I Hardly Reach for Black Mascara Anymore—11 Brown Formulas that Transformed My Natural Glam Game

Now you know.

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(Image credit: @maryljean)

I've been on quite a journey trying to find a mascara I love for everyday wear. While there have been a few contenders over the last few years, I've yet to find the perfect one. I've always bought black drugstore mascara, but now I'm ready to expand my horizons. A makeup artist once told me to go a few shades lighter with my eyebrow pencil color, and I loved the results, so I thought, why not try it with mascara, too?

Brown mascara tends to look a bit more natural than jet black, and makeup artists love it too. “Brown mascara is one of those under-the-radar staples that quietly transforms a look,” says Nikki Wolf, celebrity makeup artist to Sabrina Carpenter, Demi Moore, and more. “It’s softer than black, yes, but don’t mistake that for basic,” she adds. “It’s the kind of enhancement that looks like you—just a bit more polished.”

As someone who loves a good no-makeup makeup look, I'm convinced my perfect mascara shade is actually a rich brown instead. To get more insight into the best formulas in this shade, I turned to a few more experts. “I love a brown mascara for daytime when you're looking to slightly amp up the eyes without looking like you're trying too hard," celebrity makeup artist Judi Gabbay says. "Brown mascaras are also beautiful on all eye colors, making it an easy, foolproof choice."

Keep on scrolling for the best brown mascaras money can buy, according to experts and editors who’ve tested handfuls.

The Best Brown Mascaras

Best Overall: Tower 28 MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara

Best Budget: Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

Alyssa Brascia wearing Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara in brown.

(Image credit: @alyssabrascia)

Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Building Mascara

Best Splurge: Westman Atelier Eye Want You Mascara

Best Designer: Dior Diorshow 24 HR Buildable Volume Mascara

Best Volumizing: YSL Beauty Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara

Best Lengthening: Lancôme Lash Idôle Lengthening and Volumizing Mascara

Best Clean: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara

Best Conditioning: Versed Day Lash Lifting and Defining Mascara

Best Vegan: Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara

Best for Mature Eyes: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara

FAQ

Who looks best with brown mascara?

Make no mistake, brown mascaras are for everyone. Since most people’s lashes are varying shades of light brown to black, brown is the middle point and most natural shade for many hair colors. Eye colors, however, may experience varying iris-popping effects when a brown mascara is swiped.

“On blue and green eyes, it brings warmth and depth. On brown eyes, it subtly defines without harshness,” Wolff explains. Persico agrees with Wolff’s musings about lighter eyes, explaining that “the softer shade often brings out the color in the irises.”

Why should I wear brown mascara?

You certainly don’t have to swap your favorite black (burgundy, blue, you name it) mascara for brown just because the internet told you to, but brown mascara can serve its purpose in a few different scenarios. If you want a no-makeup makeup look that enhances your natural flutters, a brown mascara would be your best bet. Or if your eyeliner went on a tinge too smoky and you want to tone it down, try layering a brown mascara over your lashes to lighten things up. No matter your prerogative, brown mascaras are a great option for those who favor the natural look of makeup.

What to Look for

When evaluating the best brown mascaras, I considered a few key things:

  • Formula: As aforementioned, we want products to do more for us in 2025 than they have in the past. I looked specifically for mascaras that were mostly clean, with lash-loving ingredients that aid in the growth or nourishment of the natural lashes mid-wear.
  • Ingredients: Which ingredients, you may ask? Well, a couple standouts include arginine, vitamin E, shea butter, and plant waxes, all which promote stronger, more hydrated lashes and possible lash growth.
  • Extra Benefits: Additional perks include 12-24 hour wear, smudge- or water-proof formulas, and any sort of resistance to product transfer.

How We Chose

Pulling from our own inventories of beloved mascaras and polling experts, I, amongst the rest of theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing beauty team, rounded up our favorite formulas and dished on why we prefer some over the others. We corroborated our picks with our team of celebrity makeup artist experts and decided on the 11 above, keeping qualities like formula efficacy, ingredients, and additional benefits in mind.

Why Trust Us

AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

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Associate Beauty Editor

Shawna Hudson is a beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and travel writer with over 10 years of experience. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in journalism and has written for other publications such as Bustle, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Elite Daily, and more. She is currently a beauty writer atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing and hopes to continue feeding her (completely out-of-control) beauty obsession as long as she can. Stay up to date on her latest finds on Instagram @shawnasimonee.