buuk.top / Jaclyn Mastropasqua
In my experience, a good mascara makes all the difference. On days I don’t feel like spending much time on my face, mascara is the one product I do use—dark, thick lashes seem to elevate even a literal no-make-up look. Another thing I’ve discovered: there are plenty of very, very good mascaras to be found for cheap, and while I might splurge on foundation or lipstick, I’ll admit I’ve never spent more on a tube of mascara than whatever I might find on the aisles of Walmart.
To help you browse the shelves for the best mascara, I compiled some of my favorites along with those of Janice Kinjo, a celebrity makeup artist (you might have seen her work on faces like Mindy Kaling and Kerry Washington). Curling your lashes first and keeping application tips in mind can help you get professional results, even when using a drugstore mascara.
Read on for the best mascaras at Walmart.
LOréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara at Amazon
Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara at Amazon
L’Oréal Bambi Eye Waterproof Mascara at Amazon
Maybelline Sky High Mascara at Amazon
CoverGirl The Super Sizer Mascara at Amazon
Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara at Amazon
wet n wild MegaSlim Waterproof Skinny Mascara at Walmart
Maybelline Push Up Angel Washable Mascara at Amazon
Burt’s Bees Natural Nourishing Mascara at Amazon
NYX Worth The Hype Mascara at Amazon
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Best Overall
LOréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
Amazon
View On Ulta
View On Target
Can reapply the formula throughout the day
Lashes dont clump together when applied
Dries quickly and no flaking
Product gathers on wand and clumps
I’ve bought this mascara again and again and again. And again. The soft-bristled applicator and pigment offer the best of everything, including volume, length, and curl, without ever flaking or clumping together.
Benefits: Volume and length | Size:0.3 fl. oz. |Shades: 4 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: No
buuk.top / Ashley Rebecca
Best Budget
Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara
Target
View On Ulta
View On Target
Tried-and-true formula
Pigmented
Adds length and volume
Can smear
The most affordable mascara also happens to be one of the most iconic. For the best budget, do-everything mascara, the Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara has been a go-to for over 40 years and still costs less than $5.
Benefits:Moisture and thickness |Size: 0.4 fl. oz | Shades: 3 | Waterproof: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Waterproof
L’Oréal Bambi Eye Waterproof Mascara
Ulta
View On Ulta
View On Target
Flexible brush grabs every lash
No flakes
Doesnt transfer
Can clump
For situations when budge-proof mascara is necessary (for me, that means any wedding), this mascara glides on smooth and stays put. The applicator uses a combination of short and long bristles to make it easier to coat every lash, so you’ll get both volume and curl in one stroke.
Benefits: Volume and curl | Size: 0.2 fl. oz. | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Lengthening
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
Amazon
View On Ulta
View On Target
Separates and defines without clumping
Creamy formula
Lengthens lashes
Can flake after a few hours
Have you seen the Tik-Toks? Go watch the Tik-Toks. The name sky-high is hardly a stretch—this is the mascara to have if you’re looking for seriously long lashes. The results might have something to do with the fibers in the formula or the flexible applicator, which has a thin, rubbery appearance that makes it capable of coating every lash.
Benefits: Volume and length | Size: 0.2 fl. oz. | Shades: 3 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: No
buuk.top / Khera Alexander
Best Volumizing
CoverGirl The Super Sizer Mascara
Walmart
View On Walmart
View On Walgreens
Lashes look fluffy and soft
Lengthens lashes
Buildable without flaking
Difficult to remove
The mascara claims up to 400% volume and length, which is a lofty goal for a mascara with such a tiny brush. But the results come from fibers in the mascara, which help to build lashes and give a fuller look. The design of the wand tapers from short to long, so it lengthens even the tiniest of lashes.
Benefits: Volume and length | Size: 0.4 fl. oz. | Shades: 3 | Waterproof:No |Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Nourishing
Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara
Walgreens
View On Target
View On Walmart
Hydrating formula
Keeps lashes soft
Buildable without flaking
Not as dramatic as other options
For a mascara that heals lashes while giving them a boost, this formula from Neutrogena might do the job. Olive oil in the mascara penetrates lashes and hydrates them from the inside out, while sweet almond oil coats the outside of the lash to protect it. Meanwhile, the volumizing formula builds fuller-looking lashes that don’t flake.
Benefits: Volume and moisture | Size: 0.2 fl. oz. | Shades: 5 | Waterproof: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Applicator
wet n wild MegaSlim Waterproof Skinny Mascara
Walmart
Slim brush grabs every lash
Inexpensive
Separates lashes
Can dry out
The type of applicator can make all the difference in how your lashes look, and when it comes to making sure that every lash (top and bottom!) has a good coat of mascara, a skinny wand can help. “The ultra-skinny brush can capture the shortest of bottom and top lashes. It will define hairs you never knew existed,” said Kinjo. Keep this one on hand for whenever you need a full glam look.
