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I may not wear a full face of makeup every day, but walking out of my house without mascara is a non-negotiable for me; I almost feel naked without it. Depending upon my mood, outfit, and where I am off to, I either dial up my lash game or keep it more natural. But, when I’m actually in the mood for a full-on lash, I love a lash that looks fake: full volume, length, and the perfect amount of curl and separation. While I love a luxury mascara to get the job done, I always come back to my reliable drugstore faves. Not only are they just as good, but I don’t have to worry about throwing money away when it’s time to toss the mascara.
“The difference between drugstore mascara and a higher-end mascara really comes down to ingredients, pigmentation, longevity, and all-around comfort,” says makeup artist Denika Bedrossian. That being said, drugstore mascaras these days are on par with the most expensive ones on the market, with drugstore waterproof options being many makeup artists’ go-to favorites, mostly because they stay put and don’t smudge throughout the day.
Whether you’re operating on a tight beauty budget or not, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite drugstore mascaras. Many on this list multitask: they volumize, lengthen, fluff, separate, and also hydrate and condition your lashes, no matter how many times you swipe. We asked makeup artists their favorites, but relied on the testing and expertise of our Cosmo editors to tell us their tried-and-true favorites. Read on about some of our favorite drugstore mascaras and expert tips on the best ways to shop and apply.
Extensionist Lengthening and Curling Mascara
L’Oreal’s latest mascara has everything you could need: a wand that lifts and separates the lashes, three different colorways so you can choose how dark you want your lashes to be, and, of course, a super lengthening formula. This seriously rivals some of my pricey mascaras that are double or even triple the price.
One Cosmo editor says: “I love all of L’Oreal’s mascaras, so when I found out they were launching this new lengthening one, I was pumped. First off, the packaging looks so luxe, and it comes in three different shades. This is officially my favorite drugstore mascara; the length I get from it after just a few swipes is truly unmatched. Let my photos speak for themself.”—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
Jasmine Hyman for Cosmopolitan
Highly Rated Lash Extension Tubing Mascara
If you’re prone to mascara smudging and flaking no matter what you do, this tubing mascara from Milani essentially wraps each lash with tube-like polymers to lift and lengthen your lashes. These little tubes keep your lashes in place all day and then wash off easily with warm water.
One Cosmo editor says: “If you haven’t tried a tubing mascara yet, let my review of Milani’s Highly Rated be the one to convert you. It’s incredibly long-lasting on my lashes and oily lids but also incredibly easy to remove. Just a little warm water and the mascara disappears from lashes with zero tugging or pulling.”—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
Lauren Balsamo for Cosmopolitan
Lash Without Limits Tubing Mascara
We love a reliable mascara that costs less than a latte. Essence’s $5 mascara lengthens, lifts, is waterproof, has no smudges, and no flakes—what more can you ask for? We also love the tubing formula and flexible wand that can reach even the tiniest of corner lashes for added drama.
One Cosmo editor says: “Low key, I kinda thought I hated tubing mascara. Sure, it makes my lashes look long, but it doesn’t give me the volume or separation I want a lot of the time. But this reinvented what I thought a tubing mascara could do. Three people have told me I look like I’m wearing lash extensions when I’ve had this on, because not only do my lashes look long, but also defined. It also holds a curl for quite a few hours—huge win for my straight lashes.”—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Beth Gillette for Cosmopolitan
Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
This mascara delivers an insane amount of volume and length to our lashes—afterall, it’s literally in the name. With nine super unique colors to choose from, the super flexible brush reaches every lash and deposits just the right amount of color from root to tip.
One Cosmo editor says: “There’s a reason this mascara has won like a million beauty awards. The spoolie is the perfect size and shape for lenghtening and defining lashes without creating clumps, and it get legit never smears or gives my raccoon eyes.” —LB
Lauren Balsamo for Cosmopolitan
Mega Length Waterproof Mascara
The precision brush on this mascara reaches and grips every single one of our lashes, and the super-pigmented formula flatters our natural lashes. This one is enriched with vitamin E to protect and soften our natural lashes while depositing otherworldly color. Since this one is everything-proof: waterproof, smudgeproof, sweatproof, and humidity-resistant, this one is great to swipe on your lashes if you’re heading to the gym or enjoying the warmer months outdoors.
One Cosmo editor says: “I tend to love to use a waterproof mascara daily because it stays and doesn’t cause raccoon eyes. It doesn’t matter the season, my mascara is bound to end up in my under-eye area. I really like this one from Wet n Wild because it gives my eyes a pop. I like to use my eyelash curler prior to application for extra volume.”—TARYN BROOKE, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY WRITER
Taryn Brooke for Cosmopolitan
Lash XTNDR Mascara
There is so much jam-packed into this drugstore mascara. Its unique tubing technology is super lightweight for all-day wear, it lengthens, it’s smudge-resistant, and it contains jojoba seed oil that conditions your lashes while providing enviable length. This being said, our favorite thing about this mascara is that it mimics the look of lash extensions and it’s buildable, so you have control over how thick you want your lashes to be.
One Cosmo editor says: “Just because a mascara is sold in a drugstore, doesn’t immediately make it a bargain. But this $8 wand from e.l.f. is actually budget-friendly. It darkens and volumizes my lashes with just a few swipes, perf for when I don’t want to spend time meticulously applying mascara for 5 minutes in the morning.”—JH
Jasmine Hyman for Cosmopolitan
Colossal Bubble Washable Mascara
Maybelline’s Colossal Bubble mascara may just seem like yet another mascara on this list but it certainly is not: this one separates and lifts your lashes from the root. The unique design of the mascara brush—a spiral shape with deep-cut bristles—is where the magic lies in helping to volumize and separate lashes. It’s buildable as well so you can switch up your mascara look each time you apply.
