Four best budget mascaras under $25, according to the experts
IF there’s one makeup product you don’t have to spend big on, it’s mascara. Here are four of the best under $25.
IF THERE’S one makeup product you don’t have to spend big on, it’s mascara.
Why? Well, firstly it’s recommended you replace your mascara every three months. (I know, I know. I’m guilty too. To make matters worse, a similar time-frame is recommended for any product you’re putting on or in your eyes. Hygiene reasons, and all that.)
While logically it makes sense, the idea of dropping more hard-earned dollars than necessary on a key makeup product only to have to do it again a few weeks later is hardly an attractive one.
However the far more important reason not to drop that much on a mascara is simple — you just don’t need to. Of course there are some exceptions, but in reality some of the best will get you change from $20.
Or in the case of Essence Lash Princess Mascara, from a $10 note.
Don’t let the slightly babyish name put you off. At just $6.75 (yes, you read that right) the budget-friendly option went viral last year after a review was shared on Reddit.
Reddit user named EllieDaisyLouise shared the before and after picture wearing the mascara on beauty page Makeup Addiction.
“Can’t believe this mascara was only £3.30! Sorry for the shocking picture quality but this is the Essence Lash Princess mascara and I HIGHLY recommend it,” she wrote. Her post attracted over 3,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments.
The mascara provides both length and volume, for an almost false-lash effect. Keep your eyes peeled though — its viral status means it’s regularly sold out.
For celebrity makeup artist Chantelle Baker, who has worked with Aussie Victoria’s Secret model Victoria Lee and Jessica Gomes, Maybelline’s Great Lash Mascara, $12.95 is a top pick. You can find it in most pharmacies and supermarkets.
“I love it in blackest black and waterproof, it’s my favourite budget mascara,” she said.
The instantly recognisable pink and green tube is a classic, released in 1971 as the first waterproof mascara on the market. Often chosen as a first mascara, it remains a staple in many women’s makeup regimen 40 years later.
The formula conditions as it thickens lashes, making them look full without being clumpy. The trick is to apply as many coats as required to get your desired look without letting it dry.
New York-based makeup artist Tobi Henney’s go-to is also from Maybelline, but she prefers their Lash Sensational Mascara, $21.95, available at supermarkets and chemists.
If Great Lash is your training wheels, Lash Sensational is your brand-new shiny bike — complete with a bell, a basket and maybe some confetti handles to get attention. It has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 from almost 1000 reviews.
“It’s a winner! It creates super voluminous lashes,” Henney said.
The slightly curved wand adds volume while also reaching each and every lash, no matter how tiny, to create a glamorous fanned out effect. Expect big, fat and black lashes that are here for a good time — and a long time.
Another drugstore favourite is US makeup brand NYX (pronounced ‘nix’), which became widely available in Australia in 2016, originally launching in 1999.
Priceline Pharmacy Makeup Director Sarah Laidlaw’s favourite is the NYX Professional Makeup The Skinny Mascara in Black, $12.95.
“I love the super skinny brush that comes with this mascara. It lets you get right down to the roots of the lashes,” she said.
The name isn’t lying — the brush really is a lot thinner than you usually see on mascaras. It’s not a bad thing, though. It’s what helps make eyelashes look super long and easy to apply to bottom lashes without smudging.
- Brittany Stewart is a freelance beauty writer. Find her on Instagram and Facebook.