This might be a weird way to start this article, but even as a beauty editor, I don’t consider myself a mascara connoisseur. In fact, I don’t spend more than a few minutes putting on mascara, and I don’t layer on too many coats. It’s appalling, I know. Honestly, I prefer mascara that gets the job done quickly and doesn’t leave me feeling like I need to apply a thousand coats or use the best lash curler money can buy to achieve the look I’m going for. One drugstore-priced brand, in particular, aligns with my mascara values. Most of its formulas cost only $5 but create a gorgeous, natural length and lift on the lashes. Enough said, right? Well, if you’re not convinced, let me first tell you that I’m talking about Essence Cosmetics—the hero drugstore brand that delivers quality at a low price. You may even remember when the brand’s Lash Princess mascaras went viral for this exact reason.
While Essence now offers more mascara options beyond its Lash Princess formulas, I thought I would test a few more out and narrow down my favorites. After all, I know I can’t be the only one who likes spending only $5 on mascara while still ensuring I’m buying the best formula. Keep scrolling if you’re a kindred spirit and vibe with this sentiment. I’m sharing my thoughts on all of Essence’s best mascaras below.
My Rating: 5/5. I don’t normally love white lash primers, but this one is the exception. It has always been difficult for me to find one that doesn’t clump or show through my regular mascara, but this one is fantastic. For the price, it delivers. First, I love that it’s infused with acai oil and mango butter to condition lashes and encourage growth. It goes on really smoothly, doesn’t clump, and creates a nice base for your mascara. I like to let it dry for 30 seconds or more before applying my mascara to give it time to become a bit tacky—the mascara then clings better.
My Rating: 4/5. I feel like photos never quite do any mascara justice, but I attempted to take a few anyway. This mascara makes a great everyday mascara because it’s not thick, clumpy, or over the top. I will say, however, if you like dramatic amounts of curl and length, this may not be your formula. It gives the lashes just enough oomph for the day but isn’t anything outstanding. You could potentially build it up with a few coats, but I’m not someone who likes to spend 40 minutes putting on three coats of mascara and building it up. If I do attempt to do so, the mascara tends to start clumping and smudging a lot more later.
My Rating: 5/5. This will always be my favorite Essence Cosmetics formula, hands down. It was the first one I tried from the brand (thanks to a late-night browse on Amazon), and I’ve never looked back. I couldn’t believe the length and curl it offered for just $5. Although I’m now a beauty editor with many favorite formulas, I always come back to this one, and it’ll be hard to knock it out of my top three.
My Rating: 4/5. As someone who constantly deals with panda eyes (I must have an oily eye area), I was excited to give this mascara a try. The tubing formula is designed not to smudge or clump, and it does what it claims. I wore it for eight hours, and it didn’t smudge or flake. In terms of volume and length, this offered more of a light lift to the lashes. It would make a great everyday formula. Once again, though, I wouldn’t go for this one if you like mascara to give a false lash effect.
My Rating: 4.5/5. Another Volume was one of my favorite mascaras that I tried of the bunch. Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for the lash care ingredients (hyaluronic acid, peptides, and panthenol), but this is another formula I’d wear every day because it adds just the right amount of volume and length that I like for a natural makeup look. The peptides and hyaluronic acid in the formula also encourage longer lash growth over time by conditioning and nourishing each one. I already use a lash serum, but it can’t hurt to add lash care to your mascara, too!
Lash Clash delivers serious volume and length. Whenever I wear it, I’ve been asked if I’m wearing false lashes—that’s saying something!
The unique wand on this mascara has a way of giving me doll eyes. That’s honestly the only way I can describe the curl, length, and volume it offers. It’s not extreme, but it lifts your lashes in a way that just opens up your eyes and really makes them pop. It also never clumps for me.
I didn’t love Roller Lash the first time I tried it, but the more I used it, the more I loved the unique shape of the wand and how much natural curl it offered my lashes.
I’m just going to say it, I don’t usually find that I lovetubing mascaras, but this formula is tubing and incredible. If extra length is your jam when it comes to mascara, you’ll definitely want to give this one a try. It also never clumps or smudges when I wear it—a huge plus!