One Cosmo editor says: “A fanned-out, doll-like lash look is my favorite, and this achieves it better than a lot of high-end mascaras I’ve used. The curved wand gives me the ability to comb through my lashes after I’ve applied product, separating and dispersing the mascara more effectively.”—BG
Beth Gillette for Cosmopolitan
Vegan Collagen Fluffy Lash Mascara
If you’re looking for a sustainable mascara, this one from Pacifica can help you get cutesy, fluffy lashes while feeling like you’re doing something good for the environment; the mascara reduces plastic waste because the product is housed in a glass container. Vegan collagen and plant fibers help to condition the lashes, making them look healthier and thicken over time, all while immediately boosting volume.
One Cosmo editor says: “I need to get better at using more sustainable beauty products and this one from Pacifica makes me feel like I am doing a little something good for the environment. Low key, I do very minimal makeup during the week, but I always wear mascara and for the times that I want something a little less intense, I wear this one. It makes my lashes fluffy and cute and I truly love that it doesn’t crunch throughout the day and deposit little particles on my face.” —TB
Falsies Washable Fiber Mascara
Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s Maybelline Falsies Mascara (sorry, I couldn’t resist). Ideal for people who love the look of false lashes but can’t seem to figure out how to glue them properly (it’s me, I’m people), Maybelline’s Falsies Mascara is like the Wonderbra of mascaras: it lifts and separates. The mascara wand itself is flexible to help deposit the brand’s Kera-Fiber formula to seriously build up your lashes.
One Cosmo editor says: “I have been applying eyelash serum for some time to grow my lashes so they look fake, but I’m not as consistent as I should be—oops! When I want that false lash look (which is most weekends), I use this mascara, and no joke, my lashes look insanely long and fluffed. I use Blackest Black and it’s perfect” —TB
Taryn Brooke
2-in-1 Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer
Although this is one of the pricier ones on this list, it’s actually a two-in-one mascara and lash primer, so we’ll eat the cost on this one. Lash primer is the unsung hero for making lashes long and bold. This clean mascara and primer comes double sided, and it boosts the length of our lashes while the flexible mascara wand goes to work evenly coating, separating, and volumizing our lashes like it’s no one’s business.
One Cosmo editor says: “I feel like this is the perfect mascara product: it comes with a built in primer, it’s clean, and it actually makes your lashes stand out while at the same time giving them a natural look. I’m definitely keeping this one in my rotation.” —TB
Paris Voluminous Mascara
Separation, volume, and zero clumping? Say less. It’s hard to go wrong with anything L’Oreal and this mascara promises–and delivers—volume to thicken the appearance of lashes, sans clumps of course. Pair it with a lash primer for an extra boost of volume and avoid any smudges throughout the day. We also love the other bold colors it comes in, such as cobalt blue and deep green, for when we’re feeling daring with our makeup look.
One Cosmo editor says: “I love a sweet little mascara that gives me subtle volume for the days when my makeup look is more muted. It’s super reliable; it stays the entire day and doesn’t clump.”—TB
Courtesy Image
How to choose the best drugstore mascara for you:
Compared to walking into Sephora or Ulta, it’s not possible to look at or test out actual mascara wands in a drugstore because they are packaged; however, if there’s a scale photo of the wand in store, you can see the type of wand to help you in making your choice. Of course, there are always tester reviews and videos to help you gauge the type of wand and if it’s right for you. “Also, remember that mascara needs to be replaced often because it can grow bacteria quickly. Rule of thumb is three months—that’s the absolute maximum amount of time to keep a mascara after its first use,” says makeup artist Matin Maulawizada.
Below are some tips on how to choose a drugstore mascara that works for your lashes and overall makeup look.
Volume: “When choosing a drugstore mascara, I look for the applicator that is going to provide me length, volume, separation and bold pigment. Shape and size will control the look you are going for,” explains Bedrossian. If you’re looking for volume, she says that you’re going to want to look for a drugstore mascara with a thicker and fuller applicator.
Separation and Length: “If you want more separation and length, you’re going to want a thinner, more precise applicator,” says Bedrossian. The thinner applicator can also be used on the bottom lashes for precision.
Achieving a Curl: If you have a straight lash that struggles with holding a curl, look for a waterproof formula.
Avoiding “Mascara Smudgies”: If you’re like me and tend to get the dreaded raccoon eyes or “mascara smudgies,” Bedrossian suggests looking for smudge-proof formulas and avoid any skincare with oils.
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How we chose the best drugstore mascaras:
Cosmo’s beauty team is constantly testing makeup products. After testing dozens of drugstore mascaras, we narrowed down our favorites based on the ability to add length, volume, separation, and curl without smudging or flaking. We also spoke with makeup artists and asked them about some of their favorites, ultimately selecting 12 top-performers that stood out after weeks of testing. Each mascara on our list was worn for at least 8 hours each day to ensure all-day wear too.
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Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Taryn Brooke is a beauty writer and editor in digital media with more than 10 years of experience. She has covered the newest and most innovative makeup, aesthetic treatments, and beauty trends. She is obsessed with trying new beauty products and has an overfilled bathroom full of products to prove it.
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