Best mascara for short lashes: get a super defined lash

If there was one makeup item I have always struggled to find a favourite of I would 100% say it’s mascara! For me, I could never seem to find a mascara to go crazy over and with hundreds of mascaras to choose from it’s difficult to know where to even start.

Do I want Volume? Do I want length? Do I want extra black? I could go on and on. Although we all know I love to rock a false lash I have always wanted to find the best mascara for short lashes for those days when a false lash is too much effort.

I decided to try a range of different mascaras at various price points to see whether I could transform my short stumpy lashes into those long, dark defined lashes we all crave.

Some of the items below have been gifted for testing and some links are affiliate, but all thoughts are my own.

Best volumizing mascara: Elf Cosmetics Big Mood mascara | £7

Promising to dramatically volumize, lengthen and lift the lashes this mascara is promising a lot! Elf is one of my absolute favourite drugstore brands, if you have never tried their concealer, I urge you to immediately! The hourglass brush helps to lift and separate the lashes to create a bigger and bolder look. I love a fat brush for mascara and loved how it coated my lashes almost straight away. Although I didn’t see much difference in the length of my lashes, I definitely noticed the volume, my lashes looked much thicker even with just two coats.

Best mascara for short lashes: Maybelline, Sky High mascara | £10

After going viral earlier this year on Tiktok I couldn’t find this mascara in stock for a good couple of months. When I did finally get my hands on it I was genuinely impressed. If you’re looking to add length to shorter lashes, I would recommend this one as it somehow made my lashes look much longer than they are! This is a mascara I have come back to time and time again over the last couple of months. Use code LFTFDAWN for a discount at Look Fantastic.

Best for a dramatic eye: Freshly Cosmetics Infinite Mascara | £9

I had never heard of this brand before, but if you’re looking for vegan and/or cruelty-free makeup I urge you to check out their website. With natural actives, this mascara promises to make your lashes look thick and full. I loved the size of this mascara at 10ml, it feels like you get a lot for your money. I found this mascara only needed two coats to achieve the look I was after, but it is super buildable if you want to add more (without it flaking off) I also loved the shape of the brush for this mascara as it helped to curl the lashes without having to use my curlers.

Currently sold out, but you can sign up to be notifed when back in stock.

Best for a natural eye: Kjaer Weis Im-Possible mascara | £29

Probably the most expensive mascara I have tried and I do hate to say it as we know I am a budget queen but I do think you get what you pay for with this one. Not only is it packaged beautifully I just love how this mascara applies to the lashes. With its smudge-free formula, it defines and coats the lashes without clumping. The mascara promises to last up to 3 months and can actually be refilled too. The wand is also super soft, so if you’re after a natural eye makeup look this mascara would be perfect.

Best budge-proof mascara: Benefit Bad Gal mascara | £22

If you haven’t tried or at least heard of this mascara then where have you been? The carbon black, gravity-defying mascara is one of the most searched for products online. If you like your lashes big and bold then this is the one for you. More expensive than a drug store mascara, paying the extra is worth it if you’re looking for a mascara that will not budge all day and all night. Hugely impressive!

Use code: LFTFDAWN for a discount at Look Fantastic.

Best waterproof mascara: Doll Beauty Showstopper | £12

Long-lasting and lightweight this mascara offers a rich finish promising volume and length. Out of all of the mascaras I tried, this wasn’t my absolute favourite for volume, but one thing that made it stand out was the fact it didn’t smudge throughout a very sweaty gym class! If anything I actually struggled a little to remove it! The brush is a little narrow and thin for my liking and took a few coats to get the look I needed, but if you’re after a wand that isn’t too big or if you struggle with smudging then this would be an ideal mascara for you.