The 11 best natural-looking mascara options for every budget

Some days just call for a natural-looking mascara, whether it’s for those low-key working-from-home mornings, or when you’re meeting friends for a casual lunch. It's ideal for those relaxed days when you want to look ‘done’ but not too done. 

Usually, the best mascaras promise huge, exaggerated results. MEGA lashes. XXXL Volume. MILES of length. Some days you don’t necessarily want or need that full-blown lash look, and that’s when it’s handy to have a natural-looking mascara or two at your disposal. Although, according to makeup artist James Butterfield (opens in new tab), you can use buys you already own to get the low-key look. 'Removing excess mascara from the wand prior to application will achieve a fresher look,' he says. 'If your natural lashes are fair, then you may prefer to use brown mascara rather than black’.

I have to admit, my preference has historically been the best volumizing mascaras - I like products that are low-effort, high-impact. However, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed using these natural-looking mascaras. They looked chicer, understated, and felt comfier to wear. Consider me converted.

I’ve narrowed down the very best buys for the purpose of this list. Whether you’re looking for a bit of extra definition, or are looking to try the best brown mascara, there’s an option here for every budget, preference, and style.

How we tested each natural-looking mascara

I individually tested all of these natural-looking mascara options, as well as a range of others that didn’t make the cut to narrow down the very best buys. I tested them all over the course of a few days to make sure the testing was rigorous, but fair and gave the best possible natural lash look. 

I tried formulas and mascara brush types from different brands, price points, and styles, and came down to narrow down the 11 very best, that I believe went above and beyond in terms of :

• Ease of application
• Comfortability of wear
• Brush size
• Inclusion of any beneficial ingredients
• Colors available

The best natural looking mascaras, picked by our beauty editor

This was one of the first buys that came to mind when I started thinking about natural-looking mascara, and it’s a popular choice amongst the rest of the team, as we’ve also ranked it as one of the best tubing mascaras. 

Glossier is all about that undone-done look, so it makes sense that their one and only mascara also leans into that feel.  A silicone cone-shaped wand (I think I’ve just invented a new tongue twister) pushed my lashes up and added a nice, subtle amount of volume that’s ideal for everyday wear. They’ve just launched it in a brown too, so which makes it doubly low-key.

Max Factor has created some of the best mascaras in the business - true beauty classics that still stand the test of time. I picked Divine Lashes as their best pick for natural-looking lashes - the wide, spaced-out bristle brush means you can be as minimal (or maximal) as you like when applying.

The bigger brush means it's great for quick application, and the mix of bristle lengths means you can grab and coat every tiny lash, with very minimal effort, and not a clump in sight. This slotted nicely into my comfort zone of mascaras - low effort, high impact, but I was most impressed with how natural it could look when applied with a lighter hand. 

I'm a huge fan of the brand's Superhero mascara, often hailed as one the best volumizing mascaras on the market - it'd certainly be on my list. This is their lesser-known offering, but it's not to be underestimated. It's named after the technique of tighlining, a way of using eyeliner very close to the lash line to help defining eyes, without having to do a full cat eye sweep. 

I was so intrigued by this borderline-microscopic brush - it looks more like a brow gel. This, cleverly means you could actually use it as one if you're packing light, but when it comes to lashes, it just means you can get really precise with application. It works incredibly well to get that tightline look, giving a defined, but still subtle lash look and it's ideal as a mascara on bottom lashes. It's a little slow at building volume, purely because of the size of the brush - but for a more natural look, it's genuinely impressive.

Beckham only has one mascara in her much lusted-after range, and it’s pretty perfect. The first thing I noticed was the weight of the tube - it's quite heavy, almost like a paperweight, which adds to the luxe feel. So far, so VB. 

The mascara itself has slim curved wand (about the size of a Q tip) - this means you can curve the lashes up while grabbing every lash for a wearable, fanned-out eye look.  This was a genuine delight to use - and remove, as it's a tubing mascara, so can be washed away with warm water. Beckham loves a smoky eye, and this is the perfect accompaniment to a swish of kohl. Expensive, yes - but worth it if your budget is a bit roomier. 

If you have sensitive eyes, or if you regularly wear contact lenses, you'll vouch that mascaras can be a bit of a foe. The wrong formula can cause itchiness, irritation, and the dreaded weepy eyes, ruining all your other makeup in the process. This buy, from TikTok-Catnip brand Rare Beauty, is specially formulated to prevent that from happening. 

