For one, the formula. Luxury mascaras can take advantage of “high-end ingredients that drugstore mascaras cannot afford,” cosmetic chemist Ni’Kita Wilson previously explained.

To find the best smudge-proof and waterproof mascaras — that even stand up against the summer heat — we consulted nine professional makeup artists who share their favorites that last all day.

Drugstore mascaras rival (and often beat) far pricier brands The larger beauty conglomerates that own many budget brands also produce high-end makeup that’s shockingly similar for triple the price.