7 BEST Mascara Options to Shop on National Lash Day | Essence, Lancome, Benefit, & More!

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Get those lashes on point with the best mascara on the market!

woman putting on Lancome mascara

Get luscious lashes on the cheap with our favorite mascaras! 

We couldn’t bat an eye when asked to share our favorite effective and affordable mascara brands. Even better, all of them have been Hip2Save team tested for years so you can’t go wrong!


1. Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara is the most budget-friendly option on our list.

holding mascara

Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
Only $3.49 (regularly $4.99)!

  • Get FREE shipping at ULTA when you spend $35+

Don’t think you can expect much from a $5 formula? Think again! This budget-friendly beauty buy is raved about on forum websites like Reddit and even won over one of our Hip2Save team members. Plus, its high rating and over 4,700 reviews on Ulta.com confirm its ability to provide dramatic volume and sculpted length.

“It’s a drier formula (which I prefer), so it doesn’t get everywhere after you apply it, and you have time to add a few coats before it dries completely. I’m pretty shocked as I’ve tried most drugstore mascaras and usually come away disappointed. But, for like $4-$5, you can’t beat it! Pretty sure it goes BOGO 50% off at ULTA fairly often, too!” -Hip Sidekick, Cass


2. Maybelline Sky High Mascara is a viral mascara that’s my personal favorite.

woman holding makeup in hand with one eye wearing best mascara

Maybelline Sky High Mascara $9.99
Use the 20% off mascara Circle offer
Pay $7.99
Get $2 cash back via Ibotta for Maybelline Mascaras (limit 1)
Final cost $5.99!

The Maybelline Sky High Mascara gives you AMAZING coverage and the smaller bristles keep the lashes from clumping. Better yet, this also allows for easy buildability which any makeup wearer knows is key to great mascara!

The formula is infused with bamboo extract and fibers for long, full lashes that never get weighed down. As of recently, it’s my new favorite mascara and I’m so glad I jumped ship. The Cut mentions it’s also TikTok famous, and it even has an Allure beauty award!

Read my full review of this mascara!

Some of my other Hip sidekicks love this mascara since I raved about it!

hand holding tube of purple maybelline sky high mascara

“I saw this mascara all over TikTok a month or so ago and I just had to try it after all of the rave reviews. I am in awe of how much I love it! I really like the wand, and just a couple of coats makes my lashes look amazing!” – Hip Sidekick, Angela


“I tried this mascara after hearing Sara rave about it and I totally love it too! It adds SO much length to my lashes in just a coat or two, and I’ve had no issues with it flaking off during the day! The wand is so easy to use and I don’t need to use a lash separator after applying it. It’s worth giving this one a shot!” – Hip Sidekick, Erika


3. Urban Decay Perversion Mascara will stimulate lash growth.

3 tubes of urban decay perversion makeup

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
Only $14 (regularly $28)

Another risqué-named mascara, but a beloved pick among our team. Aside from its full-bodied texture to ensure each lash has an ample coating, the formula contains a blend of proteins and amino acids that help stimulate lash growth, so you’ll see more length and volume each time you apply!

“This is my absolute favorite mascara! I adore the Urban Decay Perversion Mascara because it gives me the most amazing coverage and lifts. I can often achieve the results I am looking for with just one coat and it comes off easily with a little makeup remover.” – Hip Sidekick, Angie


4. The Benefit Roller Lash Mascara conditions lashes while applying.

hand holding a benefit roller lash mascara

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara
Only $14.50 (regularly $28)

Give those lashes an instant lift thanks to the curved nature of the Roller Lash brush. Each bristle has a unique hook’-n’-roll design to grab, separate, lift, and curl, with a formula that resists water and lasts 12 hours. Better yet, it contains Provitamin B5 and Serin, known for their lash-conditioning benefits.

“This is one mascara that regularly resides in my makeup drawer! I have short, straight lashes and this mascara never lets me down in the lengthening and separating department. I buy 2 or 3 tubes when they’re 50% off during ULTA’s 21 Days of Beauty sale so that I’m set and stocked for the year.” -Hip Sidekick, Cass


5. Lancome Lash Idole Mascara is Emily’s new favorite “clean” makeup splurge.

woman holding up lancome mascara smiling

Lancome Lash Idole mascara
Only $22.50!

Looking for a cleaner best mascara to buy? Emily recently fell head over heels for this formula which is free of silicones, oils, and parabens. Plus, it’s volumizing, lengthening, and long-wearing so what more could you want in mascara?! If that’s not enough to sell you on this mascara, their clinical results showed that 95% saw an instant lash lift, 94% saw instant volume, and 90% saw clump-free lashes!

“I got the travel size and I think it’s a perfect size and I have been regularly using it for months now! I was influenced by Angela Rose on Instagram who normally does home DIY stuff but she talked about this one day and was mentioning how she was truly obsessed and it wasn’t sponsored and I totally see why. It’s amazing!” – Emily, Hip sidekick


6. MAC MACstack Mascara is a name brand any beauty lover knows and trusts. 

hand holding mac mascara wand with tube in background

MAC MACstack Mascara
Only $19.60 (regularly $28)!

When you hear “MAC”, you know you’re getting a great makeup product from a brand many of us love and trust. If buildability is key for your skinny lashes, then you’ll want to scoop up this endlessly buildable mascara. After 111 women used this product for a week, 95% saw gravity-defying volume, 95% saw instant lash lift and length, and 95% said mascara builds endlessly. The sky’s the limit, ladies!

“My favorite mascara was discontinued and I love this replacement even more! My lashes are naturally long, thick, and more on the straight side so if I don’t have the right mascara, I get yucky spider lashes. This MAC formula separates, lifts, and curls my lashes while still feeling lightweight (even with 2-3 coats!) and the brush is amazing and combs through all of my lashes to keep them separated. Plus, the packaging looks super sleek and fancy in my makeup bag…something I’m sure isn’t that important but for the pretty penny this costs, it sure is show-stopping all around!” -Hip Sidekick, Rachel


7. Clinique High Impact Mascara is a favorite because it doesn’t clump.

hand holding tube of clinique high impact mascara

Clinique High Impact Mascara
Only $18.20 (regularly $23)!

Another name brand to love and trust, this top beauty buy that made our list is perfect for adding volume and definition without clumping. It’s also 100% fragrance-free, paraben-free, and allergy and Ophthalmologist tested so it’s perfect for anyone with sensitive eyes or those who wear contacts.


Don’t miss these hot makeup deals happening now!


About the writer:

Sara is a self-taught blogger and photographer with 8+ years of experience having work featured in various building, travel, and fashion publications, most notably Bassett Furniture and Fossil.


Join The Discussion

Comments 2

  1. Kay

    I tried Essence and Sky High. Did not like either one.

    • Trish (Hip Sidekick)

      Darn! Sorry to hear you didn’t like either of those, Kay! 🤗

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