Hot Take: The Best Mascaras are Less Than $15

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Sorry, not sorry, but I'm a bougie b*tch, k? Like, I just got back from a trip where I checked a bag just for my skincare and makeup. (Ahem, I need full-size setting spray; it's summer, after all!) All to say, the one thing that goes against my fancy taste is that I almost exclusively use inexpensive mascaras. Why? Because the best drugstore mascaras are genuinely the best.

Sure, some formulas cost more than a cocktail in NYC, and I get on with them just fine. But I'm also a firm believer that mascara doesn't have to cost eons when drugstore brands consistently offer similar results and innovation. Like, on said trip, I only brought a drugstore mascara (which you can read more about below). Because I'm such a drugstore mascara stan, I'm sharing all of my top favorites below, including a pick from another Cosmo staffer and some notes from makeup artist Neil Scibelli.

All of the best drugstore mascaras, ahead, including favorites from Maybelline, L'Oreal, Covergirl, Milani, and more. Then, if you still can't choose (don't blame ya), read on for a guide to choosing the best mascara for you.

Voluminous Panorama Mascara

The highest praise I can give a product is bringing it on a trip—because when that's the only option I have, it'd better do its job. And on a recent trip, the only mascara I stashed in my bag was L'Oreal Panorama. And I genuinely enjoyed every single minute of swiping it onto my lashes.

This mascara adds length and volume to every single lash, from the itsy-bitsy ones in the inner corner of my eyes to the outer lashes that are prone to clumping. It makes my eyes look so open and fresh, since it also separates each lash and fans them out.

Don't just take my word for it, though: Scibelli also raves about this mascara, calling it his latest drugstore favorite. "It truly gives your lashes a dramatic, wide-awake finish without clumping or smudging," he says. "The brush hits all angles of the lashes, too—you have the option of using the smaller side for separating every individual lash or the wider side for volume and thickness."

Glowing customer review: "I was using a very expensive mascara that I was enjoying, but wanted to try out some less expensive brands to save money. Boy, did I find something amazing in this mascara! It separates, but also gives volume to my lashes! I will continue to buy this mascara."

Lash Princess Mascara

Can't believe in the year 2024 there is a mascara that still clocks in at less than $5 a tube. Even more shocking? It's a Cosmo-editor fave for length and volume. Just look at associate editor Jasmine Hyman's lashes above—they look long and full, but still defined and not clumpy at all whatsoever.

"Out of all the cheap mascaras I've tried, Essence’s def take the cake," she says. "Whether I want length, volume, a tint of brown, or literally anything else, I can snag an Essence mascara that gets the job done for less than $5." More proof: A whopping 250,000+ five-star reviewers agree.

Glowing customer review: "Holy moly, this mascara is amazing! It lifts, it separates, it lengthens, and it thickens. It is EVERYTHING! My eyes haven’t looked this open and alive in years. Unless this formula changes, I’ll be using this for years to come! I couldn’t be more pleased!"

Double Extend Beauty Tubes Lengthening 2 Step Mascara

If you too suffer from panda eyes by the end of the day, try this tubing mascara from L'Oreal. Basically, it coats your lashes in tube-like polymers that only require a little water and some gentle rubbing to wipe off, instead of the usual cleansing oil and scrubbing with traditional mascara. This dual-ended version actually comes with a primer (which seriously doubles the length of my lashes, I swear) as well as a tubing formula that defines lashes.

You don't have to do both steps, but it'll significantly amp up your results, according to testers. I've even found myself pairing this primer with other mascara formulas (like my favorite brown mascaras) to increase length and longevity.

Glowing customer review: "I don’t like having to dissolve regular mascara with remover, smear it all around my eyes, then remove the greasy residue it leaves behind. With this mascara, I hop in the shower, get my face wet, and then do my normal hair/body washing routine. Within a few minutes, the warm water has dissolved the mascara, and the 'beauty tubes' easily slip off with a light touch of fingertips or washcloth."

Lash Sensational Sky High Washable Mascara

My usual homeostasis is the meme of the little girl with glitter all over her eyes who looks like she just waltzed off the Euphoria set. But! But! But! Some days, I do prefer to look more ~au naturel~, and those are the days I reach for Sky High Mascara from Maybelline. It makes me look like I have naturally long af, defined lashes. It separates every single lash, so there is zero clumpiness at all—which is one of the things that's made this formula so loved on TikTok.

