There are the makeup staples that you keep in your makeup bag (i.e. foundation, blush, eyeshadow), and then there are the makeup must-haves that you make sure to never be without. At the top of that list for most: Mascara.

Few products give as dramatic of a before and after as a couple coats of mascara—particularly if you have thinner lashes. Speaking of thinner lashes, if you do deal with fine hairs, there are some things you should look for (and avoid) when choosing the best mascara for thinner lashes. Ahead, we dive into some of our favorite mascara picks for thin lashes, with tips from experts.

Best mascara for thin lashes at a glance

• Best overall: L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Makeup Lash Paradise Mascara, $10
• Best for everyday: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes, $29
• Best splurge: Chanel Le Volume de Chanel, $35
• Best budget: Maybelline Lash Discovery, $7
• Best clump-free: Shiseido, ImperialLash MascaraInk, $21
• Best volumizing: MAC MacStack Mascara, $28
• Best wand: Gucci Mascara L’Obscur, $35
• Best natural look: Westman Atelier Eye Love You Volumizing Mascara, $58
• Best tubing: Caliray Come Hell or High Water Volumizing & Lengthening Tubing Mascara, $24
• Best buildable: Maybelline, Volum’ Express Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara $10
• Best shades: Pat McGrath Labs Dark Star Colour Blitz Mascara, $34
• Best lifting: Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Mascara, $24
• Best flake-free: Saie Mascara 101, $25
• Best for sensitive eyes: Tower 28 MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara, $20
• Best sweat-proof: YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara, $22

Shop the best mascara for thin lashes

Here’s our top picks for best mascaras for thinner lashes, according to makeup artists. You can also check out the best mascara for short lashes, plus another sparse-lash-friendly formula Well+Good editors love.

The best mascaras for thin lashes

Best overall: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Makeup Lash Paradise Mascara — $10.00

Believe it or not, the best overall mascara for thin lashes will only run you $10 at the drugstore. “This mascara is always in my kit, because its formula is amazing,” says Dresher. I, too, am a long-time user of the affordable formula—which is typically my go-to choice over other, more expensive options in my collection. It comes in black, brown, navy, black-brown, and a glitter-infused shade called “Mystic Black” for those days when you need a little extra sparkle. It’s easy to layer and leaves lashes looking soft and feathery (not stiff and clumped up), and delivers the sort of length and volume that you wouldn’t typically expect from a product at this price point. It stays on all day without clumping or flaking, but somehow also allows for seamless removal with your regular face wash. “It’s the best, affordable volumizing mascara for all lash types,” says Dresher, and I wholeheartedly agree.

Best for everyday: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes — $29.00

“This is one of my favorite mascaras for thinner lashes,” says Merante. “It adds instant volume and length with a 24-hour lift effect. The unique brush really lets you get to the root of the lashes and build up the product.” That’s all thanks to the lash-lifting polymers and waxes in the formula, which boost body and lift and provide an all-day hold. What really makes this formula great for daily wear, though, is the fact that it’s infused with a conditioning ingredient called Kerastore, which will keep your lashes soft and healthy even if you’re a 24/7, 365 type of mascara wearer.

Best splurge: Chanel, Le Volume de Chanel — $35.00

This quick-dry formula uses short bristles to allow you to really wiggle close to the lash line. “You’ll get volume and separation, but it doesn’t overpower the rest of your makeup,” says Rosado. The formula is especially great in that it doesn’t require you to apply layer after layer—one or two should do the trick, thanks to it special “Snowflakes” brush which features both long and short bristles that cover each lash in pigment.

Best budget: Maybelline, Lash Discovery — $7.00

This micro brush claims to be able to catch every lash, and boy does it deliver. Rosado loves using it on lashes that already have length (lucky!) but need a little oomph on the volumizing front. Amazon customers love it for its lightweight spoolie and formula, saying it gives easy length and volume without clumping—many have even begged Maybelline to never, ever change their formula or discontinue this line. (We second that.)

