At the moment I use Maybelline lash stylist, but that's the only mascara I've ever used, so I don't really know how it compares to others. My eyelashes are actually quite long anyway, but I like to use mascara just to 'dress' them a bit. Which do you think would be the best mascara for me, preferably a cheap one.

I recently asked a question like this and tried out several of the recommendations given to me. (I also have really long lashes, and mascara doesn't generally behave well for me!)

Here was my experience-

I hereby ban Cover Girl mascaras like it was the plague! Very affordable, but in comparison to other products- I can tell why it's so cheap! Even if you get one of their types with a decent brush to prevent clumps, it just leaves lashes dry and brittle, and if you have to comb your lashes due to the length like I do , it helps it flake up eventually. (Great Lash - a popular favorite, was one of the WORST ever for me!)

Maybeline does a little bit better than Cover Girl. but takes a little skill to make it look good without clumping. (I apparently don't have too much skill or patience!) Lashes can still be somewhat dry and mascara still might flake a little if having to comb. Another one I won't buy again- ever!

Loreal was almost ok for a drugstore brand. Their formulas seem to be much "softer" , so it's much more comfortable to wear for longer lashes. Telescopic was particularly soft compared to some of their others, but you REALLY need some skill to get their unusual brash to work - perhaps for shorter lashes it would be awesome. I MIGHT use it in a pinch, but takes too much time for me to get it to look nice without physically weighing my lashes down due to their length.

Nuetrogena Clean Lash Tint was my favorite for a drugstore brand. Only one color- black, that I saw and I warn you now this is for a VERY natural look! Doesn't add length or volume, but simply makes them darker. Lashes do feel a little bristly to touch once dry, but it is extremely light so you really don't feel it unless touching it. Very easy to apply- virtually goof proof for people like me! It's almost HARD as heck to make this one clump. I learned the hard way way not to add too many coats though - I just give one nice coat and call her done, otherwise it tends to flake. For a very quick natural look, this one is my favorite of drugstore/supermarket brands, but for the amount you get verses the price- it justifies a few extra bucks invested into my next favorite and probably the only one I will ever use again.

The ONLY mascara I will probably EVER use again is Clinique's Naturally Glossy Mascara. Now mind you - I'm not a rich person and I felt guilty as anything buying this thing at Macy's for a whopping $14 per tube.... (I'm more of a bargain shopper) But I can honestly say it is VERY worth it! It's very hard to get it to clump unless you massively overdo it. It is EXTREMELY soft on the lashes- absolutely no bristly feeling or dryness. No eye irritations. No flaking. Only adds a teensy touch of length or volume (where Nuetrogena doesn't add any)- but goes on so beautifully that if you have long lashes already , you will have it made with this one! Yeah, it does have a nice price tag on it, but it also come in a decent sized tube and I can tell by how it goes on that it's going to last a while.

The rest of my makeup- I just gets what's one sale for the most part. Mascara is one of those beauty products that I could never wear before because it was so sloppy and uncomfortable until I found this brand recently. (And I'm 28, so I've been playing in makeup for a bit now!) So far, for me anyway, this one particular brand from Clinique is the only formula that has gotten it right!

So sorry this is so long- but I went through a recent frustration with it wanting to use mascara despite having issues with the already long lashes, and bought and tried nearly every brand that was recommended to me. Just wanted to "give back" with all the advice that was given to me- I hope it helps save you a few bucks in trying stuff out from my experimentation!