The retailer hosts the best mascaras from known beauty brands like Covergirl, Revlon, Maybelline, and more.
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Whether you ran out of your favorite mascara and need a restock or you’re looking to try something new this season, Walmart is your best bet for offering the most options at affordable prices. The retailer hosts the best mascaras from known beauty brands like CoverGirl, Revlon, Maybelline, and more. The best part? Most are under $15. But don’t let the affordable drugstore prices fool you; these formulas pack a punch for your lashes. Each has unique features, from adding volume and lengthening, to creating and adding definition. And since there’s an overwhelming amount of mascara to browse, we consulted an expert who shares tips and tricks for selecting the best mascara for a flawless, smudge-free application — scroll on!
Best Mascaras at Walmart at a Glance
Best Jet Black Mascara: Revlon So Fierce! Big Bad Lash, $8,
Best TikTok Viral Mascara: L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Bold Eye Mascara, $9
Best Editor-Approved Mascara: Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara, $9
Best Dermatologist-Approved Mascara: Clinique High Impact Mascara, $13, was $20
Best for Healthy Lashes: Neutrogena Healthy Volume Waterproof Mascara, $9
Best Washable Mascara: L’Oreal Paris Telescopic Original Washable Mascara, $11
Best Defining Mascara: e.l.f. Big Mood Mega Volume & Lifting Mascara, $8
Best Volumizing Mascara: Maybelline Total Temptation Washable Mascara, $7, was $10
Best Mascara for Instant Fullness: L.A. Colors Mega Plumping Mascara, $11
Best Curling Mascara: Hard Candy x Marilyn Monroe Volumizing Mascara, $7
Best Waterproof Mascara: NYX Professional Makeup Worth The Hype Mascara, $9
Best Splurge Mascara: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara, $15, was $17
Best Conditioning Mascara: Milani Highly Rated Anti-Gravity Mascara, $11
Best Mascara & Primer Pack: Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion Mascara + Lash Blast Amplify Primer, $13, was $15
Best Mascara for Sensitive Eyes: Almay Multi-Benefit Mascara, $11
What to Look for in a Mascara
When choosing a mascara, looking for options that provide the results your lashes need is important. Do you need one that volumizes, lengthens, or curls? Do you need one that’s waterproof? Narrowing down your concerns will determine the type of mascara you select.
Also, pay attention to the wand design since it plays a significant role in achieving the desired mascara effect. “Curved wands are ideal for curling, while fuller brushes can add volume,” says Amanda Gabbard, a celebrity makeup artist who counts Brooke Shields and Vice President Kamala Harris as clients. “Also, consider the formula’s ingredients to ensure it’s suitable for your lashes, especially if you have sensitive eyes,” Gabbard adds.
But also be vigilant about ingredients you should avoid in mascara. Gabbard warns to steer clear of phthalates and formaldehyde. And you should never purchase mascara with drying and clumping ingredients since they weigh your eyes down. Also, leave the picks with fragrances behind that irritate the eyes.
Types of Mascara
Lengthening mascara: Helps stretch and separate hairs so lashes look longer, sans falsies.
Volumizing mascara: This formula thickens and helps sparse and thin lashes look full.
Waterproof mascara: It stays longer and doesn’t smudge. It’s ideal for those with allergies and contacts since it’s rain and tear-resistant. This type of mascara gets a bad rep for being notoriously hard to remove, but this is the best if you’re looking for your formula to last throughout the day.
Tubing mascara: This type of mascara has a formula that uses polymers that wrap around each individual lash. They typically don’t smudge, flake, or clump as easily.
How to Apply Mascara
“To apply mascara effectively, start by curling your lashes if desired, using an eyelash curler,” Gabbard explains. “Think of pulsing gently five times as opposed to hunkering down. This is a more gentle approach to curling lashes…because Lord knows we need each lash!” Gabbard then explains “start at the base of the lash, gently wiggle back and forth to get volume, separate and coat each lash, this will lengthen and prevent clumping.” If you’re craving added volume, apply multiple coats, “but be sure not to let it dry before applying the next to prevent clumping,” she adds.
