These Mascaras Give You Doe-Eyed Lashes Without the Heavy, Clumpy Feel

Aug 19, 2026 - 04:06

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These Mascaras Give You Doe-Eyed Lashes Without the Heavy, Clumpy Feel

Mascaras That Give You Wispy, Fluttery, Doe Eyes Courtesy of Merit

Whether it's celebrities going au naturel on their lashes or our eyes becoming more sensitive to heavy formulas, society has gravitated towards a less-is-more mentality when it comes to mascaras. We want our natural lashes to breathe, and add only a little refinement here and there.

While there are some braving the no-mascara trend, some of us can't let go of our emotional support mascaras. I'm no exception. I simply don't feel ready for the day with my full-face of makeup without a little color on my lashes.

I'm sure we're all grateful to say goodbye to the days of packing on layer after layer of goopy, black mascara. Formulas have come a long way, and that much product is simply no longer necessary to achieve that coveted wispy lash look.

Now, we're looking for the right amount of volume, length, curl, lift, and definition to complete our look—nothing more. Take it from someone who has tried plenty of mascaras and yearns for a doe-eyed, fairy lash look. These are the ones I own, tried, and highly recommend.

Best Black Mascara for Fluttery Lashes: MERIT Clean Volume Mascara
Best Drugstore Mascara for Wispy Lashes: Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions XL Mascara
Best Brown Mascara for a Natural Look: Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
Best Mascara That Lasts Through The Day Without Smudging: Lancôme Lash Idôle Mascara

MERIT Clean Volume Mascara

Featuring a small precision brush, this tubing mascara has a lightweight formula that slowly builds a natural, clump-free volume, length, and lift. Perfect if you're looking for both wispy, fairy lashes and volume.

Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions XL Volumizing Tubing Mascara

This drugstore tubing mascara is a favorite for those days when you want a little volume and lift in a brown shade. It's formulated with shea butter, murumuru butter, castor oil, and pro-vitamin B to leave your lashes nourished, too.

Prada Pradascope Lash Mascara

This designer mascara features a nylon-fiber brush that captures each lash and covers it from root to tip with its comfortable and buildable formula for a look that's lifted, defined, and long.

Top Rated

Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara

This Maybelline mascara has a flexible wand and a formula infused with bamboo extract and fibers that will leave your lashes long and full. It's also buildable; one coat is all you need for a natural look.

Lancôme Lash Idôle Mascara

This mascara has a curved wand that pushes up and fans out your lashes for an open-eye effect that lasts up to 24 hours without smudging or flaking.

COVERGIRL Eye Enhancer Wrap Tubing Mascara

This drugstore tubing mascara promises visible (and effortless) length without clumping, flaking, or smudging throughout your day.

Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara

My first love! This mascara is a classic if you want a lifted, defined, and curled look, with its signature brush that hooks to catch even the shortest of lashes.

ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara

This clean mascara promises to lengthen, lift, and separate your lashes for a natural look with a formula made with arginine, biotin, organic shea butter, and ethically sourced beeswax.

How We Choose

The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.

As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.