Buying guide · United States
The best mascaras right now, from drugstore heroes to cult favorites
Some of the best mascaras on the market cost less than a latte, and the difference between a good one and a great one usually comes down to the brush, not the price.
Here are the mascaras you can order today in the US, grouped by the effect you want, each with its price range so you can compare at a glance.
Drugstore heroes that beat pricier mascaras
If you want one reliable mascara for every day, start here. These have stayed bestsellers for years because they deliver.
essence
Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
10 ml
BudgetThe famous budget mascara that keeps beating ones several times its price. Big volume and length with a fiber brush that does not clump.
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L'Oréal Paris
Voluminous Original Mascara
10 ml
BudgetA true classic: builds bold volume in a few coats and stays smudge resistant all day.
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COVERGIRL
Lash Blast Volume Mascara
15 ml
BudgetInstant fullness from a big brush. A great pick if your lashes are fine or sparse.
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Maybelline
The Colossal Bubble Mascara
10 ml
BudgetA newer, buildable formula for bold, separated lashes that lasts up to 24 hours.
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Length and lift: for straight or short lashes
If your lashes drop by lunchtime, look for a lengthening formula with a flexible or precise brush, and always curl first.
Maybelline
Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
BudgetThe viral lengthening mascara: a flexible brush reaches every lash, from root to tip.
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L'Oreal Paris
Original Telescopic Mascara
10 ml
BudgetPrecise, lash by lash separation for long, clean lashes that look naturally yours.
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ETUDE
Curl Fix Waterproof Mascara
10 ml
BudgetA lightweight Korean waterproof formula made to hold a curl on straight lashes.
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Which look suits you?
VIPAD knows your skin and your undertone, and shows you makeup that really suits you, right on your own face.
Tubing mascaras: no smudging, easy removal
Tubing formulas wrap each lash in tiny tubes. They do not flake or smudge, even on oily lids or watery eyes, and slide off with warm water.
e.l.f.
Lash XTNDR Tubing Mascara
7.39 ml
BudgetThe look of lash extensions at a drugstore price, clump and flake free.
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Maybelline
Lash Sensational Sky Tubes Tubing Mascara
BudgetExtension like length with shea butter and castor oil, for 24 hour wear.
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Thrive Causemetics
Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
10 ml
Mid rangeA cult tubing mascara that lengthens, volumizes and curls, and washes off cleanly.
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The cult favorites worth the splurge
If you want to treat yourself, these are the high end mascaras people repurchase again and again.
Too Faced
Better Than Sex Mascara
Mid rangeDramatic volume and length from an hourglass brush. One of the best known mascaras of all time.
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Lancôme
Lash Idôle Mascara
10 ml
Mid rangeLifted, fanned out lashes that stay up all day, with a smudge proof formula.
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ILIA
Limitless Lash Mascara
8 ml
SplurgeA clean, conditioning formula that lengthens and separates, gentle enough for sensitive eyes.
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Clinique
High Impact Mascara in Black Honey
10 ml
Mid rangeA soft, sheer black inspired by the famous lipstick shade, for a natural daytime look.
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Three tricks for better lashes with any mascara
- Curl before, never after: mascara on curled lashes holds the shape much longer.
- Wiggle at the root: start the wand at the base and zigzag up, so the color goes where the volume is.
- Replace it every three months: old mascara dries out, clumps and is not something you want near your eyes.
Questions
Lash Princess, Voluminous Original and Sky High are the most loved for a reason. Pick by effect: volume, length or a tubing formula if you smudge.
Often, yes. It does not flake into the eyes and comes off with warm water instead of rubbing, which many sensitive eyes prefer.
It depends on your undertone, eye color and style. VIPAD shows you colors and looks that suit you, right on your own face.
Which look suits you?
VIPAD knows your skin and your undertone, and shows you makeup that really suits you, right on your own face.
Availability checked on October 29, 2026. Prices may change on Amazon.