5 Best Drugstore Mascaras Under $15 (According to 100s of Women)
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Best Drugstore Mascaras
There are a few makeup and beauty products that are worth splurging on (like a great foundation and a great primer), but there are others that don’t matter as much.
Of course, a premium mascara like the Chanel mascara or the Lancôme mascara is awesome, but there are also a lot of great drugstore mascaras that are almost just as good.
If you are looking for the best drugstore mascara, you are in luck.
- Searching for the best mascara that doesn’t flake?
- Need mascara that won’t irritate sensitive eyes?
- Want a mascara that looks like you got expensive fake eyelashes?
We’ll let you know the best mascaras for each of these needs and pain points, as well as:
- The best drugstore mascara of all time
- The 5 best mascaras you can buy online
- The best drugstore mascara that doesn’t flake
- The best mascara for sensitive eyes
P.S. – Want to buy the best lengthening mascara? Check out the best lengthening mascaras for long eyelashes by Very Easy Makeup.
This post contains affiliate links. View the disclosure here.
5 Best Drugstore Mascaras According to Everyday Women
This list of the 5 best drugstore mascaras is the result of a survey, in which women were asked, “What are your favorite drugstore mascaras?”
According to real women in Atlanta, these are the best mascaras under $15, most of who are ages 20-40 years old.
1. Essence Lash Princess Mascara – Best Drugstore Mascara of All Time
I’ve tried a LOT of mascaras, and the essence Lash Princess Mascara is the best drugstore mascara of all time. It’s cheap, doesn’t clump at all, and results in long and thick eyelashes.
P.S. – Not sure if essence Lash Princess Mascara is the best drugstore mascara?
Women say the essence Lash Princess mascara is better than both the Maybelline Sky High mascara AND the famous Better Than Sex mascara. Plus, it’s my personal favorite. 😉
See what the essence Lash Princess Mascara looks like in this Very Easy Makeup YouTube video.
The only downside? Sadly, this drugstore mascara does flake toward the end of the day.
2. L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara – Best Drugstore Mascara for Volume
I you want va va voom eyelashes with mega volume, check out the L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara.
The L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Washable Mascara is the best drugstore mascara for voluminous eyelashes.
According to many women, the L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara is also better than the Maybelline Volum' Express the Falsies Volumizing, Washable Mascara.
Women even say they prefer this volumizing mascara over more expensive mascaras by Lancôme, Urban Decay, Dior, and Too Faced.
The L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Washable Mascara is also the best drugstore mascara that doesn’t flake.
One woman said, “This is my favorite mascara. Volume and length and it doesn't flake! I used to pay much more for Benefit brand but this stuff works even better!” – Laura
3. COVERGIRL Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara – Best Drugstore Mascara for Sensitive Eyes
It can be difficult to find a drugstore mascara that looks good AND is great for sensitive eyes. Fortunately, it exits!
The COVERGIRL Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara is the best drugstore mascara for sensitive eyes.
The COVERGIRL Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara is vegan and infused with argan and marula oils too!
Below are raving reviews of this COVERGIRL mascara for sensitive eyes.
“Love it!!!!! This mascara is my new favorite mascara. I have very sensitive eyes that are even more sensitive after Lasik. This all-natural product doesn't make my eyes water and does not cause any irritation. It applies smoothly and easily." – Crystal A.
"After a full day of wear, I do not have any smudging, however, when I use my facial cleanser in the evening it comes off easily. My short lashes look long and beautiful! I love the length and thickness it gives my lashes. The brush is the perfect shape and size for upper and lower lashes! Love it!” – Crystal A.
I stopped wearing mascara for years because I could never find anything (even if it claimed to be sensitive) that wouldn't bother my eyes (contact wearer). After reading some beauty blogs, I decided to try this and it's great! I can wear it all day with no eye irritation.” – Heather
4. L’Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara – Best Drugstore Mascara for False Looking Lashes
The L’Oreal Paris Makeup Telescopic Mascara is the best mascara for false-looking lashes.
If you want a mascara that looks like you are wearing false lashes, then you need the L’Oreal Paris Makeup Telescopic Original Lengthening Mascara. It works wonders!
One Amazon reviewer said, “BUY IT! I’ve tried every mascara there is under the sun, and the first stroke of this on my lashes for the very first time I was blown away! It’s what I had been looking for all this time! 😍 Mega lengthening and separates your lashes so absolutely no clumps. Left with beautiful, long batting eyelashes! I would highly suggest it to everyone and anyone. My eyelashes normally are kind of resistant to curling and separating (they all want to clump together), also they grow straight out. So this is mind-boggling! 5/5 ⭐️” – Stacey A.
