The Best Drugstore Mascaras, Sorted by What Your Lashes Need
How to pick a mascara by formula and brush, then the best drugstore mascaras for length, curl, volume, waterproof wear and tubing, all under $15.
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In this guide
The best drugstore mascara for you depends on two things: what your lashes are like, and what you need the mascara to survive. Short straight lashes need something different from long lashes that clump. A mascara for swim practice needs a different formula from one for school photos.
So instead of one “best” pick, here’s how to choose by brush and formula, then a shortlist sorted by what each one is made to do. We compared them on what each brand says about the formula and the brush, plus the price on the brand’s own site in October 2026. Your lashes get the final vote.
How to choose a drugstore mascara
Pick the formula first
- Regular (washable) comes off with your usual cleanser or makeup remover. The easiest everyday choice.
- Waterproof holds up to sweat, rain and tears, but it’s harder to take off. You’ll need an eye makeup remover made for waterproof formulas. Rubbing at it is how lashes get pulled out.
- Tubing wraps each lash in tiny polymer tubes instead of painting it. Brands say it slides off with warm water, no remover needed.
Then the brush
- Thin or comb-style brush: separates lashes and reaches the tiny ones at the corners. Best for a natural, defined look.
- Big, fluffy or hourglass brush: deposits more formula for volume.
- Curved brush: pushes lashes up as you go, which helps if yours grow straight out.
The best drugstore mascaras by what you need
Best under $5
Why we like it: the price, and a precision comb brush the brand designed for definition and length. A good first mascara.
Best waterproof under $5
Why we like it: the brand says it’s waterproof, sweat-proof and humidity-resistant. Keep it for swim meets, summer and sad movies, not every day.
Best tubing mascara
Why we like it: tubing for buildable length that e.l.f. says comes off with warm water. It’s also listed as vegan and cruelty-free.
Why we like it: tubing again, with shea butter and castor seed oil in the formula. Milani says it lasts up to 16 hours and removes with warm water.
Best for curl
Why we like it: made for visibly lifted, curled lashes, at a price where it’s fine to try it and find out.
Best for volume
Why we like it: a smudge-resistant volumizing formula. There’s also a waterproof version at the same price.
Why we like it: an hourglass brush built to grab every lash, with castor oil in the formula. Milani says it wears up to 24 hours without clumping or smudging.
Why we like it: a soft wavy brush with more than 200 bristles and rosehip oil. L’Oreal says it’s suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
What about Maybelline Sky High? It’s one of the most popular drugstore mascaras, and Maybelline describes it as a length and volume formula. Maybelline doesn’t list a price on its own site, so check it at your store.
How to make any mascara work better
- Wipe the wand once on the edge of the tube. Most clumps come from too much formula on the first coat.
- Start at the roots and wiggle, then pull up and out.
- Do a second coat before the first one dries. Once it’s dry, layering more is what makes spider lashes.
- Use the tip of the wand for bottom lashes and the inner corners, or skip the bottom lashes altogether for a softer look.
- Take it off every night. Hold a remover pad on your closed eye for a few seconds so the mascara dissolves, then wipe gently.
New to makeup? Start with our makeup for beginners guide, or see how mascara fits into a natural makeup look.
Mascara safety rules
The FDA’s eye cosmetic safety tips are worth knowing, because the eye area picks up infections easily:
- Don’t share mascara, even with your best friend. Someone else’s bacteria can be harmful to you.
- Replace it every few months. Manufacturers usually recommend throwing mascara out two to four months after you buy it. If it smells weird or has dried out, toss it sooner.
- Never add water or spit to a dried-out tube. Bacteria from your mouth can grow in it and cause an infection.
- Skip eye makeup if you have an eye infection or the skin around your eye is irritated.
- Don’t apply it in a moving car. One bump and the wand is in your eye.
