The best drugstore mascaras you can buy

Is there any feeling better than discovering a great dupe for an expensive makeup favorite? L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara has often been compared to a much pricier cult mascara, and it won't break the bank.

The hourglass-shaped wand and rose-gold tube might have you confusing this with Too Faced Better Than Sex. Both mascaras are extremely volumizing and lash-thickening, but L'Oreal's iteration is only $11. The more than 200 bristles packed onto the curvy brush help evenly distribute the intense formula across all your lashes.

Lash Paradise is not for the faint of heart; the effect comes close to mirroring false lashes. If most mascaras are not dramatic enough for you, you might love this one, though some reviewers did complain about clumping.

Byrdie considers it one of the best drugstore mascaras overall and says, "If it's major volume you're after, you can't go wrong with this." The Cut and Glamour have recommended the mascara, and it's highly rated on Ulta, with an average 4.0-star rating based on 2,200 reviews.

Allure's editors, who awarded Lash Paradise a Best of Beauty Award in 2017, actually prefer it to its more expensive counterpart: "Its bristles are denser and more uniformly shaped, making it easier to apply for those who like to quickly swipe on their mascara."

Pros: dupe for Too Faced Better Than Sex, volumizes and lengthens

Cons: prone to clumping

What we look for in an everyday mascara is not always the same as what we want for special occasions. Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara gives you a soft, natural look with all-day-long staying power.

Don't get me wrong, you'll still get length, added volume, and definition with this mascara, but the results probably won't be as dramatic as what you'll achieve with some other options. The more natural look of this mascara hasn't hurt the reviews — on Amazon, Great Lash has 3.9 stars overall based on over 2,100 responses.

Bustle points out that this mascara is hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive eyes. Reviewed considers it "the best value you can find" but cautions against layering it up because you may experience clumping. And Byrdie considers it the best waterproof mascara at the drugstore, saying it "stays on through rain, humidity, sweat, an entire day at the beach, and even a crying session."

Pros: hypoallergenic, safe for contact lenses, waterproof, natural-looking

Cons: not as dramatic or buildable as other options

Very short, thin lashes — the ones that might crave mascara the most — can be tough to reach with typically bulky mascara wands. Maybelline Lash Discovery Mascara has a small, thin brush that makes grabbing hold of even the tiniest hairs a breeze.

Make no mistake: This formula is no joke. It gives more of a lengthening and defining effect than over-the-top volume, and it's waterproof. The skinny brush also makes this a solid option for the lower lashes if you often find yourself with smudges.

"I purchased this mascara to use as a lower lash product. However, one day I was in a hurry and used it all over. I was so impressed with the effect it gave. It made my top lashes look so much Fuller and thicker, while still looking natural. This is my go-to mascara now," writes one Ulta shopper.

Lash Discovery is Byrdie's top pick for shorter lashes. Over on Ulta, the mascara has an average 4.4-star rating based on 227 customer reviews.

Pros: skinny brush for hard-to-reach areas and lower lashes, hypoallergenic, waterproof

Cons: not volumizing

If length is what you crave, give L'Oréal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Lengthening 2-Step Mascara a try. This double-sided mascara contains a primer on one side and regular black mascara on the other.

Combined, they give you a ton of extra length and long wear without being completely waterproof. Lash primers can be gimmicky, but we love that this one comes built-in and gives you the look of lash extensions without the permanence. Women's Health praises it for its lengthening and darkening effects without flaking: "[U]nlike literally every other mascara I've ever used, this stuff really doesn't flake. At all."

"Because it's double-sided, this mascara technically requires two swipes minimum — but because of its impact, you won't need more than that," says Reviewed, who loves the lengthening effect and the lash-protecting primer formula. Amazon reviewers rate L'Oreal Double Extend 4.2 stars based on over 2,100 reviews.

Pros: comes with lash-protecting primer, lengthening effect, not clumpy, doesn't flake

Cons: requires two steps for the full effect

• Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara ($4.99): This mascara is super cheap and has thousands of glowing reviews online, but Reviewed says it's "incredibly difficult to apply," and it's not waterproof like the similarly priced Maybelline Great Lash.
• Maybelline Total Temptation Mascara ($10.49): Total Temptation appeared on a few best-of lists, but the customer ratings are quite low compared to many of the brand's other options. Some Ultra reviewers say it clumps and smudges easily.
• Rimmel Scandaleyes Retroglam Mascara ($5.20): I've tried and enjoyed this mascara in the past. The hourglass-shaped brush is very similar to L'Oréal Lash Paradise, which has far more rave reviews from both experts and shoppers.