Is black mascara out? A makeup pro spills on the surprising burgundy and brown mascara trend (2024)

Move over, black mascara — there's a new "it" color in town. Just in time for fall, the shade on everyone's lips, nails and even eyelashes these days seems to be burgundy.

In theory, the rise of the moody, dark red hue at this time of year shouldn't be too shocking. Like clockwork, each autumn the leaves change to a deep crimson, and we usually see the maroon shade reflected back in our outfits. But this year, interest in the black cherry color has reached a fever pitch, creeping into our beauty routines beyond the usual lipstick or nail polish pigments. According to Google Trends, search interest for 'burgundy mascara' peaked in 2024, proving that this year, the shade is here to stay long after the last dark red leaf falls.

But it's not just burgundy that people are picking over their usual black mascara — 'brown mascara' has also been searched more in the last year than ever before, per Google Trends. From espresso to chocolate brown, it's clear that people are beginning to reach for softer tints when it comes to their eye makeup looks.

If you've been eyeing the brown and burgundy mascara trend, there's never been a better time to dip your toe (er — eyelashes?) into the fall-toned waters. To help narrow down the best option for you, we consulted the experts: a professional makeup artist and our team full of editors and beauty fanatics. Scroll on to see the best burgundy and brown mascara recommendations, plus answer all of your burning questions about the colorful trend.

Expert-approved burgundy and brown mascaras | Editor-tested burgundy and brown mascaras | Who should wear burgundy and brown mascara | Differences between burgundy, brown and black mascara | How to wear burgundy and brown mascara | Is black mascara "out"? | How we chose | Meet the expert

Our top picks

Best burgundy and brown mascaras

Expert-approved burgundy and brown mascaras

Budget-friendly burgundy: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara

What we like

  • Good color payoff
  • Separates and lengthens
  • Clump-resistant

Something to note

  • Some prefer a drier formula

Size: 0.26 fl oz | Color: Washable Deep Burgundy

With hundreds of thousands of ratings, it's no surprise that this bestselling mascara is both an expert- and editor-favorite.

"Aside from the purple undertone’s color pay-off, the formula has nourishing ingredients like ceramides and panthenol to condition the lashes — while getting tons of volume and length," makeup artist Neil Scibelli says.

"I originally bought this mascara after seeing a TikTok praising it for being the perfect shade for people with brown eyes," adds social media editor Kara Quill. "As someone who has never once strayed from black mascara, this shade pleasantly surprised me. I think it’s a little softer-looking and brings out my eyes a little bit more. It also doesn’t look too different or bright, so I feel comfortable wearing it on any situation."

Is black mascara out? A makeup pro spills on the surprising burgundy and brown mascara trend (6)

Best tubing: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara

Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara $26.00

What we like

  • Brown-black tone
  • Flake-free
  • Water-resistant

Something to note

  • Can be challenging to remove

Size: 0.38 fl oz | Color: Crystal (Brown Black)

For a brown option, Scibelli recommends this tubing mascara, which also won our Shop TODAY Beauty Awards for best overall tubing mascara.

"Thrive Causemetics makes a great brown tubing mascara in a brown-black, which coats the lashes with an orchid cell stem tubing formula for length and thickness, along with it being smudge-proof, flake-free and water-resistant," Scibelli praises. "A great alternative for light eyes who don’t want the full effects of a black mascara."

Best burgundy-brown hybrid: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes Mascara

What we like

  • Berry-meets-brown color
  • Volumizing and lengthening
  • Formulated with keratin

Something to note

  • Some reviewers note smudging

Size: 0.33 fl oz | Color: Dream Pop (Berry Brown)

If you're looking for a mascara option that meets somewhere in the middle of brown and burgundy, this is Scibelli's pick.

"Charlotte Tilbury makes a really gorgeous berry brown from their pillow talk line, which is a berry-toned brown mascara for a bit of that burgundy hint mixed with a chocolate brown," Scibelli says. "This one really brings out those green and hazel tones in the eyes."

Editor-tested burgundy and brown mascaras

Most popular: Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara in Brown

What we like

  • Softer look than black mascara

Something to note

  • Not a very bold lash

Size: 0.4 fl oz | Color: Brown

If you haven't heard of Essence's Lash Princess mascara, where have you been? The affordable find has thousands of ratings, and after giving the brown version a try, senior social media editor Kate McCarthy gets the hype.

"I have brown eyes and fair skin, so I like how black mascara makes my eyes stand out a bit more, but this brown mascara was slightly softer," says senior social media editor Kate McCarthy. "I found myself reaching for this mascara all summer when I wanted to go for a more 'no makeup, makeup' look. It has definitely become a go-to in my makeup rotation."

Is black mascara out? A makeup pro spills on the surprising burgundy and brown mascara trend (10)

Budget-friendly brown: Essence Lash Without Limits Mascara

What we like

  • Great for a natural look
  • Buildable
  • Adds a lot of length

Something to note

  • Not as much volume as others

Size: 0.4 fl oz | Color: Brown

Another editor-approved Essence pick, this brown mascara is a safe bet for anyone looking to try out the trend without breaking the bank.

