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Thrifty beauty queens will attest that mascara is an exception to the rule that quality products must have a high price tag. With so many effective, affordable mascaras on the market, it's best to splurge on other high-quality cosmetics like foundations or skin care products. For less than $10 in drugstores as of July 2011, you can find mascara that curls, lifts, volumizes, vibrates, lengthens, darkens and more -- all for just a fraction of department store and professional mascara brand prices.
Cover Girl LashBlast Volume Blasting Mascara
Voted Editors' Pick by publications including "Allure" Magazine, Cover Girl LashBlast is one of the most popular drugstore mascaras. Available in both regular and waterproof and in four different shades, this mascara resists clumping and increases lash volume.
Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara
Sweep on the look of luscious lashes with a classic that's been around for years, Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara. It delivers a sooty, smoky look perfect for evening wear (and it's great for some daytime drama too). Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara dramatically transforms each lash by darkening and plumping, a few of the reasons it won an Elle UK Beauty Award.
Maybelline Full 'N Soft Mascara
The Maybelline Full 'N Soft mascara creates a natural, yell full lash look without the brittle feel that similar mascaras can cause. Its advanced thickening formula with vitamin E helps to soften and nourish lashes. This lash enhancer was also named the best budget mascara by Temptalia.com.
L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara
This volumizing mascara from L'Oreal Paris is formulated to resist clumping, soften lashes and build lashes up to five times their natural thickness. It lengthens and adds volume without smudging. L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara has won multiple awards in several different beauty publications including "InStyle" Magazine's Best Inexpensive Mascara.