Benefits:Length and definition |Size: 0.2 fl. oz. | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Curling
Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Angel Washable Mascara
Amazon
View On Walmart
View On Riteaid.com
Lifts lashes
Cute packaging
Volumizes lashes
Can smear
Unlike most applicators, this mascara has a one-sided wand that looks more like a comb. It not only helps lift lashes for more curl, but the curved, tapered brush creates a cat-eye effect by flaring out your outermost lashes.
Benefits: Volume | Size: 0.3 fl. oz. | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Sensitive Eyes
Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Nourishing Mascara
Walmart
View On Ulta
View On Target
Safe for contact lens wearers
Hydrating formula
Removes easily
Expensive
If mascara gives you itchy eyes or irritates your skin, a nourishing mascara like Burts Bees might help. It’s formulated without potential irritants like synthetic fragrances and has no parabens, phthalates, SLS, or petrolatum. And of course, it’s ophthalmologist-tested and safe for contact lens wearers to use.
Benefits: Length, definition, and moisture | Size:0.4 fl. oz. |Shades: 2 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Length
NYX Worth The Hype Mascara
Amazon
View On Ulta
View On Target
Brush builds volume where you want it
Buildable without flaking
Removes easily
Strong scent
If length is what you’re after, Kinjo recommends this mascara from NYX. “This mascara enhances even the shortest of lashes. The buildable formula helps control the volume. So, for a more enhanced look just apply a few more coats,” said Kinjo. The tapered brush gives you more control, too, so it’s easier to target each lash.
Benefits:Volume and length |Size: 0.2 fl. oz. | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Tubing
LOréal Paris Double Extend Beauty Tubes Lengthening Mascara
Ulta
View On Ulta
View On Target
Hydrating formula
Wont smudge or budge all day
Lengthens lashes
Contains parabens
Tubing mascaras work by coating the entire lash with the product and then washing away cleanly at the end of the day with just some warm water. This mascara takes it a step further by including a primer to use first, which helps build longer lashes by nourishing them with ceramides and panthenol.
Benefits: Length and moisture | Size: 0.3 fl. oz. | Shades: 2 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Clump-Free
COVERGIRL Clump Crusher Waterproof Mascara
Ulta
View On Ulta
View On Target
Doesnt clump
Lifts lashes
Buildable without flaking
Contains parabens
For those who are seriously clump-avoidant, this mascara from COVERGIRL was literally made for you. Both the formula and applicator were specially designed to avoid any clumping whatsoever without compromising on results—it claims to give you 200% more volume than your bare lashes, no clumps guaranteed.
Benefits:Volume |Size: 0.4 fl. oz. | Shades: 4 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
For everyday looks, try L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Washable Mascara, our favorite overall pick. But it’s good to have a variety of mascaras on hand depending on what you need: the Wet n Wild MegaSlim Waterproof Skinny Mascara (view at Walmart), with its ultra-skinny brush, is great to use for lower lashes or those hard-to-reach inner corner lashes. Waterproof mascara is always handy to have in your makeup bag too, and while we have a few favorite waterproof options, LOreal Paris Bambi Eye Waterproof Mascara Lasting Volume (view at Walmart) is a good choice for both volume and curl that won’t sweat, cry, or rub off.
What to Look for When Using Walmart Mascara
Curl lashes first
Kinjo likes Shu Uemura Iconic Eyelash Curler (view at Walmart), as well as the smaller Shiseido Mini Eyelash Curler 215 (view at Stylevana) for those with shorter lashes. Her favorite way to use them is with the “3-squeeze method”: Squeeze once as close to your lash line as you can get, then squeeze once in the middle, and finally once at the tip. “By doing this method, you avoid the 90 degrees angle lash (because you only curled one part of your lashes), and you get a beautiful lasting curl to the lashes,” said Kinjo.
Be gentle when removing mascara
“The best way to remove waterproof mascara is by soaking a cotton pad (not cotton ball because it sheds) with eye makeup remover,” said Kinjo. Apply the cotton pad to lashes for around 30 seconds to break up the mascara, and then gently wipe down and out toward your earlobes. “This helps to reduce tugging on your lashes and helps to wipe away the saturated mascara,” said Kinjo.
We love our lengthening picks on this list for lashes that look long and luscious and come at a low price point. But in general, picking a mascara with a thin, tapered brush can help maximize the look of the length of your lashes. Mascaras that contain fibers can also help visually extend eyelashes.
Walmart does offer a selection of organic or natural mascaras. From this list, Burts Bees Nourishing Mascara is a clean option made from ingredients like jojoba oil, and it shouldnt irritate sensitive eyes.
Our Best Budget pick on this list, Maybelline Great Lash, comes in a clear variety. You can also find clear mascaras from Wet n Wild and e.l.f. cosmetics, two other popular brands.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust buuk.top?
buuk.top contributor Joline Buscemi writes about makeup and skincare for several publications and has a closet full of tried and test products to recommend, including several of those listed here.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any mascaras at Walmart from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@buuk.top.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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