I Finally Gave Brown Mascara a Chance, and It Did Amazing Things For My Makeup Looks

By Victoria Moorhouse
e.l.f. Cosmetics
e.l.f. Cosmetics
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Up until a few weeks ago, I had never given brown mascara much (if any) playtime in my beauty routine. I always assumed that black mascara formulas with intense, inky-black pigment would look better on me and do a more efficient job at defining and plumping up my fine eyelashes.

But since I was feeling a little bored with my current lineup, I decided it was as good a time as any to experiment and give brown mascara a chance. After all, I had already rendezvoused with blue and purple mascara multiple times throughout my makeup-wearing life.

Much to my surprise, brown mascara — a product I've completely ignored for years — won me over after my very first wear.

The first thing I noticed was that the brown mascara I tried created a slightly more natural lash look for me than my go-to midnight-black tube. I have dark brown hair, but my eyelashes are slightly lighter, so it was a great fit. The brown mascara certainly didn't skimp on volume or length, either, but the overall look was still softer, especially on my tiny bottom lashes.

Since my initial brown mascara road-test, I've found that when worn with a little cream blush, the e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Camo Concealer ($6), and some lip balm, brown mascara helps me achieve a subtle, fresh-faced vibe that's perfect for running errands and taking Zoom calls.

I've also discovered that it's truly the missing piece from the no-makeup makeup look that I've been trying to perfect for years. It helps me feel put-together and confident without feeling the need to put anything else on my face. On the other hand, sometimes when I wear certain black mascara formulas, I feel the need to fill in my brows to balance out my bold lashes. In that way, brown mascara has become my secret for creating a 60-second makeup look.

But I've found that brown mascara pairs beautifully with more-involved makeup moments, too. When I wear it with taupe, bronze, or brown eyeshadow, I find that it helps bring out my blue eyes.

Now that I know the benefits of brown mascara, I'm eager to try the newly launched brown versions of some of my favorite mascara formulas, like the e.l.f. Cosmetics Lash It Loud Mascara ($6) and the e.l.f. Cosmetics Big Mood Mascara ($7) in Deep Brown.