What does fiber mascara do?

Fiber mascaras are infused with tiny fibers (silk, rayon, or nylon) that attach to the lash tips when applied. These tiny synthetic fibers work to extend, build, and plump up the lashes.

Is fiber mascara safe?

Yes, but be mindful that the lash fibers are prone to flaking, and may invade the eye.

How do I apply mascara for the best results?

The key is to start at the base of your lashes and slowly wiggle the brush from the roots to the ends until fully coated. From there, you can add a few more coats for a dramatic finish.

The 11 Best Fiber Mascaras of 2022

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When your goal is extra-long, extra-fluttery, doe-like lashes, you can get extensions. Or you could opt for a set of falsies. Or you can splurge on a lash lift. With so many options out there nowadays, it's easy to get the lashes of your dreams. However, these treatments, while effective, can be time-consuming, overwhelming, and expensive.

Why not take the easy way out and reach for a fiber mascara? True to the name, these formulas contain itty-bitty fibers—usually made of silk, rayon, or nylon—that adhere to the tips of your lashes. The result? Major length and volume, a big win for anyone, but particularly those with short, sparse fringe. Best of all: There’s no glue, tape, or cutting required, just some simple swiping.

See the effects for yourself with these standout fiber mascaras.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Dior Diorshow Mascara at Nordstrom

This pick is infused with microfibers to help lashes look longer, thicker, and more voluminous.

Best Volumizing:

Milk Makeup Kush High Volume Mascara at Sephora

The fibers are heart-shaped, specially made to lay on your lashes in each direction for both length and volume.

Best Budget:

COVERGIRL Fiber Mascara at Amazon

This mascara boosts volume and length by an impressive 400%, and it's super affordable, too.

Best Curling:

Eyeko Black Magic at Amazon

The curved wand lifts lashes at a 90-degree angle (and keeps them there for up to 12 hours).

Best Drugstore:

Maybelline New York Gigi Hadid Mascara at Amazon

This customer favorite adds volume and length without hurting your wallet.

Best Smudge-Resistant:

L’Oréal Fiber Mascara at Ulta

This formula is smudge-resistant, so you never have to worry about smears.

Best Conditioning Formula:

DHC Perfect Pro at Amazon

Formulated with beeswax and vitamin E, this formula conditions your lashes and delivers a beautiful sheen.

Best Long-Lasting:

Surratt Beauty Relevée Mascara at Amazon

This pick wards off smudges and raccoon eyes, is humidity-resistant, and lasts a long time.

Best for Sensitive Eyes:

LORAC Cosmetics Pro+Fiber Mascara at Amazon

Even contact lens wearers or those whose eyes are easily-irritated won’t have an issue with this formula.

Best Natural:

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara at Thrivecausemetics.com

This pick is made with plant extracts and is free of parabens, phthalates, fragrance, and sulfates.

View On Nordstrom

The cult-favorite formula got even better when they added microfibers to the mix, particularly since they sit in between lashes, rather than on top, reducing irritation even for those who normally aren’t fiber fans. Also noteworthy: The tube, which touts a unique airlock system to keep air from getting in and drying out the mascara.

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Some fibers are long and cylindrical, great if you want extra length or that spidery lash effect. But for those who prefer a fuller-looking fringe, this formula is choice. The fibers are heart-shaped, specially made to lay on your lashes in each direction for both length and width. Bonus points for the tapered brush that lets you hit every part of your lashes—without clumps.

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Boosting volume and length by an impressive 400 percent, even those with the shortest and sparsest of lashes will be impressed with this fiber formula. Thanks to its reverse cone-shaped brush, you can also easily reach even those itty-bitty hairs out the corners of your eye, lifting lashes for a flirty, cat-eye look. And all that for just six bucks.

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Go ahead and ditch your lash curler. The curved wand lifts lashes at a 90-degree angle (and keeps them there for up to 12 hours), while tubing technology adheres to the tips of each hair for an easy, one-swipe, fiber effect.

Maybelline New York Gigi Hadid Fiber Mascara

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Talk about high praise: Byrdie's editorial director, Faith Xue, credits this fiber mascara as being "the best one I've ever tried." Sweep on the mascara in the dual-sided tube first, then add the fibers, then apply one more coat of mascara. Reviewers are big fans too, citing both the increased volume and length.

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Calling all eye-rubbers and those with watery eyes. This formula is smudge-resistant, so you never have to worry about smears, and also makes lashes look up to seven times more voluminous. It comes in three black shades of varying intensity, too. Try soft black when you want a more natural look, black for every day, and blackest black for the most dramatic effect.

DHC Mascara Perfect Pro Double Protection

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It’s hard to decide what we like best about this pick. Is it the polymer fibers that wrap around each lash for extra length and volume? Or is it the beeswax and vitamin E-infused formula that conditions fringe and delivers a beautiful sheen? Happily, there’s no need to choose.

View On Amazon View On Bluemercury.com

Celebrity makeup artist Troy Surratt drew major inspiration from Japanese beauty when creating the products in his eponymous line. Case in point: The Japanese tubing technology in this formula, which extends each and every lash with tiny microfibers for a defined and dramatic effect. It shrinkwraps the fibers onto the hairs to ward off smudges and raccoon eyes, and the formula is also humidity-resistant.

View On Amazon

Ophthalmologist-tested, even contact lens wearers or those whose eyes are easily-irritated won’t have an issue with this formula. Nylon fibers pack length, curl, and volume in every swipe and the oversized, tapered brush is easy to comb through from root to tip and reach even the corners of your eyes.

Thrive Cosmetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara

View On Thrivecausemetics.com

In the world of clean beauty, mascara formulas often fall short. But that’s definitely not the case with this paraben-, phthalate-, fragrance-, and sulfate-free pick. The buildable, liquid fiber technology makes for dramatic length and curl (and doesn’t flake or smear), while natural Korean plant extracts help boost the strength of your lashes.

Physicians Formula Eye Booster Instant Lash Extension Kit

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Instant gratification fans will appreciate that it takes just minutes to score longer lashes (that last for up to 24 hours). But there are long-term benefits, too; use it regularly for thicker, fuller, and longer appearing lashes in three weeks. We’re in.

What to Look For in a Fiber Mascara

Ingredients

When selecting a fiber mascara we suggest looking for a vegan formula that’s free of potentially harmful ingredients like phthalates and formaldehyde. Since fiber mascaras are more prone to flaking—and thus potentially entering your eye—you'll want to be very mindful of the ingredients.

Formula

Opt for a formula that is medium weight so that your eyelashes don’t get weighed down. Thick mascaras are known to clump, whereas thin mascaras don’t hold onto the lashes, especially when infused with fibers.

Brush

Everything goes back to the brush when choosing a mascara. You’re going to want a brush that separates the eyelashes and infuses them with volumizing fibers. A tapered brush does a good job of grabbing lashes at the root to create volume and length.

FAQ

What does fiber mascara do?

Fiber mascaras are infused with tiny fibers (silk, rayon, or nylon) that attach to the lash tips when applied. These tiny synthetic fibers work to extend, build, and plump up the lashes.
Is fiber mascara safe?

Yes, but be mindful that the lash fibers are prone to flaking, and may invade the eye.
How do I apply mascara for the best results?

The key is to start at the base of your lashes and slowly wiggle the brush from the roots to the ends until fully coated. From there, you can add a few more coats for a dramatic finish.