Best Mascara for Short, Straight Lashes (UK, 2026)
Short, straight lashes have two problems at once: there is not much lash to work with, and what there is points straight out or down, so it casts a shadow and makes eyes look smaller. A good mascara fixes both: a brush small enough to reach the tiny corner lashes and a formula that lengthens and lifts without weighing them down.
The mascaras below are the ones that UK editors, retailers and shoppers recommend most for length and lift, from a £8 drugstore favourite to a £29 luxury pick. If you only read one line: curl first, then use a lengthening mascara with a flexible brush.
Quick picks
- Best budget Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High
- Best for dramatic length L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Extensionist
- Best British pick UKLASH Lengthening Mascara
- Best luxury Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions
- Best for lashes that will not curl Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara
- Best Avon pick for length Avon Legendary Lengths Mascara
How to choose a mascara for short, straight lashes
Pick length over volume
Thick, heavy formulas can weigh short lashes down and make them point lower. Choose formulas sold as lengthening, lifting or curling. If a mascara says "volumising" and nothing else, it will thicken what you have but not extend it.
Look for a small or flexible brush
Short lashes sit close to the lid, and the tiny lashes at the inner and outer corners are easy to miss with a big brush. A slim or flexible brush lets you wiggle at the root and reach those corners without smudging the lid. Sky High's flexible brush is popular for exactly this reason.
Consider a fibre or a curling formula
Fibre mascaras (like L'Oréal's Extensionist) add tiny fibres that cling to the lash and extend the tips. Curling formulas hold lashes upwards. Both can help short, straight lashes, but fibres can be fiddly to remove.
Black or brown?
Black gives the most definition and makes short lashes look denser. Brown is softer, and works if black looks too harsh against your colouring, but it shows less length.
Curl first, always
Hold an eyelash curler at the base of the lashes for a few seconds, release, then curl again at the middle and tips. Curling lifts lashes so the mascara coats the full length, and it makes straight lashes look longer on its own.
How to apply
- Wipe the excess off the wand on the tube rim to avoid clumps.
- Place the brush at the root, wiggle, then pull through to the tip.
- Use the tip of the brush vertically on the small lashes in the inner and outer corners.
- Apply a second thin coat to the outer corners rather than one thick coat.
- Do not pump the wand: it pushes air in and dries the formula out faster.
Comparison
| Mascara | Price | Waterproof | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High | About £8 to £13 | No | Best budget |
| L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Extensionist | About £10 to £11 | No | Best for dramatic length |
| UKLASH Lengthening Mascara | About £12 to £14 | No | Best British pick |
| Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions | About £29 | No | Best luxury |
| Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara | About £28 | No | Best for lashes that will not curl |
| Avon Legendary Lengths Mascara | About £11 (2 for £12 on selected mascara) | No | Best Avon pick for length |
Our picks in detail
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High
The mascara that turns up in nearly every UK round-up, from drugstore guides to Glamour and Wirecutter. A flexible brush stretches lashes out for length with a soft, fluttery finish.
Pros
- Strong length for the price
- Flexible brush reaches small corner lashes
- Widely stocked, often on offer
Cons
- Small 7.2ml tube
- Volume is moderate, not dramatic
Choose it if: People who want clear length and a soft, fluttery finish on a drugstore budget, and anyone with short or straight lashes who wants a mascara that reaches the corner lashes.
Skip it if: Anyone wanting a thick, dramatic false-lash look. It builds length first, and volume is moderate. The 7.2ml tube is small, so it works out pricier per ml than it first looks.
Read the full review of Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High
L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Extensionist
Named best budget mascara by the Guardian and featured by Stylist for stretching lashes with lengthening fibres that grip each lash.
Pros
- Dramatic length for the price
- Fibre formula grips lashes
- Frequently praised by editors
Cons
- Fibre mascaras can be fiddly to remove
- Check ingredients if your eyes are very sensitive
Choose it if: People who want long lashes for little money. The Guardian named it best budget buy, and Stylist features it for stretching lashes with lengthening fibres that grip each lash.