Glowing customer review: "I have tiny, fine lashes and small eyes. And I HATE fuzzy spider legs on my lashes. THIS brush is PERFECT! I do a single layer to grab all the lashes and shape them, and a second layer to darken and thicken them. NO SPIDER LEGS! The formula applies evenly and clump-free. It looks like I've had my lashes tinted—natural and very dark."

Lash XTNDR Mascara

Like your lashes to look natural and soft? Go for this tubing mascara, which helps A) separate every lash and B) coat them with this lightweight formula. It's basically the opposite of clumpy, according to Scibelli. "This one not only gives a dramatic finish in one coating, but it also nourishes the lashes with jojoba seed oil," he says. "I also like the feel of the flexible silicone brush which allows you to really zero in on those hard-to-get lashes."

Glowing customer review: "Yes, yes, yes! Literally have tried every mascara under the sun both expensive and drug store. This works better than $40 mascaras."

Lash Blast Volume Waterproof Mascara

I've yet to use a waterproof mascara that holds up as well as this O.G. Covergirl Lash Blast. It's a mainstay in my summer makeup bag every year (has been since–legit—2010). I can swipe it on, wait 10 minutes, then legit jump in a pool. My mascara will still look pristine, even after I rub at my eyes. It coats and defines my lashes to make me look more awake and bright-eyed on pool days or at the gym (yup, it's pretty damn sweat-proof too).

Glowing customer review: "The older you get, the finer and lighter they become; this mascara makes them look like when I was young. And it is definitely waterproof. I know because I’m a sentimental idiot and ugly-cried at a movie recently, and it didn’t budge…yet it isn’t difficult to remove. A little micellular water and it comes right off."

Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara

In high school, I used to draw a teeny-tiny wing with brow pencil on the outer corner of my eyes, as if my lashes were just so fluffy and heavy that they created a shadow. All of this to tell you: I like 'em as gigantic as humanly possible. And of every drugstore mascara I've tested, this gives me the biggest oomph; I'm talking fanned-out lashes that look thicker from root to tip.

The hourglass-shaped, nylon brush is v large, which is great for adding hella product to my lashes (but can be a bit tricky if you have small eyes, FYI). One coat adds a nice mix of volume and length, but when I brush on a second layer, that's when the thickening really happens. What I love most is that it makes my lashes full, but also holds the curl and keeps my lashes lifted all day.

Glowing customer review: "I recently tried the L’Oréal Paris Makeup Lash Paradise Mascara, and it has quickly become my go-to for achieving voluminous, lengthy lashes with a soft and feathery look. This mascara delivers on its promise of voluptuous volume, making my lashes look fuller and more defined with just a few coats. The formula is not too thick or clumpy, which is a huge plus for achieving a natural yet dramatic effect."

Eye Enhancer Mascara

I just started testing this mascara, but I've already raved about it to the dozens of people who've complimented my eyelashes while wearing it. I have decently long eyelashes naturally, so mascara really just gives 'em the volume I lack. All to say: When my lashes are coated with mascara, they can be heavy and straighten out quickly.

This curling mascara, however, seriously holds them in place. The curved wand perfectly hugs my eyelashes to grab even the tiny bb ones in my inner corner, and as I swipe the mascara on them, it accentuates and holds the shape. I always start by curling my eyelashes anyway, but this majorly increased the longevity. Plus, the formula doesn't feel too heavy (even when I go in with multiple layers), which keeps my lashes lifted all day too.

Glowing customer review: "I have bone-straight, fine lashes and every mascara I have tried is either too heavy doesn't show up without 100 layers and is too heavy or even with curling go fall. INSTANTLY as I put this on, my lashes curled!!! I am so happy!!!!!"

So Fierce Big Bad Lash Mascara

ATTN: This is Cosmo cover star Madelyn Cline's favorite mascara. (I would know; I asked her.) And if you've ever seen her lashes, they look extra af. Since I've tested this myself, I see how, as this mascara offers up some serious length and volume with one single coat. And if I want even more ~drama~, I can add a few extra layers to build it up, though this definitely runs the risk of getting a little bit clumpy and spider-y.

Glowing customer review: "Love this mascara! Been using it for years, it always makes my lashes pop and doesn't run too much when it gets hot/sweat etc."

