The best brown mascara could be a real game-changer for your makeup routine. Previously considered the less-popular little sister to traditional black formulas, brown mascara is having a serious beauty moment, with coloured mascara and a natural makeup look being two of the biggest trends of the year - you need one of the best brown mascaras in your makeup bag.
Once upon a time it was pretty much a given that the best mascara would be a black one. But not in 2024. Sometimes the smallest tweaks can have the biggest impact, and according to many TikTok users (7.1 million and counting), swapping to brown can give a more flattering finish. Of the two shades, brown is always going to be a more natural-looking mascara because it’s softer and less obvious – especially for those with fairer lashes. But darker lashes can benefit too. “If you have naturally dark lashes, or if you get your lashes tinted then the only thing brown mascara can’t do is intensify your lashes even more,” says Makeup Artist Georgia Rose. “But it’s still a great option for adding volume and length.”
“Brown mascara goes with so many looks. There’s a misconception that you can’t wear it with a smoky eye but I think it’s absolutely ideal if you’re creating a smoky with copper, or deep green and navy shades” says makeup artist Paulina Siembor. A sentiment that Rose shares. “I love to pair a dark brown with a smoky eye but I also think brown mascara is great for anyone who wants a more natural lash look. Brown mascara is probably more versatile than black in that way.”
9 of the best brown mascaras, picked by our beauty team
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RRP: £18 Brush type: Synthetic
This mascara may not be on your radar, but it should be. Designed by makeup artist Aimee Connolly, she got everything right when she set out to make the best mascara. The shade is a gorgeous natural brown, but the formula's effect is anything but natural. The soft curved wand helps to define and lift lashes instantly; just one coat will do it, but the more you add, the more volume you'll add to your lashes. While testing, we found that the lift we saw immediately upon application lasted all day. What makes this brown mascara one of the best on the market is the pro-vitamin B5 formula that nourishes and conditions lashes, plus making it easy to apply and add more coats before it dries down. It is one of the best mascaras for lifting, lengthening and volumising–it does it all, hence earning the title of best brown mascara overall.
Buy if: You don't like choosing between definition, length and volume–you want it all.
Avoid if: You want a brighter brown colour or prefer a straight brush.
RRP: £28 Brush type: Synthetic
Charlotte Tilbury's award-winning Pillow Talk range can't have escaped your notice. Thanks to its berry undertone, it's one of the best brown mascaras to make a visible colour difference on darker lashes. The brush is quite conical, and what it does is fan out the outer lashes whilst lifting the inner lashes all at the same time. The wand's end is quite pointy, meaning you can go back in and easily coat any tiny lashes you may have missed. It's very easy to build up, and darker lashes may need two coats, whereas fairer lashes may only need one. We loved using this one.
Buy if: You want a keratin-infused formula that focuses on lifting lashes with a bright berry undertone.
Avoid if: You have dry or sensitive eyes, as the formula can get a little powdery over time
RRP: £19 Brush type: Synthetic
We're always surprised more mascaras haven't followed Eyeko's lead with their tube packaging because it means you can squeeze it from the bottom, like a toothpaste tube, and ensure you get every last drop out. This has a great curved brush that we wiggled into place at the bottom of our lashes and combed through. As you can imagine, this helps to lift and bend the lashes as it goes – and does so brilliantly. We found that it can get a bit clumpy, so be careful not to overload the lash with the formula. But as long as you start sparingly, this is an excellent choice for lifted lashes without the need to curl.
Buy if: You want a curved, lifted look and a keratin-infused formula
Avoid if: You absolutely hate any clumps; we found this could get a bit clumpy
RRP: £28 Brush type: Synthetic
Too Faced's Better Than Sex mascara achieved cult status years ago, and it's still the one we compare all the other best mascaras to. If volume is on the agenda, this is your best brown mascara. With even the best brown mascaras, there is always the worry that it won't stand out as much as your usual black mascara, but not with this formula. We found our lashes were longer, more defined, and fuller. Not only does it give lashes dramatic volume, but it also boasts film polymers that keep the curl in place and lasts all day long. It has peptides to condition lashes and is ophthalmologically tested, making it one of the best mascaras for sensitive eyes and contact wearers.
Buy if: You want a full, dramatic, fanned look for your best lashes yet
Avoid if: You don't enjoy thick, voluminous lashes and prefer a subtle, lengthened look
RRP: £12.99 Brush type: Synthetic
This new L'Oreal mascara launched recently and is already going viral online. Promising volume across the entire lash line and bigger looking eyes, it makes big claims, and when we tested, we found it delivered on them. What's unique about the Panorama mascara is the bristle brush, designed to create that fanned-out effect we love. If you love a separated and clump-free lash look, this is the one for you. The brush makes application effortless with a thinner tip for the inner eye and a larger body for the longer lashes around the centre of the eye, so you don't really need to put the work in; the brush and the brands' stretch-flex formula will do most of the hard work (and volume boosting) for you.
