Relating to constructing out a capsule make-up assortment, one should not overlook a good mascara. However each on occasion, it’s okay to deviate out of your “little black mascara” and incorporate some extra shade (for instance, colourful eyeliner). These days, there’s a rainbow of mascaras to select from, and whereas it is probably not the *spiciest* possibility to contemplate, brown mascara is nice as a result of it enhances a wide range of eye colours whereas delivering a delicate, au naturale make-up look.
Greatest brown mascaras, at a look:
- Greatest volumizing: Too Confronted, Higher Than Intercourse, $29
- Greatest drugstore: Covergirl, LashBlast Quantity Mascara, $9
- Greatest smudge-resistant: Dior, Iconic Overcurl, $32
- Greatest long-lasting components: Tarte Lights, Digicam, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara, $25
- Greatest separating: YSL, Lash Conflict Excessive Quantity Mascara, $29
- Greatest water resistant: Pixi, Massive Lash Mascara, $16
- Greatest lifting: Charlotte Tilbury, Pillow Speak Volumizing Mascara, $29
- Greatest coating: Glossier, Lash Slick, $18
In This Article
What to search for in brown mascaras
Not each mascara is obtainable in a brown shade, however for those which might be, there’s a range to select from: darkish brown mascara, greatest mild brown mascara, brown tubing mascara, and extra. Some have purple undertones; others are available a darkish chocolate shade, so there’s lots to select from. Much more, they lengthen, volumize, and elevate lashes to offer you that va-va-voom look.
When procuring, listed below are a number of tricks to think about:
Components
Take a second to evaluation the ingredient checklist on the mascara’s packaging. You probably have delicate eyes or desire “clear” magnificence merchandise, go for mascaras which might be free from harsh chemical substances, parabens, and fragrances. Pure components like chamomile or aloe vera might be mild in your lashes and the fragile pores and skin round your eyes. Additionally search for cruelty-free certification or vegan seals, if that matches your way of life.
Brush type
The mascara wand’s type performs an important position in reaching your required lash *lewk.* A curved brush may also help curl and elevate your lashes, whereas a straight brush is good for separating and defining. For a pure look, select a thinner brush, and for added quantity, go for a thicker, densely bristled brush.
System
And naturally, the components is essential. Go for waterproof formulation for longevity or a washable one for straightforward elimination. Additionally, look out for nourishing components like vitamin E to maintain your lashes wholesome and powerful; some brown mascaras include further options, reminiscent of lash-conditioning advantages, lash-serum infusion, or lash-darkening properties.
Different formulation might be “tubing” formulation, which differ from conventional mascara in how they coat and improve your lashes. As an alternative of portray your lashes with pigmented liquid or wax, tubing mascaras create tiny “tubes” round every particular person lash. Once you’re prepared to scrub your face, the tubes slide off seamlessly, making them a mild possibility for these with delicate eyes.
One of the best brown mascaras, based on W+G staffers
Greatest volumizing:

Too Confronted, Higher Than Intercourse — $29.00
Tester: Maki Yazawa, meals author
Eye shade: Brown
“I’ve been utilizing Too Confronted Higher Than Intercourse in black because it first launched again in 2013 (yep, a decade in the past). This mascara is principally the holy grail of lifting and volumizing in a single. But it surely wasn’t till lately that I switched to brown; frankly, I’m by no means going again. The brown shade errs extra on the facet of darkish chocolate, which enhances my darkish brown eyes a lot better than the lighter brown mascaras available on the market. The thick wand makes making use of and, most significantly, volumizing my lashes almost easy—a number of swipes and my lashes are giving Major Character power.
I even have extraordinarily delicate eyes, and this is among the few mascaras that don’t make my eyes itch or water. Though the formulation isn’t technically waterproof (within the brown shade, a minimum of), I discover that this product doesn’t flake off or smudge simply by any means. Working example: It may well face up to a scorching yoga class so long as I keep away from rubbing my eyes excessively.”
Shades: 2
Cruelty-free: Sure
Waterproof: No
- Delivers lengthy and voluminous lashes
- Enhances darkish brown eyes
- Has thick wand
- Cruelty-free components
Greatest drugstore:

