Brown mascara is the must-have your everyday makeup is missing, according to makeup artists. Here's why

CNN

11-03-2025

Brown mascara quick picks
Drugstore mascara: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
Tubing mascara: Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara
Mascara for fine lashes: Clinique Lash Power Long-Wearing Mascara While black lashes have been the standard, modern beauty trends like the no-makeup makeup look are favoring a softer approach, which is why brown mascara should be on your radar. It's universally flattering and an especially great anti-aging makeup hack. 'Brown mascara can be used to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by reducing contrast and creating an overall softer look,' says makeup artist Rose Siard. '[Brown mascara] is ideal for a more natural or minimal look, whereas black mascara creates bolder, dramatic definition that lends itself to more intense or evening looks,' she says.
According to makeup artist Erica Taylor, this effect is rooted in color theory. 'The red tone of a warm brown can amplify a green eye, while the orange tone in a brown mascara will complement blue eyes,' she says. 'Even brown eyes reflect a more amber quality with a rich brown mascara.' Regular black creates a bigger contrast and can make the eyes appear more distinct, but it doesn't play off of these nuances and can even have a harsh effect.
Along with getting the experts' recommendations for the best brown mascaras to try, I made the switch and tested a few myself. Read on for our suggestions.
Your search for brown mascara should look the same as how you pick out traditional black mascara. The main focus is the effect of the formula. Are you looking for a lengthening mascara? A volumizing one? A curling effect? A combination of all three? You can also factor in whether you want a waterproof formula or a tubing mascara, which tend to be longer wearing and smudge-resistant.
Then, with brown mascara, there's more variation in the shade options than just your standard black mascara. For those with deeper skin tones or naturally dark hair, I recommend looking for dark brown or brown-black shades. Since I have nearly black hair, some brown mascara is lighter than my natural hair color, so these darker brown options still add warmth but are dark enough to complement my natural hair color too. On the flip side, if you have a lighter complexion or lighter hair, a standard brown hue won't look as harsh.
L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
L'Oréal's Lash Paradise mascara is a classic drugstore mascara, delivering voluminous, defined lashes with a couple of swipes. Taylor says the Latte Brown is a "warmer, richer brown that enhances all eye colors."
Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara
Celebrity makeup artist Natalie Dresher says she likes this tubing formula, "because it lasts all day, doesn't smudge and is super easy to take off." I also vouch for its long-lasting formula, which I find to be more lengthening than volumizing.
Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara
Siard recommends this mascara for "max drama and volume" in the shade Uninhibited Brown. It has an almost creamy-feeling application, but the formula is smudge-proof once it dries.
Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift Waterproof Mascara
Available in a Brownish Black shade, this volumizing, lengthening and waterproof mascara is another one of Siard's favorites. "I love this one for everyday," she says. "The darker brown adds definition but is softer relative to true black."
CoverGirl Lash Blast Supercloud Mascara
One of my favorite beauty launches this year, this affordable mascara evenly lengthens and defines lashes for a natural-looking effect. The air-whipped formula also helps keep my naturally straight lashes lifted. I like the depth of the Black Brown shade, but it comes in the slightly lighter Brown option too.
Wander Beauty Mile High Club Length and Define Mascara
Now available in Espresso, this award-winning mascara offers a rich, nearly black finish. "It separates and defines the lashes so well you can't tell that it's not black until closer inspection," Dresher says.
Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara
Offering a warm, dimensional tone, the Burnt Umber shade of this mascara complements my naturally dark hair perfectly. It helps lift and hold my straight lashes, and it applies evenly without clumping. For others with oily skin like mine, light smudging might occur because of the wax-based formula.
Clinique Lash Power Long-Wearing Mascara
This tubing formula helps keep lashes lifted and curled while enhancing length. Taylor says the Dark Chocolate mascara is a particularly good choice for those with naturally light-colored hair. "I love this mascara because it has a very small brush that can get to the finest lashes for even blond and gray hairs, whereas some larger [applicators] cannot get to the root of really light lashes," Taylor says.
Westman Atelier Eye Want You Mascara
Siard says this formula "gives more length, and it's easy to build up." Created by celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman, it's a flexible mascara made with candelilla and carnauba waxes, plus shea butter, to keep lashes looking full and fluttery. The Le Brun Clean shade, a chocolate terracotta, makes blue, green and hazel eyes pop, according to Siard. The following FAQs have been answered by makeup artists Natalie Dresher, Rose Siard and Erica Taylor.
Who should wear brown mascara?
Who should wear brown mascara?
The makeup artists agree that anyone can wear brown mascara. 'Everyone can wear brown mascara if they want to soften their overall makeup look, but it works organically with softer eye colors and people with fairer complexions,' Siard says.
Dresher says that brown mascara will enhance different facets of different eye colors. She loves the look of brown mascara with blue or green eyes. 'It makes them pop and beautifully changes the hue of their eye color,' she says. 'I also love it on brown eyes because the brown mascara pulls the warm hues from within the eye color.' Taylor adds says brown mascara is 'especially beneficial for fair skin and those of us with light lashes, where black mascara is too harsh.'
Is brown mascara better for mature eyes?
Is brown mascara better for mature eyes?
'As we mature, colors that are too intense, like black, can enhance the appearance of texture around the eyes,' Taylor says. A brown mascara offers a softer contrast that defines the eyes but doesn't draw attention to fine lines and wrinkles, according to Siard.
Does brown mascara make eyes look bigger?
Does brown mascara make eyes look bigger?
While Dresher points out that mascara in general makes eyes look big and wide by fanning out lashes and adding volume, Siard says brown mascara can have a particularly magnifying effect. 'I attribute this quality to the fact that black mascara creates a stark boundary between the white of your eye and lash line, whereas brown mascara lets the lashes fade from your eye into the lid,' Siard says.
For this article, we consulted the following beauty experts to gain their professional insights on the best brown mascaras.
Natalie Dresher, celebrity makeup artist
Rose Siard, makeup artist and founder of Rose and Ben Beauty
Erica Taylor, professional makeup artist and educator of over 27 years
CNN Underscored has a skilled team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when it makes sense to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this article, beauty and fashion editor Sophie Shaw consulted professional makeup artists about the best brown mascaras and tested a variety of products herself.