Highly Rated Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara

The first thing I noticed as I swiped this tubing mascara on my lashes was how rich the black color was. But as I kept building up the liquid-y formula, I saw just how lengthened and defined it made them look, without the spider-y, tarantula-esque vibe that can happen with lengthening mascara. Instead, it just looks like I naturally have mile-long eyelashes that are completely black (despite my also-natural blonde hair 😉). Because the formula is so thin, though, it can get slightly messy and clumpy while I'm applying. But I just keep a mascara comb on hand to define my lashes and break up any clumps, and I'm g2g.

Glowing customer review: "Let me tell you, I was at the pool every day and not a single smudge, smear or streak was found. After every dip in the water, I asked friends and family for a mascara check. All the gals started asking me to send them the Amazon link. I also used it at nights when we all went out for dinner and it made my lashes look fuller and longer. I will definitely buy this again, possibly on a subscription if there is one so I'm never without."

Vegan Collagen Fluffy Lash Mascara

If you're all about clean beauty products, you've probably got a stash of $$$ makeup. However, Pacifica is my go-to clean drugstore makeup brand, and this mascara performs just as well as the spensy options I've tried at Sephora. It's filled with softening, moisturizing jojoba oil and polyglycerides, plus a peptide to help strengthen my eyelashes with every coat.

No matter how much coats I layer on, though, this mascara never smudges or clumps on me. It's my go-to when I know I'll need to touch up my mascara at the end of the workday before heading to a dinner or event. One extra layer, and my lashes are practically revived.

Glowing customer review: "I am able to get buildable volume like I love, without the clumps. I am beginning to order more and more products from Pacifica because I like that they are cruelty-free and vegan and offer different lines of high-quality products that appeal to my preferences."

Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara

The chunky, nylon brush of this mascara really gets into your lashes at the root and lifts them up, so they appear longer and fuller from the base of your lashes. FWIW, one of my friend's has the best eyelashes I've ever seen; they legit touch her eyebrows. And every time someone compliments them, she doesn't thank her genetics, an eyelash curler, or some bogus eyelash serum—she credits Maybelline The Falsies. "It still defines every lash—aka no clumps—yet makes them look like I'm genuinely wearing false eyelashes because of how lifted they are," she told me the last time I bugged her about her lash routine.

Glowing customer review: "I love the way this mascara separates and lifts my eyelashes while still giving volume. I get compliments on my eyes when I wear this. The waterproof formula lasts all day with no smudging or black dots by my eyebrow where my lashes touch my skin."

How to choose the best drugstore mascara for you:

Consider the formula.

Ever tried a tubing mascara? If you have, then I'm willing to bet you're prob a convert. Luckily, there are hella drugstore formulas (I noted them all above) that'll save you money and time removing it at night. But if you prefer a more bold look, then you'll probably like a traditional formula over tubing, as these usually use a nylon-bristle brush, which can distribute more product. IMO, tubing mascara is great for length and definition, while regular non-tubing formulas are ideal for volume.

Plus, you've also gotta decide if you're a waterproof person or nah. Waterproof mascaras are fab for reducing smudging, especially if you have oily eyelids or live in a hot, humid climate. And ofc, if you plan to swim or sweat in your mascara, waterproof comes in clutch. But some people don't love that they have to use a oil-based remover (like cleansing balm or cleansing oil) to take it off at night. In that case, choose a smudge-free regular mascara (I included a few picks above that didn't smudge on me).

Assess your brush type.

As noted above, the brush type will definitely enhance the type of look you're going for. Generally, there are nylon-bristle brushes and narrow, comb-like synthetic wands. "A fat and fluffy applicator will give you voluminous lashes," makeup artist Jenna Nicole has told Cosmo. Meanwhile, she says, "a long, skinny, more-precise wand will give you long, skinny, clump-free lashes." I've included a mix of brush types above, for reference, so it all depends on your lash style and ~vibes~.

Meet the experts:

• Neil Scibelli is a makeup artist based in New York, NY who works with celebrities and talent for TV interviews, press appointments, and more.

• Jenna Nicole is a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist who has worked with Selena Gomez and Cassie Randolph. Nicole recently spoke to Cosmo about how to find the best mascaras.

Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories that range from drugstore concealers to lip stains. She's an authority in all makeup categories, but is an expert when it comes to drugstore mascaras after testing dozens of formulas throughout her life, plus constantly asking experts for their recs.

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