8 Drugstore Mascaras That Genuinely Rival High-End Brands

Mascara might be the one category where drugstore beauty consistently outperforms luxury. Here are 8 drugstore mascaras genuinely better than (or equal to) the $30+ tubes you may have been buying.

1. L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise — $13

Best Lancôme Hypnose dupe. L'Oréal owns Lancôme, and the formula is openly nearly identical. Saves you $26 per tube.

2. Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High — $12

Best for length. The flexible plastic wand reaches every lash from root to tip. Comparable to Benefit Roller Lash ($30).

3. Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect — $5

Best ultra-budget mascara. $5. Five dollars. And it consistently scores in top-10 mascara lists from major beauty publications.

4. CoverGirl LashBlast Volume — $9

Best for thickness. The original chunky-brush mascara. Comparable to Too Faced Better Than Sex ($28).

5. NYX The Skinny Mascara — $11

Best for lower lashes and detail. The thin precision brush makes this the easiest mascara to apply on lower lashes.

6. e.l.f. Big Mood Mascara — $7

Best volume mascara dupe. A direct dupe of MAC's In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash Mascara ($25).

7. Maybelline The Falsies Surreal Mascara — $14

Best for "false lash" appearance. Comparable to Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes ($32).

8. Wet n Wild Megalength Mascara — $4

Best ultra-cheap classic. Has been in the drugstore aisle for two decades for a reason.