buy a lifetime supply.' —Heather C.
Get it from Refy for $24.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
