I Traded My Expensive Mascara For This $11 Drugstore Buy—& I Have No Regrets

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While I tend to keep my beauty routine on the simpler side, there’s one product I’ve become somewhat particular about: mascara. I care less about the price tag than I do about the results. Long, voluminous lashes that are clump-free and smudge-proof continue to be my goal, and I’ve managed to achieve the look with both expensive splurges and drugstore finds.

Recently, I traded my $30 mascara for Covergirl Lash Blast Cleantopia Mascara , which retails on Amazon for just $14, but is on sale right now for $11.

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And I have to say, I’m impressed.

I knew it was a winner as soon as I applied it for the first time. It went on smooth, thanks to the hourglass-shaped brush, and I didn’t have to comb through any clumps or brush away flakes.

In recent months, I’ve also moved away from rocking dramatic, statement-making lashes to wanting my eyes to subtly pop, similar to the brighter, more natural look stars such as Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber have been sporting. With Lash Blast Cleantopia, I can achieve that, but at the same time, it’s easily buildable, so on occasion, I’ll apply a few extra coats for a bolder appearance.

However, what really sets this mascara apart is that it’s a vegan, plant-powered formula made up of 72% natural origin ingredients. According to Covergirl, it’s infused with “cellulose plant fibers, aloe leaf extract, ceramide, and sustainably sourced rainforest maracuja oil​,” and if paying attention to what’s in your products is important to you, Lash Blast Cleantopia also doesn’t include parabens, mineral oil, talc, fragrance, or sulfates.

All of that means it’s also less likely to irritate my eyes, which is a major plus since I usually suffer from allergies and need all the help I can get during pollen season, AKA spring.

After spending the past few weeks wearing Lash Blast Cleantopia from morning to night, I can also confirm it stays put. I didn’t find myself with dark smudges around my eyes come 5pm, which is another quality I love—and need!—in a mascara.

I’m not the only one who is a fan. On Amazon, the reviews are mostly positive, with many pointing out how easy it is to wash this mascara off at the end of the day.

“Perfect in content and moisture, not too wet or too dry,” writes one happy customer. “Love how it builds up with extra application if you wish a thicker look. Easily to remove with soap and water. Doesn’t clump! Love it!!”

And just like me, people also found the brush to be a major plus.

“Very clean application! Well separated brush for lash volume and definition as well!” someone said. “Pretty sure this will be my new go to. <3”

Another customer praised the gentle formula, revealing that they tried the product after getting a stye in their eye.

“I recently had to deal with a stye,” they wrote. “I am in my 70’s and this was a first for me. Unfortunately, it got infected and it has taken several weeks to finally heal. As a result, I thought it best that I try to be more conscious with using ‘healthier’ mascara. I’ve only been actually using this Cover Girl product for about a month. So far, I am very pleased with it. Thank you for being pro active to the needs of the population who can’t or choose not to use the regular mascara.”

Although I personally have dark hair and dark eyes, those with lighter locks and blue eyes may also want to give this one a go. Reviewers noted that the Ultramarine Black option has a barely-detectable blue tint that’ll work to highlight your features.

“I had a mascara that had hints of blue years ago and I loved it,” someone commented. “This is almost the same. I don’t like dark black, but this blue goes well with my blue eyes and doesn’t look majorly blue.”