Finding the right mascara can completely change your lashes — and with dozens of formulas, brushes, and claims flooding Amazon, choosing the right one takes real digging. We’ve done that digging for you.
After comparing formulas, brush designs, wear time, smudge resistance, and real buyer feedback, we’ve narrowed it down to the 10 best mascaras for drugstore mascaras for volume you can buy in 2026 — from budget drugstore staples to premium favorites.
Key Takeaways
- Best overall: Maybelline Volum' Express The Colossal Waterproof Mascara, Glam Black, 0.31 Fl Oz, 1 Count — the strongest all-round balance of length, volume, and wear.
- Best value: drugstore picks deliver 90% of the performance at a fraction of premium prices.
- Waterproof vs regular: waterproof holds curl and resists humidity but needs oil-based remover; regular is easier to remove for everyday wear.
- Look for brush shape, formula type (tubing vs waterproof vs volumizing), and smudge resistance.
- Every pick below links to Amazon with our View on Amazon button for the latest price.
Our Top Best Mascaras For Drugstore Mascaras for Volume Picks
Maybelline Colossal Waterproof
✓ Mega Brush loads maximum volume in one swipe
✓ Collagen-infused formula plumps each lash
✓ Waterproof, clump-free finish
L'Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara
✓ Soft wavy brush with 200+ bristles for a full fringe
✓ Flower-oil infused formula keeps lashes soft
✓ Voluptuous volume + length in one coat
CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Waterproof
✓ Patented volume-boosting formula for 10x volume
✓ Patent-pending brush maxes out each lash
✓ Hypoallergenic, suitable for contact lens wearers
essence Lash Princess Mascara
✓ Conical fiber brush for volume and length
✓ False-lash effect at a drugstore price
✓ Ophthalmologist tested
NYX Worth The Hype Mascara
✓ Tapered brush tip reaches baby lashes at inner corners
✓ Buildable volumizing + lengthening formula
✓ Cruelty-free, jojoba-oil infused
e.l.f. Lash It Loud Mascara
✓ Flexible silicone brush grips lashes root to tip
✓ Vertical + horizontal bristles amplify and define
✓ Intensely rich pigments for bolder lashes
L'Oréal Air Volume Mega Waterproof
✓ Air-whipped formula for up to 10x volume that feels light as air
✓ Double-bristle cushiony brush — short + long bristles
✓ Up to 24-hour smudge and flake resistant wear
Revlon So Fierce Big Bad Lash
✓ Lash tint technology gradually darkens bare lashes in 7 days
✓ Double-sided brush — curvy Big Side + flat Bad Side
✓ Up to 24-hour no-clump, smudge-proof, flake-free wear
Milani Highly Rated Anti-Gravity
✓ Molded hourglass brush coats every lash
✓ Castor oil + shea butter nourish while you wear
✓ Anti-gravity formula lifts and holds volume
wet n wild Mega Volume Mascara
✓ Full spiral fiber brush maximizes volume effect
✓ Vitamin E to soften, moisturize and protect lashes
✓ Waterproof, smudge-resistant, cruelty-free and vegan
More Details on Our Top Picks
1. Maybelline Colossal Waterproof
Colossal is the volume mascara that built the category. The Mega Brush is big and dense, so it grabs a lot of lashes at once and lays down a thick, even coat. If you want a one-and-done mascara for everyday bold lashes, this is the tube that started it all.
The collagen-infused formula helps lashes feel plump rather than dry, and the waterproof version holds up through sweat and humidity without flaking. It is also one of the most affordable options here, so repurchasing every few months does not hurt.
The big brush is the tradeoff — great for upper lashes, less precise for lower lashes or small eyes. It can also clump if you stack coat after coat without combing through. Used with one or two coats, though, it delivers the classic thick-lash look that made it a staple.
