Essence Lash Princess Curl & Volume is a competent $5 mascara, not a miracle

Essence's Lash Princess line built its reputation on the False Lash Effect mascara, a $5 tube that punches well above its price. The Curl & Volume version is a sibling product aimed at shoppers who want lift more than length, and on that narrow brief it does a reasonable job — though it's not the standout the original is.

What it is

This is a standard (not tubing) black mascara packaged in the same slim plastic tube as the rest of the Lash Princess range. Essence positions it for curl retention and added volume, with a curved, tapered plastic brush designed to scoop and lift lashes from the root. It retails around $5 in US drugstores and on Essence's site, putting it in direct competition with L'Oréal Voluminous, Maybelline Lash Sensational, and the original False Lash Effect within the same brand.

Performance

The curved brush is the most distinctive feature: it genuinely hugs the lash line and pushes lashes upward on application, which helps if you have straight or downward-pointing lashes and don't want to fuss with a lash curler. Curl hold is decent through an 8–10 hour day in moderate humidity, though in our experience it softens more than the brand implies.

Volume is moderate. Two coats give a fuller, slightly fanned look, but this is not a dramatic falsies-effect mascara — the False Lash Effect version in the same range delivers noticeably more thickness. Flaking is minimal; smudging under the lower lash line can appear by late afternoon on oilier skin types.

Ingredients

A verified full INCI for this specific SKU was not available in OpenBeautyFacts at the time of review, so we're not going to speculate on specific polymers, film-formers, or waxes. Mascara formulas in this category typically lean on a carnauba/beeswax-or-synthetic-wax base with acrylate copolymer film-formers for curl hold, and may include common sensitizers like phenoxyethanol or shellac — but we can't confirm what's in this tube. Essence is certified cruelty-free, and the Lash Princess line is widely listed as vegan. Sensitive-eyed shoppers and contact-lens wearers should read the carton in store and patch test.

Who it's for

Good fit: people with straight or stubborn lashes who want a budget mascara that adds visible lift without a separate curler, and anyone building a low-cost everyday makeup kit. It layers reasonably well under or over other mascaras. Skip it if you want high-drama volume (get the False Lash Effect instead), you need all-day waterproof curl hold (look at tubing formulas like L'Oréal Double Extend or Kiss Me Heroine Make), or you have very sensitive eyes and can't verify the ingredient list.

The verdict

At $5, Lash Princess Curl & Volume is a fair pick and noticeably better than nothing — but it's the weaker member of the Lash Princess family. If you specifically need curl assistance from your mascara, it earns its place; otherwise, the original False Lash Effect is the smarter buy at the same price.