The 15 Best Mascaras You Can Find at the Drugstore (2024)

There are so many inexpensive mascaras on the market—even ones that celebrities know and love—but only an elite few have been elevated to classic status. You know, the ones that lengthen, volumize, and separate like none other? And since mascara is one item that even non-makeup users will shell out for, it's far easier on the wallet to favor pharmacy finds for this frequently used makeup item (add a great lipstick, eyeliner, or foundation to that list) than it is to spring for pricier options. The other big secret: Many inexpensive brands share the same labs and R&D technology as their pricier counterparts, so you're getting all the same benefits at a more reasonable price.

• Best for Volume: L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
• Best Washable Mascara: Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
• Best Hydrating Formula: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Plumping Mascara
• Best Waterproof Mascara: Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Drama Waterproof Mascara

Beyoncé's go-to makeup guy Sir John says,"This one gives you that super feathery lash look we all love." If it's good enough for Beyoncé, we're sure it will work just fine for us. Intense length and voluptuous volume are just a brushstroke away.

It was the first mascara to grace our Caboodle, and while we may have since ditched the blue shadow and frosted lipstick we used to pair it with, Maybelline's Great Lash remains a standard. "It's still a staple in my kit, all these years later," says makeup artist Neil Scibelli. "The brush grips and curls the lashes easily, and the formula dries really quick." Makeup artist Nick Barose, who works with Amandla Stenberg and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, also agrees. "It adds volume without the clumps or crunchy texture," he says.

Turn it up to 11. A few even coats of CoverGirl's LashBlast delivers major volume, and the short bristles on the brush allow you to target hard-to-reach areas like your inner corners. "The formula doesn't clump, and will stay on for hours without smudging," says Barose.

Consider Neutrogena's Hydro Boost formula a lash treatment with a day job. The moisturizing ingredients used in the mix help to keep your lashes in good health. "It actually hydrates and conditions your lashes while you're wearing it," says Neil Scibelli. "This mascara formula is almost like a glossy black, and separates the lashes really well. There's also a waterproof version. Plus, it's smudge-free and stays on all day."

The gentle ingredients used in Maybelline's Snapscara make the formula ideal for skin and eyes that seem to react to just about anything. "It's wax-free, so it has a more natural ingredient base to it," Scibelli says. "It's perfect for someone who's looking for an effortless, safe, everyday mascara. It also separates the lashes beautifully and leaves a nice shine to the lashes."

Thanks to the infusion of the brand's patented Grow-Lash Complex, Rimmel's Lash Accelerator creates a dramatic appearance on contact while helping to nourish and grow your natural set. "It separates and builds the most incredible length without clumping," says makeup artist Jillian Dempsey.

After a few coats, it's easy to understand why this formula is beloved by so many. "It delivers all the good stuff—length, volume, and jet black pigment—without any clumping or flaking. Holy Grail status, indeed!" beauty editor Brian Underwood says.

Looking for a mascara to create major length and take care of all the little details? Reach for the L'Oréal Telescopic formula. "The tiny brush with short bristles lets you comb through lashes quickly without being messy," says Barose. "I'll sometimes use it to get really close to lash lines and darken them instead of using eyeliner."

According to our beauty editors, Flower Beauty's Lash Warrior Mascara is one that won't leave lashes feeling stiff, thanks to a secret ingredient. The castor oil in this volumizing mascara helps keep them soft.

This volumizing mascara doesn't clump or flake, allowing for a fuss-free, literally eye-opening application.

While slightly more expensive than the others on this list, IT's biotin-infused Drybar collab will lengthen lashes and create volume without the pesky clumps. There's a reason it's been favorited over 20,000 times by Sephora shoppers.

Can a mascara truly emulate the look of falsies? This one can. The uniquely designed brush deposits the volumizing, lengthening formula from root to tip for fringe that is flawlessly enhanced.

Tubing mascaras are a truly ingenious invention, wrapping each individual lash in a, yep, tube to lengthen and separate. And this one earns top honors for its long-lasting effect. Don't think that means it's difficult to remove: a damp washcloth is all it takes to wipe the formula away.

This creamy, plumping mascara give you instant volume and curl-holding power. The special cup-shaped bristles lift lashes from root to tip for dramatic results, leaving your lashes looking lengthened and luscious.