If there’s one essential beauty product we cannot live without, it’s one of the best mascaras. Even though lash serums can help to boost growth, a coat of mascara provides a lengthening and volumising effect like no other.
Thanks to us and our team of beauty testers, we’ve discovered that you can make a statement without the hefty price tag. Here’s our guide to the best mascaras on a budget…
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£10 from Amazon (usual price £12.99)
Beauty editor Laura Mulley says: “As soon as I opened this new L’Oréal mascara, I knew it was right up my street; I prefer a spiky, silicone brush over a bristly one – which this one has – as I find them much better for getting right down to the lash roots and separating my unruly lashes.
“With the first swipe, my lashes looked lengthened and defined from root to tip. Catching sight of my eyes in the mirror afterwards, I honestly thought it looked like I was wearing false lashes after applying this mascara.”
£9.95 from Boots (usual price £15.95)
Laura says: “Define and Enhance really impressed me. I think ‘natural definition’ implies a minimal, barely-there finish, but it actually gives a really good amount of volume and coats the lashes from root to tip. It gives a nicely fanned out, cat-eye effect. It was also brilliant on my lower lashes, where some mascaras can look clumpy and smudge.”
£9.74 from LookFantastic (£12.99 normally)
Laura says: “I found that this ticked all the boxes: it provides excellent volume and length, coats every millimetre of every lash, and keeps the hairs lifted and locked in place all day long without flaking or smudging. I’ve even swapped from my favourite pricey designer mascara to this one.“
Laura shares: “My eyelashes are pretty wild, growing in all directions, but I think this is a great, natural-looking, everyday mascara for keeping them under control. Comparing it to my favourite Maybelline Sky High, I’d say that it doesn’t quite have the same lifting and separating effect, nor does it ‘lock’ lashes in place to keep them up, but Collection Mile High is a good mascara at a good price.”
Tester Fee says: “Wow, this mascara is brilliant! The two wands can be used to create a subtle or an amazing full glam look without fake eyelashes. It really helps exaggerate my lashes – they look so long but they aren’t super clumpy. My husband, who never notices my make-up, said how long my lashes looked! I’m in love with this mascara and will continue to use it. It lasts all day or night, with no smudging,” reports OK!.
Tester Chelsea says: “This mascara gives great volume and length, and I love the fact you can twist the mascara tube to adjust the design of the wand depending on whether you want more length or volume. I accidentally fell asleep with it on and it still looked great and wearable the following day, which was very impressive! It hadn’t smudged at all. My partner agreed that it looked really good and made my eyes stand out.”
£8.79 from LookFantastic (usual price £10.99)
Janine says: “I’ll be honest, I haven’t used Rimmel in years…but this does exactly what it says on the tin. It lengthens, it curls, and it’s buildable. It makes my eyelashes look massive! Mum said my lashes looked big and asked me what I used, so I will definitely be buying one for her. It really works, and lasts all day.”
£9.74 from LookFantastic (usual price £12.99)
Laura says: “This gives a really decent amount of volume, length and fanning out without the lashes clumping together, and eyelashes still feel soft to the touch, even when dry (unlike Sky High, which locks them solidly in place). It also removes fairly easily with cleansing balm or eye make-up remover at the end of the day.”
She added: “Overall if you’re looking for soft, fluffy volume without any chance of spidery, clumpy lashes, I think you’ll love this new Maybelline mascara.”
£6.67 from Amazon (usual price £6.49)
Tester Catherine shared: “I like the mascara a lot; it really thickens and lengthens my lashes, and it’s the first mascara I’ve tried that hasn’t given me ‘panda eyes’. I loved this mascara’s longevity and the way it didn’t transfer, although it went a little clumpy during application. I would use it again but using a different mascara wand.”
£9.74 from LookFantastic (usual price £12.99)
Laura says: “My eyelashes are long (thank you, lash serums) but the downside to this is that most mascaras aren’t strong enough to hoick them up, then keep them up all day. This one, however, does exactly that. I found the original Sky High a little too natural-looking for my liking, but this newer version has amped up the volume, giving standout definition and brow-skimming length. It’s also the most smudge-proof mascara I’ve ever used.”
£3.25 from Amazon (usual price £6.49)
Tester Noshi says: “This really helps to give definition to every single lash. It has great staying power, and gives you long black lashes with no clumping. Someone asked me if I was wearing false lashes. I will definitely buy this again.“
Laura says: “I love this one’s firm silicone brush as it allows me to wiggle right into the base of my lashes and push them upwards, and the mascara’s fairly dry texture clings to the hairs like a magnet. Unlike fibre-filled formulas, this won’t add extra extensions, but instead emphasises every last millimetre, creating length that you never knew you had.
“Remarkably, it doesn’t transfer onto my upper eyelids either, which I often find with lengthening formulas. It gives decent volume too, although does get a bit clumpy if you start packing on the layers.”