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The best volumizing mascara for most people is Maybelline Volum’ Express The Colossal.
Its big Mega Brush puts down a lot of formula in one swipe, it washes off easily, and it holds 4.5/5 from 35,000+ Amazon ratings.
But “volume” means different things, so here’s the short version.
Want bold, thick lashes fast? Colossal or Too Faced Better Than Sex.
Want fluffy, fanned-out lashes with lift? Lancôme Lash Idôle.
Want softer volume and sensitive eyes? Clinique High Impact.
How we chose these five
We started from Amazon’s Mascara Best Sellers list (checked November 6, 2026) and kept formulas sold mainly for volume.
For each one we read the maker’s product page, then Amazon’s “Customers say” review summaries for the complaints that keep coming up.
We didn’t test these mascaras ourselves.
The angle most lists skip: the brush shape decides what kind of volume you get, and the makers even disagree on how to layer coats.
So each pick comes with the layering tip its maker actually gives.
Volumizing mascara comparison
| Mascara | Brush | Kind of volume | Maker’s layering tip | Amazon rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maybelline The Colossal (washable) | Mega Brush | Big and bold, fast | Don’t let it dry between coats | 4.5/5 from 35,675 (Nov 2026) |
| COVERGIRL Lash Blast Volume | Patent-pending volume brush | Full, budget | Not stated | 4.4/5 from 55,040 (Nov 2026) |
| Too Faced Better Than Sex | Hourglass | Dramatic, dark | Wiggle at the root, layer for more | 4.4/5 from 18,121 (Oct 2026) |
| Lancôme Lash Idôle | Curved, 360 micro-bristles | Lifted, fanned-out | Twist the wand, don’t pump | 4.4/5 from 11,170 (Nov 2026) |
| Clinique High Impact | Soft fiber brush | Soft, buildable | Let it dry between coats | 4.4/5 from 11,147 (Nov 2026) |
1. Maybelline Volum’ Express The Colossal: best overall
Colossal is the easy pick if you want thick lashes in one coat without spending much.
Maybelline pairs a big Mega Brush with a collagen-infused formula and claims 9x volume in one coat.
It’s ophthalmologist tested and labeled suitable for contact lens wearers.
The trick is speed… Maybelline says not to let it dry between coats, so do both coats back to back.
Good for: straight or thin lashes that need instant thickness on a budget.
Skip it if: you want separated, wispy lashes, since a big brush loads a lot of product.
- Pro: bold volume in one coat, per the maker
- Pro: washable, so it comes off without scrubbing
- Pro: contact-lens friendly
- Con: Amazon’s spec table says waterproof, but Maybelline sells it as washable, so don’t count on it in rain or tears
- Con: second coats only work while the first is still wet
2. COVERGIRL Lash Blast Volume: best budget classic
Lash Blast is the one to try if you want full lashes from a long-running drugstore tube.
COVERGIRL claims up to 10x volume, and the Amazon listing calls the formula hypoallergenic.
Check the shade number before you buy: 800 is the regular formula, and the waterproof version is 825.
Good for: everyday fullness at a low price.
Skip it if: you need it to survive a sweaty day; get the 825 instead.
- Pro: 55,000+ Amazon ratings
- Pro: owners say it removes easily
- Pro: some owners with sensitive eyes say it doesn’t sting
- Con: several owners call the formula dry
- Con: mixed results; some say it does little on their lashes
3. Too Faced Better Than Sex: best for dramatic, dark lashes
Better Than Sex is for the full, false-lash look and very black color.
Its hourglass-shaped brush is meant to cradle lashes, and Too Faced says to wiggle the wand at the root, then layer for more.
It comes in black, chocolate and midnight blue, and it’s labeled suitable for contact lens wearers.
Good for: evening looks and sparse lashes that need to look much fuller.
Skip it if: you have oily lids, because smudging is the top complaint.
- Pro: owners say it makes sparse lashes look full and dramatic
- Pro: brown shade for light lashes
- Pro: Amazon’s review summary praises length and volume
- Con: many owners report smearing under the eyes after an hour or two
- Con: the thick formula can clump with a heavy hand
4. Lancôme Lash Idôle: best for lifted, fanned-out volume
Lash Idôle is the pick if you want volume that looks fluffy and separated, not chunky.
Lancôme uses a curved wand with 360 micro-bristles and a lightweight gel formula, and rates wear at up to 24 hours.
The maker says to twist the wand out (don’t pump), build volume with the inside curve, then fan out with the outside curve.
Good for: straight or downward lashes that need lift as well as fullness.
Skip it if: you want the most volume per dollar.
- Pro: owners praise smooth application and lift
- Pro: Amazon’s summary says it stays on without smudging
- Pro: separates lashes, per many reviews
- Con: clumping reports are mixed
- Con: many buyers feel it’s overpriced
5. Clinique High Impact: best for sensitive eyes
High Impact gives softer, buildable volume, and it’s our pick if mascara usually makes your eyes itch.
Clinique says it’s ophthalmologist tested, allergy tested, fragrance free and safe for contact lens wearers.
Its tip is the opposite of Maybelline’s: let it dry between coats to prevent clumps.
Good for: sensitive eyes and “my lashes, but more” volume.
Skip it if: you want big drama from one coat.
- Pro: deep black color, per Amazon’s review summary
- Pro: owners say it comes off easily with water
- Pro: fragrance free
- Con: clumping reports are mixed
- Con: softer result than the other four
Match the brush to the volume you want
Bold and thick: a big or hourglass brush (Colossal, Better Than Sex) loads the most formula.
Fluffy and separated: many small bristles (Lash Idôle) spread formula thinner across more lashes.
Soft and natural: a fiber brush (High Impact) combs as it coats.
Then follow your tube’s layering rule, because it changes between brands.
Wet-on-wet formulas like Colossal get clumpy if you wait; dry-between-coats formulas like High Impact get clumpy if you rush.
If clumps are your main worry, see our best non-clumping mascara guide.
If your lashes look short rather than thin, length matters more, so try the best mascara for length.
FAQ
What’s the difference between volumizing and lengthening mascara?
Volumizing mascara makes each lash look thicker, usually with a bigger brush and more formula.
Lengthening mascara stretches the tips, usually with a thinner comb-like brush.
Is a drugstore volumizing mascara good enough?
Often, yes: the highest-rated pick here is a drugstore tube, and our best drugstore mascara guide covers more.
Can I wear volumizing mascara with contacts?
Colossal, Better Than Sex and High Impact are all labeled by their makers as suitable for contact lens wearers.
More options are in our mascara for contact lens wearers guide.
Sources
- Amazon Mascara Best Sellers list, checked 2026-11-06 (ratings, counts)
- Amazon listings ASIN B002ZTVMDI, B00EMAM9BC, B00P0Q0T28, B08TPCHYLW, B001VD3YV2, checked 2026-11-06 (ratings, spec tables, “Customers say” summaries; Lash Blast summary from the Amazon UK listing)
- Maybelline, The Colossal Washable Mascara: https://maybelline.com/eye-makeup/mascara/volum-express-the-colossal-washable-mascara
- COVERGIRL, Lash Blast collection: https://www.covergirl.com/collection-makeup/lash-blast
- Too Faced, Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara: https://www.toofaced.com/product/23484/59115/eye-makeup/mascara/better-than-sex-volumizing-mascara
- Lancôme, Lash Idôle Mascara: https://www.lancome-usa.com/makeup/eye-makeup/mascaras/lash-idole-mascara/00271-LAC.html
- Clinique, High Impact Mascara: https://www.clinique.com/products/high-impact-mascara
- Maker pages checked 2026-11-06