Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara wand and tube

Milabu Rating

  • Overall
    (4)

Price Category: Value

  • $4.99 Retail

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Pros

  • Under $5
  • Volumizing
  • Lengthening
  • Separates and defines lashes
  • Helps curl

Cons

  • Not super long wearing
  • Can transfer, flake, and smudge (depending on skin type)
  • Wand can clump

Overview

For under $5, Lash Princess Mascara is solid. It does a little bit of everything – curls, volumes, separates, and lengthens. But, it isn’t the most long wearing.

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Our Rating Criteria

Lash Princess Mascara lengthens, lifts, and volumizes.

Who else loves a good bargain? I know I do! There are several mascaras at the drugstore that perform better than their luxury counterparts (ahem, $30 for nothing special out of Armani’s Eyes To Kill Mascara). Essence has gone viral for their cult favorite Lash Princess line, featuring five different formulas that are all well-loved. My favorite from the family is False Lash Effect. Not only do I love the volume and length it gives my lashes, but it has a solid wear time, too.

Promises vs. Performance: Will it last all day, free of flaking, fading, and transferring?

If you want a false lash effect without the falsies, look no further than False Lash Effect Mascara. Essence promises this mascara will have you ditching the false lashes. You’ll get lengthened, lifted, and voluminous natural lashes with this formula. It features a conical-shaped fiber brush that helps separate lashes without clumping. Essence promises an all day, long lasting wear free of flaking and fading.

For under $5, you can’t beat the value of this mascara that does a little bit of everything. It adds length and volume, while separating and defining lashes. Although, it does help hold curl, I still recommend curling your lashes before and after applying for best results. The tapered brush provides a mostly clump free application that is easy to get each individual lash – even those pesky inner corners!

However, I wouldn’t consider this mascara long wearing. It can smudge, transfer, and flake, but I find this is especially dependent on what you wear under your eyes and if you have oilier eyelids. To minimize smudging/transfer, you’ll definitely want to set your concealer and wear at least an eyeshadow primer on your lids. Though, I’m okay with a few flaws for how cheap this mascara is.

Quick Rating Rundown

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(4)
Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara wand and tube

:Essence False Lash Effect Mascara

Price: $4.99

0.304 oz

Value

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Application

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Volume, Length, Curl, Define

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Longevity

(3.1)

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Our Rating Criteria

How It Compares: As much as I enjoy this Lash Princess mascara, it isn’t my holy grail.

For the price, I think Essence makes some awesome mascaras. Lash Princess False Lash Effect does help volumize, lengthen, and lift lashes as promised. I agree with the clump free application claims, if the brush is kept free of excess mascara. However, when it comes to the no flaking, no fading, no wearing off claims, I disagree. This mascara wears well for the first few hours, but after that it begins wearing off quite easily. To get the best wear, I would definitely set your under eye concealer to minimize smudging/transfer.

Truly, my holy grail drugstore mascara is Maybelline Lash Sensational (rated ****4.6). My lashes get volume, length, and lift. The curved wand makes for an easy application, aiding in curl. Lash Sensational has a phenomenal wear. I easily get 10+ hours of minimal flaking, smudging, and transfer with this formula.

For a complete list of our favorite drugstore mascaras (rated ****4.0+), check out our MILABU PICKS article, ‘The Best Drugstore Mascara Formulas Around $10.’

Advertised Product Highlights

Essence Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

WAND TYPE: Conical-shaped fiber brush

SHADE/COLOR: Black

LONGEVITY: All day, long lasting

BENEFITS: Volumizing; Lengthening; Lifts lashes; Clump free application; No flaking, fading, or wearing off; False lash effect

OTHER: Cruelty free

CLEAN BEAUTY CLAIMS: Free of gluten, parabens, oil, alcohol, and fragrance

Edited by Maddie

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