For years, black mascara has reigned supreme as a non-negotiable final step in every makeup routine from the ‘90s supermodel era to today’s TikTok tutorials. But in 2025, brown mascara is having a well-deserved renaissance.
It’s no longer just a softer alternative or a makeup artist’s backstage trick. It’s a main character in its own right, delivering all the length, lift, and impact you want, but with a nuanced, wearable warmth that feels modern, elegant, and positively effortless. It’s also surprisingly versatile. While the darker tone tends to dominate bold or nighttime looks, brown works just as well for those moments, and arguably even better for daytime, office, or low-effort beauty vibes. It also pairs beautifully with the warm tones dominating eyeshadow palettes in 2025 – think bronzes, peaches, rusts, and rosy neutrals.
Editors, makeup artists, and beauty influencers alike are reaching for brown over black, not just for its natural look but for its adaptability. Whether you’re going for fresh-faced minimalism or a soft smokey eye, brown mascara adds definition without the harsh lines, making your eyes pop in a way that feels chic and intentional, but never overdone.
And while brown mascara once had a reputation for being a little, well, underwhelming – think dry formulas, patchy pigment, and disappointing lift – that’s no longer the case. Today’s top tubes boast rich, chocolatey tones, cutting-edge wands, and stay-all-day formulas that rival even the most iconic black mascaras.
At marie claire, we’ve tried out dozens of options – from high-end luxury buys to budget-friendly cult favourites – to bring you the definitive edit of brown mascaras worth your money in 2025. Whether you want dramatic volume, clean-girl definition, or a no-smudge solution, these are the brown mascaras that deliver without compromise.
The Best Brown Mascaras To Shop In 2025
Clinique High Impact High-Fi Full Volume Mascara in Brown
$53 at Sephora
Editor’s Pick: Briar Clark
This dark brown mascara from Clinique is kind of like your lashes, just a bit better. The lightweight formula is super comfortable to wear throughout the day, and it curls and thickens my lashes at the root, creating a natural definition that I really love personally. However, if you’re more of a soft glam kind of person this probably isn’t the mascara for you. No matter how many coats you apply, this stuff will never give you that false lash effect level of volume.
Rating: 4/5
Available at:
- $53 from Myer
- $53 from Adore Beauty
- $53 from Clinique
Diorshow 24H Buildable Volume Mascara in Brown
$63 at Dior
Editor’s Pick: Sally Hunwick
Brown mascara is a favourite of mine, especially during the day with more natural makeup looks, or off-duty on the weekend when I don’t want to wear much makeup at all. Brown mascara boosts the look of eyes without looking too “done” and the Dior 24H Buildable Volume mascara is a mainstay in my rotation. Formulated with a no-transfer finish, the deep chocolate colour has a slight maroon tinge that adds intrigue and depth to any look. Plus, with a buildable formula, you can apply it as light or layered as you need with each swipe delivering definition without the dreaded dry off.
Rating: 4/5
Available at:
- $63 from Sephora
- $63 from Adore Beauty
- $63 from Myer
Tower 28 MakeWaves Lengthening & Volumising Mascara in Drift
$35 at Mecca
Editor’s Pick: Kate Hassett
Prior to discovering the Tower28 MakeWaves mascara, my eyelash curler was the most-used item in my makeup bag. After all, with long, but dead-straight lashes, nothing could offer the lift I wanted without it. That was, until I discovered the magic that is MakeWaves. With its triple-wave wand, the flexible head grips my lashes from the root, allowing for a lightweight yet pigmented pull from base to tip with zero crunch or drag. The result is a defined curl that holds all day and never feels over done. The deep chocolate hue gives just as much depth as the black formula without the need for layering, and I’m not kidding when I say my lashes double in length with a single swipe. I’m onto my sixth tube of this one and am yet to find a formula to rival it.
Rating: 5/5
Lash Slick Mascara in Brown
$37 at Glossier
Editor’s Pick: Angela Law
I’ve almost exclusively used the Glossier Lash Slick mascara for the past five years, and even wore it to my wedding. That’s extreme dedication for anyone, but particularly for a beauty editor. My eyes tend to water, no matter the season, so I need a mascara that won’t flake or smudge in even the toughest conditions. This one is exactly that, as a tubing formula that makes it durable for all day wear, but still easy to remove before bed. It is lightweight and lengthening, but I will admit that If volume is your priority, this may not be the one for you. The brown shade in particular delivers a your-lashes-but-way-better result.
Rating: 4.5/5
Available at:
- $35 from Mecca
Revlon All In Mascara in Brown
$12.98 (usually $25.95) at Myer
Editor’s Pick: Sally Hunwick
An affordable favourite for a reason, the All In tubing mascara ticks all the boxes for anyone looking to level up their long-lasting lash game. Formulated with a polymer-enriched mix that coats your lashes with pigmented colour minus the crunch, this nourishing blend of beeswax and copernica cerrifera wax helps to repel moisture and provide a noticeably glossy finish. For anyone unfamiliar with tubing mascara, the aim of the game is to lengthen out and separate lashes (think Twiggy sans smudges) and this particular pick promises (and delivers) just that. The rich brown version is deep enough to coat blonde lashes from root to tip and gentle enough to be removed with nothing but a splash of warm water at the end of the day. Sculptural lashes without the need for a scrub down? Yes please!
Rating: 4/5
Available at:
- $25.95 from Priceline
Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Volumising Mascara in Let’z Be Blunt
$37 at Sephora
Editor’s Pick: Kate Hassett
There’s a reason why Rihanna’s been slow to get back in the recording booth – and we’re not holding it against her. Because the products she’s been working on for Fenty Beauty never fail to make it into my regular beauty rotation. Case in point this thickening mascara that does what it says on the tin – and then some. If you’re after a bit of daytime drama, or some extra depth after dark, you can’t go wrong with this super-coated formula. It’s made to expand and extend lashes without a deliciously deep chocolate hue and moisturising feel. I can swipe a layer of this on, and never have to worry about running my fingers under my eyes to clean up any fallout – which is a win in my book.
The tapered brush head does a good job of coating the full length of the lashes from root to tip with very little effort, and as someone with blonde roots and tips – this is greatly appreciated. While I do find myself wishing it offered a touch more curl-factor in its final form, this, combined with a pre-coat clamp from my trusty eyelash curler – leaves me with a long-lasting lift I can’t fault. For those looking for a more subtle look, this might not be the one for you – but that’s hardly what you’re expecting from a product named Hella Thicc.
Rating: 4/5
Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Mascara in Brown
$70 at Myer
Best for: reason
Think of this as the brown mascara for people who still want drama but not the harshness. The ultra-volumising formula builds thick, bold lashes with a moody brown finish that adds warmth and softness to your overall look. It’s a power move in a tube, just with a slightly quieter tone. The wearable formula works on a number of lash types – straight, short or long – and provides a dose of colour without the need for too many layers. However, we suggest sticking to under three coats of this one (which is plenty – trust us) as any more and the formula has been known to start clumping.
Rating: 3/5
Available at:
- $70 from Sephora
- $70 from Adore Beauty
- $70 from Yves Saint Laurent
- $70 from Mecca
Looking to save money on brown mascara? Check out our coupon codes for Adore Beauty, Sephora and more.
Related articles:
