This $10 Mascara Is One of the Best I've Tried, and Celebs Love It Too

As a beauty editor, I am often asked about the areas in which we should save (and splurge) when it comes to our beauty routines. Personally, I think spending a little more on a great moisturizer or serum with efficacious active ingredients, if your finances allow for it, of course, is a wise beauty choice. However, when it comes to makeup, the areas in which you can save a few pennies and still get high-end results are much greater. The most obvious? Mascara. 

If you ask me, some of the greatest mascara formulas out there are from affordable brands. When it comes to mascara, not only do you not need to spend big to get results, but so many of the expensive formulas leave you questioning what you’re paying for. In fact, I have tried many $37-plus mascaras that do little for my lashes at all and leave me with panda eyes at the end of the day. My absolute go-to that guarantees long-lasting, lengthened, voluminous lashes every single time? L’Oréal Paris Paradise Volumizing Mascara ($10).

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(Image credit: @BEYONCE)

When I first heard about the wonders of this mascara a few years ago, it wasn’t available in the UK. Over in the U.S., however, it had firmly established itself as a cult best seller. With celebrity makeup artists like Sir John (he’s Beyoncé’s go-to) and Kristofer Buckle (the man behind Blake Lively’s flawless makeup) being big fans of the formula, Paradise Mascara has been cited as one of Hollywood’s favourite makeup products for years.

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(Image credit: @KRISTOFERBUCKLE)

So when it launched in the UK nearly three years ago, it’s needless to say that people flocked to the aisles of Boots to stock up—including me. And unlike what happens with so many UK makeup launches, the fuss around Paradise never did really die down. Three years on, and it is still a permanent feature in my makeup routine. With just one coat, lashes appear dramatically fuller and longer but maintain a weightless feel that is both comfortable and mess-free. Not only that, but after many hours of wear—even with my oil-prone lids—it failed to smudge. Even my friends have noted that this isn’t necessarily the case for them, so they opt for the waterproof formula instead, which seems to do the trick.

If I could only keep hold of one mascara in my rather shamefully large collection, I wouldn’t even hesitate in deciding on this one. Compared to other far more expensive options, I can categorically say that L’Oréal Paris Paradise Volumising Mascara is just about one of the most volumizing and lengthening that money can buy. Don’t believe me? Just ask Beyoncé.

Shop Other Affordable Mascaras

This post originally appeared onBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK. Next, this is the best-selling serum in French pharmacies

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Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing ’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, includingBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous. Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics. While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best. When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.