Best clump-free: Shiseido, ImperialLash MascaraInk — $21.00

This derm-tested and approved mascara  has a thin spoolie with ultra flexible bristles that grab on to each, individual lash, making sure you get 100 percent buildable coverage. “This formula is a bit creamy, but it dries down fast and doesn’t weigh down lashes,” says Rosado. “I love how it separates and lengthens lashes.”

Best volumizing: MAC, MacStack Mascara — $28.00

As the name suggests, this mascara is formulated to be able to layer and layer and layer without weighing down lashes to create your customized look. Rosado loves how it thickens lashes for a Twiggy vibe. Thalita Paiva, a makeup artist in LA, also names this as one of her favorites. “I love this mascara because it’s buildable, clump-resistant, and lifts my lashes like no other,” she says.

Best wand: Gucci, Mascara L’Obscur — $35.00

“This uber-black, paraben- and sulfate-free formula is easily buildable and long-wearing. While this can be said for many mascaras, it’s the brush that makes this one magic,” says Ashleigh B. Ciucci, a makeup artist in NYC. “The rubbery elastomer gets to each and every baby lash from inner to outer corners, top and bottom. The tiny bristles separate the lashes and keep the formula from clumping. This mascara is more than just a luxury name, it delivers.”

Best natural look: Westman Atelier, Eye Love You Volumizing Mascara — $58.00

Not only will this mascara give you a natural, your-lashes-but-better look, but it also happens to be made with 95% natural ingredients. “It’s formulated with carnuba wax, chicory root extract, sunflower seed wax, and coconut oil, and is perfect for those looking for a mascara that lifts, separates, and adds volume to thin lashes,” ,” says Merante. “The densely packed brush really defines and curls lashes, giving you fluttery lashes that last all day.”

Best tubing: Caliray, Come Hell or High Water Volumizing & Lengthening Tubing Mascara — $24.00

Tubing mascaras work by using polymers that wrap around each indivdual lash to create “tubes” of pigment for an overall enhanced effect. For those with thin lashes looking for a triple threat of length, volume, and curl, a tubing formula is a great choice. This one, from Caliray, comes with a “teddy bear bristle” wand (how cute is that?!), and checks all the boxes for amping up your lashes. The creamy formula is infused with argan oil for extra nourishment, and lives up to its long-wear claims—even on your bottom lashes, it will last all day without flaking or smudging.

Best buildable: Maybelline, Volum' Express Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara — $10.00

This drugstore mascara’s got everything you need from a buildable mascara: A great brush, an easy-to-layer formula, and a solid ingredient list. “This is one of my current kit must-haves,” says Brett Freedman, a celebrity makeup artist in LA. “I’m a huge fan of a big, wire-y brushes because they find every lash. The formula is meant to amp up lashes with one coat but it’s totally buildable. I generally do three.” The fact that it’s vegan, cruelty-free, and fragrance free is just *chef’s kiss.*

Best shades: Pat McGrath Labs, Dark Star Colour Blitz Mascara — $34.00

If you’re the mood to switch up your regular black or brown mascara for something more bold and playful, try this mascara from legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath. The hourglass-shaped wand gives lashes the perfect combination of curl and volume, and the gel-based formula allows it to glide easily onto your lashes layer after layer. It comes in four fun colors (red, hot pink, electric blue, and neon green), and offers a unique way to add a pop of color to your eyes without having to bother with eyeshadow.

Best lifting: Fenty Beauty, Full Frontal Mascara — $24.00

“I love how black this formula is. I truly go for super dark mascaras because I have the feeling that it makes my eyes look deeper and sexier. That is a plus for sure, and it’s forever tested by Rihanna so I obviously embrace that too,” says Paiva. The “flat-to-fat” brush is how it can near-instantly add volume, lift, length, and curl to even the most stubborn lashes.

Best flake-free: Saie, Mascara 101 — $25.00

It can be really hard to find a “clean” formula that performs as well as its non-clean counterparts, especially when it comes to flaking. That’s what makes this formula so special: Simply put, it does. not. flake. In addition to its ability to stay put all day, it’s also formulated with shea butter and minerals that deliver nutrients to your lash strands as it spreads them out for pretty definition. It adds a natural fullness and volume, and I love the almost ball-like tip that lets you highlight the ends and edges of your lashes.

