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There’s no bigger beauty bummer than buying a brand-new mascara, only to apply it and have your lashes littered with clumps. This is where the best no-clump mascaras come in. These lengthening formulas prioritize coating each lash sleekly, with no bumps or lumps of product. While tubing mascaras offer some of the most popular no-clump formulas, other options rely on thin lash combs and hydrating ingredients to ensure that your makeup doesn’t crust up during application.
In the pursuit of truly gorgeous lashes, we spoke with makeup artists, plus Glamour testers, to determine the best nonclumping mascaras on the market. Our top overall pick is the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Mascara, because its tried-and-true formula (some of us have been using it since high school) gives you long lashes without excess pigment and clumps, and it’s a steal at under $15. We also found options for sensitive eyes, picks suitable for those dealing with lash loss, and more.
The best no-clump mascaras, at a glance
Featured in this article
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How we tested
We tested the best mascaras by evaluating ingredients, pigmentation and brush shape, and longevity without flaking or clumping.
| Ingredients | Pigmentation and Brush Shape | Longevity |
|---|---|---|
| Most of the mascaras that made the cut included ingredients such as castor oil for hydration and peptides for a lash-plumping effect. Some formulas featured tubing technology—polymers that wrap around the lash like a tube to elongate without clumping. | We also evaluated how pigmented the formulas were, plus how easy the brushes were to manipulate and coat our lashes. Those that made the cut had pigmented but smooth formulas, as well as contour-style or thin brushes that made it easy to saturate each lash. | Finally, we looked at the longevity of each mascara and how well it lasted throughout the day without clumping or flaking off. All of these mascaras did a great job of holding up against sweat, hot subways, windy walks to work, and nights out. They avoided clumps both during reapplication and after hours of wear. |
Best Overall: L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Mascara
This mascara is iconic for good reason—and you may recognize it from your FYP on Tiktok. The formula is an oldie but goodie and has an extremely thin brush that allows you to get into every nook and cranny of your lashes, and nicely separates them without making them look spidery. It’s also under $15, available on two-day Amazon Prime shipping, and comes in both washable and waterproof versions.
“I’ve been using this mascara on and off for over 10 years,” says Glamour commerce writer, Alanna Martine Kilkeary. “It has the thinnest brush you’ll ever see, which makes it easy to pick up every single lash. The pigment itself is thick without being clumpy, and it seriously lifts your lashes to sky-high heights. It’s versatile, too, and I’ve worn it everywhere from the office to special occasions and more,” she says.
Best Drugstore: Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
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Nydia Figueroa, a celebrity makeup artist, reaches for this mascara because it’s both nonclumping and lengthening. “This mascara has been a kit staple of mine for a while because it adds volume and gives lashes a false-lash effect,” she says. “It’s a great price point, which is important because I go through mascara so often.” Glamour’s Kilkeary loves it too. “I’ve been using this water-resistant mascara for years, and I’ve never found anything else like it. It’s super lightweight on the lashes, and the brush is fluffy and thick but picks up just the right amount of product,” she says. “It simply never clumps or smears. I wore this outside on a 10-degree day in NYC when my eyes were tearing up from the cold, and it didn’t flake or move. It instantly makes my lashes look more separated, plush, and pillowy, and the best part is that it’s literally $5 and stays on until you wash it off with a makeup remover.”
Best for Volume: Tower 28 Beauty MakeWaves Mascara
If you’re looking for plain old volume but don’t want to deal with bumps and clumps, Jonet Williamson, an NYC-based makeup artist, recommends this lengthening formula. This pick never crunches or flakes, even if you’re the type of person who likes to apply two to three coats.
“This Tower 28 mascara manages to add volume to my short lashes but without the messiness or flakyness. The product doesn’t smudge on my eyelids like other mascaras thanks to the bristles that really separate my lashes,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.
Best for Sensitive Eyes: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
Kasey Spickard, a NYC-based celebrity makeup artist who prefers a tubing mascara to avoid clumps, raves about this long-wearing option. “I was turned onto it by one of my clients who’s a touring comedian,” Spickard says. “She loves a full lash, and this one doesn’t clump or transfer. I now swear by it.”
But the best part is that this pick is not only laugh-proof (and cry-proof), it’s also suitable for sensitive eyes. It has castor seed oils, shea butter, and a tapered cone brush which helps you coat every single lash.
“This cruelty-free formula is really gentle on eyes, and I like to use it during allergy season when my eyes are at an all-time watering level,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “This formula stays put, never smudges, and isn’t clumpy during application.”
Best for Thin Lashes: Kosas Soulgazer Mascara
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Williamson also recommends this smudge-proof mascara if you have thin lashes. It’s packed with peptides that make lashes look long and strong, and won’t flake all day long.
