eye makeup 13 Drugstore Mascaras That Will Replace Your Luxury Faves

Applying mascara is a necessary step in every eye makeup look when fabulous lashes are what you crave. It’s easier than applying falsies and with the right formula, one swipe can transform your entire look from basic to brilliant. Whether you prefer voluminous or long and wispy lashes, there’s a mascara that can help you achieve your desired look and L’Oréal Paris has several options that offer different results.

The best part is, the best mascara also doesn’t even have to cost you a small fortune. So keep reading to find out all about the best mascaras for different lash needs — including a waterproof option — that will upgrade your makeup look without breaking the bank. 

The Best Drugstore Mascara for Volume

Go for big, bold lashes using the L’Oréal Paris Air Volume Mega Mascara Lightweight Mega Volume Washable. This mascara features a cushioned double-bristle brush — the short side catches lashes from the root and the long side helps spread the formula evenly for fully blown out lashes. Thanks to the air-whipped formula your lashes won’t feel weighed down.

The Best Drugstore Mascara for Lengthening

If you’re looking for more length than anything else, the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Original Mascara is your match. The flat side of the patented flexible precision brush lengthens your lashes while the comb side of the brush separates lashes for a clump-free result. It’s no wonder this go-to keeps having a major Tik Tok makeup moment.

The Best Drugstore Mascara for Length and Volume 

For a mix of volume and length, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Washable Mascara. This affordable mascara features a soft, wavy bristle brush that holds an extensive amount of formula and catches every lash for a dramatic volumizing effect. You’ll get a full lash fringe that’s feathery soft with no flaking or clumping. What’s not to love?

Editor’s tip: Remember, before applying mascara, prep your lashes with a mascara primer first to create a smooth base for your application. Try the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara Primer/Base or the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Primer to instantly boost every lash look.

The Best Drugstore Mascara for Thickening

If thicker lashes are what you crave then look no further than the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Bold Eye Mascara. This classic mascara has a volume maximizing brush that thickens lashes evenly and smoothly, leaving them feeling soft and with no clumps in a single application. Bonus: It also comes in fun shades, including burgundy, green, and cobalt blue. 

The Best Drugstore Mascara for Swimming and Sweating

When you want eye-catching lashes that won’t leave a streaky mess on your face after a workout or quick dip in the pool, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Air Volume Mega Mascara Waterproof, Lightweight — one of the best waterproof drugstore mascaras. 

Its formula enhances lashes with intense length while providing unique lash-by-lash separation that can withstand water. Plus, the mascara is fragrance-free, ophthalmologist-tested, and allergy-tested, making it suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

The Best Drugstore Mascara for a Doe-Eyed Look

You know the doe-eyed look — wide, big eyes surrounded by lashes that seem to be never-ending. Well, the L’Oréal Paris Bambi Eye Oversized Eye Washable Mascara Instant Volume can help you achieve that look with just a few swipes. The brush features short and long bristles to separate and coat every lash and the velvety formula glides on smoothly for lifted, elongated lashes without clumps.

The Best Drugstore Mascara for Mature Lashes

If you have mature lashes, you may find that they need a little extra love and care. That’s where the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Lash Magnifying Mascara with Conditioning Serum comes in. This volumizing mascara is formulated with a conditioning serum and jojoba oil to nourish your eyelashes (which can feel dry and brittle as you age) while leaving them looking magnified and defined.

The Best Vegan Drugstore Mascara

The L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Noir Balm Washable Mascara is the vegan mascara your makeup routine needs. Its formulated with a conditioning balm that makes lashes feel softer. It’s also flake-, clump- and smudge resistant, allowing it to apply smoother than your average vegan mascara. In other words, you don't have to worry about having raccoon eyes before you’ve even left the house. Lift, lengthen and separate your lashes and get an intensely fuller-looking eye fringe with this no-junk formula.

The Best Drugstore Mascara for a Lash Lift Effect

For lashes that need a lift, use the L’Oréal Paris Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Washable Mascara. This mascara is inspired by the makeup artist’s hack of bending your mascara wand for added control and ease of application. 

It has a unique two-position wand that can be used straight or bent to customize your lash look. This helps to guarantee a precise, effortless application on harder-to-reach areas of your lashes, like the inner and outer corners, without creating any clumps or flakes.

The Best Drugstore Mascara for Sensitive Eyes

False lashes and extensions aren’t the only way to take your lashes to the next level while protecting your sensitive peepers. A fiber mascara can also amp up the intensity. Try the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous X Fiber Mascara, which has a dual-ended wand that features a black primer on one end and fiber mascara on the other. The primer helps build intense volume and color while the fiber-infused smudge-proof mascara formula takes your lashes to extreme lengths.

The Best Drugstore Mascara for Separating Lashes

The L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara is a great option for the lash perfectionist who always wants to avoid mascara clumping. The brush will give you definition on each lash, while the buildable, collagen-infused formula thickens and separates them. It has a built-in wiping system to keep the brush free of buildup, leaving the perfect amount of mascara to get you the lash look you desire.

The Best Drugstore Mascara for Multitasking

For those who love a primer and mascara duo that makes eyes the star, try the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Superstar Mascara. The primer builds dramatic volume on every lash and creates an ultra-smooth base to maximize mascara performance while the super-extending mascara has a fiber-rich formula that will leave you with dramatic, extended lashes.

The Best Drugstore Mascara for a Winged-Out Effect

If you haven’t quite mastered winged eyeliner, try giving your lashes a winged-out effect instead. To get the look, use the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Mascara. The mascara’s brush has an asymmetrical lash line shape to extend and lift the outer corner lashes, creating a winged-out look sans liner. The formula works to give your lashes volume from the roots to the tips while stretching your lashes outward. 

Next: How To Layer Mascara For Long and Voluminous Lashes

Edited by: Shalwah Evans, Photo Design: Crystal Simone