I’m a devout makeup minimalist. A skin tint, some blush topped off with a lip gloss and a lengthening mascara are all my routine really consists of these days. Since I’m so particular about what goes on my face, and as a beauty editor with a treasure trove of beauty products at my disposal (my apartment resembles a disorderly Sephora most days), when I love a product and consistently use it, it’s a rarity and an honor (or so I’d like to think). My latest makeup obsession happens to be a drugstore mascara that’s gotten me lash extension allegations, and it’s even on sale right now for Amazon’s spring sale.
A great mascara can take any simple makeup look and make it seem like I actually tried in the morning. It opens up my entire face, even though it takes all of 30 seconds to swipe on. That’s exactly why L’Oréal’s Panorama Mascara has been my go-to for the last several months. It pulls together my everyday office makeup when I want to seem a little more put-together, but it also holds its own on the occasion that I go a bit heavier with my glam. I’ve taken it everywhere, from Paris to Miami (where it survived a six-hour day at a beach club). Since testing it when I got my hands on the upgraded brown shade a few months ago, the $15 tube has earned a permanent spot in all of my travel bags, and for good reason. It checks off all my heavy hitters: length, volume, and separation, with no flaking or running in sight.
It also comes in a bunch of shades like navy, black, an even blacker black, burgundy, and more. I’m personally a chocolate-esque mascara fan, since the softer hue just looks less stark on my light eyes, but no matter your eye color or preference, you’re sure to find a shade that works with your desired level of glam.
The best part, in my opinion, is the price. I’ve tried some great luxury mascaras for upwards of $30, and while those are a nice splurge, this one goes for less than half. Even better, it’s nearly 20% off for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. And I can guarantee that if I coated on a luxury formula on one eye and L’Oreal’s on the other, you wouldn’t be able to differentiate between the two.
If you’re in the market for an affordable mascara that will lengthen and volumize your lashes without any smudging or flaking, take it from a makeup hater—this $15 drugstore formula has me completely hooked. Honestly, it’s rare that any beauty product makes me reach for it every day, but this mascara has officially earned that title.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