5. Maybelline New York Lash Discovery Mascara – Best Drugstore Mascara for Asian Lashes
The Maybelline New York Lash Discovery mascara is the best mascara for Asian lashes.
One Amazon reviewer said, “Love it. I have very short Asian straight lashes and this mascara seems to do the job. It stays on and is not heavy that it weighs down the lashes.” – ADBB
Another woman said, “Savior for thin, short Asian lashes with oily lids. My favorite mascara HANDS down! Beats any of my high-end name-brand ones. This is probably my 10th tube. It’s truly waterproof. I have really oily lids and even then, I get teeny-tiny bit of smudges here and there. I love the skinny bristles, gets every strand of my barely-there Asian lashes without a mess.” – Amazon reviewer
Drugstore Mascaras vs. Premium Mascaras
Are the premium $25+ mascaras from stores like Sephora or Ulta better than the drugstore mascaras for $5-$10?
In my opinion, there isn’t MUCH of a difference, especially if you are looking for basic makeup for beginners.
However, if you do want to splurge and get the best of the best mascara, I personally like the Chanel Le Volume Mascara or the Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara.
Check out this video for a comparison of the cheap essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara vs. the premium Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara.
Black Mascara vs. Brown Mascara
A frequently asked question is, “Should I wear black mascara or brown mascara?”
I used to follow the rule that blondes should wear brown mascara.
Now I personally ditch that rule and just wear black mascara all the time.
Some women believe that black mascara is too harsh if you have lighter skin. I don’t think it matters.
Just get black mascara and call it a day. 😊
Do I Need to Use an Eyelash Primer?
You don’t need an eyelash primer, but it does make a big difference.
I personally LOVE the Christian Breton Paris Eyelash Builder. It makes your eyelashes MUCH longer.
You can see the before and after results in this YouTube video.
How Do I Avoid Smudging with Mascara?
The key to avoid smudging with mascara is to apply mascara correctly.
You’ll want to start at the root of your eyelashes and then pull the mascara wand outward.
Then, don’t blink right away!
Should I Use Waterproof Mascara or Regular Mascara?
I work out a TON (I run, play tennis, and go hiking), so you’d think that I would use a waterproof mascara.
I use a regular mascara, even though I sweat during the day.
Waterproof mascaras tend to clump my eyelashes too much, and waterproof mascara is harder to remove at the end of the day.
If you do want a good waterproof mascara though, I recommend the L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara.
The Best Mascaras for Women
Searching for the best mascara to use?
It can be difficult to choose the BEST mascara. There are so many options!
Below are the best mascaras for women and FAQs about choosing the best mascara for you.
P.S. – Have a question that’s not answered below? Leave a comment!
What’s the best non-drugstore mascara?
The best non-drugstore mascara is the CHANEL Le Volume De Mascara.
It’s a GREAT natural-looking mascara that is great for work makeup too.
What’s a good mascara that doesn’t flake?
I like the L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise mascara if you are looking for a good mascara that doesn’t flake.
If you can accord it, I LOVE the CHANEL Le Volume De Mascara.
What’s the best drugstore mascara for women?
The essence Lash Princess Mascara is the best drugstore mascara for women.
I’ve tried mascaras by Covergirl, L’Oreal, and Maybelline and I like essence Lash Princess Mascara the most.
What’s the best drugstore mascara for volume?
The L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Washable Mascara is the best mascara for volume.
What’s the best mascara for length and volume?
I like the essence Lash Princess Mascara for providing length and volume.
What’s the best drugstore mascara for false-looking eyelashes?
The L’Oreal Paris Makeup Telescopic Mascara is the best mascara for false-looking lashes.
Many women like the Better than Sex mascara for false-looking eyelashes, but it flakes too much for me.
Is Better than Sex the best mascara for false-looking eyelashes? Is it worth it?
You may have heard of the Better than Sex mascara; it’s a popular one!
In my opinion, the Better than Sex mascara is NOT a good mascara. It looks great for the first 1-2 hours, and then it flakes.
However, lots of women LOVE the Better than Sex mascara and say it’s one of the best mascaras if you want to look like you have fake eyelashes.
So if you want fake-looking eyelashes, then go ahead and buy the Better than Sex mascara. The 400X Pure Silk Fiber Lash mascara also gets great reviews on Amazon.
I like the essence Lash Princess Mascara, the L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara, and the CHANEL Le Volume De Mascara for more than the Better than Sex mascara.
