The 8 best clear mascaras for subtly enhancing and lifting your natural lashes
Our beauty experts have shared detailed reviews of the best clear mascaras available on the market – ideal for a 'no-makeup makeup' look
Sennen Prickett
Many of us would say that we have at least one go-to mascara that we buy on repeat. The go-to for layering pigment onto our natural lashes with just the right amount of length and volume that we like. But – too often dismissed – for a more understated look, the best clear mascaras can still lift and define for a little added "something."
In all likelihood, you've probably almost always gravitated towards black or brown shades when browsing the best mascaras. However, clear formulas have seen something of a resurgence lately for the subtle way they can enhance lashes. And despite often being overlooked, they still make up some of the best natural-looking mascaras on the market. These versatile buys can also serve more than one purpose in your beauty routine, often working to set your brows in place, too – you can even use them to smooth down flyaway hairs. In other words, they're quite the multitaskers to have on hand.
Best clear mascara deals
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The best clear mascaras, tested and reviewed by our beauty experts
Reviewed by: Annie Milroy, Kenedee Fowler
RRP: £3 | Brush type: Bristle
As one of the cheapest products I tested for this guide by far, this clear mascara from Boots brand 17. really took me by surprise when I tested it out. Upon unscrewing the lid, its slender brush was loaded with the clear formula, but imparted just the right amount of product. I didn’t need to go back for a second application, which was a rarity compared with the other clear mascaras I tested.
The product dried down pretty quickly and didn’t leave behind any sticky residue, which I appreciated. It also did a decent job of adding texture to my brows, though, when applied to brows, it didn’t leave those hairs feeling as flexible as it did my lashes.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to apply
- Natural-looking results
Cons
- Doesn't work as well on brows as lashes
Reviewed by: Annie Milroy, Kenedee Fowler
RRP: £13.09 | Brush type: Silicone
Now this was the product that changed my opinion of the clear mascara category. Before using this Physicians Formula buy, I never understood the point of clear mascara. But this is a contender for one of the best volumising mascaras, with a formula packed full of nurturing and strengthening ingredients – including mineral water and vitamin E – all of which left my lashes conditioned and looking healthier.
I was shocked by how this clear gel formula lifted, defined and even volumised my naturally short eyelashes. While it was too watery to smooth and set shorter hairs around my hairline, it worked great at lifting my brows, too.
Pros
- Lengthens and defines
- Conditioning formula
- Surprisingly volumising
Cons
- Too watery to use on hairline
Reviewed by: Annie Milroy, Kenedee Fowler
RRP: £4 | Brush type: Bristle
This translucent gel from high street hero e.l.f. Cosmetics covers all bases; one end of the dual-ended tube is designed to be used on your brows, the other on your lashes. For lashes, the product seamlessly coated mine with the thick gel, meaning a little went a long way. I only needed to apply one coat for instantly and visibly longer, curled and more defined lashes – which were admittedly left slightly tacky-feeling, but I figured using less product might combat this.
As for the other side, this left my brow hair bushy and brushed up hours after applying, while those shorter hairline strands stayed slicked down (which is very out of character). All in all a great buy from e.l.f.
Pros
- Handy 2-in-1 design
- A little goes a long way
- Lasts well on brows and hairline
Cons
- Can go slightly tacky
Reviewed by: Annie Milroy, Kenedee Fowler
RRP: £16 | Brush type: Bristle
This product gets our vote as one of the top choices of clear mascara for nourishing and repairing lashes, thanks to a formula that's bursting with botanical extracts and hydrating ingredients. If you’ve developed bad habits that are ruining your lashes and feel they're looking a bit worse for wear, you can trust that this caring formula is designed to help bring them back from the brink.
As for the results? I loved this product because it made my lashes look curled and lengthened, plus I knew they were being treated to a mini treatment while wearing it, thanks to the nourishing formula.
Pros
- Hydrating formula with botanical extracts
- Cares for lash health
Cons
- On the pricey side
Reviewed by: Annie Milroy, Kenedee Fowler
RRP: £10.95 | Brush type: Bristle
Winning the top prize in the best lengthening clear mascara competition, this No7 formula impressed me across the board. The brush inside is small and angled, so I found it super easy to get it right into the roots and corner lashes, while the bristles separate your eyelashes well, meaning they don't clump together. Results-wise, I instantly saw it lift my lashes and it added the illusion of more length.
While wearing this mascara, I also liked that you couldn't tell that I was wearing anything on my lashes; it has a lovely natural-looking finish and effect. Although it's best used as a primer before you apply regular mascara, it also works well when worn alone.
Pros
- Builds length
- Doesn't clump
- Precise brush
- Barely detectable finish
Cons
- Primarily designed to be a lash primer
Reviewed by: Annie Milroy, Kenedee Fowler
RRP: £5.99 | Brush type: Silicone
First of all, the chunky silicone brush on this Barry M mascara was by far the largest in the selection I put to the test for this guide. This mean that I swept it through my lashes for natural definition, but also managed to create some of the best brushed-up bushy brows my face had ever seen. So far, so good.
However, the product really came into its own when I used it on shorter hairs and flyaway, frizzy hair, keeping them stuck down without looking greasy from excessive residue. It is worth noting that I found this particular clear mascara did struggle to hold much product on the silicone brush, but for the price and respectable cruelty-free and vegan formula, this clear mascara is worthwhile buy.
