Curl, define, and volumize your lashes with the best drugstore mascaras that are easy on the wallet. These mascaras have high-quality, long-wearing formulas that do not smudge, fade, or clump.

It’s certainly delightful to get great lashes without spending too much money. Check your nearest drugstore and you might be surprised at how affordable some of the best mascaras are. You can get intensely pigmented, lash-lengthening, and volumizing mascaras from popular drugstore brands like Neutrogena, Covergirl, and L'Oreal Paris at an impressively cheap rate. They are high-performing mascaras that provide your natural lashes with thicker, longer, and fuller effects.
Get a runaway-like lash look at home without the help of a makeup artist. Take your pick from washable formulas, waterproof formulas, buildable formulas, or tubing formulas. As per our expertise, we have tried and tested these enlisted drugstore mascaras that stand tall on the promises they make.

• 1
  Best Overall

  essence | Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

  Buy on Amazon

Get an instant false lash effect with this mascara from essence. The applicator wand is designed to coat each lash with definition and volume without any clumps. This non-fading mascara formula lasts you all day long. It defines and separates each lash with such precision that you won't need false lashes anymore. Give your eyes a bold and volumized look with just 2 coats of this essence lash mascara that is lightweight like a feather and eliminates the heaviness that false lashes bring.

 

2

Best Smudge-proof

Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Washable Mascara

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One of the most loved drugstore brands, Maybelline, brings you a sky-high mascara that delivers a lash impact from every angle. Formulated with bamboo extract and fibers, the washable mascara provides full volume and limitless length for long, full lashes. It comes with a built-in applicator brush that bends and flexes to volumize and extend each lash from root to tip. The mascara glides on effortlessly as the consistency is neither too wet nor too dry, just perfect for easy application.

3

BEST LENGTHENING EFFECT

eyeko BEACH WATERPROOF MASCARA

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Discover eyeko’s Beach Waterproof Mascara, a gem among drugstore mascaras, adored by the masses for its unbeatable performance. This budget-friendly beauty essentially delivers stunning, waterproof lashes that endure beach days and beyond. Its innovative formula effortlessly lengthens and volumizes, while the waterproof feature ensures smudge-free perfection. Enjoy long-lasting, clump-free lashes without breaking the bank. Elevate your everyday makeup routine with this drugstore favorite, loved by many for its exceptional quality and affordability.

4

L’Oreal Paris Makeup Voluminous Mascara

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Another mass favorite, L'Oreal Paris is a drugstore brand that has cemented itself as a reliable cosmetic line in the beauty world. The voluminous mascara from the brand is one of the best drugstore mascaras that you can lay your hands on. Enhance your natural lashes up to 5 times thicker and fuller with the mascara's buildable formula. It is designed to add bold volume to the lashes, keeping them soft and without any clumping. The infusion of panthenol and ceramide-R helps protect and condition the lashes. Give your every lash look an instant boost with this mascara. 

 

5

MOST VOLUMIZING

GrandeMASCARA Waterproof Conditioning Peptide Mascara

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GrandeMASCARA’s Waterproof Conditioning Peptide Mascara is a standout choice among drugstore mascaras, beloved by the masses for its exceptional performance. Its waterproof formula ensures all-day wear, while the conditioning peptides promote healthier, fuller lashes. Experience lengthening and volumizing effects without clumps, thanks to its user-friendly brush. This mascara not only enhances your lashes but also nurtures them. Dive into a world where affordability meets quality, providing a luxurious lash experience for every makeup enthusiast.

6

L’Oréal Paris Makeup Telescopic Mascara

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Another mascara from L'Oreal Paris, this time a lash-lengthening one with up to 60% perfect telescopic extension. It delivers intense length and unique lash-by-lash separation. The flexible precision brush provides dramatic lash length while the intense pigments deliver twice the volume. With over 62,000 global ratings on Amazon, a reviewer has stated, " I am OBSESSED. Finally found a mascara I'd purchased twice! It lengthens and lifts my lashes while giving it volume. Not clumpy. As someone who always debates getting lash extensions because she can't apply falsies to save her life, this mascara makes my lashes and makeup as a whole pop."