Ahead, shop the best mascaras at Walmart from Revlon, Covergirl, Neutrogena, and more.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Walmart is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
Revlon So Fierce! Big Bad Lash Mascara
Revlon’s So Fierce! Big Bad Lash Mascara boasts a smudge-, flake-, and clump-free finish. It darkens lashes thanks to its jet-black tint. It also leaves them volumized for up to 24 hours, talk about a bad ass formula!
Type of mascara: Volumizing
Best for: Lasting volume
Pros:
Delivers visible results
Under $10
Cons:
May not be suitable for those with allergies
L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Bold Eye Mascara
This mascara from L’Oreal is a TikTok viral beauty product that shoppers (and our senior commerce director, Gina Vaynshteyn) can’t get enough of. It helps to build and thicken lashes in just a few swipes. It’s made with ceramides, which condition each hair to add to your lash’s strength. The mascara wand delivers the perfect amount of product and helps to separate the hair to leave behind a bold and even finish.
“I’ve been using this mascara for years — it’s truly right up there with my MVPs from high-end brands. It gives me jet black volume with zero clumping weirdness. It lasts. And it’s under $10. I always have this in my makeup bag,” Vaynshteyn says.
Type of mascara: Volumizing
Best for: Thickening lashes
Pros:
Builds thicker lashes
Doesn’t rip hairs out
Washable
Cons:
Applicator could be thicker
Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara
I’ve used this mascara for years, and I always keep a few extras on hand so I always stay supplied. Why is it so great? I’m glad you asked! CoverGirl’s formula is the only one that doesn’t makes my sensitive, allergic eyes react. Aside from keeping my eyes comfortable, I love how it leaves my lashes so lush and full. Compared to designer mascaras I’ve previously used, the Lash Blast Volume Mascara delivers on its promises to coat every lash and leave no clumps behind.
Type of mascara: Volumizing
Best for: Sensitive eyes
Pros:
Gives 10 times more volume
Hypoallergenic
Cons:
Not waterproof
Clinique High Impact Mascara
The Clinique High Impact Mascara is a smudge-proof, long-lasting mascara that volumizes and lengthens lashes simultaneously. The formula is also dermatologist-developed, so it never flakes or irritates the eyes. The mascara also includes a specifically crafted brush that delivers an even coat of the product from root to tip.
“This was my very first ‘grown-up’ mascara that I bought in my early 20s, and I’ve always kept a tube since: It’s a very trustworthy formula and wand, providing very exact and even application every single time, even if you’re a mascara or eye makeup newbie, like I was,” Vaynshteyn shares.
Type of mascara: Volumizing & lengthening
Best for: High color payoff
Pros:
Ophthalmologist-tested
Suitable for daily wear
Cons:
Some shoppers say it’s not long-lasting
Neutrogena Healthy Volume Waterproof Mascara
On the hunt for a waterproof mascara that’s easy on the eyes? End your search here. Neutrogena’s Healthy Volume Waterproof Mascara saves your lashes from being weighed down thanks to its lightweight formula. The mascara has a rich texture that “penetrates and helps plump the core of each lash for full lashes from the inside out,” per the brand. Plus, it never delivers clumps, smudges, or flakes.
Type of mascara: Waterproof
Best for: People who wear glasses and contacts
Pros:
Increases lash health
Ophthalmologist-tested
Easy to remove
Cons:
Thin textured formula
L’Oreal Paris Telescopic Original Washable Mascara
The Telescopic Original Washable Mascara is another L’Oreal pick that’s a viral beauty product, and for good reason. The mascara gives up to 60 percent longer lashes. Shoppers also rave about the applicator brush: It has a dual-sided, flexible, precision design, meaning it separates each lash and conditions them with the right amount of formula with every swipe.
“Another L’Oreal mascara I love. It gives me really long lashes—I’ve even been asked if I recently I had lash extensions done when I was just wearing this stuff!” Vaynshteyn says.
Type of mascara: Lengthening
Best for: Shorter lashes
Pros:
Fragrance-free
Includes a dual-sided applicator
Cons:
Does not add much volume
e.l.f. Big Mood Mega Volume & Lifting Mascara
Thanks to this bold mascara from e.l.f., you can kiss your falsies goodbye. The smooth formula lifts and plumps each lash, giving them a defined, long look. The mascara includes jojoba wax to hold the curl in your lashes. Now, on to the brush—it features an hourglass shape with fluffed bristles to distribute the form through your hair.