"I’ve never been one to experiment with colors, but when the brown mascara trend popped up on my feed, it was just mild enough for me to venture into. I’m glad I did," says editor Vivien Moon. "I didn’t realize how much of a change it would give my eyes ... it didn’t feel like a big jump but made a visible difference."

"I love that it gives my lashes a more natural look as though they are my own with a little 'oomph' depending on how much I apply," Moon adds. "I can’t recommend trying it enough. I don't know if I’ll go back to black mascara any time soon."

Is black mascara out? A makeup pro spills on the surprising burgundy and brown mascara trend (12)

Best for redheads: Redhead Revolution Gingerlash Mascara

Gingerlash Mascara$22.00

$

25.99

What we like

  • Designed by and for redheads
  • Lighter, natural auburn color

Something to note

  • Can weigh down lashes

Size: 0.27 fl oz | Color: Honest Auburn

Designed specifically for redheads, this mascara is an auburn formula that's lighter than some of the other options on this list. Photo editor Kara Birnbaum, who is a natural redhead, says she likes it for days when she wants a more subtle look than she'd otherwise get with black or brown mascara.

Is black mascara out? A makeup pro spills on the surprising burgundy and brown mascara trend (14)

Best newly launched: Clinique Black Honey High Impact Mascara

What we like

  • Volumizing and defining
  • Flattering color, long-lasting
  • Super lengthening

Something to note

  • Let mascara dry between coats

Size: 0.28 fl oz | Color: Black Honey

Personally speaking, I wear Clinique’s ultra-flattering Almost Lipstick in Black Honey pretty much every day. That's why I was so excited to give the burgundy tone a try on my eyelashes when this limited-edition mascara came out earlier this year. To my surprise, it’s actually super subtle. It adds the faintest wash of color that brings out a hint of green in my eyes and makes the brown pop.

Color aside, the editor-loved mascara is a fantastic formula — it lengthens my lashes with zero clumps. I find that it doesn't smudge or budge for a full 14 hours and washes off easily at the end of the day.

Is black mascara out? A makeup pro spills on the surprising burgundy and brown mascara trend (16)

Best volumizing: Benefit Cosmetics Bad Gal Bang! Mascara

What we like

  • Volumizing formula
  • Purple-toned wild plum shade

Something to note

  • Some reviewers note drying out

Size: 0.3 fl oz | Color: Wild Plum

"I’ve never met a Benefit mascara (or product for that matter) that I didn’t love," admits production coordinator Camryn Privette. "I love how this one gives my lashes volume but doesn’t clump together or flake throughout the day. It held all day long and I’m 10/10 impressed!"

Who should wear burgundy and brown mascara?

Wondering if brown or burgundy mascara will compliment your eye color? According to Scibelli, the shades are surprisingly subtle and tend to look good on just about anyone.

“Both colors are less harsh than a black mascara, especially for lighter eyes,” Scibelli says. “They actually bring out the lighter hues in our eyes. Burgundy and brown mascaras are great for all eye colors, but they’ll really make hazel, blue and green eyes pop.”

Is there a difference between burgundy, brown and black mascara?

According to Scibelli, there’s a noticeable difference between each color.

“With burgundy, you’ll get that maroon, rose-like undertone which will really bring out the blue, green and hazel in any eye color,” he says. “It can also warm up the overall eye color.”

“With brown, it’s a great daytime, black alternative because you’ll still get lots of definition with it,” Scibelli notes. “Brown isn’t as harsh as a black mascara so it’ll be a softer backdrop to blue and green eyes (or a great daytime alternative).”

How do you wear brown and burgundy mascara?

For anyone interested in the trend but unsure of how to rock it, Scibelli has a few suggestions.

“The brown tone is a great one to start with because it’s a softer alternative to black — and could be paired with a range of eye looks,” he says. “I also love using brown mascara on the lower lashes for a more natural look.”

“The burgundy will have more of an eye-color popping effect, and can be worn as its own statement feature, but also pairs well with neutral or rose gold tones, muses Scibelli. “Both mascaras can be worn with a black or brown liner.”

Is black mascara “out”?

Fear not, black mascara fans — while other colors are gaining popularity, Scibelli says the staple shade isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

“Black mascara is a true classic that I don’t think will ever be out. It’s also a makeup artist kit staple,” Scibelli says. “However, I love that we’re seeing more variations of colored mascara being regularly worn, from brown to blue to burgundy. “

How we chose

To find the best burgundy and brown mascaras, Shop TODAY enlisted the recommendations of trusted beauty and trends expert and professional makeup artist Neil Scibelli. We asked our editors to share a few of their tried-and-true formulas as well.

Meet the expert

Neil Scibelli is a New York City-based celebrity makeup artist and on-air beauty and trends expert. He has previously spoken with Shop TODAY about how to choose (and clean) makeup brushes, the best makeup products for mature skin, the best lipsticks and the beauty products that are worth splurging or saving on.

Audrey Ekman

Audrey Ekman is a production associate at Shop TODAY.

Is black mascara out? A makeup pro spills on the surprising burgundy and brown mascara trend (2024)

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