I Tested *50* Drugstore Mascaras (Yes, Really) and These Are the 13 Best
Raise your hand if you've ever felt overwhelmed staring at the never-ending wall of mascaras at the drugstore. ?? Yep, I'm right there with you. I mean, there are literally hundreds to choose from (and more launching every single month), and they all claim to do something different for your lashes. So, to help you narrow down all the options, I tried legit more than 50 different mascaras (no, that's not a typo, and yes, it took me literal months) to find the best ones. Here, in no particular order, the 13 best drugstore mascaras under $13 for volume, length, curl, definition, and more.
Best Curling Drugstore Mascara
1. Milani Most Wanted Lift & Curl Mascara
I have the world's straightest lashes and am legit terrified to use an eyelash curler, which is why I'm now obsessed with this curling drugstore mascara from Milani. A few swipes gave my stick-straight lashes instant lift and curl that lasted for hours during testing—and the thickening formula didn't clump either (no matter how many coats I applied).
Best All-Natural Drugstore Mascara
2. Burt's Bees Nourishing Mascara
It can be really hard to find a natural mascara—whether it's from a drugstore brand or a luxury beauty brand—that (1) makes your lashes look long and full, and (2) stays on lashes all day long. So I was surprised that this v affordable mascara from Burt's Bees managed to do both incredibly well when I tested it. The 100 percent natural formula lengthened and defined my lashes without smudging, and made them feel soft, not stiff, with a blend of jojoba oil and glycerin.
Best Waterproof Drugstore Mascara
3. Covergirl Lash Blast Active Mascara
I swear by this drugstore mascara—it's my desert-island makeup product, and even though it's not ~new~, it still beat out the other 37 mascaras I tested. I love the stiff brush (it gives you a ton of control and ensures a clump-free finish) and the waterproof, sweat-proof, and smudge-proof formula stays put for up to 24 hours. It's my go-to mascara for workouts, pool days, or when it's 100 degrees and humid as hell outside. Love, love, love.
Best Drugstore Mascara for Sensitive Eyes
4. Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara
If you've got sensitive or redness-prone eyes, this is the drugstore mascara for you. The ophthalmologist-tested formula is non-irritating and safe for contact-wearers—plus it's infused with nourishing vitamin E and olive oil so your lashes become stronger and healthier with each and every use. It was one of the more subtle mascaras I tested, which I really liked—I don't necessarily want an obvious, heavy formula for everyday wear, you know?
Best Fiber Drugstore Mascara
5. Wet N Wild Lash-O-Matic Mascara + Fiber Extension Kit
Hands down the best fiber mascara I found for the price during the testing process. This two-step kit gave even the littlest of my lashes insane volume and thickness. And don't be intimidated: Just coat your lashes with the mascara first, then beef them up with the lash fibers (the tube is filled with tiny nylon fibers that cling to lashes to add thickness without weighing them down). Then lock the fibers in place with another coat of the mascara.
Best Easy-to-Remove Drugstore Mascara
6. Maybelline New York Snapscara
Ummm, this mascara legit just comes off with water. It was my favorite easy-to-remove mascara that I tested, because I didn't need to deal with makeup remover at the end of the day. The drugstore mascara coats your lashes in pure pigments that come off super easily, because it's fully wax-free. I just grabbed a cotton pad soaked in warm water and gently wiped away the mascara without any raccoon-eyes or flecks left behind.
Best Volumizing Drugstore Mascara
7. Revlon Volumazing Mascara
This drugstore mascara made my lashes thick, fluffy, and voluminous as hell. Definitely my favorite going-out mascara of the bunch. It's all thanks to the oversized brush and its wavy bristles, which hug your lashes to deposit the perfect amount of jet-black pigments. Three quick coats hardcore amped up my lashes without making them clumpy or spidery (but work fast—clumps are inevitable the longer you let any mascara dry).
Best Eye-Opening Drugstore Mascara
8. L'Oréal Paris Bambi Eye Mascara
This Cosmo beauty award mascara is a staff favorite, so no surprises here that it still managed to be one of the best formulas out of the 50 mascaras I tested. The brush head uses a combo of short and long bristles to curl and lengthen each individual lash for a super wide-eyed look. Kinda like a really good set of fake lashes, but way, way easier to apply and super easy to remove. Which is great, because I suck at applying fake lashes.
Best Lengthening Drugstore Mascara
9. E.l.f. Cosmetics Lash Extending Mascara
So I legit love the idea of lash extensions, but I just can't commit to the upkeep (or stomach the price tag). I thought that would just be my life's ultimate beauty ~dilemma~, until I tested this lengthening drugstore mascara. It has little teeny fibers that latch on to the end of your lashed to extend their length and give them some added thickness. For the most dramatic results, I applied three to four coats in a zig-zag motion from root to tip, and truly, my lashes looked insanely long.
Best Detailing Drugstore Mascara
10. Pixi Lower Lash Mascara
This detailing drugstore mascara was surprisingly excellent—I didn't realize how terribly my normal mascara was at defining my lower lashes or hard-to-reach inner corners until I tested this one. It has a precise, narrow brush head that didn't overload my teeny lashes with product or make a mess under my eyes or on my lids. You can also use it to help separate your lashes or add a little extra volume to your outer corners, which was one of my favorite hacks.
Best Colorful Drugstore Mascara
11. NYX Professional Makeup Worth The Hype Colored Mascara in Blue
If you want to take a break from your usual black or brown mascara, I highly recommend this bright-blue drugstore option from NYX. The tapered brush was so easy to use, and the volumizing formula gave my lashes the perfect amount of oomph. I tested it both by wearing it alone for a subtle hint of color, and also by pairing it with an equally bright eyeliner for bolder lewk. And unlike a lot of the other colored mascaras I tested, which were dull and blah, the blue of this formula was truly bright and pretty.
Best Drugstore Mascara for Dramatic Lashes
12. L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara
Hands down the best mascara I tested for a long night out (or shameless selfie session). The big fluffy brush added a ton of volume and thickness to my lashes without making them clumpy or gooey. The formula is also made with carbon-black pigments that are twice as intense as other black pigments on the market, which I thought was just commercial talk...until I actually swiped it on. Really, truly, surprisingly dark—like it gave me super-dramatic lashes from the first coat.
Best Iconic Drugstore Mascara
13. Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara
This iconic drugstore mascara has been a favorite of makeup artists, celebs, and editors for over 40 years—and, yes, even out of the 50 I tested, I have to say it's still truly excellent. It conditioned my lashes while softly increasing their length and giving them a bit of definition, all without the flakes or clumps that the majority of the other mascaras left me with. It's on the softer side, making it a top-pick for anyone who wants an everyday, natural-looking mascara.
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