I've Tested Hundreds of Mascaras—These 9 Are All Under £15 and Genuinely Amazing

Looking for an affordable mascara? These formulas are the best on the high street.

Collage graphic of affordable mascaras
(Image credit: Beauty Pie,Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK, L'Oreal)

I love treating myself to a bit of luxury makeup or a designer fragrance, but one thing you won't find me splurging on is mascara. Don't get me wrong, I've tried plenty of expensive mascaras that make my lashes look great, but in my opinion, more affordable high street options do just as good a job (if not better). I have pretty straight, short eyelashes, so I need all the help I can get with volumising mascaras and lengthening mascara formulas. However, I know that I can rely on my trusty under-£15 mascaras to deliver serious length and volume.

I love these mascaras so much that I thought it was only right that I shared my favourite affordable picks with you. Whether you're looking for a natural, fluttery effect or you want a mascara that can give your false eyelashes a run for their money, I've included something for everyone. After trying out these high-street mascara formulas myself, from tubing mascaras to waterproof formulas, I've listed all of their pros and cons so you can make an informed decision on which mascara to go for.

Junior beauty editor Grace Lindsay testing the best affordable mascaras

(Image credit: @gracelindsay__ forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK)

Junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay, has been busy testing some of the best affordable mascaras on the market.

If you have short or curled lashes, look out for mascaras that have a plastic brush. These seem to work best for lengthening and gripping shorter lashes without leaving an imprint on your lid. Fibrous bristle brushes are great for loading volume onto your lashes. So, if you're happy with the length but want them to look fluttery and full, this kind of brush is your best option.

Below are my picks of the best high-street mascaras across the board, including mascaras from L'Oréal Paris and Maybelline, so keep on scrolling for your best lashes yet...

The Best Affordable Mascaras 2025

  1. Best for no smudging: Beauty Pie Wrap Star Tubing Mascara (£10)
  2. Best for volume: L'Oréal Paris Volume Million Lashes Panorama Mascara (£13)
  3. Best false lash effect: Maybelline Lash Sensational Firework Mascara (£13)
  4. Best for volume and length: Max Factor Masterpiece 2-in-1 Lash Wow Mascara (£13)
  5. Best for hold: Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara Waterproof (£13)
  6. Best for lifting the lashes: L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara (£13)
  7. Best for lash definition: Rimmel Volume Thrill Seeker Mascara (£11)
  8. Best for lift and length: Nyx Professional Makeup On the Rise Liftscara (£12)
  9. Best for curling: Maybelline Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara (£11)

9 of the Best Affordable Mascaras You Can Buy

1. Beauty Pie Wrap Star Tubing Mascara

2. L'Oréal Paris Volume Million Lashes Panorama Mascara

3. Maybelline Lash Sensational Firework Mascara

4. Max Factor Masterpiece 2-in-1 Lash Wow Mascara

5. Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara Waterproof

6. L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara

7. Rimmel Volume Thrill Seeker Mascara

8. Nyx Professional Makeup On the Rise Liftscara

9. Maybelline Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara

Why Trust Us?

AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.

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

Explore More:
Grace Lindsay
Junior Beauty Editor

Grace Lindsay is the junior beauty editor atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK. At the age of 18 she decided to train as a makeup artist before going on to study english and media at Goldsmiths University. It was during that time that she explored her love for journalism by interning at a small beauty start-up based in Shoreditch. Since then, she has worked at a number of publications including Marie Claire and Hello!, where her love for all things beauty continued to grow.

AsBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK's junior beauty editor, she covers everything from Wholesale Replica Bag hair trends to the stand-out makeup products of the season.

With contributions from