The 10 Best Non-Clumping Mascaras in 2022

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As someone who cringes at the sight of my high-school photos—all featuring spiky spider lashes, dark under-eye makeup, and muted lips—I can confidently say that clumpy, streaky mascara is no longer my thing. Sure, it was fun when I was young, and it always resurges every few seasons on the runways, but when it comes to an everyday look, natural-looking length, definition, and curl wins for me every time.

Indeed, clumpy mascara can also be the result of your technique. With excess product on the mascara wand, too much pressure, numerous coats, and an expired formula, you, too, could end up with clumpy-looking lashes. Yet for the most part, there are some magic wands out there that make it extremely hard to mess up because of their wand design and formulation. In other words, they're mistake-proof, and you can swipe with abandon without fearing spider lashes.

Ahead, check out the best non-clumping mascaras on the market right now, all approved by Team Byrdie.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Lengthening Mascara at Sephora

This pick grabs each individual lash to create maximum separation, length, and volume.

Best for Straight Lashes:

Almay Mega Volume Mascara at Amazon

This mascara completely lifts and fans out lashes with no clumps.

Best Lengthening:

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Lengthening Mascara at Amazon

The wand separates each lash while sculpting and extending them.

Best Volumizing:

Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara at Sephora

The shape of the wand allows you to preserve your lash length and build subtle volume without any drooping.

Best Drugstore:

COVERGIRL Lash Blast Volume Mascara at Amazon

If you’re looking for a drugstore option, this beloved classic is a hit.

Best Budget:

Maybelline Push Up Angel Washable Mascara at Amazon

This affordable mascara serves up incomparable curling and lifting abilities.

Best Flake-Free:

Glossier Lash Slick at Glossier.com

It does offer powder-puff, fluffy length to your existing lashes and doesn't cake or flake.

Best Waterproof:

Mary Kay Lash Love Mascara at Marykay.com

This waterproof formula is clump-resistant and flake-free.

Best Wand:

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara at Sephora

The unique brush has two different sides, both of which work wonders at separating lashes for a completely clump-free look.

Best for a Cat-Eye:

Burberry Cat Lashes Mascara at Burberry.com

This mascara from Burberry lifts every lash and curls them upwards and outwards to create the best cat-eye.

Benefit They're Real! Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara

View On Sephora View On Nordstrom View On Ulta

What We Like

Defines and separates lashes
Brush grips lashes close to the roots
Long-wearing

What We Don't Like

A little difficult to remove

This is my original go-to for separating lashes. This Benefit mascara brush design has staggering bristles that grab each individual lash so close to the root to lift it up and out.

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Holds a curl
Lashes look lifted
Adds volume

What We Don't Like

Brush can be difficult to use

For seriously stick-straight lashes that need a lift, Byrdie's editorial director Faith Xue reaches for Almay Mega Volume Mascara. It's the only mascara that completely lifted and fanned out her lashes with no clumps.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Extension Lengthening Mascara

View On Amazon View On Dermstore

What We Like

Goes on smoothly
Separates and lengthens
Easy to remove

What We Don't Like

Strong scent

This super-lengthening pick from La Roche-Posay is a favorite of senior editor Hallie Gould. The wand separates each lash while it simultaneously sculpts every hair, extending them far beyond their natural length.

Benefits: Defines, separates, lengthens | Size: 0.8 fl. oz | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: No

4.5

View On Sephora View On Nordstrom View On Ulta

What We Like

Comb wand separates each lash
Long-wearing, weightless formula
Water-resistant

What We Don't Like

Better at lengthening than volumizing

Reviewed: Benefit's Bad Gal Bang Mascara Seriously Lifts Lashes

According to editorial director Faith, this Benefit mascara brings your lashes to sky-scraping heights with its lengthening abilities. A few swipes is all it takes to get a falsie effect, without any clumping. Plus, the shape of the wang allows you to preserve your lash length and build subtle volume without any drooping.

What Our Testers Say

“It delivers on the promise of length, definition, and subtle volume—plus, it wears incredibly well.” — Emily Algar, Product Tester

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What We Like

Inexpensive
Keeps lashes soft
Volumizes

What We Don't Like

Could be more lengthening

If you’re looking for a drugstore option, this beloved classic is a hit—no miss. Its fiery color stands out on the shelves, but the real trophy has everything to do with its cushion-y, silicone brush that adds volume and maxes out every single lash, cluster-free.

Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Angel Washable Mascara

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What We Like

Fun packaging
Inexpensive
Lashes look lifted

What We Don't Like

Brush can be difficult to use

Quoted as the “push-up bra for your lashes” by Maybelline makeup artist Grace Lee, this mascara serves up incomparable curling and lifting abilities. Hallie and Faith both love it because it’s good for building volume on top of other mascaras and lifting lashes after your first initial coat.

4.5

View On Glossier.com

What We Like

Defines and lengthens lashes
Nourishing ingredients
Keeps lashes soft

What We Don't Like

Gives subtle results

4 Byrdie Editors Tried This Celeb-Fave Mascara—Here's What Happened

Senior editor Hallie doubted this Glossier mascara at first, then was completely swooning over it by the end of her week of trying Glossier products. Lash Slick won’t give you huge night-out-on-the-town lashes, but it does offer powder-puff, fluffy length to your existing lashes and doesn't cake or flake.

What Our Editors Say

"If you love your mascara to have a thickening, volumizing effect, then this probably isn't the one for you. But if a natural, off-duty look is what you're after, instead, you can't go wrong with Lash Slick. Its innovative formula, clump-free applicator, and chic packaging are all major wins in our book." — Byrdie Editors

View On Marykay.com

What We Like

Water-resistant
Won't flake or smudge
Lengthens

What We Don't Like

Not waterproof

Mary Kay products have withstood the test of time, and it's safe to say that this Lash Love Mascara is one of the brand's best. Byrdie senior editor Lindsey Metrus can attest that this water-resistant formula is clump-resistant and flake-free—she even has senior editor Hallie hooked.

Benefits: Defines, separates, lengthens | Size: 0.3 fl. oz | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

View On Sephora View On Ulta View On Tartecosmetics.com

What We Like

Dual-sided brush
Keeps lashes soft and fluttery
Natural looking

What We Don't Like

Not for dramatic volume

The unique brush in this mascaras has two different sides, both of which work wonders at separating lashes for a completely clump-free look. If you want major volume you might have to double up, but for natural-looking length, this is a winner.

View On Burberry.com View On Saks Fifth Avenue

What We Like

Lifts lashes
Holds a curl
Volumizes

What We Don't Like

Pricey

Creating a cat-eye doesn’t always have to do with eyeliner—you can certainly channel a more feline effect with a fuller lash line. This mascara from Burberry lifts every lash and curls them upwards and outwards.

Benefits: Lifts, lengthens, volumizes | Size: 0.2 fl. oz | Shades: 4 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: No

You're Bound to Find Your Ultimate Mascara in Our Comprehensive List of the Best

The Best Non-Clumping Mascaras on the Market

Best Overall: Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Lengthening Mascara

Best for Straight Lashes: Almay Mega Volume Mascara

Best Lengthening: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Extension Lengthening Mascara

Best Volumizing: Benefit Bad Gal Bang Volumizing Mascara

Best Drugstore: COVERGIRL Lash Blast Volume Mascara

Best Budget: Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Angel Washable Mascara

Best Flake-Free: Glossier Lash Slick

Best Waterproof: Mary Kay Lash Love Mascara

Best Wand: Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

Best for a Cat-Eye: Burberry Cat Lashes Mascara

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