✅ Pros
- Instant bold volume in one coat
- Budget-friendly price
- Reliable waterproof wear
- Plumping formula that does not feel dry
❌ Cons
- Large brush lacks precision on lower lashes
- Can clump if you stack too many coats
- Formula: Waterproof, volumizing, collagen-infused
- Brush Type: Mega Brush – large dense bristle
- Pack Size: 1-pack
- Price Tier: Budget
- Waterproof: Yes – waterproof
- Volume/Length: High volume, medium length
2. L'Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara
Lash Paradise is the volumizer for people who hate crunchy lashes. Its soft, wavy brush holds a lot of formula and deposits it evenly, so one or two coats give a dense, full fringe without the spidery look that some volumizers leave behind.
The flower-oil infusion is not just marketing — lashes stay flexible and soft to the touch even after the formula sets. The blackest-black pigment also helps sparse areas look denser, because darker lashes read as fuller from a distance.
The brush is on the larger side, so it takes a little care on lower lashes and inner corners. If you want maximum volume with a soft, touchable finish for everyday wear, Paradise is hard to beat at this price.
✅ Pros
- Dramatic, soft volume
- Wavy brush catches every lash
- Lashes stay supple, not crunchy
- Smooth glide formula, easy to layer
❌ Cons
- Large brush can smudge on small eyes
- Washable formula will not hold up in heavy rain
- Formula: Volumizing, flower-oil infused, washable
- Brush Type: Soft wavy bristle brush, 200+ bristles
- Pack Size: 1-pack
- Price Tier: Budget
- Waterproof: No – washable
- Volume/Length: High volume, medium-high length
3. CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Waterproof
Lash Blast Volume lives up to its name. The brush is designed to push lashes outward and upward while the formula builds noticeable thickness in a single pass. The result is a wide-eyed, high-impact look that reads as full from across the room.
The waterproof formula is genuinely durable — it resists smudging and flaking through a long day, and it is hypoallergenic and contact-lens friendly, which makes it a safe bet for sensitive eyes.
It leans more toward volume than separation, so if you prefer a feathered, separated look you may need to comb through after applying. The large tube also gives you more product than most drugstore mascaras, which makes the value even better.
✅ Pros
- Bold instant volume
- Large 0.44 oz tube – great value
- Hypoallergenic and contact-safe
- Strong waterproof hold
❌ Cons
- Less separation than length formulas
- Brush can be bulky for small eyes
- Formula: Waterproof, volume-boosting
- Brush Type: Patent-pending volume brush, bristle
- Pack Size: 1-pack
- Price Tier: Budget
- Waterproof: Yes – waterproof
- Volume/Length: High volume, medium length
4. essence Lash Princess Mascara
Lash Princess is the proof that you do not need to spend a lot to get a dramatic lash look. The conical fiber brush is tapered, so the narrow tip reaches short inner-corner lashes while the wider base packs volume onto the outer lashes. Two coats give a genuinely false-lash effect that is hard to believe at this price.
For thin or sparse lashes, the volume payoff is the headline — it fills in gaps and makes the lash line look denser. The formula is wet on first application, so let it set for a few seconds between coats to avoid smudging.
It can flake a little if you keep layering past three coats, and the standard version is not waterproof. At under $5, though, it is the best budget volumizer for anyone who wants drama without spending much.
✅ Pros
- Unbeatable value — under $5 for full-size performance
- Conical brush builds volume and length fast
- False-lash effect that rivals mascaras 5x the price
- Huge fan base with consistently strong reviews
❌ Cons
- Can flake if you apply too many coats
- Wet formula needs a moment to dry
- Not waterproof in this version
- Formula: Volumizing, washable
- Brush Type: Conical fiber brush
- Pack Size: 1-pack
- Price Tier: Budget
- Waterproof: No – washable (waterproof version sold separately)
- Volume/Length: High volume, high length, false-lash effect
5. NYX Worth The Hype Mascara
Worth The Hype earns its name with a brush that does the hard work. The tapered tip narrows to reach the tiny baby lashes at the inner corners and on the lower lash line, while the wider base builds volume across the main lash line. That shape makes it one of the easiest volumizers to apply cleanly.
The formula is buildable and comfortable to wear — one coat gives a natural, fuller look for everyday, and a second or third coat adds length and thickness without going clumpy. Jojoba oil keeps lashes feeling soft rather than brittle.