Covergirl, LashBlast Quantity Mascara — $9.00
Tester: Amelia McBride, editorial assistant
Eye shade: hazel
“There are 1,000,000 the reason why I like Covergirl’s Lash Blast Quantity brown mascara, however for time’s sake, I’ll share just some.
For one, it’s solely $9; some luxurious manufacturers cost as a lot as $30-$40 for a tube. Second, the comb is product of rubber, which suggests the bristles keep in place and received’t warp or bend over time. Third, this components is tremendous thick and delivers prompt size and quantity. If I’m in a rush, only one coat will do the trick. Lastly, this brown shade has purple undertones which make the inexperienced elements of my hazel eyes actually pop!”
Shades: 5
Cruelty-free: Sure
Waterproof: No
- Reasonably priced value level
- Rubber applicator tip received’t lose its form
- Provides quantity and size
- Pink undertones spotlight inexperienced eyes
- Cruelty-free components
- Brush isn’t one of the best at separating lashes
- System may be very thick and might get sticky
- Not waterproof
Greatest smudge-resistant:

Dior, Iconic Overcurl — $32.00
Eye shade: brown
As a result of I’ve quick lashes, it’s all the time a battle to seek out smudge-resistant mascara. At $32 per tube, Dior’s Iconic Overcurl is among the dearer mascaras on the checklist, nevertheless it’s price splurging on. Not solely does the wealthy, chocolate-brown shade complement my brown eyes, it volumizes and lifts my quick lashes sans smudging. I’ve run, incline walked, and worn the Overcurl in 100-degree Texas warmth. Did it smudge? No. Did it maintain up? Sure. Was my mascara nonetheless delivering appears to be like eight hours later? Heck yea.
I actually appreciated the curved brush, which was nice at coating every of my lashes. Even my lashes on my interior tear duct weren’t missed. It’s packaged in a flowery silver tube with the Dior brand (sure, I’m a snobby Taurus who’s a sucker for packaging). One factor to contemplate: it does take a number of further swipes to get a fuller and extra dramatic look. The extra I swipe, the fuller the look. It’s a win-win.
Shades: 3
Cruelty-free: No
Waterproof: No
- Volumizes and lifts quick lashes
- Fancy packaging
- Curved brush to coat all lashes
- Smudge-resistant
- Costly
- Takes a few swipes
- Not waterproof
- Not cruelty-free
Greatest long-lasting components:

Tarte Lights, Digicam, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara — $25.00
Tester: Jenny Heimlich, senior health and well being editor
Eye shade: blue
“As somebody with truthful pores and skin and blue eyes, I sometimes attain for a brown mascara, however I discover some variations are too mild and delicate to do a lot for me. So I like that Tarte’s is a wealthy chocolate brown that’s darkish sufficient to make a press release however nonetheless enhances my pure coloring. The components provides good size and quantity to my lashes with out clumping. Additionally: It stays put for a very long time. This mascara guarantees to final for twenty-four hours, and I discovered it actually caught on my lashes that lengthy, although it will get a bit flaky by the top of that interval.
The packaging is tremendous enjoyable! The surface of the tube is purple snakeskin materials, which makes me really feel like I’m preparing for a celebration. It’s straightforward to open and doesn’t make a large number. I didn’t expertise any irritation, however I wouldn’t say I essentially have tremendous delicate eyes. This mascara is vegan and cruelty-free. The components consists of components like rice bran, wax, vitamin C and B5, and olive esters to situation, hydrate, and shield your lashes. I recognize that it additionally is available in a smaller journey dimension.”
Shades: 2
Cruelty-free: No
Waterproof: No
- Has a wealthy chocolate brown shade
- Enhances blue eyes
- Not clumpy
- Can get flaky, however I solely seen this after a number of hours of wear and tear
- Expensive
- Not waterproof
- Not cruelty-free
Greatest separating:

