Black mascara is officially over — and no one even batted an eye.
Spindly, jet black lashes are now obsolete as beauty gurus, makeup artists and celebrities ditch mascara for a more natural look.
On TikTok, dozens of young content creators are sharing their au natural beauty routines that lack mascara, claiming they’ve realized that their makeup looks “better” and “cleaner” without dark lashes.
Some creators are vowing to ditch mascara altogether as their “new thing,” while influencer Hailey Drew Polk insists the bare-eyed look is “high fashion.”
“Do your normal makeup, maybe even a cute little shimmery eye… bold brows, complementary colors, of course, and then no mascara,” Polk said in a TikTok video.
“I know it seems like something’s missing, but really, it’s chic. It’s giving high fashion.”
Designers have, indeed, opted for stripped-down cosmetic looks for catwalks as of late.
At New York Fashion Week last month, models for Cynthia Rowley wore a swatch of pigment across their eyelids with bare lashes, while Prabal Gurung’s makeup artist opted for a bare-faced “no makeup makeup” look for the runway.
Even Florence Pugh’s makeup artist Alex Babsky has adopted the fresh faced fad, admitting he “left off mascara” on one of the star’s looks on Instagram.
“Wearing no mascara is trending for a few reasons, primarily for a shift towards more authenticity, natural beauty, and embracing minimal makeup,” Charlie Riddle, Stila’s global beauty director and the makeup artist behind Cynthia Rowley’s spring/summer 2025 runway, told Allure.
“There is also a trend of low-maintenance appeal. Not wearing mascara simplifies the beauty routine. Skipping it saves time and eliminates the need to remove eye makeup, which can also be better for sensitive eyes.”
Audiences on TikTok have praised the new trend as their “favorite,” championing the ease of putting on and taking off their makeup when skipping mascara.
“I HATE taking off my mascara every night which is why I never wear makeup; so trying this ASAP,” wrote one viewer in the comments on Polk’s video.
“Yes! I do this every day and it started because I didn’t want the smudge by the end of the day but now I love it,” applauded another.
The fad follows the popularity of the “clean girl” aesthetic, marked by minimal makeup, slicked back hair and simple outfits.
As a result, Gen Z beauty lovers have also ditched dark, liquid eyeliner and caked-on concealer under the eyes — much to millennials’ chagrin.