Buy if: You want fuller, thicker-looking lashes
Avoid if: You don't enjoy a silicone brush
RRP: £42 Brush type: Synthetic
Gucci Westman's Eye Want You mascara has it all. The celebrity makeup artist's seal of approval for one. But then there is the formula itself. It defines, lengthens, and adds volume all in one coat. And the best bit? It's a super clean formula, so it's great for sensitive eyes. This is an excellent option for a natural makeup look. You can achieve a subtle everyday look with just one coat to lift and lengthen. But when we said it can do it all, we meant it; just a couple of extra coats make for a bold, volume-filled look. The shea butter and vegan wax blend infused formula nourishes the lashes and makes application, and re-application easy, so it's easy to add more throughout the day and take the look from day to night.
Buy if: You want a vegan friendly formula with no silicones or parabens, and a nourishing and lengthening mascara
Avoid if: You prefer a thinner brush
RRP: £33 Brush type: Synthetic bristle
Dior mascaras are truly excellent, so if this is in your budget then it's definitely worth your time and money. The brush is conical in shape but unlike others, it has a really chunky base section that helps it create lots of volume and density in lashes – great if yours are quite fine and spindly. The pointy end, as we've already said, meant we could point it towards our eye and coat those tiny inner and shorter bottom lashes that often get overloaded when applying mascara the 'regular' way. The colour of the mascara is a really flattering mid-brown. It's not too cool or too warm or too light or too dark, so it really will work on every lash and eye colour. There's no denying this is a pricy pick, but it's also one of the best brown mascara options that's pretty much guaranteed to suit all.
Buy if: You want a fluffy lash, a mid brown shade and a gorgeous looking mascara
Avoid if: You want something more affordable, and don’t enjoy a slightly powdery formula
RRP: £12.95 Brush type: Synthetic
There's a reason this mascara is called 'extreme length' - because that is exactly what it does. In fact, it's one of the best lengthening mascaras we tried as a part of this search. The comb brush separates each lash, coating it in mascara as it goes, keeping them looking long and defined without a clump in sight. There's something about waterproof mascara formulations that means they are never as creamy and velvety-smooth as non-waterproof versions, and this is very true to that. However, it fulfils its waterproof status brilliantly and after getting caught in a rain shower it hadn't budged a millimetre. A great brown mascara for longevity – and weepy weddings.
Buy if: You’re looking for a waterproof brown mascara that de-clumps as it coats and lengthens
Avoid if: You have dry eyes as this formula can be quite drying
RRP: £28 Brush type: Synthetic
We don't think there's one dud Beauty Pie product, and this fab brown mascara is another example of what a brilliant concept this beauty members club is. Now onto the brilliance of the brush. Thanks to its spiralling bristles, every bristle manages to grab a lash and lift it up as you comb it through creating some serious envy-inducing lash length. The formula is creamy and feels really hydrating on the lashes and leaves our lashes looking long the entire day. If you're a member, this is one of the best brown mascara options out there. If you aren't, perhaps it's time to think about signing up?
View the latest Beauty Pie discount codes from woman&home's vouchers team.
Which colour eyes should wear brown mascara?
As with all makeup there are never any hard or fast rules, but if you have blue eyes brown mascara will be less intense because it will probably be closer to the colour of your natural lashes. Whereas black mascara will definitely make more of an impact.
On the flip-side there are reasons why people with darker eye colours may want to steer clear of brown mascara, even if it is the best brown mascara out there. “Anyone with dark eyes that are framed with naturally full dark lashes may find that brown mascara takes something away from the natural dark beauty of their lashes and black mascara is a better option,” says Sebiora.
How we selected the best brown mascaras
This is one area where the brown vs black mascara debate finds common ground, as finding the best brown mascara comes down to exactly the same factors as black. We tested and assessed these products on:
- Ingredients and packaging
- Wand shape and style
- Ease of application
- The finished look on the lashes
- Longevity and smudge-proof powers
- Ease of removal
We also kept a keen eye on price and value for money - as mascara is one of the beauty product categories where drugstore buys often outperform pricy designer picks. After wearing each mascara for a minimum of one full day, we whittled our selection down to the 9 best brown mascaras for every lash look and budget.
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