“My favorite thing about this mascara is the curved brush,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “It’s this neat hourglass shape that helps you really curl up and lift your lashes during application, and it never gives off too much pigment. It even has helped my lashes grow a bit after using it for over a month now — they look and feel thicker and resilient.”
Best for Older Women: Clinique High Impact Mascara
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Aging often comes hand in hand with thin lashes or lash loss, which can make clumping even more obvious. This formula is a favorite of ours because it has a hydrating formula and a soft fiber brush that adds volume without the gunk. It’s also ophthalmologist-tested and safe for those who wear contacts.
“I’m a huge fan of Clinique skin care but had never given their makeup a try. Take it from me, Clinique High Impact Mascara is impressively good. I particularly recommend its wispy, layering, nonclumpy qualities. If you’re looking for more dramatic lashes, the key is to layer it on. The first coat came out super wispy and very natural, but as I applied layers, it became thicker and fluffier and more showgirl-like, if you will, with no clumps. My lashes are pretty sparse these days as I get older, and it takes a lot of scaffolding to make them actually appear visibly around my eyes, but Clinique’s mascara did an outstanding job without making them look all goopy. I’m putting this in my makeup bag right away,” says Glamour contributor Charlotte Twine.
Best for Length: Makeup by Mario Master Mascara
Williamson swears by this long-lasting volumizing and lifting mascara. The formula has a blend of ProVitamin B5, castor oil, polymers, and vegan wax that helps hug your lashes to give them volume and length.
“I love the brush of this mascara because it’s not overly thick, but not too thin either,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “It gives you just the right amount of pigment without looking inky and helps separate lashes for a voluminous, yet nonlumpy finish.”
Best for Short Lashes: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
Brielle Pollara, a New Jersey–based makeup artist, prefers this Ilia mascara for short, straight lashes and sensitive eyes. “The formula and hourglass shape of the brush work in conjunction to create a voluminous finish, and it’s formulated with provitamin B5 and arginine to promote stronger, healthier-looking lashes,” she says.
“Not only does it have a perfectly bristled brush that coats and separates all my lashes, but the deep brown color adds just the right amount of pop to my eyes without being overwhelming like some black mascaras can be. I prefer the subtle dimension it gives me. Best of all, it doesn’t budge an inch during the day but comes off fairly easy at night,” says Glamour senior beauty editor Ariana Yaptangco.
Glamour Calle also swears by this formula. “My eyes are very sensitive, and I wear contacts, which is why I can’t do lash extensions or wear fake lashes for long. Since I mainly stick to mascara, I try to look for ones that are gentle on my eyelid area. This one is great because I don’t have to worry about it causing any itchiness or redness—not even when I remove it. It adds just the right amount of volume for my everyday makeup and it comes in brown shade.”
Frequently asked questions
What should you look for when shopping for a no-clump mascara?
“When shopping for a nonclumping mascara, take a good look at the type of wand it has, but also the viscosity of the formula,” says Williamson. Formulas that are infused with hydrating ingredients like castor oil or lash serums tend to coat lashes more thinly, which leads to less clumping as you build layers, she says.
What is the best type of mascara wand for no clumps?
Curved and hourglass wands are the best to look for when shopping. Spickard recommends opting for one of these that will comb through lashes easily. “Bonus if it has a comblike component to it as well! This allows you to coat the lashes with mascara on one side and comb through on the other,” he notes. If the mascara has a molded brush (with really thin spikes), this can also help to separate lashes and avoid clumps better than traditional bristles, Williamson adds.
Do tubing mascaras not clump?
For the most part, tubing mascaras don’t clump, but the makeup artists we spoke with recommend proceeding with caution. “If you apply too many layers of a tubing mascara, it can get clumpy, so remember that less is more,” says Williamson.
How can you avoid clumpy mascara, other than choosing the right product?
Spickard says the best way to avoid clumpy mascara is by knowing how to apply it. “After completing your eye makeup, use an eyelash curler to lift and prep your lashes. Then, start from the root of the lash using a fine brushing or rocking motion back and forth from root to tip. If you see any clumps, brush through with a clean spoolie or lash comb to separate the lashes,” he says. Next, and this step is very important, make sure that the first coat is completely dry before adding any other coats. “You’re building the foundation for subsequent layers,” he says. Repeat the process until you’re at your desired thickness for a natural look.
Meet the experts
- Nydia Figueroa, celebrity makeup artist
- Kasey Spickard, NYC-based celebrity makeup artist
- Jonet Williamson, NYC-based makeup artist,
- Brielle Pollara, New Jersey–based makeup artist