The Best Drugstore Mascara, Endorsed by Editors and Makeup Artists

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Photo: Courtesy of CoverGirl

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Truth is, the best drugstore mascara can be just as effective as its more expensive counterparts. Celebrity makeup artist Amrita Mehta emphasizes that the quality of mascaras boils down to compatibility rather than price. In today’s beauty landscape, drugstore brands invest significant effort into formulating diverse mascaras tailored to different lash types. They undergo extensive research, development, and testing—akin to luxury brands.

Our top picks: 

While luxury mascaras may boast premium ingredients, their superiority over drugstore versions depends on individual preferences and effectiveness. Additionally, considering the short shelf life of mascaras (two to four months), it’s essential to find one that complements your lashes, regardless of its price point. “While excellent mascaras can be found at both luxury retailers and drugstores, when it comes down to it, the best mascara is the one that suits your lashes, and truly works with them to enhance rather than against them,” she says. Read on to discover the best drugstore mascara formulas—all tested and vouched for by our editors and experts.


Best Overall: L’Oréal Voluminous Mascara

L'Oréal

Voluminous Mascara

Why We Love It: An all-time favorite pick for five of the makeup artists we spoke with, L’Oréal’s Voluminous Mascara comes out on top. “I’ve been using this mascara forever and it’s a staple in my kit,” explains celebrity makeup artist Gita Bass. “It’s super-black and adds incredible volume and curl, and never clumps or flakes.”

  • Benefits: Doesn’t clump, smudge resistant, and buildable
  • Key Ingredients: Panthenol, Ceramide-R
  • Who It's For: Anyone looking for a gentle, non-abrasive formula that adds length, depth, and volume to your lashes.

Best Volumizing: CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara

CoverGirl

Lash Blast Volume Mascara

Why We Love It: For bolder, more intense lashes, CoverGirl’s Lash Blast is another tried-and-true go-to. “I love its creamy texture, which gives you volume and length instantly in one coat, and it’s easy to layer it for more drama,” explains French makeup artist Cedric Jolivet. “I find the silicone brush [makes it easy] to grab the lashes from the root, and it totally works on short lashes!”

  • Benefits: Volumizing, doesn’t flake or clump
  • Key Ingredients: N/A
  • Who It's For: Anyone who wants maximum volume on the first swipe.

Best Lengthening: Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara

Maybelline

Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara

Why We Love It: “It’s by far one of the best mascaras on the market—and relatively newer, too,” says Colby Smith of Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Sky High mascara. I love that it’s super-black,” he continues. “A few coats and you really get that full long lash. It has the look of a high-end mascara without breaking the bank.”

  • Benefits: Lightweight, smudge-free, doesn’t flake
  • Key Ingredients: Bamboo Extract
  • Who It's For: Anyone craving dramatic length from root to tip in a variety of colors.

The TikTok Favorite: L’Oréal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara

L'Oréal

Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara

Why We Love It: For soft, supple lashes, you can’t beat L’Oréal’s Telescopic Mascara, insists Scott. “I love its applicator and slick formula, which make it easy to apply to bottom lashes and give long and defined lashes all around,” they explain, emphasizing the lengthening powers of its patented plastic-bristle comb brush. “It’s very versatile in that one swipe delivers length and the wand makes it easy to keep the lashes separated, and the formula builds nicely to add some volume.”

  • Benefits: Lengthening, doesn’t clump, allergy-tested
  • Key Ingredients: N/A
  • Who It's For: Anyone who wants a lash comb that actually separates their lashes.

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

Honest Beauty

2-in-1 Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer

Why We Love It: The draw to Honest Beauty’s mascara extends beyond its clean composition. Its EWG Verified formula is infused with jojoba esters to aid lash strength, and it works to enhance your mascara’s staying power. The dual-ended tube features a mascara wand on one side and lash primer on the other to lengthen each lash for hours-long wear.

  • Benefits: Lengthening, lifting, clean ingredients
  • Key Ingredients: Jojoba Esters
  • Who It's For: Anyone who wants a clean mascara that stays put all day, no matter the occasion.