YSL, Lash Conflict Excessive Quantity Mascara — $29.00
Tester: Betty Gold, senior meals editor
Eye shade: blue
“This mascara each lifted and lengthened my lashes. It was a really delicate, tender brown, which I beloved. The mascara had nice packaging. It didn’t make a large number when opening or on my face. Rating! I do have delicate eyes, and this mascara didn’t irritate my eyes. One other function price noting? It’s waterproof and has a vegan components. One in every of my favourite issues about this mascara is that it really isn’t clumpy. A really, very uncommon discover and a time saver, in my view—making an attempt to comb by means of your lashes time and again to get them to fan out and separate is tedious. None of that with this!”
Shades: 3
Cruelty-free: No
Waterproof: Sure
- Lengthened and lifted my lashes
- Not clumpy
- Brush coats lashes nicely
- Good tender brown shade
- Waterproof
- Vegan
- Not nice for including quantity
- Expensive
- Not cruelty-free
Greatest water resistant:

Pixi, Massive Lash Mascara — $16.00
Tester: Kara Brown, magnificence author
Eye shade: Brown
“Though this was a enjoyable experiment, I can’t say I’ll attain for brown mascara once more. As a result of my pores and skin is brown and my hair is tremendous darkish brown, placing on this Pixi mascara made my lashes lighter than common and fewer noticeable towards my pores and skin tone. They’re nonetheless seen, however as a result of I’ve quick lashes I would like mascara that makes my lashes pop as a substitute of constructing them extra delicate. The components went on and stayed on nicely.”
Shades: 2
Cruelty-free: Sure
Waterproof: No, however water resistant
- Waterproof
- Buildable components
- Has outsized brush
- Waterproof
- Cruelty-free
- Brown shade appears to be like much less noticeable on individuals with medium to darker pores and skin tones
Greatest lifting:

Charlotte Tilbury, Pillow Speak Volumizing Mascara — $29.00
Tester: Maki Yazawa, meals author
Eye shade: Brown
“Relating to excellent mascara, I search for ones that obtain lengthy, non-clumpy, but voluminous lashes multi functional. And Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Speak Volumizing Mascara delivers on all of these fronts. (In fact, I’ve but to come across a Charlotte Tilbury product I don’t like.) From the glossy packaging to the high-quality formulation, Charlotte Tilbury’s mascara hits the mark. It has a barely auburn hue, which provides my lashes a delicate tint, excellent for a no-makeup, make-up kind of day.
That mentioned, this brown shade with reddish undertones would additionally look stunning on of us with green-colored or hazel eyes. It’s additionally price noting that certainly one of my favourite elements about this product is the mascara brush that’s constructed with “load and comb” expertise meant to offer your lashes a “push-up” impact—and, boy, does it work. The one draw back of this mascara is that you just do want so as to add a number of layers if you wish to obtain that tremendous va-va-voom voluminous look—however a number of further swipes will simply do the trick.”
Shades: 2
Cruelty-free: Sure
Waterproof: No
- Not clumpy
- Provides lashes a push-up impact
- Cruelty- and gluten-free
- Wants a number of coats for a voluminous look
- Expensive
- Not waterproof
Greatest coating:

Glossier, Lash Slick — $18.00
Tester: Danielle Calma
Eye shade: Brown
“This mascara makes my eyelashes seem like they’re thrice their unique size with out making it seem like I’m sporting any mascara in any respect. In contrast to many different mascaras I’ve used prior to now, this one went on with out clumping, no matter what number of coats I piled on—and due to its skinny wand, it allowed me to focus on every lash with precision whereas the brushes separated my lashes for a lifted and fanned-out look. (Simply take into account that it received’t make lashes seem super-thick, a minimum of in my expertise).
What’s extra, a few coats have been greater than sufficient to take my lashes to new heights. I put this mascara by means of the wringer, utilizing it one afternoon when temperatures have been above 80-degrees and even after six hours within the warmth, I used to be happy to seek out that it stayed put.”
Shades: 2
Cruelty-free: Sure
Waterproof: No
- Skinny wand coats all lashes
- Not clumpy
- Reasonably priced
- Cruelty-free
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