 

7

Best Lash Volumizing

Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara

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COVERGIRL offers a mascara with a patented volume-boosting formula engineered to create ten times more volume instantly. It evenly coats each lash without any clumping or flaking. The volumizing mascara is one of the best drugstore mascaras that provide instant fullness and length. For sparse lashes, this mascara comes as a boon. It makes the lashes look much longer and thicker than they naturally are. Gliding on smoothly requires just a single coat to extend the lashes.

 

8

Best Curl Defining

essence | Lash Princess Curl Mascara

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Give your natural lashes dramatic curl and volume with Essence's Curl mascara. This drugstore mascara delivers instant defined volume with a single coat and an extra voluminous, bold look with double or triple coats. The fiber brush is designed in a conic shape that sculpts each lash with volume and definition. The mascara is a perfect all-day wear mascara as it does not flake, fade, or clump. Get stunning false lash effects on your natural lashes with this mascara.

9

Best Lash Lifting

Honest Beauty 2-in-1 Extreme Length Clean Mascara + Lash Primer

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The 2-in-1 primer and mascara from Honest Beauty deliver the ultimate length and volume to your natural lashes. The built-in primer creates an even base that enhances the mascara's effect. The smooth, flexible mascara formula provides extreme length and lift to the lashes. Infused with jojoba esters, the mascara gives high-pigmented and enhanced color intensity. The conditioning agent nourishes and cares for the lashes while ensuring a perfectly buildable application that coats and wraps each lash completely to offer excellent definition and volume.

 

10

Best Lash Conditioning

COVERGIRL Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara

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The lash-loving mascara from COVERGIRL is infused with argan and marula oils that leave the lashes feeling conditioned. It creates 10 times the volume of bare lashes without any clumping or smudging. The formula separates and defines to provide fuller-looking lashes with dramatic volume. The applicator wand is thick with tiny bristles that make applying easy and breezy. One Amazon user has reviewed it as "My eyes are very sensitive and this mascara doesn’t irritate them at all. Plus it makes my eyes look amazing!"

11

Best Lash Nourishing

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara

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Enriched with olive oil, Vitamin E, and rice protein, the Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara makes lashes stronger and longer. The formula deeply nourishes and strengthens lashes from within so that the lashes stay strong and healthy. It offers natural lashes with 100% noticeable length. The soft bristles gently comb through each lash, coating them with an antioxidant-rich color that instantly dramatizes the look of the lashes. This lengthening mascara lets your natural lashes grow to their fullest potential.

12

Best Lash Plumping

Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara

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Yet another Neutrogena mascara makes it to our list. This one is a volumizing mascara, infused with olive oil, that penetrates and plumps up the core of each lash, and sweet almond that protects the outside of the lashes. The best mascara for volume to be designed with skin care formula, it instantly builds lash volume to up to 400%. It comes with a visible volume brush that wraps even the smallest of lashes with rich, volume-building color. You can easily rinse and clean this mascara with soap and water or makeup remover. 

13

e.l.f. Big Mood Mascara

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Create bold and lifted voluminous lashes with the Big Mood mascara from e.l.f. Enhanced with jojoba wax, the creamy formula holds the lash curls and provides a smooth, effortless application. The hourglass-shaped mascara wand with intertwined bristles loads up the lashes with the right amount of mascara, separating each lash, and building volume. Get the false lash effect of your dreams with this volumizing mascara that adds bold volume and sky-high lift to your lashes.

 

14

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Diamond Mascara

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Physicians Formula's clear mascara is a multi-tasking product designed for both lashes and brows. The ultra-nourishing formula primes, conditions, grooms, tames, and holds eyelashes and eyebrows, delivering a polished yet natural look. Infused with lustrous diamond dust, strengthening peptides, mineral water, and Vitamin E, it adds a soft, shimmering shine while conditioning the lashes and brows from root to end. The peptides promote healthier lashes and brows while mineral water soothes and Vitamin E transforms lashes into a soft and smooth texture.

