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Manhattan | Style > Beauty

Never Fully Dressed Without Mascara: Top 5 Most Affordable Mascaras

Fiona Dunkel Student Contributor, Manhattan College
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Manhattan chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

I have always had very long eyelashes, BUT, because of my Irish lineage they are very light, a compliment of my blonde hair. When I started wearing mascara, I noticed that my lashes became more visible and elongated, and ever since then I was hooked. It was my favorite part of my makeup routine! However, as I got older I wanted to branch out and try different brands, but many of them were extremely expensive. So without further adieu, here are my top 5 favorite mascaras that will not break the bank!

  1. L’Oreal Paradise Big Deal  $15.99

Although this mascara is on the more expensive side, it is my most recent favorite! It offers both advances in volume and length and is still great for layering. In my own experience, this mascara does not clump, and is also great for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers like myself. My favorite aspect is that not only does this mascara make my lashes look longer, it also separates them, giving a fake lash effect. I am constantly getting compliments when I wear this mascara, it certainly lives up to its name!

  1. L’Oreal Telescopic: Carbon Black $11.99

This mascara is another great option from L’Oreal. One of its most well known contributions is its ability to lengthen your lashes up to 60% longer than their natural state! It is one of my favorites as a finishing layer to add some length and separation. My favorite feature of this mascara is its long and skinny applicator that allows for specified concentration on certain areas that need a bit more help. This specific shade, Carbon Black, is my personal choice because it adds a more intense black pigment, giving the lashes more of a pop!

  1. Essence: i love extreme volume  $4.99

This brand is notoriously inexpensive and one of the best on the market for being so cheap! I use this mascara everyday as my go-to volumizer. It has a thick applicator brush that allows for a magnificent amount of volume in one stroke. Not only is this mascara amazing for thickness, it is also paraben and cruelty free, vegan and fragrance free.

  1. Maybelline Sky High $12.99

This is one of the most popular mascaras on the market! It offers both volume and length, and is long lasting yet also easily removable. I have used it a handful of times and it is one of my favorites when I need a quick swipe that offers everything I need. It is great for layering because the wand is a perfect combination of thickness and length, making it very versatile. This mascara will guarantee sky high lashes for sure!

  1. Maybelline Great Lash $7.99

I think this was everybody’s first mascara. Not only is it cheap, extremely effective, and always a safe bet in getting the job done. It gives both length and volume and the brush allows you to penetrate harder to reach areas such as the inner and outer corners. This specific Maybelline mascara has a couple different brush options, so you can pick which one is best for you to meet your needs. This is the perfect mascara for beginners and avid users alike!

Fiona Dunkel

Manhattan '26

Hi, I'm Fiona! I am a Psychology major and a hopeful future Psychiatrist. I am an undergrad at Manhattan College from Albany, NY. I live with my parents, a little sister named Charlotte, and a dog named Cassie. I am an avid crime show watcher and romance reader. I LOVE coffee and going to little cafes around the city to try out different drinks.
I used to play very competitive soccer but stopped due to injury and now my hobbies include spending money on very expensive skincare products and buying overpriced iced lattes. I hope to study abroad within the next two years to be able to broaden my view of the world and learn more about different cultures! My dream is to go to Spain and watch a professional soccer game.
My passion for writing started when I was in 3rd grade. I was constantly reading books of all genres and lengths and I wondered if I could write my own. I wrote little songs and mystery "novels," short stories, and poems whenever I could. In the sixth grade, I was recognized for my efforts and one of my poems was to be in a gallery at a nearby college. It jumpstarted my love for writing and ever since then I have constantly written down my thoughts, as well as written and published a book for my English class which was very exciting! I love writing about just about anything, especially when it comes to female empowerment and things I am interested in!