Skip it if: Very sensitive eyes or anyone who dislikes fibre formulas, which can be fiddly to remove and may shed on to the cheek if you rub.
Read the full review of L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Extensionist
UKLASH Lengthening Mascara
A British brand that Marie Claire UK recommends for short lashes. It lengthens and curls, and it was Who What Wear's best lengthening pick.
Pros
- Good for short lashes
- Lengthens and curls
- British brand
Cons
- Less widely stocked on the high street
Choose it if: Short lashes: Marie Claire UK recommends it for people with short lashes, and Who What Wear picked it as the best lengthening mascara. A good British brand to try if the high-street options leave short lashes looking flat.
Skip it if: People who mainly want volume rather than length, or who shop only on the high street, since it is sold online and in selected retailers.
Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions
Listed for short lashes by Woman & Home and Who What Wear. It builds length from the root for a lash-extension look.
Pros
- Extension-style length
- Editors' pick for short lashes
- Vogue also features it
Cons
- High price
Choose it if: Short lashes when you want an extension-style look. Woman & Home and Who What Wear both recommend it for short lashes.
Skip it if: Budget shoppers: it is about £29.
Read the full review of Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions
Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara
Charlotte Tilbury says it gives about a 2x curling effect without an eyelash curler, which suits straight lashes.
Pros
- Curling formula
- Strong lift
- Luxury packaging
Cons
- Premium price
Choose it if: Straight lashes that will not hold a curl. Charlotte Tilbury says the formula gives about a 2x curling effect even without a curler.
Skip it if: Budget shoppers: it is about £28.
Read the full review of Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara
Avon Legendary Lengths Mascara
A length-focused Avon mascara with a tapered brush designed to reach hard-to-reach lashes. Avon claims up to 50% longer lashes in a clinical study of 18 people. Customers rate it 4.3 from 347 reviews on Avon's site.
Pros
- Tapered brush reaches small and corner lashes
- Customers praise length and separation
- Many long-term repeat buyers in the reviews
Cons
- Some shoppers report smudging under the eyes after long wear
- A few report clumping or dryness
Choose it if: People who want length and separation, including those with shorter lashes who need a brush that reaches the small ones. Reviews mention a slim, tapered brush and "no clumping".
Skip it if: Anyone prone to smudging under the eyes by the end of the day: a few reviewers report it. Choose a waterproof or tubing formula in that case.
Which should you buy?
- On a budget: Maybelline Sky High. About £8 to £13, flexible brush, widely stocked.
- Maximum length for the price: L'Oréal Telescopic Extensionist. Fibres stretch the tips.
- Something British and gentle: UKLASH Lengthening, recommended by Marie Claire UK for short lashes.
- Luxury splurge: Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions, which builds length from the root.
- Lashes that will not curl: Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes, which the brand says curls even without a curler. That is the brand's claim, not an independent test.
Related guides: best mascara for volume and length, best drugstore mascara, best tubing mascara, and how to apply mascara.
FAQ
Which mascara is best for short lashes?
Lengthening formulas with a slim or flexible brush tend to work best, because they reach the small lashes at the corners. Sky High, L'Oréal Telescopic Extensionist and UKLASH Lengthening are the most recommended in UK round-ups.
How do I make short lashes look longer?
Curl first, apply mascara at the roots with a wiggle, then pull the brush through to the tips. Add a second thin coat on the outer corners rather than one thick coat, and avoid heavy volumising formulas that weigh the lashes down.
Do straight lashes need an eyelash curler?
Not strictly, but a curler makes the biggest difference of any step. Curling lifts lashes so the mascara coats them fully and the lashes look longer. Curl before mascara, never after.
Should I use black or brown mascara on short lashes?
Black gives the most definition and makes short lashes look denser. Brown is softer and suits a more natural look, but it shows less length.