This Underhyped Makeup Brand Makes the Best $5 Mascaras—I Swear By These 4

A beauty editor wears Essence Cosmetics mascara

(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)

This might be a weird way to start this article, but even as a beauty editor, I don't consider myself a mascara connoisseur. In fact, I don't spend more than a few minutes putting on mascara, and I don't layer on too many coats. It's appalling, I know. Honestly, I prefer mascara that gets the job done quickly and doesn't leave me feeling like I need to apply a thousand coats or use the best lash curler money can buy to achieve the look I'm going for. One drugstore-priced brand, in particular, aligns with my mascara values. Most of its formulas cost only $5 but create a gorgeous, natural length and lift on the lashes. Enough said, right? Well, if you're not convinced, let me first tell you that I'm talking about Essence Cosmetics—the hero drugstore brand that delivers quality at a low price. You may even remember when the brand's Lash Princess mascaras went viral for this exact reason.

While Essence now offers more mascara options beyond its Lash Princess formulas, I thought I would test a few more out and narrow down my favorites. After all, I know I can't be the only one who likes spending only $5 on mascara while still ensuring I'm buying the best formula. Keep scrolling if you're a kindred spirit and vibe with this sentiment. I'm sharing my thoughts on all of Essence's best mascaras below.

The Best Essence Mascaras

The best Essence mascaras

(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)

Volume Booster Lash Primer

Lash Like a Boss Instant Volume Length Mascara

A beauty editor wearing Lash Like a Boss Mascara

(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)

Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

A beauty editor wears lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)

Bye Bye Panda Eyes! Tubing Mascara

A beauty editor wears Bye Bye Panda Eyes Mascara

(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)

Another Volume Mascara, Just Better

A beauty editor wears Another Volume Mascara, Just Better

(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)

More Mascaras I Love

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Explore More:
Associate Beauty Editor

Shawna Hudson is a beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and travel writer with over 10 years of experience. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in journalism and has written for other publications such as Bustle, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Elite Daily, and more. She is currently a beauty writer atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing and hopes to continue feeding her (completely out-of-control) beauty obsession as long as she can. Stay up to date on her latest finds on Instagram @shawnasimonee.