BUT…the Better than Sex waterproof mascara IS good if you want a higher-end waterproof mascara. It’s one of the best!
The Best Mascaras for Sensitive Eyes
Do your eyes get irritated? No worries. There are mascaras out there that you can wear!
What’s the best mascara for sensitive eyes?
The COVERGIRL Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara is the best mascara for sensitive eyes.
What’s the best mascara for blepharitis?
The best mascara for blepharitis is the Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara.
One Amazon reviewer said, “have very sensitive skin, especially around my eyes due to blepharitis and eczema. Most mascaras seem to really irritate my eyes and I struggle to get it completely out of my lashes usually. This was fortunately easy to remove, and of course non-irritating.” – Mari
The Best Mascaras for Women by Lash Type
Below are the best mascaras for women, depending on your eyelash type.
What’s the best mascara for short lashes?
The best mascara for short lashes is the Maybelline Lash Sensational Washable Mascara.
The brush has short bristles, which is perfect for short lashes.
One Amazon reviewer said, “Great mascara for short, thin lashes! I REALLY love this mascara. I have extremely puny eyelashes. They're both thin and short.” – Dayna B.
Another woman said, “Perfect volume! It's hard for me to find good volume with brushes or mascara because of my short lashes. Fortunately, I took a chance ordering this, and wow is it AMAZING. Keeping this on the reorder list since it works so well.” – Brianna H.
What’s the best mascara for long lashes?
The best mascara for long lashes is the essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara.
The Christian Dior Diorshow Iconic Waterproof Mascara and the L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Makeup Lash Paradise Mascara are also great mascaras for long lashes.
What’s the best mascara for straight lashes?
One of the best mascaras for straight lashes is the Curl Fix! mascara by ETUDE House.
You may still want to use an eyelash curler first, but many women say that the Curl Fix! mascara curls fine eyelashes. The ‘C Curve Brush’ helps to curl and lengthen straight eyelashes.
One woman said, “Holy Grail Mascara for stick-straight lashes! I will never buy another mascara again for as long as I live. This delivers an all-day AMAZING curl for lashes that struggle to stay curled. I have tried every mascara on the market ranging from $5-$60 and I could never find anything that actually kept my lashes perfectly curled after using an eyelash curler.” – MAU08
Another Amazon reviewer said, “AT LAST!!!!! Finally, a mascara that TRULY curls and STAYS curled!! “ – Little Shine
What’s the best mascara for Asian lashes?
The Maybelline New York Lash Discovery mascara is the best mascara for Asian lashes.
Asian women also like the ETUDE HOUSE Lash Perm Curl Fix mascara on Amazon.
What’s the best mascara for thin lashes?
If you have thin lashes, you’ll want to use a mascara that adds VOLUME vs. length.
One of the best-ranked and best-selling mascaras for thin eyelashes is the Maybelline Sky High mascara.
One Amazon reviewer said, “I have very skimpy eyelashes and this mascara gives me long full looking lashes. I love the thin wand. It lets me get all the small areas of my lashes. Easy to remove and does not smear.” – Tracey
Another woman said, “I have thin, short lashes but this mascara extends them and makes them look full.” – Moni
Adding an eyelash primer, like the Christian Bretton Eyelash Builder, will help make your eyelashes thicker too.
The Best Mascaras for Beginners, Older Women, and a Natural Look
P.S. - Have a question that's not answered below? Scroll to the bottom to leave a comment.
What’s the best mascara for a natural look?
It’s expensive, but I love the CHANEL Le Volume De Mascara for a natural look.
What’s the best mascara for older women?
If you are an older woman, you will likely look best with a dark brown mascara (it’s softer looking) that adds volume and length while providing a natural look.
One of the best mascaras for older women is the L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Lash Magnifying Mascara in brown. It is great for sensitive eyes too.
What’s the best mascara for beginners?
My favorite mascara for beginners is the essence Lash Princess Mascara. It is cheap, easy to use, and adds volume and length.
The Best Mascaras by Eye Color
What’s the best mascara for blue eyes?
Many women with blue eyes and pale skin may opt for dark brown mascara, as it is softer looking.
You may have read that you should wear purple mascara if you have blue eyes. Don’t do that! It looks so, so fake. Unless you are dressing up for Halloween…
If you are blonde with blue eyes and you want to make your eyes pop, you are better off wearing sparkly brown, burgundy, or purple eyeshadow.
What’s the best mascara for brown eyes?
Black is the best mascara color for brown eyes.
You could wear colored mascara, but you are better off following these makeup tips if you want to make your pretty brown eyes pop.
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