Best for sensitive eyes: Tower 28, MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara — $20.00

Whether you’ve got sensitive eyes or not, this mascara is pure magic. It’s curved, “triple-wave” wand—which is basically three bouncy bands that merge as one—offer mega lift in a way that still looks natural, and is infused with Aquaflex technology (which is often used in hairstyling products) to hold and lift curls all day. According to one W+G editor with thin lashes, “After applying just two coats of mascara in the morning, I’ve noticed how the formula volumizes my eyelashes, and holds them up throughout the day, never sinking.” Better yet? Not only has the formula been tested by dermatologists and opthamologists to get their stamp of approval for being non-irritating (even for contact lens wearers), but it also includes castor oil, which has antibacterial and antifungal properties to ward off skin infections.

Best sweat-proof: Yves Saint Laurent, Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara — $32.00

While it may seem silly to wear a luxurious lengthening mascara to a sweat-session at the gym, if you’re looking for something that really holds up when you’re drenched, this one’s worth the investment. Not only is the application process seamless—it glides on easily, is highly buildable, and never ever clumps—but it stays on all day without dripping or flaking no matter how sweaty you get. “This mascara is great if you’re looking for full, long, beautiful lashes and I love how easy it is to coat the lashes with its unique tapered wand,” says Dresher.

What to look for in a mascara for thin lashes

1. The right formula

For starters, don’t choose a heavy formula that will weigh down your lashes. “I highly recommend a lightweight, non-whipped or creamy formula, something that dries fast, that’s also defining and volumizing,” says Isabel Y Rosado, a makeup artist in NYC.

While waterproof formulas can be great for staying power, those with sparse lashes may want to approach these products with caution. “I’m not really a huge fan of waterproof mascara,” says Sir John, Beyoncé’s makeup artist, in his MasterClass workshop where he teaches makeup techniques. “It’s like if you were to spray hair spray on your lashes every day. It’s wrecked people’s lashes over the years.” Obviously, when your lashes are already delicate, you don’t want to coat them in something that could dry them out or cause them to break, so save your waterproof mascara for special occasions (or days when you know you’re going to cry).

2. An oomph-inducing wand

Next, you’ll want to work with a wand that delivers a triple-threat of length, volume, and curl—and there are a few different options that will give you just that. “I love a traditional, thicker wand for sparse lashes because it really ensures that you are getting all the lashes you have and coating them from top to bottom,” says celebrity makeup artist Natalie Dresher. For her part, Rosado prefers silicone applicators for thinner lashes to help with “separation and length.”

How to apply mascara to thin lashes

The magic isn’t all in the formula or the wand: It’s also in how you apply the mascara to your lashes. “Start at the root of the lashes and wiggle back and forth a couple times to get as close as possible to the lash line and build the product up, then pull the mascara through to the ends of the lashes to lengthen and separate,” says Anthony Merante, a makeup artist in NYC.

Rosado agrees and adds that she then likes to turn her mascara wand vertically and wave it across lashes to create more fullness and volume. Dresher notes the importance of starting your application at the the inner corner of your eye then moving the wand to the outer corner, and waiting for each coat to dry before applying the next. Generally speaking, she says two to three coats of product should deliver the length and volume you’re looking for (unless you’ve got a miracle-working “one coat” mascara).

Another step you don’t want to skip for thinner lashes: A lash curler (this one from Wet ‘n Wild is a best-seller—and it’s cheaper than a cup of coffee from Starbucks). “A lash curler is a hero for lifting and curling,” says Rosado. There’s also the age-old question of whether or not you should apply mascara to your bottom lashes, which is something Dresher doesn’t recommend. “In most instances I think bottom mascara is really not flattering on most people because of how it drags the eyes downwards,” she says. “Our goal in makeup is to always lift and accentuate, so in most of my makeup looks… I would recommend skipping the bottom mascara.” (Of course, the choice is ultimately yours though).