4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Sally Foran: Here's why you should make the switch to brown mascara
Brown mascara may be trending in 2025, but for me, it's been a staple for years. With my fair colouring, I've always found that brown offers a softer, more natural-looking definition compared to black, which can feel harsh, especially during the day.
Also, I've noticed that black mascara can accentuate lines and look overly stark, while brown creates a more flattering, youthful effect.
Beyond personal preference, brown mascara aligns perfectly with the shift toward minimalist and 'clean girl' beauty, a trend embraced by makeup artists (who recommend true brown shades without red or orange undertones for brunettes, and warmer browns for blondes and redheads).
With top brands expanding their brown mascara offerings, it's clear that this warm, wearable shade is having a well-deserved moment, thanks to its ability to enhance natural features without overwhelming them.
These are some of our favourites.
Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes
1. Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes in Dream Pop
A flattering berry brown hue designed to make blue and green eyes pop.
Delivering the same instant length, weightless volume, and 24-hour vertical lift as the original, this bold yet wearable shade adds a soft warmth and richness that enhances natural eye colour without overpowering.
The precision paddle brush lifts from root to tip, gripping every lash for a fanned out, false lash effect, with no clumps or flaking.
In consumer trials, 96% said lashes looked magnified and lengthened, while 93% reported volumised definition.
€29, Brown Thomas
POCO Beauty Empower Mascara
2. Poco Beauty Empower Mascara
A rich chocolate brown mascara in a high-performance, water-resistant formula that delivers instant volume, dramatic length, and smudge-free definition that lasts.
It features a precision-engineered wand that lifts, curls, and separates for a false lash effect with no clumps.
Infused with nourishing jojoba oil, it conditions and strengthens lashes with every wear, while the vegan-friendly formula offers buildable coverage that stays put all day, but melts away effortlessly upon cleansing.
€24, Arnotts
Rimmel London Thrill Seeker Extreme Volume Mascara
3. Rimmel London Thrill Seeker Extreme Volume Mascara in Cappuccino
Inspired by the brand's cult favourite lip liner and the rising 2025 Pantone Mocha trend, this is a rich, warm shade.
The formula combines a trio of conditioning waxes with a tower fiber brush to deliver volume, 24-hour wear, and bold colour payoff, minus the smudging or clumping.
Cruelty-free and buildable, it enhances all eye colours with a softer, more natural lift than classic black.
€15.99, Boots
MyMascara by Sculpted by Aimee
4. MyMascara by Sculpted by Aimee
A volumising, high-pigment mascara that delivers fuller, lifted lashes with a false lash effect in just one coat.
It features a curved wand for easy definition and all-day wear without smudging or flaking.
Enriched with Pro Vitamin B5, the formula nourishes and conditions lashes, making it ideal for sensitive eyes.
It's vegan and cruelty-free too. Enhances all eye colours, but especially blue and green.
€19, Meaghers pharmacy
Bellamianta Lash Illusion Mascara
5. Bellamianta Lash Illusion Mascara
Harnessing innovative tubing technology, Lash Illusion wraps each lash in flexible, smudge-proof tubes for a lash extension effect that lasts up to 24 hours.
Its ultra-precise silicone wand fans out every lash for clean, clump-free definition and is buildable too.
Perfect for those who struggle with panda eyes.
€23.99,
Benefit's Bad Gal Bang Volumising Mascara
6. Benefit's Bad Gal Bang Volumising Mascara
A cult favourite and for good reason... this claims to deliver an eye-popping 36-hour wear time.
Expect massive volume, dramatic lift, and serious length, without clumping, smudging, or flaking.
The secret lies in its custom big slimpact brush, which grabs every lash and a lightweight, buildable formula infused with ProVitamin B5 to help strengthen over time.
Whether you're heading to the office or dancing 'til dawn, it'll keep your lashes bold and defined from the first swipe to last call.
€30, Benefit Boutique
AYU Volume Lashes Mascara in Brown
7. Ayu Volume Lashes Mascara
Infused with hyaluronic acid to keep lashes hydrated (mascaras can be drying).
This Irish brand's formula creates volume and length that won't flake or smudge.
It has an hourglass shaped brush to hug lashes creating a natural curl.
The highly pigmented liquid has a rich consistency, leaving lashes fanned out and full of volume.
It's also vegan, cruelty free, dermatologically tested and paraben-free.
€24.00, Kilkenny Design
Flormar Hero Volume & Curl Brown Mascara
8. Flormar Hero Volume & Curl Brown Mascara
Another hourglass-shaped applicator with a rich, warm brown tone for a softer, more natural everyday look.
Infused with moisturising glycols and Vitamin E, it nourishes lashes while delivering smooth, non-clumping definition.
It's also the most pocket-friendly mascara on our list.
€8.95, Penneys
Prices correct at time of print