It will not give you the single-coat drama of a mega-brush volumizer, and on very oily lids it can transfer a little by late afternoon. For a versatile, easy-to-control volume mascara that works on every lash, it is a strong drugstore pick.
✅ Pros
- Tapered brush coats even the smallest lashes
- Buildable — natural by day, fuller by night
- Feels lightweight, not stiff
- Cruelty-free and widely available
❌ Cons
- Buildable but not the most dramatic single-coat volume
- Can transfer on very oily lids without primer
- Formula: Volumizing + Lengthening, washable
- Brush Type: Tapered spoolie brush
- Pack Size: 1-pack
- Price Tier: Budget
- Waterproof: No – washable (waterproof version sold separately)
- Volume/Length: Medium-high volume, medium-high length
6. e.l.f. Lash It Loud Mascara
Lash It Loud does exactly what the name promises — it turns up the volume fast. The flexible silicone brush grips lashes from root to tip, and its mix of vertical and horizontal bristles both amplifies and defines, so you get thickness without losing separation.
The pigment is intensely rich, which matters for volume: darker lashes read as thicker, so even sparse lashes look fuller. One coat gives a bold everyday look, and a second coat pushes it into evening territory.
The silicone brush feels different from a traditional fiber brush, so give it one or two uses to get the wiggle-and-sweep motion down. Over-layering can make it feel thick, but used as intended it is one of the best volume-per-dollar mascaras at the drugstore.
✅ Pros
- Instant mega volume for around $6
- Silicone brush separates while it volumizes
- Rich black pigment makes lashes look denser
- Vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free
❌ Cons
- Silicone brush takes a coat to learn
- Can get thick if you over-layer
- Formula: Volumizing, washable
- Brush Type: Flexible silicone brush with vertical + horizontal bristles
- Pack Size: 1-pack
- Price Tier: Budget
- Waterproof: No – washable
- Volume/Length: High volume, medium length
7. L'Oréal Air Volume Mega Waterproof
Air Volume is the volumizer for people who hate heavy mascaras. The air-whipped formula is literally lighter — it puffs up around each lash to create mega volume without weighing lashes down, so your curl holds instead of drooping by afternoon.
The double-bristle brush is the other half of the trick: short bristles catch and load lashes deep at the roots, while long bristles dispense the intense black formula evenly to the tips. The result is thick, full lashes that still feel supple.
It needs a moment to set between coats, and the large brush is less precise on lower lashes. If you want dramatic volume that does not feel like you are wearing anything, this is the most comfortable high-volume mascara in the drugstore class.
✅ Pros
- Huge volume without heaviness — feels light on lashes
- Up to 10x volume, buildable
- 24-hour smudge and flake resistant wear
- Suitable for sensitive eyes, ophthalmologist tested
❌ Cons
- Air-whipped formula needs a moment to set
- Large cushiony brush is less precise on lower lashes
- Formula: Waterproof, air-whipped volumizing
- Brush Type: Double-bristle cushiony brush (short + long bristles)
- Pack Size: 1-pack
- Price Tier: Mid
- Waterproof: Yes – waterproof
- Volume/Length: Very high volume, up to 10x, medium length
8. Revlon So Fierce Big Bad Lash
So Fierce Big Bad Lash is the only volumizer here that keeps working after you take it off. Its lash tint technology uses natural dyes to gradually darken bare lashes with daily use, so after about a week your lashes look darker even without mascara — a real bonus if your natural lashes are light.
The double-sided brush is clever: the curvy Big Side piles on volume, and the flat Bad Side fans lashes out for a panoramic, wide-eyed finish. Used together they give the fullest, most fanned-out look in this roundup.
The two-sided brush takes a coat or two to master, and the tint effect needs consistent daily use to show. If you want extreme volume plus a longer-term darkening payoff, this is the most distinctive drugstore volumizer we found.
