Which budget mascara is best? We put 5 new launches to the test
Each of these black mascaras costs no more than £14.
When it comes to mascara, some beauty buffs believe only premium products will do, while others argue that bargain buys are just as good.
So who’s right? In a bid to find out, we put five new black mascaras through their paces – priced from £3.29 to £14 – to see how they stack up in the lash-enhancing stakes.
Here’s what our testers had to say when they painted their peepers with these budget mascaras…
Hannah Stephenson tried: Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara, £3.29, Feelunique
“This waterproof mascara, which aims to give a false lash effect is so thick and volumising that it has a tendency to clump on application, so you’ll need to be quick or use a lash comb to help separate the hairs to give a cleaner, sharper look.
“The no-frills straight brush makes it easy to apply and I found that one coat was enough for everyday wear, but a second coat gave me a more luscious, longer false lash look.
“It’s long-lasting, giving my lashes all-day fullness, and didn’t run in the rain – although touch your eyes at your peril as it will smudge! I’d buy it again – at less than £4 it’s a real steal.”
Score: 4 out of 5
Claire Spreadbury tried: B. Waterproof Mascara, £9.99, Superdrug
“The wand of the B. Waterproof Mascara is rippled, which is supposed to help with lifting the lashes, but it makes applying the mascara a little time consuming.
“I had to triple dip it back into mascara in order to get enough coverage, which did mean it was a little on the clumpy side by the time I’d finished.
“The formula is meant to last all day, and to be fair, it did. I applied it at about 7.30am, and at 5.30pm – a little zhoozhing before a night out – and it was still going strong later.
“I did apply a little more, but it had lasted well, especially considering I’d walked for a good half an hour in wet and windy weather and droplets of water most definitely fell out of at least one eye. I’m impressed.”
Score: 4 out of 5
Kerri-Ann Roper tried: SportFX Game Changing Mascara, £9.99
“If you’re not a fan of a thick mascara then this one isn’t for you – but I loved the consistency of this product, as well as the fact that it comes with a remover solution and brush at the other end of the tube.
“The application brush is easy to use and if you like defined lashes that don’t clump together, this works a treat – it adds lots of length and volume.
“The fact that it’s waterproof is an added bonus. It doesn’t end up half way down your cheeks, even hours after application.
“The removal brush is useful, too, and works really well so you don’t end up with panda eyes the next morning. It’s also really reasonably priced for the quality of the product.”
Score: 5 out of 5
Laura Harding tried: Max Factor Lash Revival Mascara, £12.99, Superdrug
“The curved wand of the mascara helped give my lashes a bit of a curl but also thickened and lengthened on application, without clumping.
“It immediately made my eyes look more wide-awake and as someone prone to panda eyes, I appreciated the fact the mascara stayed put for a whole day, plus it’s a satisfyingly dark black but not too heavy for blondes or redheads.
“It might not be the cheapest mascara out there but it is certainly more luxurious than some other budget options and offers great value for money.”
Score: 4 out of 5
Georgia Humphreys tried: Florence by Mills Built to Lash Mascara, £14, Boots
“The stylish, purple packaging and chunky brush made me really excited to try out this product from the new beauty line by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, but I was left feeling a bit disappointed by the length of lashes I could achieve.
“On the plus side, I was really pleased with the colour – courtesy of the super-black mineral pigments in the formula – and felt it stayed put throughout the day, with minimal smudges. Plus, when I built up the mascara with three coats at once, I was much more impressed with the volume.
“Ultimately, because my natural lashes are (frustratingly) very straight, I’ve realised that using a comb-style applicator works better for me, as I find it much easier to reach into the corners of the eyes and define each lash.”
Score: 3 out of 5
The verdict
The mascaras varied a lot and there wasn’t a clear correlation between price and quality, with the cheapest (Essence Lash Princess) performing better than the most expensive (Florence by Mills Built to Lash).
In fact, it’s the mid-range £9.99 SportFX Game Changing Mascara that gets our vote for best buy, proving that you don’t need to spend more than a tenner to get a lash-lengthening, long-lasting mascara.
