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When it comes to mascara, Emily Amick, a celebrity makeup artist in New York City, is a drugstore girl through and through. “I’m not a big luxury mascara person,” she says. And while she’s tried many high-end mascaras, none of them are better than her trusty drugstore staples.
Experts in This Article
Brooklyn-based makeup artist
“The formulas are all pretty much the same,” says Amick. “You can find a mascara that’s just good at a drugstore as you can get from Dior or wherever. I’m not a big believer in any major claims a mascara makes—like it’s gotta do what it does. I have a lot of higher-end ones, but it’s because they’re sent to me in PR packages. If I run out and I’m spending money on mascara, I’m going to the drugstore.”
The biggest difference comes down to your desired effect—do you want length or volume? Waterproof or regular? All the options you need can be found at your local drugstore and you won’t spend a dime over $15.
“I am perfectly happy with a drugstore mascara,” says Amick. “I use them on myself often and I use them on clients all the time and I never have any complaints.”
Shop her four favorite drugstore mascaras below.
A celebrity MUA’s 4 favorite drugstore mascaras
L'Oréal Lash Paradise — $13.00
“I’m a huge fan of the L’Oréal Lash Paradise,” says Amick. “If I’m running low on mascara, I will run to a drugstore and grab that and I know I’ll be set like for any client. It really is just as good as anything I found.” It’s designed to provide both volume and length and comes in four colors—black, black brown, blackest black, and mystic black.
Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express — $10.00
“I’ve been using this mascara lately—and I hadn’t used it literally since high school, but Maybelline sent me it in a package and I’m impressed with it,” says Amick. “I stopped buying it when I was a teenager and then I was like ‘hmm, I’m just gonna use this.’ And I think it’s great. It has more of a wet formula, so if you want to take your time and build it to get the definition, it’s a little bit better than the dryer, volumizing formulas.” It comes in classic black and glam black.
L'Oréal Voluminous Original — $11.00
“I trust just about anything L’Oréal does when it comes to mascara. They’re really just as good [as luxury products],” says Amick. And this OG mascara from the brand is one of her go-to’s. It separates and builds every lash without bumping to provide great volume and it’s made with vitamin B5 and ceramides to protect and condition your lashes. Plus, it’s available in seven shades—blackest black, black, black brown, cobalt blue, deep burgundy, deep violet, and deep green.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara — $13.00
“I really like the Maybelline Sky High mascara,” says Amick. ” It’s more of a comb-through mascara meaning it’s really good for defining and lengthening. I’m really impressed with that one.” It’s formulated to create long, feather-light-looking lashes and comes in four shades—blackest black, cosmic black, true brown, and very black.
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