Designer mascaras absolutely have their perks, but these drugstore finds get the job done and go easy on your wallet. If you need a new mascara and prefer to not spend a ton of money, try one of our favorites below.
For lashes shaped to perfection, you need this mascara from Rimmel London in your life. Shake it and notice the difference — the movement immediately freshens up the formula, restoring the blend back to that first application feel. Its thicker brush-and-bristles combo untangles, fans out, and darkens lashes.
For those who prefer a skinny brush to really get in there around tiny lashes, Boots has you covered. Another big bonus? This formula has an elastic effect when it dries, forming solid "tubes" around each lash that stay intact and won't smudge-off like a liquid.
Some women like the natural look, while others reach for the sexiest strip of false eyelashes they can find. If you're somewhere in the middle, this bargain mascara is the perfect compromise; you'll get big, bold lashes, but you won't have to mess with any sticky lash glue.
This Ulta-exclusive mascara has a curved brush to aid in getting that perfect doll-eyed look. Swipe a coat of this mascara on to create the perfect fan of flirty, black lashes.
Our childhood dreams of becoming real-life Barbie dolls can come true with NYX's mascara. With a thick formulation of natural oils and vitamin E, plus microfibers to extend and vamp up lash volume, "doll face" doesn't even begin to cover the level of drama you can expect from just one coat.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
6
Physicians Formula Eye Booster Lash Contortionist Mascara
Providing users with both a creamy formula and a teasing comb, lashes have never looked more pristine (or felt so healthy!). Physicians Formula boosts lasting volume organically, with an eco-friendly brush, soft, plastic bristles, and a Fiber Lock Technology that's completely unique to the brand for creating exaggerated volume and lash length. Bonus? You can totally use the comb for unruly brows, too.
This teeny, tiny mascara applicator from Pixi is one of a kind. This pick is ideal for sensitive eyes, and it'll pay special attention to bottom lashes like no other mascara does. For those who preach the anti-clump, work this wand over top lashes as well!
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
8
Almay One Coat Get Up & Grow One Coat Waterproof Mascara
Score sexy, lengthy lashes without the illusion. Almay's drugstore mascara is showing off new packaging with the same fantastic formula that does more than color in eyelashes; it helps them grow! Each bristle is dipped in a pro-vitamin blend to cover and strengthen every lash.
Make eyes pop like a pro with this multitasking mascara from e.l.f. Equipped to define, volumize, and exaggerate lashes, you'll swear this wand is magic. Each mini bristle on the silicone brush grasps and coats a natural-looking dramatic eye that lasts all day and won't smudge.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
10
Maybelline Volum'Express The Colossal Spider Effect Washable Mascara
We're totally judging this mascara by its packaging, but we have yet to find a badass mascara tube that didn't provide us with daringly dramatic lashes. Maybelline's bionic formula presents itself on cone-shaped bristles that grab and group lashes, coating them under a liquid latex to ensure mega hold and curl.
Besides the fact that this mascara's fierce purple and black packaging basically represents all cosmetics with an edge, this clever tool's performance is equally as impressive. Its bristles were designed to curl every kind of lash, lifting from the roots for a flattering plump with a long-lasting, buildable formula. How bold can you go?
This L'Oréal lash-extending mascara really goes the distance. Use the asymmetrical applicator brush, uniquely designed with cocoon fibers, to lift lashes from the outer corner of the eye, creating a graceful wing.
Julia Horniacek is the former fashion and beauty editor for BestProducts.com. When she's not resisting the “add to cart” button on e-commerce sites or chocolate everything, she's a fitness fanatic you’ll find at the gym, sipping an array of seasonal decaffeinated beverages or documenting her life via Insta pics.