As a strawberry blonde with fair skin and blue eyes, I’ve always felt the need to wear mascara because it gives my blonde eyelashes definition. Black mascara often looks too harsh against my light complexion, but I’ve found the solution: brown mascara. A few years ago, I started including it in my routine, and it totally changed the game. I’ve found that the difference is anything but subtle. Brown mascara makes my eyes appear brighter and for that reason, it’s become my go-to when doing my no-makeup-makeup look.
I’ve tried countless formulas as The Cut’s unofficial mascara tester, and here are a few of my favorite formulas for every occasion — whether I want wispy lashes for daytime or full, voluminous lashes for a night out.
So, you're shopping for the best brown mascaras?
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Our Top Picks
The Overall Best Brown Mascara
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Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
The Ilia Limitless Lash is my everyday mascara and the one that made me a brown-mascara convert. I love how natural it looks on the eyes and how evenly it coats every lash. And like all Ilia products, the ingredients are excellent: arginine and biotin to strengthen the lashes, plus organic shea butter and ethically sourced beeswax to condition them without creating clumps.
The Best Drugstore Brown Mascara
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The brush on this mascara is extremely thin and the bristles are extremely short, making it easy to achieve beautiful long lashes without a mess. I love the slightly curved applicator because I can coat my entire lash line, from root to tip, in one swipe. It also gives me a slight lash lift, which makes my eyes look brighter and more awake.
The Best Brown Mascara for Straight Lashes
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The packaging is what drew me to this mascara in the first place. I’m happy to report that the product itself is equally beautiful. The curved brush makes it easy to apply from root to tip, even in the inner and outer corners of the eye, while also giving the lashes a little lift. It features nourishing castor oil, an ingredient that’s usually used in hair care to help define and hold curls.
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More Tried-and-True Options
The Best for Sparse Lashes
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Makeup By Mario’s mascara is so well rounded: it’s volumizing, lengthening, and lifting. It’s also flake-resistant and sweat- and humidityproof. I prefer a thin brush with short bristles (because it allows me to gradually build up the product) but if you like a thick, fluffy brush and a one-swipe-wonder mascara, add this one to your cart.
The Volumizing Formula
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With an oversize brush and bristles that pick up and deposit tons of product, this mascara is the best for voluminous, high-impact lashes without the clump. I prefer something more natural for daytime, but I always reach for this mascara when I want a full-glam moment. It’s also very long wearing, so it’s perfect for a night out.
The Best for Fluttery Lashes
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The L’Oréal Lash Paradise provides feathery volume and length that feels soft and nourishing on the lashes. I can wear one coat for a no-makeup look or build up the formula if I want long, spidery lashes. I have to replace it more often than other high-end options on this list, but since it’s only $14, that doesn’t bother me.
The Drugstore Option That Never Flakes
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The Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High has been one of my favorite mascaras for years, and the brown version is just as good as the original. It’s one of the best lengthening mascaras at the drugstore, and it doesn’t flake off throughout the day. I love the flexible brush that has short, mess-free bristles.
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FAQs
Who should wear brown mascara?
Brown mascara is for anyone and everyone. It’s just makeup, after all! But it’s ideal for people who like a natural look because brown is much softer than black, which creates a high-contrast look on light and medium skin tones. Brown mascara is also a good option for people with fair to light skin tones for the same reason. Try one of the brown shades on this list if black mascara often makes your eye makeup look too severe.