I'll preface this by saying I'm a Rare Beauty mega-fan, so I had the inclination to like this before even twisting open the tube, but I was excited (and relieved) that the mascara itself was as good as I hoped it'd be. One swipe gave a nice natural look, which could be layered up if you were looking for more volume later in the day. My eyes err on the sensitive side, especially when I'm tired, so I tested this on a particularly sleep-deprived week and can vouch that my eyes remained content and weep-free. A gorgeous, brilliant buy - Selena, you've done it again. 

At first glance this looked like quite a cheeky dead-ringer for Benefit Roller Lash, but after using it a few times it actually gives a subtler effect - which isn't a bad thing, especially if you're after a natural-looking mascara. The world of beauty dupes is a tricky one - it's a great way of building a bit of healthy competition between brands, but equally in this case maybe it takes away from the fact that this is a pretty great standalone mascara - in fact, it's one of the best mascaras under $10/£10 I've tried for a while.

But anyway, less philosophizing, more mascara reviewing. I loved this - the wand has different textures on each side, so you can twist it to get the effect you want - one for volume, one for length, one for curling. The three shades available means you can personalise the exact look you want, and actually for this price maybe you could buy all three, for a bit of a mascara wardrobe. I found dark brown to be the perfect shade for everyday wear for my brunette lashes. 

I wouldn't say Estee Lauder is especially particularly known for its mascaras - bases are where their makeup range really thrives, but they do have some great hidden gems for every lash look. This petite option makes a great natural-looking mascara, working especially well to lengthen short lashes. 

I tend to prefer a bristle brush and this slim shape made light work of lengthening my stumpy lashes, pushing them up coating each one with nice, non-clumpy volume with just one sweep. The size also means it's great for coating bottom lashes without the risk of smudging. I loved this nifty little number. 

The thing that makes this one of my favorite natural-looking macaras may not be obvious at first glance. Is it the fact that it's by uber-luxe Chanel? No. Is it the (very satisfying) ‘click’ to open up the tube? Ok, maybe. But mainly, it's the unique shade of the formula - the black pigment has a touch of red, for a more vibrant tone, to flatter the eyes. It's something I've never seen before in a mascara, and I have to say it's noticeable when applied.

The brush is pretty clever too - slim but flexible, you can build up as little or as much volume as you want, making it a great multitasker. It's also blended with Vitamin B5, to nourish and strengthen lashes as you wear it. Yes, it's expensive - it's Chanel - but if you're in the mood to treat yourself, this would definitely be my suggestion. 

Waterproof mascaras will always come in handy, whether you're looking for a product with longevity, or if you're just a big crier at weddings (mentioning no names...except my own). This is one of the best options out there, and it also makes a great natural-looking mascara. 

My favorite thing about Clinique mascaras is that they never seem to irritate my eyes. It makes sense that the skincare-first brand’s offering is kind to the eyes, but it's just a handy little bonus, especially for a more long-wearing waterproof offering. The wand on this is versatile - slim but with a slight hourglass shape which helps open up the outer corner of my eyes. It was also easy to build up more volume and length when I wanted a bit more drama. A brilliant all-rounder.

Bobbi Brown (yes, that Bobbi Brown) and her new brand Jones Road is all about hardworking multitaskers, so clearly that the one and only mascara in the range was always going to be quite versatile.

The chunky bristled brush is bigger than many others on this list, but don’t be put off. I used the curved side to curl up my lashes and do one or two sweeps for perfect, my-lashes-but-better flutter. When you want to amp up the volume, just apply a couple more coats. 

The color may be an issue for some - it's quite dark and pigmented, so if you're fair, this may not look very natural on you. If you have naturally dark lashes though, this will give great definition while still looking subtle. 

If we're talking about natural-looking mascaras, a clear formula really makes the most sense, depending on how natural you want your lashes to look. If you want a subtle effect, giving a bit of a lift or definition without the color, a clear mascara may be the way to go.

This is a great buy - it's obviously very subtle but I was impressed by how much lift it achieved, and how it held my lashes in place all day while still looking soft and natural. It's designed to work as a multitasker, which means you could also use it as a brow gel and lash primer, but as a standalone mascara it's surprisingly effective. It also has a very slight shimmer, which felt off-putting to begin with, but it actually gave a nice sheen-y finish. It's not one I'll be reaching for on the daily, but definitely one for those lazy Sunday strolls.