✅ Pros
- Extreme volume that lasts up to 24 hours
- Lash tint technology darkens bare lashes over time
- Double-sided brush for volume + fanned-out finish
- No clumping, smudging or flaking
❌ Cons
- Double-sided brush takes practice
- Tint effect needs daily use to build
- Formula: Volumizing, lash-tint technology, waterproof
- Brush Type: Double-sided brush – curvy Big Side + flat Bad Side
- Pack Size: 1-pack
- Price Tier: Budget
- Waterproof: Yes – waterproof
- Volume/Length: High volume, medium length, 24-hour wear
9. Milani Highly Rated Anti-Gravity
Highly Rated Anti-Gravity is the do-everything volumizer in this roundup. Its molded hourglass brush is shaped to hug the lash line, coating every lash while it lifts — so you get both thickness and length from a single tube, without needing to layer two mascaras.
The formula is infused with castor oil and shea butter, which helps lashes stay conditioned rather than dried out. That matters for volume mascaras, which can sometimes feel stiff — this one stays flexible and comfortable all day.
The hourglass brush is large, so it takes care on lower lashes, and the washable formula will not survive heavy rain. For a single drugstore tube that covers both volume and length with a clean, lifted finish, it is excellent value.
✅ Pros
- Volume + length in one tube
- Hourglass brush lifts and separates
- Castor oil and shea butter condition lashes
- Vegan, cruelty-free
❌ Cons
- Hourglass brush is large for very small eyes
- Washable formula — not for wet weather
- Formula: Volumizing + Lengthening, castor oil-infused, washable
- Brush Type: Molded hourglass brush
- Pack Size: 1-pack
- Price Tier: Budget
- Waterproof: No – washable
- Volume/Length: High volume + length
10. wet n wild Mega Volume Mascara
Mega Volume is the cheapest way to get real volume at the drugstore. The full spiral fiber brush is easy to load and hugs each lash, plumping it with rich, deep Very Black pigment. For under $4, the volume payoff is surprisingly strong.
Vitamin E keeps lashes feeling soft and hydrated rather than dried out, and the waterproof formula resists smudging through a long day. It is also vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and sulfate-free, which is rare at this price.
The tube is smaller than most here, so it runs out faster, and the formula can be a little wet on the first few uses — wipe the brush lightly before applying. For a throw-in-your-bag everyday volumizer that costs less than a coffee, it is hard to beat.
✅ Pros
- Cheapest volumizer here — under $4
- Full spiral brush loads volume fast
- Waterproof and smudge-resistant
- Vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and sulfate-free
❌ Cons
- Smallest tube here — runs out faster
- Formula can be wet on first uses
- Formula: Waterproof, volumizing, Vitamin E-enriched
- Brush Type: Full spiral fiber brush
- Pack Size: 1-pack
- Price Tier: Budget
- Waterproof: Yes – waterproof
- Volume/Length: High volume, medium length
Factors to Consider When Buying
Formula: Waterproof vs Regular vs Tubing
Waterproof mascaras hold curl and resist humidity, sweat, and tears, but need an oil-based remover. Regular formulas are easier to remove and gentler for daily wear. Tubing mascaras form tiny tubes around each lash that slide off with warm water — great for sensitive eyes and easy removal without smudging.
Brush Type
Brush shape matters as much as formula. Curved brushes lift and curl, skinny / tapered brushes reach short and corner lashes, fat brushes add volume, and silicone bristles separate and define without clumps. Match the brush to your lash goal.
Length vs Volume
Lengthening mascaras use thinner, fiber-rich formulas to extend the lash tip. Volumizing mascaras use thicker, wax-heavy formulas to coat and thicken. If you want both, look for length + volume hybrids or layer a lengthening base with a volumizing top coat.
Sensitive Eyes and Contact Lenses
If you have sensitive eyes or wear contacts, choose ophthalmologist-tested, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic formulas. Tubing mascaras are often the gentlest option because they flake less and remove without rubbing.
Smudge and Flake Resistance
Smudging and flaking are the most common complaints. Waterproof and tubing formulas resist both far better than regular formulas. If you have oily lids, set your eye area with a light powder and avoid heavy creams under the eyes.
Removal and Lash Health
Never sleep in mascara and avoid aggressive rubbing. Use a dedicated eye makeup remover or micellar water, hold it on the lashes for 20 seconds, then wipe gently. Give lashes a break a few days a week and replace mascara every 3 months.
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