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10 Of The Best High Street Mascaras £18 And Under For Lifted, Fluttery Lashes
High impact lashes that won't break the bank
For many, a mascara is an everyday non-negotiable - even better when it's the best high street mascara that doesn't break the bank.
While we’re willing to invest in high-performance vitamin C serums and skin-renewing retinols, mascaras are the one category where accessible offerings are just as effective (if not more so) than its high end counterparts. Professional make-up artists swear by them, too.
The Best High Street Mascaras For £18 And Under
'I love a high street mascara because I truly believe they are as good as high end ones and are way more affordable,' says the make-up artist Jacinta Spencer, who namechecks L’Oréal Paris Panorama, Telescopic Lift and Maybelline Sky High as her firm favourites.
'We go through mascaras way quicker than products like foundation, bronzer or eyeshadow palettes, so it’s great that some of the best ones are on the high street,' she adds.
Why you should consider a high street mascara
The average person may not whizz through their products as quickly as a professional, but mascaras do have a shorter shelf life than other make-up products.
Once opened, they're often best used within six months - a rule that's especially worth sticking to if you're prone to sensitive or reactive eyes as expired formulas can cause teary peepers and irritation.
An accessibly priced mascara means you're more likely to not hang on to expired products. Plus, most mascaras tend to dry out within the year and require frequent replenishment.
For make-up artist Buster Knight, it's the formula of high street mascara that draws him in. 'I love high street mascaras as they usually are a basic, thick black texture, and not as “fancy”,' he tells ELLE. 'A lot of mascaras are infused with oils or other nourishing ingredients that care for the lashes, but I actually prefer something that just paints the lashes and dries. You can be experimental with brush shapes, colours and textures because the price point is lower,' says Knight, who's also a fan of Maybelline Sky High.
That said, the quality of high street mascaras have improved exponentially in modern times. Brands are now able to infuse their formulas with caring plant oils such as castor and hemp, alongside nourishing panthenol without weighing down the lashes, thanks to clever innovations. So expect lifted, volumised lashes that still feel soft and hydrated.
Whether you're looking for a waterproof mascara or mascaras that lengthen, there's a high street option for all.
The High Street Mascaras We Love
How We Test
As someone with fine, straight and sparse lashes, I ask a lot from my mascaras. Not only do they have to deliver lift, volume, curl and definition, they also have to stay put, as almost every mascara I try tend to smudge. For this list, I consider each mascara's staying power, their ability to lift, curl, elongate and define, and whether or not the formula is kind to sensitive eyes. Given the diversity of ELLE's wider editorial team, this list also includes their top performing mascaras, ever.
L'Oreal Paris Lash Paradise Big Deal Mascara
The brand's Panorama mascara is still a firm favourite for team ELLE, but don't discount one of its newer launches, Lash Paradise Big Deal. The soft brush catches onto fine, spindly lashes and provides the ultimate lift, curl, separation and gentle volume. The formula is geared towards sensitive eyes too, and promises to not cause any irritation and tears.
Product specifications
| Shades: | Black |
|---|---|
| Waterproof: | No |
| Smudge-proof: | Yes |
| Best for: | Definition, lift, curl, sensitive eyes |
& Other Stories Ink Spill Mascara
For elegant, your-lash-but-better effects, try Ink Spill. The slim brush and separating bristles create a defined, fanned-out effect that simply elevates your natural lashes without making it look too dramatic or heavy. Expect pretty, fluttery lashes that last.
Product specifications
| Shades: | Black |
|---|---|
| Waterproof: | No |
| Best for: | Natural effect, lift, length, definition, separation |
| Smudge-proof: | Yes |
You can’t rally the best mascaras of all time without mentioning Maybelline’s. They’re that friend you go to prom with and invite to your wedding 15 years later – we’d call them reliable, but that makes them sound boring.
Sky High is the one if you like long, fluttery lashes with just the right amount of drama. Its tower-shaped brush is both flexible and forgiving, allowing you to wiggle it through your lashes with ease, while being sturdy enough to lift and extend them to their full potential. It now comes in a whopping 9-coloured line-up and a waterproof version, too. They're anything but boring.
Product specifications
| Shades: | Clear glitter, plum, burgundy, black, glitter black, brown-black, navy, pink, green |
|---|---|
| Waterproof: | No |
| Smudge-proof: | Yes |
| Best for: | LIfting, lengthening, separating |
Tower28 Mini Make Waves Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara
Technically, this is a travel-sized, mini mascara, but the formula is so gentle and kind on very sensitive eyes, that we simply had to sneak this in. Plus, it does last through at least a month or two of daily use (so you can decide before committing to a full-sized tube).
Tower 28 is known for its eczema and sensitive skin-friendly formulas, and this elongating mascara promises to deliver length, volume and definition without causing irritation. The full-sized version also comes in brown.
Product specifications
| Shades: | Black |
|---|---|
| Waterproof: | No |
| Smudge-proof: | Smudge-proof |
| Best for: | Sensitive eyes, length, definition, curl |
For high impact lashes that stay put no matter the weather (and through sweaty gym classes, should you decide to wear mascara to your work-out), look no further. This waterproof formula delivers volume and length that fine, wispy lashes have been looking for.
Product specifications
| Shades: | Black |
|---|---|
| Waterproof: | Yes |
| Smudge-proof: | Yes |
| Best for: | Lift, volume, curl, long-wear |
If extra length is your top priority, No7’s Extreme Length mascara is the one for you. You can layer this one repeatedly without dealing with clumps, which is key when shooting for long, fluttering lashes.
Massage at the base for a second or two, and wiggle upwards for maximum length and eye-opening definition. Top tip: deposit the least amount of product at the ends to avoid weighing them down and stunting length.
Product specifications
| Shades: | Black, brown |
|---|---|
| Waterproof: | No |
| Smudge-proof: | Smudge-resistant |
| Best for: | Length, definition, volume |
Formulated with a lash-gripping trio of waxes to create volume that lasts all day, Rimmel's Thrill Seeker Extreme lends enough drama and definition to rival false eyelashes, thanks to its whipped, creamy formula and XL bushy wand.
Product specifications
| Shades: | Black |
|---|---|
| Waterproof: | No |
| Smudge-proof: | Yes |
| Best for: | Volume, intensity, lift |
A quick primer on tubing mascaras: the formula essentially 'wraps' polymers around your lashes so it stays completely smudge-proof without requiring much elbow grease to remove at the end of the day. Revolution's version does exactly that and keeps lashes lifted, defined and volumised through rain or shine.
Product specification
| Shades: | Black, brown, burgundy |
|---|---|
| Waterproof: | No |
| Best for: | Lift, length, volume |
| Smudge-proof: | Yes |
Max Factor False Lash Effect Supreme Mascara
This innovative hourglass-esque brush catches every hair and fits snugly into the base of lashes; it works especially well for those with smaller eyes. The buildable formula adds length, definition, curl and volume without any clumping and remains smudge-proof through long hours. This also marks Max Factor's first refillable mascara.
Product specifications:
| Shades: | Black |
|---|---|
| Waterproof: | No |
| Smudge-proof: | Yes |
| Best for: | Definition, length, lift, volume |
Don't sleep on H&M beauty. This curved brush effectively lifts and curls lacklustre lashes, and coats in jet-black pigment for the ultimate definition. The fine bristles help to comb out each lash, so expect a clump-free, lifted effect.
Product specifications
| Shades: | Black |
|---|---|
| Waterproof: | No |
| Smudge-proof: | Yes |
| Best for: | Curl, length, definition, separation |
Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
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