Brown mascara

[ThanksItHasPockets]

I have used black mascara religiously for years and years, especially since reading a beauty writer declare that brown mascara is totally pointless. I have dark blonde hair and green eyes, with mid-brown eyelashes and eyebrows.

My heart sunk a bit when I opened a brown Eyeko mascara in my M&S beauty advent calendar but having tried it I cannot believe how flattering it is. Is this a getting older thing? (I am approaching forty). I feel like I should never listen to another beauty writer again.

I love brown mascara, I have brown/balayage hair and black mascara looks fake and harsh a bit like black hair dye can look.
Brown's definitely the way to go

@Jayaywhynot

I love brown mascara, I have brown/balayage hair and black mascara looks fake and harsh a bit like black hair dye can look. Brown's definitely the way to go

I agree - I have red hair/blue eyes and black mascara looks terrible on me.

I often wear the Benefit primer one on it's own (the colour is called Mink IIRC), but I recently bought a burgundy one from YSL after seeing it mentioned somewhere here and it's even more fabulous 😀

i love brown mascara
it's a really soft natural look

& i used to wear blue mascara in my youth!

@SocksAndTheCity it's been so long since I've heard about a burgundy mascara I forgot they existed... off to purchase one now!

I wore the Benefit brown primer after seeing it recommended here and it looks great, very subtle and natural, but I have oily eyelids and by the end of the day it was everywhere so I've gone back to Chanel waterproof. It's a bit darker so not as subtle but it doesn't budge.

I have auburn hair, pale skin and freckles and brown mascara is perfect. Black is far too harsh and ageing on me.

I agree, brown is often more flattering. The beauty industry seems intent on telling us black is best for mascara. I can remember a few decades ago there was much more choice. Benefit used to do a plum be which was stunning for green eyes but it was discontinued. I imagine they sell fewer of the non-black and so stop making them but all the time ‘experts’ tell us black is the best colour and also marketing from the brands is always black…. Then how do they think the colours will sell?
I think it may be to do with age, maybe skin tone changes, but to be honest I can think of several young people I know that would probably suit brown eye makeup but the fashion is black so that’s what they wear. They’re beautiful whatever they wear but the black is harsh even on their skin.
I’ve also loved the non-black eye products in my beauty advent this year. Such a refreshing change from the last five plus years of black mascara and eyeliners

Where would one buy burgundy mascara?

I love red tones with my eyes (green and yellow), but it makes my skin look vampiric. This could definitely be the solution!

Ooh! I am a fool! YSL was the burgundy one.

Any other recommendations would be welcome. I really like YSL products, but they are firmly beyond my budget...

A few years back I tried on the Chanel burgundy mascara, it was beautiful. I'm not sure if it's still available now though.

I have the same colour hair/eyes as you.

I use brown mascara as black is too strong a colour on me.

Once upon a time there was a plum coloured mascara I used which was even more flattering than brown but it was discontinued.

You have reminded me that I have had several purple / plum mascaras which are indeed lovey on green eyes. One was YSL and another was Bourjois. I found, however, that rather as if I were wearing bright eyeshadow I had to tone down any other colour on my face. When I tried to wear it with a bold red-pink lipstick it looked clownish.

I love brown mascara! I think it’s harder to get hold of now. My eyes are blue and when I wear black mascara it looks too fake as a PP said.

However, I think the current trend for fake eyelashes every day means we’re more used to seeing very dark eyelashes

I've only ever used Brown Black but now I'm thinking I'm going to try Brown.

I have always worn black mascara. I bought a brown by mistake about a year ago and I've not gone back, brown is much more flattering on me these days.

Black is too harsh on me and I’m so annoyed still at Benefit discontinuing their They’re Real in brown. It’s the only brown which has successfully stayed on my oily lashes, I’m using their brown primer at the moment but having to reapply at regular intervals and also wipe the residue of the previous application from under my eyes. I’m only continuing with it because it wasn’t cheap so I want to get my money worth.

@MadisonAvenue

Black is too harsh on me and I’m so annoyed still at Benefit discontinuing their They’re Real in brown. It’s the only brown which has successfully stayed on my oily lashes, I’m using their brown primer at the moment but having to reapply at regular intervals and also wipe the residue of the previous application from under my eyes. I’m only continuing with it because it wasn’t cheap so I want to get my money worth.

Have you tried a tubing mascara? I'm impressed with the Eyeko one.

I'm enjoying the No7 Stay Perfect tubing mascara in black/brown but I see it comes in brown too - no smudging

www.boots.com/no7-stay-perfect-mascara-10156448

I use eyelid primer for oily lids (just need a tiny amount and blend quickly)

www.boots.com/wet-n-wild-photo-focus-eyeshadow-primer-10275461

Someone mentioned this mascara on here recently - I’ve bought some and the colour is fab - there are 2 shades of brown…
gingerparrot.co.uk/store/Gingerlash-Redhead-Mascara-p100491066

[quote LarkRize]Someone mentioned this mascara on here recently - I’ve bought some and the colour is fab - there are 2 shades of brown…
gingerparrot.co.uk/store/Gingerlash-Redhead-Mascara-p100491066[/quote]
Thank you! I've never seen that site before and both of those mascaras look perfect 😊

I wear brown more than I wear black but for a night out I'd go for black for a bit more impact.

Herja I think L'Oréal might do burgundy mascara.

Love brown mascara, black on too harsh for me too (auburn hair and fair skin).

Also like the purpley ones, Chanel used to do a gorgeous plum one, I miss it

I have blue eyes and when I wear brown mascara they look much more strikingly bright blue. Its very noticeable.

I've changed from black to brown mascara over the last year or so and I'm trying to find a good brown eyeliner, too. I find the brown mascara is definitely less harsh now I'm in my 50s. I also have a brown/black shade (from Boots no.7) which I really like.

After reading this thread, I'm liking the idea of a burgundy mascara, or even a deep navy or midnight blue. I'm not sure if either would suit me, though. I have mid-brown hair and blue eyes with fairish skin. If I can find a reasonably priced one I might give it a try.