Type of mascara: Volumizing
Best for: Thin & sparse lashes
Pros:
100% vegan and cruelty-free
Gives definition
Cons:
Thicker consistency
Maybelline Total Temptation Washable Mascara
Maybelline is another top-rated drugstore pick that you can find at Walmart. Not sure what to try? Opt for the Total Temptation Washable Mascara, which helps you get coveted lashes with the swipe of its application. The formula is made with coconut oil, which soothes and conditions lashes for the mascara. It leaves you with lengthened and full eyelashes every time.
Type of mascara: Volumizing
Best for: Natural volume
Pros:
Washable
Lengthens
Holds lashes in place
Cons:
Can make eyes feel dry
L.A. Colors Mega Plumping Mascara
If your current mascara doesn’t deliver instant volume, the L.A. Colors Mega Plumping Mascara will. It offers precision control thanks to the ergonomic brush. The mascara is highly pigmented and adds fullness as you apply. “I do enjoy this mascara. It builds well, stays on all day, and is easy to remove,” one reviewer shared.
Type of mascara: Lengthening
Best for: Instant fullness
Pros:
Fully covers lashes
Lifts and curls
Cons:
Have to apply multiple coats for results
Hard Candy x Marilyn Monroe Volumizing Mascara
For the beauty lovers who love celebrity-centered merch, this mascara is for you. Hard Candy created a tube reminiscent of all things Marilyn Monroe. It boosts lashes’ volume and gives them a bold and fluffy look. Better yet, the mascara doesn’t clump!
Type of mascara: Volumizing
Best for: Fanned out lashes
Pros:
Preserves curl in lashes
Doesn’t transfer
Cons:
Some shoppers say color does not last all day
NYX Professional Makeup Worth The Hype Mascara
NYX is known for effective products that give designer-like results without the hefty price tag. Get ready to stock up on this $9 mascara because it’s “worth the hype,” according to numerous shoppers. The buildable formula has a waterproof composition that leaves your eyes a fresh, full appearance. The mascara also includes a pointed brush that helps reach tiny hairs and the hard-to-reach corner of your eyes.
Type of mascara: Waterproof
Best for: Volumizing and lengthening
Pros:
Buildable
Highly pigmented
Cons:
Hard to remove
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara
Anastasia Beverly Hills is known for launching products that give you your best brows yet, but the brand is also a lash expert. Give the Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara a chance if your lashes need a little TLC. The mascara instantly adds volume, length, and curl to straight hairs. It includes an hourglass-shaped wand that smoothly adds the mascara evenly.
Type of mascara: Volumizing
Best for: Not weighing down lashes
Pros:
Thickens lashes
Creamy consistency
Cons:
Fades off throughout the day
Milani Highly Rated Anti-Gravity Mascara
Milani’s Highly Rated Anti-Gravity Mascara is a multitasking product that you’ll want to stock up on. The formula is packed with castor oil, which conditions and nourishes hair. The tube contains an intense black liquid that lifts and defines lashes in a few swipes. It also doesn’t smudge and transfer like other options.
Type of mascara: Lifting
Best for: Conditioning lashes
Pros:
Separates lashes
Only need to coats to see results
Cons:
Need to wipe some product off wand before applying
CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion Mascara + Lash Blast Amplify Primer
Snag this duo if you like to prime your lashes before applying mascara. CoverGirl’s mascara and primer work together to strengthen, elongate, and thicken lashes. First, use the primer and let it dry for 30 seconds, then sweep the mascara wand across your lashes—voilà!
Type of mascara: Volumizing and waterproof
Best for: Priming lashes before
Pros:
Oversized brush
Strengthens lashes
Cons:
Two step process
Almay Multi-Benefit Mascara
The Almay Multi-Benefit Mascara is another option if you’re seeking a new mascara. It goes on smooth with every coat, and is flake-free. It’s great for sensitive eyes since it’s ophthalmologist-tested and approved.
Type of mascara: Volumizing
Best for: Sensitive eyes
Pros:
Available in 3 shades
Fragrance Free
Cons:
No unique wand features
Experts in This Article
Amanda Gabbard: Celebrity makeup artist based in New York City with over two decades of working in the beauty and entertainment industries.
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