Unlike other makeup categories, the price of a mascara isn’t always reflective of its quality.
In fact, if anything, some of the best mascara formulas you’ll ever find can be sourced from your local Chemist Warehouse or Priceline equivalent.
For less than $20 you can get a mascara that lengthens, lifts, curls, volumises and defines your lashes and boasts lengthy wear time claims too. Plus, there are picks that perform serious tricks; they don’t don’t budge, smudge, flake or irritate sensitive eyes.
With so many positives it seems silly not to invest in at least one drugstore mascara — here are six drugstore mascaras under $20 with top-rated formulas.
2024’s TOP 3 Drugstore Mascaras
- Essence Lash Princess Effect Mascara Black, $7, Priceline
- Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara Washable Black, $13, Amazon Australia
- L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara Extra Black, $16.49, Chemist Warehouse
The best drugstore mascara 2024
Essence Lash Princess Effect Mascara Black
from $7 at Priceline
Potentially one of the Internet’s worst-kept (and most valuable) secrets, this mascara is like a set of false lashes in a $7 tube. The unbelievably affordable pick lengthens, curls and volumises like no other, plus, the formula is free from fragrance, parabens, oil and alcohol.
Key features:
- False lash effect finish
- Lengthens, curls and volumises
- Budget-friendly
- Free from fragrance, parabens, oil and alcohol
Available at:
- $7 from Priceline
- $13.99 from Amazon Australia
- $13.90 from Catch
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara Washable Black
from $13 at Amazon Australia
Beloved by a loyalist community of beauty TikTokers, Maybelline’s Sky High mascara delivers the kind of clump-free definition one can only dream of. As you might have guessed from the name, this pick elongates lashes to sky scraping heights with just a few coats.
Key features:
- Infused with bamboo extract and lightweight fibres
- Flake-free and smudge-proof
- Lengthening and volumising
- Suitable for sensitive eyes
Available at:
- $13 from Amazon Australia
- $21.99 from Chemist Warehouse
- $25.99 from Priceline
L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara Extra Black
from $16.49 at Chemist Warehouse
Wish you could emulate a lash lift at home? Try this mascara. The formula boosts lash length by 5mm and is infused with ceramides, which work to hold lift in the lash for up to 36 hours. It promises to never let your lashes fall, smudge, clump or flake, so your lashes will look just as lengthy and defined throughout the day as when you first applied the mascara.
Key features:
- Patented double hook brush
- Lengthens, lifts and curls
- Holds lash lift for up to 36HRs
- Enriched with ceramides
- Clump-free, smudge-proof and flake-free
Available at:
- $16.49 from Chemist Warehouse
- $24.99 from Oz Hair & Beauty
- $31.99 from Priceline
Covergirl Lashblast Clump Crusher Mascara Very Black
from $16.99 at Catch
If you can’t abide by a clumpy mascara then let us introduce you to this clump-free formula that promises zero clumps but 20 times more volume. The result? Voluminous and full lashes with clean, defined tips that look like they could pass for a pair of demi-wispy falsies.
Key features:
- Clump-free formula
- Volumised and defined finish
- Curved brush with lash loading technology to saturate lashes
Available at:
- $16.99 from Catch
- $18.99 from Chemist Warehouse
- $22 from Big W
ISEHAN Kiss Me Heroine Make Long & Curl Super Waterproof Mascara
from $19.99 at Stylevana
Although you may not have spotted this in your local chemist per se, this mascara is the king of the drugstore category in Japan. It features innovations like volume-separate powder, which thickens and volumises for a fuller lash look, and waterproof super guard polymer, which is tear, sweat, water, and oil-resistant. Plus, it boasts memory polymer technology, which helps to hold a curl all day long, and is why this is such a cult-favourite formula for stubbornly straight lashes.
Key features:
- Infused with camellia oil, wild rose oil, argan oil and royal jelly extract
- Waterproof super guard polymer technology
- Memory polymer technology
- Volume-separate powder
- Best for stubborn, straight lashes
Available at:
- $19.99 from Stylevana
- $26.95 from Amazon Australia
- $28.88 from YesStyle
Max Factor 2000 Calorie Pro Stylist Mascara
from $14.47 at Priceline
The perfect companion to a smokey eye, this mascara boasts volume and curl that lasts up to 24 hours after application, plus, the formula is enriched with styling waxes that help to hold up lifted lashes too.
Key features:
- Infused with panthenol and vitamin E
- Lifts and holds lashes for up to 24 hours
- Enriched with styling waxes
- Lifts lashes up to 25 degrees (from the root)
- Smudge-proof
Available at:
Related article:
- The Drugstore Shampoos That’ll Give You Luscious Locks Without Costing The Earth
- The 7 Best Drugstore Foundations In Australia
- The 5 Best Drugstore Tinted Brow Gels
Main image credit: Getty
What’s your favourite mascara from the chemist?
Very helpful, I don’t like to spend more than $20 on mascara.
That’s is my level too.
Essence Lash Princess Effect Mascara Black look great, love the black and green.
Yes i like coloured mascara
The Covergirl Lashblast Clump Crusher Mascara Very Black, says very black but it is green. Do you put black mascara on and then unclump it with this lashblast?
sounds interesting ?
I buy mascara from the health food store. It has less ingredients that irritate my eyes
I love my Mirennesse tubular mascara, but I’ve found so far.
I like a mascara that thickens my eyelashes
essence is so good but it smudges on me terribly
I hate mascara’s that smudge
Lots of great products here, not surprised to see that Maybelline mascara
No always a good brand
What about the earrings. Aren’t they beautiful.
Love most of these.
Essence is great, but I’m yet to try Lash Princess. I vary my mascaras but I often buy Maybelline.
I’m surprised I haven’t tried any of these before
me too !!
I would give the L’Oreal a try. I’m surprised it’s so affordable.
Essence is always my go-to when I need a new mascara such a great range with amazing formulas.
I use Essence, Covergirl, Maybelline and L’Oreal.
So much choice now
Essence is cheap and looks cute
There are tons of good inexpensive mascaras. It’s not a product I splurge on.
I actually haven’t tried any of these options yet!
I would love to try Max Factor.
Cheap mascara is the way to go for sure!