I could not live without my mascara, how about you? It is a critical item in my beauty regimen and once my mascara is on, I look alive and kinda flirty. And now I am going to let you in on a little beauty insider secret . . . mascara does not need to cost a lot of money to give your lashes lift, length, volume and overall va-va-voom.  In fact, some of my favorite mascaras can be found at your local drugstore and cost well under ten bucks, and some even under five. And one more important piece of advice, I ALWAYS recommend getting the darkest shade of black mascara if you really want your eyes to pop. Following are some of my current favorite affordable mascaras for you to test out without breaking the bank.



1.    CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara in Very Black

This is my current favorite budget friendly mascara (a lot of the pros are loving this too) because it has an insanely awesome volumizing brush that effortlessly plumps up your lashes and makes them look full and flirty, just the way I like them. Lash Blast's volume-boosting formula and patent-pending brush are designed to max out each and every lash leaving you with the ultimate big lash look. And CoverGirl just came out with an enhanced version of this great mascara called LashBlast Fusion which gives you both volume and length in one step. I can’t wait to try this one (it will probably become my new fav).

2.    Hard Candy Ginormous Lash in Blackout

I remember when Hard Candy came out in the nineties and the bright fun colored nail polishes were all the rage. Well recently this brand, which had all but disappeared, has reinvented itself and come out with an affordable, hip and trendy, fun make-up line that is available exclusively at Wal-Mart. The packaging is fabulous and the products are inspired and playful—this line definitely standouts out as a very different brand compared to its mass make-up competitors. Ginormous Lash is one of the first products I have tried since the re-launch and it is fab! It has a nice fat and large brush with slightly tapered edges and it really plumps my lashes giving them the perfect amount of fullness and volume.

3.    Maybelline Great Lash in Very Black

This is the #1 selling mascara of all time; it’s a true classic at an affordable price that continues to deliver year after year. I am sure you will recognize the iconic pink and green tube. I like this cult fav mascara because it has a wet formula, that goes on smoothly without clumping and it gives my lashes a nice full and separated look. And it has a great buildable formula too, so you can create a subtle or a more dramatic look with the same formula.

4.    Wet ‘n Wild Mega Length Mascara

In my mind, Wet ‘n Wild has always been an uber cheap drugstore brand that I occasionally buy, but have never been overly excited about until now. I am really impressed with Wet ‘n Wild’s new MegaLength Mascara because it has a great formula that instantly and noticeably lengthens and defines my lashes in one coat. I really like the thin light brush that helps you easily lift and separate your lashes with no clumping. If you want long, individually separated lashes you should definitely check this product out. You can find it in your local drugstore for about three bucks—this is the best bargain on this list! 

5.    Rimmel Max Volume Flash Mascara in Extreme Black

I am a Rimmel newbie and I am digging this va-va-voom mascara that gives me a big, bold, dramatic false eyelash look. I really like the supersized brush and the collagen and keratin enhanced formula that supposedly helps strengthen your lashes. This is another mascara that makes my lashes look full and flirty, just the way I like them.