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Like a topcoat for your lashes and brows, clear mascara might be the most utilitarian item in your beauty kit. Makeup pro Katie Jayne Hughes, who counts Naomi Campbell and Emmy Rossum among her clients, turns to non-tinted formulas to "groom brows and paint lashes for a 'no makeup, makeup look,'" she says.
Makeup artist Jillian Dempsey—whose clients include Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Winslet—agrees with how clear mascaras enhance a natural look. Her pro tip: “I’d recommend applying clear mascara as a base and using a lash curler on your lashes once the base is dry,” she says. “Clear mascara by itself on lashes slightly darkens them—similarly to the way wet hair has a darker appearance—and is perfect for a day where you want to wear less makeup but still have a fresh and bright appearance.”
Believe it or not, this clear mascara has been a crowd-favorite since 1971. Yeah, it’s just that good. This un-gluey formula has a slight sheen, which is yields a polished look by separating lashes. Hughes adds, "It's a great tool to apply over your mascara to make it more clean and finished-looking."
This clear mascara has maximum hold without any crunching, flakes, or excess shine. Use its curved spoolie to separate and hold the curl on your lashes or to slick back any stray hair in your brows.
Think of this as a topcoat. Use it alone to style brows and hold a curl on your lashes, or create a water-resistant seal on top of your mascara or brow makeup.
Thin, wispy stray hairs are no match for this clear mascara, and the under-$5 pricepoint is hard to beat. But be advised that those with thicker eyebrows should opt for a less slippery formula.
Jason Wu Beauty’s high-impact and affordable makeup products include this non-sticky clear “brow mascara” that will help you style your arches with just a few sweeps. Once set, they will remain in place for hours.
Dempsey recommends reaching for this aloe-infused mascara for both brows and lashes. "The cone-shaped wand really gets in to grab every single hair," she says. "The formula is gentle on eyes too."
Add shine to your brows or lashes or prep them for makeup (it acts as a primer and pumps up the pigment on your mascara and brow products) using this double-ended wand.