Pros
- Big fluffy brush
- Works well at slicking down hairline strands and on brows
- Vegan formula
Cons
- Brush doesn't hold much product
Reviewed by: Annie Milroy, Kenedee Fowler
RRP: £2.49 | Brush type: Bristle
This mascara comes with interesting instructions around how best to apply it; the brand suggests doing so over the top of your usual mascara to help maintain its colour all day. A kind of clear sealant, if you will.
Though I didn't try this particular technique with any of the other clear mascaras, I was definitely surprised by this one's results. It made my lashes look thicker and less understated, locking in the colour and preventing fading or smudging. However, it didn't have great results when used as lash primer before mascara, making my mascara flake where it usually wouldn’t.
Pros
- Super affordable
- Lasts all day
- Applies over the top of mascara to seal in results
Cons
- Doesn't work as a pre-mascara primer
Reviewed by: Annie Milroy, Kenedee Fowler
RRP: £27 | Brush type: Silicone
This little beauty encourages overnight use to help boost lash health and strength. So, after dousing my lashes in the gel formula before bed, I woke up to perfectly separated lash hairs that also looked magically curled, too.
The small silicone brush coated my lashes in just enough product, while also being the ideal size for my not-so-bushy brows and to hold down shorter hairline hairs. While I wish that this brush could hold more product at once, it was still one of the best clear mascara formulas I tried. It is on the pricey side compared to others in this guide, but if your budget permits, it's a really great investment.
Pros
- Curls and separates lashes
- Brush is nice and precise
- Can be used overnight to condition lashes
Cons
- Brush doesn't hold much product
How we tested the best clear mascaras
A selection of the clear mascaras we tested for this guide
Every single clear mascara that made it into this final list has been thoroughly tested and worn by woman&home beauty testers – among other contenders that weren't chosen – in order for our reviews to be as detailed as possible and for you to trust that they are truly the best products.
Each one was tested over a couple of weeks to ensure our opinions were well-rounded and that we could really observe the product's longevity and impact to share authentic reviews.
We sampled products from a range of brands and price points. Some of the clear mascara options also had more than one purpose, designed to be multi-use, so we also made sure we had tested all of a product's functions to help shape the reviews.
How to choose the best clear mascara
As with selecting any other mascara, you always want to choose one that'll suit your individual needs and lash requirements. Below we've shared the areas to consider to help you choose the best clear mascara for you.
- Brush: The shape of your clear mascara brush can make or break the results. Check that a clear mascara has the right design and shape for your lashes; opt for a smaller and angled brush head if you have short lashes and a longer and thicker brush head if you have longer lashes.
- Ingredients: We love a multi-purpose product, but especially one that cares for our lashes while wearing it. Look out for ingredients like green tea extract, peptides, botanical extracts and vitamin B5, all of which help to nourish and strengthen lash hairs.
- Lash curler: While some brushes and formulas are design to lift and curl lashes together, the best eyelash curlers will really bolster the effect of a clear mascara. Gently curl your lashes for 10 seconds before applying and you’ll notice a massive difference – they'll look longer, curved and accentuated.
What does clear mascara look like on eyelashes?
Generally speaking, clear mascaras work to separate and define the eyelashes, giving them a slightly darker and more glossy finish. However, just like with any other mascara, it depends on the specific buy you opt for – some may specifically work to boost volume and definition, while others may curl, lift and lengthen.
How to incorporate a clear mascara into your routine
Although you may think clear mascaras belong on the eyes and the eyes only, there's actually a multitude of ways you can incorporate the product into your beauty regime. These nifty transparent formulas can not only be used to immediately lift, define and darken your eyelashes, but you can also use it as one of the best eyebrow gels to keep the hairs locked in place, or even on shorter baby hairs and flyways.
Is it worth investing in a clear mascara?
Versatile and with a naturally enhancing effect, we'd say clear mascaras are a worthy addition to anyone's beauty collection. As NYX Professional Makeup's expert makeup artist Emma Kirk puts it, "Clear mascara is great for incorporating into ‘no makeup' makeup looks which have become super popular over the past year. I think people are still gravitating to the ‘clean girl aesthetic', so clear mascara is a great addition to this overall look."
Makeup artist Ere Perez agrees, adding that clear mascara really comes into its own on lower-key days, such as working from home, when a natural make-up look may be your preference. “[They] are popular for touch-ups before a Zoom and for fresh-looking eyes for a quick catch-up with someone," she says.
Our expert panel
Annie Milroy is the Beauty Writer for woman&home and other publications. After eight years working in the fashion & beauty industry, she's left the fashion world behind and now writes about everything from lightweight foundations, her favourite perfumes, to natural-looking fake tans.
Kenedee Fowler was formerly woman&home's shopping writer, where she advised readers on the best deals and reviews across multiple categories, including beauty. Alongside Annie, she contributed to this guide with tried and tested insights to support the reviews of the best clear mascaras.
Emma Kirk is a professional makeup artist and a National MUA for NYX Professional Makeup. As part of this guide, she shared some of her makeup artistry expertise to advise you on the benefits of clear mascara.
Ere Perez is a professional makeup artist and the founder of the beauty brand of the same name. She also shared her thoughts on the benefits of a good clear mascara for this piece – and you've probably also spotted that we rated her brand's clear mascara for a place in the guide.