There has been a revolution in the makeup sphere in the last couple of years - have you noticed?
It may be the lockdown effect where confined to our homes, we saw no need for the full face that had become our go-to. Instead, there has been a collective move towards a more natural look and it has been dubbed the ‘clean girl’ or the simple but effective ‘no-makeup makeup’. Forget baking, contouring and makeup so thick you could cut it with a knife, we have eschewed full coverage for a more pared-back aesthetic - and black mascara is the latest on the chopping block.
In its place, we’ve seen the rise of brown mascara and its ubiquity shows no signs of wavering - the trend already has 3.1 billion views on TikTok.
Its appeal is immediately obvious as soon as you swipe the hue onto your lashes. These are your lashes but longer, thicker and everything you’d hoped they be without looking like you’ve applied any pigment at all. The enhancement is subtle and is ideal as we approach the spring/summer months, offering a warming effect.
For those just dipping their toe into the trend, there’s black-brown pigments if you’re not fully ready to give up the wide-eye effects of your makeup bag essential as well as different levels on the brown deepness scale. See reddish tones to add immediate intrigue or chocolatey brown colourways for a lash lift.
Shop the best brown mascaras below
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Best drugstore mascaras tried and tested to give your lashes length and volume
Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Mascara - 02 Brown
Applying this mascara is every bit a luxurious experience. From the chic black casing with gold logo detailing to the conical shaped bristles, this is a daily practice that you will relish. The Lash Clash comes in the classic black hue but it’s the brown that has caught our attention for the subtle statement that it makes.
The brush is larger than others on the market, imparting the hue onto the lashes in a buildable way but reaching every single one in just one swipe. The formula is made up of a unique oil-in-water wax that should stay firmly in place for 24 hours without falking off throughout the day. It’s also kind to the delicate lashes with Iris Florentina from the YSL gardens infused within.
Buy now £29.00, lookfantastic
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara - Chocolate
It will come as no surprise that the brown version of Too Faced’s iconic Better Than Sex Mascara is featured in this round-up. It follows suit of the original (just in a chocolate shade for a more natural and softer look) with the use of film-forming polymers that latch on to the lashes and holds the hue in place. The winning formulation also includes collagen and peptides that have a lenghtening effect and nourish respectively. The brush head has an hourglass shape to reach across the lid, lifting, curling and bringing definition with each use.
Buy now £25.00, Cult Beauty
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! Mascara
The cult Pillow Talk collection has given us some legendary products, from the universally flattering lip shade of the same name, to this lenghtening mascara that will make your lash curler redundant. The newer variation is this brown-berry hue that is almost burgundy in colour when applied.
With the benefits of keratin in the formula that mimics the natural hair protein, it has an immediate thickening effect, but the more you apply, the more intense the look. The micro pro precision paddle brush and diamond-shaped bristles have the ability to give just the right amount of pigment that you need to layer the lashes. This is combined with conditioning ingredients like carnauba and microcrystalline waxes that are kind to lashes, while enhancing the long-lasting nature of the product.
Buy now £25.00, Cult Beauty
Glossier Lash Slick
Glossier’s Lash Slick garners consistently good reviews thanks to its natural effect but also sticking power.
Its weightless and flexible mascara visibly lengthens and lifts lashes thanks to the tiny fibres that coat each hair, giving maximum definition. Not only this, because of its water-resistant (not waterproof) formula, it will stay in place for the whole day without smudging or flaking but is easy to remove, without the need for rubbing which can often irritate the delicate eye area.
If you’re after that subtle looking-great-without-looking-like-you-made-an-effort look that is currently in vogue, this mascara definitely the one to go for.
It is available in black and more recently, brown.
Buy now £14.00, Glossier
Clinique Zero Gravity High Impact Mascara
The hunt for the perfect mascara with equal volumising and lengthening properties is enduring but Clinique is making a convincing claim for the title with its Zero Gravity High Impact Mascara. The brand explains, “we have lash lift-off” before going on to share its ability to lift and curl lashes by 50 per cent.
No additional tools necessary, this is the be all and end all for lashes where the curved brush coats a lightweight gel with a strong hold polymer and clay particles. Clinique has forgone the use of heavy waxes to offer long-lasting results and leaves unsightly drooping out of your beauty routine. The formula doesn’t smudge of flake off throughout the day but is easily removed with just warm water.
It has a black/brown pigment for the best of both worlds.
Buy now £22.00, Clinique
Max Factor Mascara False Lash Effect Black/Brown
You will find that many of the brown mascaras on the market - like the Max Factor Mascara False Lash Effect - are a brown-black shade that, as it implies, takes a darker approach to some of the other true brown hues. It offers a middle ground for those that still want a dramatic eye look but for thinner and fairer lashes. The formula of this mascara is buildable, without clumping and has real lasting power due to its waterproof nature. Invest in a good oil-based eye makeup remover to get this one off.
Buy now £6.29, Amazon
Sweed Lash Lift Mascara
Sweed is best known for its collection of false lashes that extends to a collaboration with Insta favourite Nikki Makeup. They are defined by their ease in wear and natural looking appearance - two attributes that have been brought to the mascaras too. In black or brown, the latter of which creates natural-looking length, the Lash Lift imparts pigment with a comb like brush for greater control, precision and to give a literal lifting effect as you use. The colour is long-lasting too so you can kiss midday panda eyes goodbye.
Buy now £22.00, Space NK
Rimmel Volume Thrill Seeker Mascara - Black Brown
For that false lash effect with no falsies necessary, the Thrill Seeker offers a more natural appearance, while still maintaining the XXL look. With its brown-black colorway, it gives volume and depth without actually looking like you’re wearing makeup at all. The hourglass brush coats the entire length of lashes and stays there - no clumping or smudging here.
Buy now £8.79, lookfantastic
Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara - Brown
The Lash Alert from Eyeko has one of the most extensive shade ranges on the market. You can get the product in hues of brown, green, purple, blue and of course, black. Its formula is infused with the nourishing benefits of caffeine and biotin that have a thickening effect, while arginine and castor oil prevent breakage through their strengthening properties. This is one to make your eyes pop.
Buy now £17.00, lookfantastic
Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara Brown
For those in the know, the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High packs a real punch for its modest cost outlay. The mascara promises incredible volume to your lashes using bamboo extract and fibres to strengthen them as it leaves the pigmented shade. The jet black hue may already be a staple in your collection but keep this brown tone on hand for extensions with no professional treatment necessary. These are your lashes but longer, thicker and sky high.
Buy now £11.99, Boots
