After a look that’s a little more subtle? A good brown mascara should be your first port of call. The best brown mascaras do much of the same heavy lifting as your ordinary mascara will. But by depositing pigment, volume and length in a softer hue, they get you a gaze that’s less panda-eye and has a more natural finish.
It’s no surprise, then, that brown mascara is trending in 2025 – we’re deep in the age of minimalist make-up, and the clean-girl look has had beauty in a vice grip. “With current trends for softer looks, especially in eye makeup, brown lends itself well to this moment,” make-up artist Lisa Eldrige MBE tells Vogue.
Vogue’s favourite brown mascaras:
- For quick volume: Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Mascara in Let’z Be Blunt, £20
- The lash lifter: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes in Dream Pop, £28
- Best clump-free formula: Ilia Limitless Lash in Before Dawn, £28
- Best lash-caring: Westman Atelier Eye Want You Mascara in Le Brun Clean, £42
- For curling power: Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara in Burnt Umber, £29
- Best affordable: Sephora Size Up Mascara, £15
- Best for barely-there beauty: Glossier Lash Slick, £20
- For added oomph: Lashify Ash, Ginger, Minx and Truffle Lashes, £18
But brown mascara has legs beyond finessing your no make-up make-up looks. “After several wear tests, I’ve noticed brown mascaras tend to have earthy undertones like terracotta and umber that really warm up the eye,” says Tracy Achonwa, contributing beauty writer. “Against brown skin, this reads like the kind of burgundy eyelash you might see in a beauty editorial spread: subtle, yet smouldering and chic. They’re my best-kept secret for adding interest to otherwise bland eye looks.”
Meet the experts:
- Danessa Myricks is a professional make-up artist and the founder of cult beauty brand Danessa Myricks Beauty.
- Lisa Eldridge MBE is an acclaimed make-up artist, author and presenter, whose work has fronted several Vogue covers.
- Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury is an international make-up artist who has painted the faces of stars, such as Bella Hadid, Kate Moss and Celine Dion.
Who should wear brown mascara?
“Redheads usually look amazing in brown mascara,” says Danessa Myricks, whose hit live make-up tutorials frequently catalyse the latest beauty trends. Sofia Tilbury concurs, noting it is “especially flattering on fairer complexions and those with low-contrast features” (think: blondes with light skin, hair and eyes.) And while brown mascaras are most obviously a match for redheads, brunettes and those with pale skin, Myricks doesn’t believe in limiting their use.
“Mascara can quickly elevate a look because it adds immediate contrast. Though less dramatic than black, brown mascara is still in contrast to the whites of the eye, so it adds a wow factor to the size and shape of the eye that is a bit more demure,” she explains. “It also brings out richness and colour nuances in brown coloured eyes, and on blue eyes, it makes the blue tones more intense and intoxicating, but with a softness you can’t get with black.” Eldridge agrees – as she puts it, brown mascara can amplify all eye colours, and they’ll suit any complexion if the formula is vibrant enough. “It’s still defining, but in a much softer way,” she adds.
Needless to say, we needed little persuasion to find the best browns for our spring make-up bags. Ahead, you’ll find the best brown mascaras our experts and editors have tried.
Best affordable: Sephora Collection Size Up Brown Mascara
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
