Best valueBudget pickViral

Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

A $4.99 cone-brush mascara that gives a dramatic false-lash look; reviewers love the payoff but some report transfer.

8.0

Great

Beauty score

#6 of 7 eyes

Community

—/10

Format: Mascara
Size: 0.4 oz
Typical price: $4.99
Price tier: Drugstore

Lash volume Lash length Buildable Long-wear

Made for: All skin types

Check price on Amazon Buy from the brand$4.99

Also at

UUlta Beauty

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Last reviewed November 2, 2026 by our editors · How we score

The verdict

A $4.99 cone-brush mascara that gives a dramatic false-lash look; reviewers love the payoff but some report transfer.

Lash Princess False Lash Effect is essence's best-known mascara, using a conical fiber brush that the brand says delivers dramatic volume and sculpted length without clumps. At $4.99 it is one of the cheapest mascaras in creator drugstore showdowns, and Reddit threads keep recommending it for straight or sparse lashes. Wear is the main caveat: although the brand claims no flaking or fading, several Reddit users report smudging, transfer or mid-day flaking, and the standard formula is not waterproof (a waterproof version is sold separately).

Best for

Budget shoppers who want dramatic volume
Straight or sparse lashes that need a lot of grab
Trying a viral mascara with little financial risk

What we love

Very low $4.99 price
Conical fiber brush grabs small lashes for a false-lash look
Cruelty-free and paraben-free per the brand
Widely available in the US at the brand site, Ulta and Amazon

Worth knowing

Several users report smudging, transfer or mid-day flaking
Limited shade choice compared with other mascaras
The standard formula is not waterproof; the waterproof version is sold separately

How it scored

The breakdown.

Five factors, weighted for makeup. Here’s our working.

8.0Great

Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.

Payoff & performance30%8.2
Charisse Daily and Reddit users with straight lashes say the conical fiber brush coats and shows up every lash, though British Beauty Blogger notes it gives less lash separation.
Wear time15%7.0
The brand claims no flaking or fading all day, but multiple Reddit users report smudging, transfer onto the under-eye or flaking by mid-day.
Shade range & inclusivity15%6.0
Sold mainly in black, with a separate Black Brown version, so the color range is minimal.
Value20%9.6
At $4.99 it costs a fraction of most volumizing mascaras, including drugstore rivals such as Maybelline Sky High at $13.99.
Community love20%8.4
A long-running viral favorite with large YouTube wear tests, including Abbey Yung's drugstore showdown with over a million views, and frequent Reddit recommendations alongside a vocal group who find it smudgy.

Beauty profile

Inside the bottle.

Texture

Black volumizing formula applied with a conical fiber brush

Format

Mascara

Size

0.4 oz

How to use

Start at the base of the lash line and wiggle the wand back and forth, adding coats until the desired length and volume is reached. The brand suggests removing it with its Remove Like A Boss waterproof eye makeup remover.

Free from (brand-stated)

parabens

Claims & certifications

Cruelty-free (brand-stated)
Paraben-free

Full ingredient list (INCI)25 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand

AQUA (WATER),
PARAFFIN,
RHUS VERNICIFLUA PEEL CERA (RHUS VERNICIFLUA PEEL WAX),
GLYCERYL STEARATE SE,
POLYBUTENE,
BUTYLENE GLYCOL,
ACACIA SENEGAL GUM,
ORYZA SATIVA CERA (ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) BRAN WAX),
PALMITIC ACID,
STEARIC ACID,
VP/EICOSENE COPOLYMER,
TOCOPHEROL,
HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE,
TRIMETHYL PENTANYL DIISOBUTYRATE,
ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN,
SODIUM NITRATE,
DISODIUM PHOSPHATE,
SODIUM PHOSPHATE,
POLYSORBATE 60,
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE,
PHENOXYETHANOL,
POTASSIUM SORBATE,
SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE,
CI 77007 (ULTRAMARINES),
CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES).

Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.

Official product page

Creator video reviews

Watch it in action.

Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.

We don’t pay creators for reviews, and they don’t pay us. Nothing from TikTok or YouTube loads until you press play.

What people say

Straight from the source.

Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.

5 verbatim quotes · 2 positive · 2 mixed · 1 critical

r/drugstoreMUA

try the essence lash princess false lash effect (the purple one) it has a weird shaped wand that grabs every tiny lash and really coats them … my lashes are stick straight and basically invisible and that one actually makes them show up in photos

u/possiblehello3492r/drugstoreMUA · 2026-104Source

British Beauty Blogger

The only downside that I can see is that the brush doesn’t give quite the definition of each lash that you’d hope (easily rectified by brushing afterwards with a spoolie)

Jane CunninghamBritish Beauty Blogger · 2017-10Source

r/drugstoreMUA

I'm 100% a volume person and the most volume I've seen on my lashes was from layering Lash Paradise and Essence Lash Princess

u/aokocatr/drugstoreMUA · 2026-0912Source

r/MakeupAddiction

Speaking of essence, people rave about the Lash princess one but I never get the hype. It smudges and flakes like crazy for me.

u/Bright-Concentrate51r/MakeupAddiction · 2026-102Source

r/drugstoreMUA

Lash princess was my go-to for a while until it started flaking on me mid-day.

u/StockSad3896r/drugstoreMUA · 2026-104Source

Price & value

Is it worth it?

Typical price

$4.99

for 0.4 oz

DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury

About 80% less than the typical eyes we review. Our value score: 9.6/10 for a drugstore pick.

Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.

Where to buy

Check price on Amazon Buy from the brand$4.99 USee it at Ulta

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money

Community

What members noticed.

Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.

No member ratings yet.

Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.

Highlighted: what it’s built to do.

Discussion

No discussions yet.

Tried essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.

FAQ

Good questions.

Is Lash Princess False Lash Effect waterproof?

The standard version is not sold as waterproof. essence makes a separate Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara Waterproof at the same $4.99 price.

Is essence Lash Princess cruelty-free?

essence says it is certified and acknowledged by PETA as a cruelty-free brand and does not test products on animals. The US product page also tags it paraben-free.

How do you remove Lash Princess mascara?

The brand recommends its Remove Like A Boss waterproof eye makeup remover. Reddit users also report that micellar water works if the pad is held on the lashes for several seconds before wiping.

What colors does it come in?

The core shade is black, and essence also sells a Black Brown version of the False Lash Effect mascara. Availability of other colors varies by retailer.

Sources we checked (9)