18 Brown Mascara Makeup Ideas for Fall

Hailey bieber with a brown smokey eye and glowy skin — @haileybieber/Instagram

A departure from the staple black shade, this fall is all about brown mascara. The neutral hue subtly defines lashes, making it the ultimate hack for cool-girl neutral glam. With brands such as Hourglass, Refy, and Dibs Beauty all launching gorgeous brown mascaras this season, there are plenty of reasons to get excited about wearing the unexpected hue. From dark espresso to milky chocolate shades, there is something for anyone wanting to switch up their everyday fall makeup. Ahead, find 18 brown mascara makeup looks that perfectly capture the effortless aesthetic.

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Natural Beauty

Model with dewy skin, brown mascara, and red hair — @davidrazzano / Instagram

All you need is a touch of soft brown mascara to keep your makeup looking ultra-natural. Look for brown mascara shades that are on the lighter end and apply a few coats to your top and bottom lashes to instantly enhance your eyes.

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Soft Eyes

A person with curly hair standing indoors in a studiolike setting — @brittsully / Instagram

Brown mascara looks stunning alongside soft makeup looks. Consider this proof that you don't need to wear full glam for your mascara to make an impact. Whether you wear it with a bare face or a simple swatch of blush and lip gloss, the small detail makes a difference.

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Chocolate Shadow

Ashley Graham with brown sparkly makeup and ponytail — @kaleteter / Instagram

The perfect pairing? Brown mascara and a warm eyeshadow. Instead of creating contrast with a traditional black hue, a touch of chocolate still adds definition but with a slightly gentler finish.

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Chic Liner

@kaleteter / Instagram

A buffed-out smoky eye already sets a moody tone, but a muted mascara keeps the look from reading too edgy. Take this gorgeous glam, for example. A deeper espresso brown mascara works great with the chic, winged eyeliner, as it helps lashes stand out against thicker eyeliner shapes.

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Warm Tones

Julianne Moore posing in a neutral colored outfit resting her hand near her head — @juliannemoore / Instagram

Brown mascara instantly warms up a look and complements any eye color. Worn with some natural liner, blush, and lipstick, brown mascara can be the perfect addition to ensuring a sultry, yet subtle look.

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Brown on Brown

Gracie Abrams with soft dewy makeup and messy bob — @nikki_makeup / Instagram

Wearing brown mascara with brown eyes is a great way to enhance your natural features. Here, Gracie Abrams opted for a darker brown shade for added dimension. It's suitable for any makeup look, especially contoured and highlighted skin.

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Espresso Brown

Model with dewy neutral makeup and brown mascara — @danessa_myricks / Instagram

Close enough to black but not as deep, espresso brown mascara creates enough contrast that it can be worn with both soft and dramatic makeup looks. The versatility of the product makes it essential for both beginners and experts.

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Beautifully Defined

Sasha Lane with dewy, brown eye makeup — @vincentoquendo / Instagram

Looking for easy glam? Pair your brown mascara with a matching eyeliner on the top and bottom lash line. This offers definition without demanding heavy eye makeup and is suitable for both day and night.

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Pop of Penny

Actress with copper brown winged eyeliner — @vincentoquendo / Instagram

When wearing vivid eyeliner (such as this gorgeous copper seen on Piper Perabo), brown mascara lets your eye makeup do the talking without competing too much. The sharp outline of color draws attention to the eyes while your lashes remain the perfect accessory.

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Cinnamon Eyes

Close up of model with glowy bronzed makeup — @danessa_myricks / Instagram

If you are going for an ultra-bronzed look, brown mascara is the perfect companion. It keeps the entire look in the same color family and is an easy way to achieve a chic, monochromatic look.

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Smoky Chocolate

Zoey Deutch looking forward wearing drop earrings — @hungvanngo / Instagram

While a traditional smoky eye might use shades of black and grey, the look can be reinvented in a brown color palette. Need proof? Here, Zoey Deutch sports a layered brown buffed-out look. Her eyes remain the focal point, while the rest of the makeup is soft, sculpted, and perfectly defined.

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Brighten With Brown

Person with long brown hair styled to one side indoors wearing a light outfit standing in front of staircase railing — @carlyy.fisher / Instagram

Brighten up your blue and green eyes with coffee-hued mascara. Fun fact—brown mascara can enhance the whites of your eyes, helping you look more alert, no matter how much sleep you got the night before.

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Mix and Match

Closeup of a woman wearing large pearl earrings — @patrickta / Instagram

Want to wear both brown and black mascara? Mixing mascara colors might not be something you'd think to do, but it works well and is a great way to utilize your products. Apply black mascara to the top lashes for volume and definition, and wear brown on the bottom lash line for added softness.

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Umber Lashes

Laura Harrier in a robe with neutral glam — @hungvanngo / Instagram

Cool-toned brown mascaras, such as shades of umber, can help define and enhance eyes while complementing any eyeshadow and liner tones. This is the perfect option for those who might not love a warm copper or chocolate hue.

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Fall Gingerbread

A person facing left showcasing styled makeup and hair — @hungvanngo / Instagram

It's no secret that brown is a quintessential fall color. This gingerbread-inspired eye look is just what we need as we dive into autumn makeup looks. If you find your mascara looks clumpy, take your finger or a Q-tip and gently rub it against your lashes until the clumps disappear and your lashes are smooth.

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Mocha Mascara

Woman with glittery eyeshadow and brown mascara — @cherishbrookehill / Instagram

Mocha mascara looks beautiful when worn with shimmering eyeshadows or just by itself. The next time you want to play with eye makeup, try brown mascara for a slightly softer finish.

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Polished and Poised

Ariana DeBose facing forward with short hair and earrings — @vincentoquendo / Instagram

Brown mascara gives an overall polished feeling to your makeup look, and is especially beautiful when worn with a natural eyeliner. Don't forget to amp up the volume by applying at least two to three coats of product to your top lashes.

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Contrasting Browns

@cherishbrookehill / Instagram

Wearing a dark brown mascara with a lighter brown eyeliner adds a lovely contrast to your eyes. Want to wear falsies? There are plenty of false eyelashes that now come in brown colors, you can enjoy the benefit of brown eyelashes and added volume.