I’m unwilling to spend more than $20 on mascara, so I consulted a makeup artist for their top drugstore recommendations.

      (Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)

      When I mention that I'm a beauty editor, I usually receive one of three responses. First, some people ask, "What’s a beauty editor?" I clarify that I test, research, and write about beauty topics for a living. Second, they inquire, "What’s the best [insert beauty product here]?" Third, their eyes brighten as they exclaim, "You must only use the best beauty products." Over time, I've noticed that they equate 'best' with 'expensive.' Honestly, that’s a misconception. While I may have access to pricier products, many beauty items I use every day are from the drugstore. I strongly believe that 'expensive' doesn’t always mean 'better.' This is certainly true for mascara. Although I have a few high-end favorites, my purchases typically consist of formulas that are $20 or less. I genuinely believe that you can achieve the same look—whether you prefer long, voluminous, lifted, or defined lashes—at an affordable price. So, without further delay, here are the eight best drugstore mascaras (along with three honorable mentions), as endorsed by professional makeup artists and myself.

      **The Top Picks:**

      **Best Overall:** Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

      **Best Lengthening:** Maybelline Sky High Mascara

      **Best Volumizing:** Essence What the Fake! Volumizing Mascara

      **Best Lifting:** Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

      **Best Curling:** Elf Cosmetics Incredi-Curl Mascara

      **Best Separating:** L'Oréal Paris Panorama Mascara

      **Best Defining:** Neutrogena Healthy Definition Mascara

      **Best for a Dramatic Effect:** Makeup Revolution 5D Lash Mascara

      **The Best Drugstore Mascaras**

      **Best Overall: Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara**

      Shades: Two (black and brown)

      Benefits: Lengthening, curling, and volumizing formula

      Essence's Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara has been my favorite for years. At just $5 a tube, it’s cheaper than a large latte from my go-to coffee shop, providing long, fluttery, curled, and voluminous lashes. It’s an all-in-one formula at an unbeatable price, and I have a tube in my makeup bag right now.

      **Best Lengthening: Maybelline Sky High Mascara**

      Shades: Eight (black, brown, and colorful options)

      Benefits: Lengthening, lightweight, and washable formula

      Maybelline's Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara undeniably offers noticeable length on even the shortest lashes. What distinguishes it from other lengthening mascaras is its incredibly light feel, ensuring it doesn’t weigh your lashes down or ruin a newly crimped curl.

      **Best Volumizing: Essence What the Fake! Volumizing Mascara**

      Shades: One (black)

      Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening, fiber-filled formula

      Celebrity Makeup Artist Neil Scibelli recommends this mascara for achieving full, fluffy lashes. “Essence's What the Fake! Volumizing Mascara is fantastic for both the price and the dramatic finish. It contains nylon fibers that immediately add volume, thickness, and length to the lashes. Plus, it’s vegan and cruelty-free, which is always a bonus.”

      **Best Lifting: Maybelline Lash Sensational**

      Shades: Four

      Benefits: Lifting, volumizing, lengthening, and lightweight formula

      Maybelline's Lash Sensational Mascara delivers lifted, fanned-out lashes thanks to its unique brush design, featuring ten layers of bristles that apply the mascara upwards and outwards for a wide-eyed effect.

      **Best Curling: Elf Cosmetics Incredi-Curl Mascara**

      Shades: Three

      Benefits: Volumizing, curling formula

      As someone with straight lashes, I know the struggle of curling them only for them to fall flat again. Fortunately, this lash-gripping mascara solves that issue. Its buildable formula and curved bristle brush ensure each lash is volumized, defined, and—most importantly—held in curl.

      **Best Separating: L'Oréal Paris Panorama Mascara**

      Shades: Three

      Benefits: Separating, volumizing, and washable formula

      I believe the only acceptable time to wear clumpy mascara is if you're going for a specific artistic look. If clumping is an issue, Scibelli suggests this under-$20 mascara that promises to deliver Kendall Jenner-esque lash separation. “L'Oréal's Voluminous Panorama Mascara has quickly become one of my favorite drugstore options," he says. "It gives lashes a dramatic, wide-eyed appearance without clumping or smudging, thanks to its multi-level bristle brush which allows for precise separation and added volume."