 

15

Black Radiance Waterproof Mascara

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Achieve rich, dark lashes with just a single sweep of this mascara from Black Radiance. The non-flaking formula glides on smoothly and the defining brush coats each lash to deliver thick, full lashes without any clumping. Enhanced with soy protein, it keeps the lashes healthy and plumps them up for a volumized look. One user on Amazon has described this mascara as "Love this and for its price! I use it with a base mascara too and it’s lovely."

16

Milani Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara

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Milani offers a tubing mascara that adds instant length and lift to the lashes and lasts for up to 16 hours. The innovative Japanese-inspired lash-extending tubing technology wraps each lash with tube-like polymers. Enriched with shea butter and castor seed oil, this drugstore mascara also nourishes and conditions the lashes every time you wear it. After application, the eyelashes do not appear fake. The best part about this mascara is it is affordable and the good-quality ingredients do not smudge or transfer.

17

FLOWER BEAUTY Warrior Princess Mascara

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The Warrior Princess Mascara from FLOWER BEAUTY offers soft, fanned-out volume and extra lift. The hourglass-shaped brush lifts and coats each lash for a volumized and thick lash effect. The buildable formula provides clump-free length and curls from root to tip. If the reviews on Amazon are anything to go by, this drugstore mascara makes the lashes look incredibly full and lasts throughout the day. It does not smudge or transfer to the skin. Even when you put on multiple coats, it does not get clumpy.

When we are presented with so many options, we are bound to bask in confusion. Worry not, we’re here to help you choose the best mascara for yourself. 

Choose a drugstore mascara by keeping these considerations in mind:

• Formula
  When buying a drugstore mascara, look for one with a waterproof and smudge-proof formula. You do not want to end up with raccoon eyes. Waterproof and smudge-proof mascaras also last you all day long.
   
• Color
  Decide on the color of the mascara depending on the style you want to carry. Carbon black mascara is the most popular and most versatile. It looks great on all skin tones. For a more natural look, opting for a brown mascara is ideal. To add an instant pop of color or ultra-chic look, colored and glitter mascaras are perfect.
   
• Brush
  The applicator brush determines the effect and ease of application of a mascara. For hooded and droopy lashes, a lengthening formula with a long, thin brush and fine, short bristles makes the eyes look bigger. For fine, sparse lashes, a volumizing mascara with thick, round brush and compact bristles makes them look fuller and thicker. For straight or short lashes, a curving mascara with a curved brush opens up the eye. For a natural look, opt for a defining mascara with a tapered brush and moderately spaced bristles that highlight the eyes.
   
• Customer Reviews
  The customer reviews shed light on the performance and quality of the mascara. You get an idea about the pros and cons of the mascara by going through the various reviews.

Follow these simple steps to use drugstore mascara:

1. Wash and clean your lashes to remove all the dirt and oil.
2. Pat dry with a soft towel.
3. Take a lash curler and curl your lashes.
4. Apply a lash primer to provide an even base for the mascara.
5. Tilt back your head slightly and taking the brush, apply mascara from root to tip in a zigzag motion.
6. Hold a tissue behind the lashes while applying mascara to avoid smudging the eyelids and eye makeup.
7. Comb your lashes with an eyelash comb to remove the clumps and add definition.
8. To add more volume, apply a layer of loose powder on the lashes and follow it with another coat of mascara.
9. Do not pump the wand in and out of the tube as it will let air inside and dry out the product.

Conclusion

Our findings show that the best drugstore mascaras have lots of good qualities apart from being budget-friendly. They provide great coverage, intense length, and volume, the formulas are buildable, and they are enriched with nourishing and conditioning ingredients that keep your natural lashes healthy. The drugstore mascaras in this article are oil-free, vegan, and cruelty-free. They do not contain any synthetic preservatives, artificial fragrances, mineral oil, or alcohol. They offer your natural lashes with high-intensity volume and thickness minus the hassle that comes with false eyelashes. Say goodbye to thin and sparse lashes. Indulge in these affordable options from your nearest drugstore and welcome stunning long lashes just like you would with high-end mascaras.