Not all mascaras are created equal. This is my honest, growing list of the ones that made a difference, especially if your lashes are short or sensitive like mine.
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Good Mascaras That Cost Less Than Your Lunch
Lash Lift Energy: Mascaras That Actually Add Length
Good Mascaras That Cost Less Than Your Lunch
This mascara gives me length, color, and lift in one swipe. The blue shade is bold but wearable perfect for when I want to switch it up without doing too much.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
Gentle on sensitive eyes and perfect for small lashes like mine. It smooths, lifts, and primes for fuller, longer lashes great alone or under mascara.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Tinted Mascara Primer
A classic drugstore fave with bold, clump-free volume. Reliable, affordable, and probably already in your mom’s makeup bag.
L'Oréal - Mascara - 22 Products | Ulta Beauty
Smooth and full lashes without clumps most of the time. Affordable and great for layering, but can get a little flaky if you overdo the coats. Still a solid pick for small lashes and everyday glam.
L'Oréal - Blackest Black Voluminous Lash Paradise Volume Mascara
This budget-friendly Milani mascara is seriously underrated. The unique brush coats every lash evenly for fuller, naturallooking lashes. Infused with castor oil, it nourishes and strengthens lashes while giving great volume. Perfect for everyday wear...
Milani Mascara - 3 Products - Ulta Beauty
Looking for long, separated lashes? L’Oréal Telescopic delivers beautiful length with a natural finish. Great for layering with volumizing mascaras to create full, fluffy lashes. Affordable and perfect for everyday lengthening without clumps.
L'Oréal - Blackest Black Telescopic Original Washable Mascara
This $5 mascara is loud in all the right ways. It’s extra black, vegan, and smudge-proof with a dual-sided wand that gives both volume and length. One side defines, the other lifts. Honestly? It’s giving high-end drama on a snack budget.
Double Trouble Mascara - Essence | Ulta Beauty
This $10 mascara delivers voluptuous volume and intense length with its ultra-soft wavy brush, catching every lash for a full, feathery look. Infused with flower oils, it conditions lashes while providing a clump-resistant, smudge-proof, and longwear...
L'Oreal Paris Paradise Big Deal Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara
Feathery, lightweight, and clump-free, this mascara coats lashes with length and volume without the heavy feel. Perfect for a natural yet bold everyday look that lasts all day. Budget-friendly and easy to layer for extra drama.
Black Call Me Queen Dramatic False Lash Effect Mascara - Essence
Big volume for just $13.99? I wasn’t expecting much, but this delivers. The chunky brush builds fast, gives bold lashes, and zero flaking. If you love thick, dramatic lashes without spending big, this is it.
SEPHORA COLLECTION Size Up Volumizing Mascara
Lightweight but buildable, with a flexible wand that reaches every tiny corner. Lifts, layers, and gives that firework flare, without weighing down your lashes.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Firework Volume and Length Mascara
I know the $1 price might make you doubt it, but hear me out. It gives light volume, doesn’t clump, and works great for quick looks or beginners. Simple, effective, and surprisingly decent for the price
L.A. Girl - Mascara - 5 Products - Ulta Beauty
This mascara gives bold, voluminous lashes with a unique bubbly formula. Lightweight and buildable, it adds drama without clumping. Perfect for big, eyecatching lashes on a budget.
Blackest Black Colossal Bubble Washable Mascara - Maybelline
This lash primer preps and strengthens lashes for longer-lasting mascara wear. Lightweight and smoothing, it helps prevent clumps while boosting volume and curl.
ETUDE Dr. Mascara Fixer For Perfect Lash
This $7 mascara is a hidden gem for a natural, everyday look. Its buildable formula delivers subtle volume and length without clumping. Enriched with castor oil, it nourishes lashes while providing a soft brown hue that’s perfect for those seeking a ...
Pure Volume Magic Brown Mascara - Catrice Cosmetics
Small lashes? No problem. This little queen makes them look full, long, and flawless, no drama, no clumps. Honestly, it’s the best budget mascara I’ve ever tried. Crown it already! 👑
Lash Lift Energy: Mascaras That Actually Add Length
If your lashes are short, stubborn, or just tired of lying flat. these mascaras are the game-changers. They actually lift, lengthen, and hold curl without the drama or the falsies. Whether you’re going bare-faced or full glam, these are the lengtheni...
Adds length, separates lashes like a comb, and washes off with just water. Great for sensitive eyes and emotional girlies.
Liquid Lash™ Extensions Tubing Mascara
Lifts, curls, lengthens, and holds like a good man should. A soft glam essential for college girls, job interviews, or soft life Sundays.
lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 24-hour mascara
This drugstore baddie does what needs to be done. Lengthens, doesn’t flake, and gives “clean girl lashes” for under $10.
Lash 'N Roll® Curling & Lifting Mascara
For when you want people to actually ask if you got extensions. Grips, lifts, and defines in a way that says, “expensive taste, practical budget.
Mascara - BENEFIT COSMETICS
The $5 magic wand. No, it’s not luxury, but it’s giving. Long, fluttery, Idid not expect this for the price, type of lashes.
Slim wand, big drama. This one grabs every little lash like it owes you money and stretches them to the heavens. Perfect for small eyes and tight corners.