Best Conditioning: Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara

Neutrogena

Healthy Volume Mascara

Why We Love It: For Matin, it’s all about Neutrogena’s Healthy Volume Mascara with its nourishing ingredients and jet-black pigment. “It’s a true volume mascara that doesn’t dry out the lashes,” he says of the formula, which is supercharged with vitamin E-rich olive oil and protective sweet almond. “It stays flexible and won’t crumble throughout the day.” Another major draw? “It has a giant brush!” adds Matin. All the better to coat every little lash.

  • Benefits: Volumizing, giant brush, hydrating
  • Key Ingredients: Olive Oil, Sweet Almond
  • Who It's For: Anyone looking to both hydrate and strengthen their lashes.

Best Washable: Maybelline Great Lash Washable Mascara

Maybelline

Great Lash Washable Mascara

Why We Love It: The nostalgic Maybelline Great Lash mascara is still a drugstore staple—a formula crafted to thicken and condition lashes simultaneously. It’s the ultimate no-fuss mascara when you’re looking to quickly coat your lashes or to keep a bottle stashed in your beauty bag.

  • Benefits: Thickening, conditioning, volumizing
  • Key Ingredients: N/A
  • Who It's For: Anyone who wants a fuller lash look.

Best Thickening: L’Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara

L'Oréal

Lash Paradise Mascara

Why We Love It: If feathery voluminous lashes are your look, consider picking up L’Oréal’s Lash Paradise mascara that’s known to lengthen and separate lashes with just one coat. Even better: The brand’s new formula incorporates floral oil for softer, fuller lashes.

  • Benefits: Volumizing, conditioning, allergy-tested
  • Key Ingredients: Floral Oil
  • Who It's For: Anyone who want a feathery soft look.

Best Falsies-Effect: Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

Essence

Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

Why We Love It: “I have incredibly sparse, thin lashes with minimal volume and this is one of the few mascaras that is ultra black, ultra lengthening, and gives me incredible volume,” says makeup artist and TikTok star Mikayla Nogueira of the Essence Lash Princess mascara. “It makes my lashes truly stand out and appear as if I have a small false lash on. I’ve bought it over and over again.”

  • Benefits: Holds a curl, lengthening, volumizing
  • Key Ingredients: N/A
  • Who It's For: Anyone who wants to mimic the look of falsies.

Best Long Wear: e.l.f. Big Mood Mascara

e.l.f.

Big Mood Mascara

Why We Love It: The hourglass shape of e.l.f.’s mascara wand allows it to coat and volumize each lash in a single swipe. Give it as many passes as you desire, to quickly amp of the volume and lift. Because it’s smudge- and flake-resistant, expect this to deliver long-wear without the headache. Did we mention there are five shades to choose from? Think a midnight Pitch Black or a cobalt Bold Blue.

  • Benefits: Doesn’t smudge or flake, volumizing, five shades
  • Key Ingredients: N/A
  • Who It's For: Anyone who needs their mascara to stay put all day.

Meet The Experts

  • Gita Bass is a celebrity makeup artist whose celebrity clientele includes Olivia Wilde, Julianne Moore, and Elizabeth Olsen.
  • Liz Castellanos is a professional commercial and media makeup artist who has worked with Vanessa Lachey, Olivia Culpo, and Morgan Stewart McGraw. 
  • Cedric Jolivet is a French, Los Angeles-based makeup artist whose clients include Suki Waterhouse, Barbara Palvin, and Madeleine Arthur.
  • Matin is a celebrity makeup artist who counts Angelina Jolie as a longtime client.
  • Autumn Moultrie is a Los Angeles–based makeup artist and groomer known for her work with Viola Davis, Naomi Osaka, and Kerry Washington. 
  • Mikayla Nogueira is a Massachusetts-based makeup artist and beauty influencer. 
  • Amy Oresman is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked with Sharon Stone, Emma Roberts, and Zoe Saldana.
  • Akiko Owada is a Tokyo-born, New York-based makeup artist whose work has been featured in V, Wonderland, and Interview.
  • Rob Rumsey is a celebrity makeup artist who often works with Natasha Lyonne, Sophie Thatcher, and Sabrina Carpenter.
  • William Scott is a New York-based makeup artist and brow specialist whose clientele includes Padma Lakshmi, Karlie Kloss, and Mette Towley.
  • Colby Smith New York City-based celebrity makeup artist who works with Dua Lipa and Charli XCX.
  • Alana Wright is a pro makeup artist whose work has been featured in campaigns for Burberry, MCM, and Nike.