Collage: Paula Balondo; Source images: Courtesy of Allure editors and brandsSave this storySave this story
You might remember them from middle school, but the best clear mascaras have come a long way since then. Today’s formulas are all about softening and conditioning your lashes—and in some cases, your eyebrows, too—with hydrating ingredients you’ll recognize from your medicine cabinet (hi, glycerin and squalane). Some can help lashes hold a curl longer, while others act as a topcoat for regular mascara, creating a waterproof seal.
And, if you have sensitive eyes, clear mascara may be the switch your windows to the soul need. Julie Chung, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist based in Santa Monica, California, says clear formulas are often free from dyes, pigments, and other irritants that can contribute to that dry-eye feeling—well worth the swap, we’d say. Ahead, our favorite clear mascaras that deserve a spot in your makeup bag.
Our Top Clear Mascaras
- Best Overall: Clarins Lash + Brow Double Fix Mascara, $32
- Best for Separation: The Ordinary Lash Curl Finisher, $10
- Best Conditioning: Chanel La Base Mascara Volume and Care Lash Primer, $40
- Best for Sensitive Eyes: Maybelline New York Great Lash Clear Mascara, $9
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- How do I use clear mascara?
- Is clear mascara better for your lashes than black or colored mascara?
- How often should I replace my clear mascara?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Clarins Lash + Brow Double Fix Mascara
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Clarins
Lash + Brow Double Fix Mascara
Amazon
Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin applying the Clarins Lash + Brow Double Fix Mascara
Sarah Felbin
Why we love it: Clarins’ Lash + Brow Double Fix Mascara is a true triple threat: Beyond a traditional clear mascara, it also acts as a brow gel and a waterproof topcoat for regular mascara—no lower-lashline transfer here. Inside the shimmery red tube is cranberry oil (which is full of squalene, an oil that your skin naturally produces) and moisturizing panthenol. Its 12-hour setting power comes from polymers derived from natural sugars, for curl and hold that lasts all day long.
To make application a breeze, the wand features a spoolie with shorter bristles on one side for combing through brow hairs and longer bristles on the other side for separating eyelashes. Even better: The thin, lightweight formula doesn’t feel thick or sticky once it dries down, according to our tester.
Felbin before applying the Clarins Lash + Brow Double Fix Mascara
Sarah Felbin
Felbin after applying the Clarins Lash + Brow Double Fix Mascara
Sarah Felbin
Tester feedback from senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin
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“I often reach for clear mascara on work-from-home days—I love getting all of the curling benefits with none of the flaking or smudging. This one from Clarins has a very thin, wet formula that dries down quickly, setting my lashes and brows in place without feeling too stiff once it sets. As a topcoat, it’s also excellent—it makes my non-waterproof mascaras much more long-wearing, so I can pack on as many coats as I want for extra length and formula without worrying about getting raccoon eyes by 3 p.m.” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: cranberry seed oil, panthenol
- Waterproof: yes
Best for Separation: The Ordinary Lash Curl Finisher
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The Ordinary
Lash Curl Finisher
Sephora
Ulta Beauty
Allure managing editor Alessandra Foresto applying the The Ordinary Lash Curl Finisher
Alessandra Foresto
Why we love it: From the formula to the wand, The Ordinary’s Lash Curl Finisher is all about separating and defining your lashes for natural-looking volume that lasts. Unlike our other picks, the wand is made of silicone, rather than synthetic bristles, to evenly distribute the product as it forms a film around each hair (similar to a tubing mascara, but clear). Once it’s on, squalane keeps your lashes flexible and soft, providing hours-long hold that doesn’t turn stiff or heavy. At just $10, it’s an easy, budget-friendly addition to your no-makeup makeup routine.
Foresto before applying the The Ordinary Lash Curl Finisher
Alessandra Foresto
Foresto after applying the The Ordinary Lash Curl Finisher
Alessandra Foresto
Tester feedback from managing editor Alessandra Foresto
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“Back when I was in high school and we weren't allowed to wear makeup to school, clear mascara was what I reached for to give my lashes a little hold and definition. Recently, as my eyes have gotten drier from years and years of contacts and sitting in front of a computer all day, I've been rubbing my eyes a little more than I should during the day, so black or brown mascara has become a little less practical for daily use. I've been using this clear mascara when I feel like my eyes are a little irritated to avoid undereye smudges.
I'd say it takes a few extra brushes to get the mascara to be smooth and not clumpy, since the formula is pretty thick. My eyelashes are also super hard to curl (I've tried everything!), so while it did give me a lift for a bit, my lashes were back to their straight shape after about an hour or so.” —Alessandra Foresto, managing editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: squalane, glycerin
- Waterproof: no
Best Conditioning: Chanel La Base Mascara Volume and Care Lash Primer
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Chanel
La Base Mascara Volume and Care Lash Primer
Chanel
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Why we love it: Worn alone or under mascara, Chanel’s La Base Mascara Volume and Care Lash Primer deeply conditions down to the roots. Formula-wise, meadowfoam seed oil is packed with fatty acids that can help strengthen the skin barrier around your lash line and eyes. Meanwhile, hydrating sage oil and aloe vera soften lashes, as panthenol moisturizes. The brand notes that these ingredients help add length, volume, and curl lashes for up to eight hours—with consistent use, lashes look softer, shinier, and more flexible over time. And, don’t be surprised if your lusher lashes earn you a double-take or two: The formula also features pearlescent pigments for a subtle sheen. Swipe it on during your makeup routine or apply it overnight as a nourishing treatment.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: meadowfoam seed oil, sage oil, aloe vera, panthenol
- Waterproof: no
Best for Straight Lashes: CoverGirl Professional Natural Lash Mascara
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CoverGirl
Professional Natural Lash Mascara
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why we love it: CoverGirl makes one of our favorite drugstore mascaras, so it’s no surprise that the brand’s Professional Natural Lash Mascara earned a spot on our list of the best clear mascaras, too. It has a curved wand that makes it easy to apply the gel from corner to corner (and from tip to tail, in the case of your brows). The key ingredient, glycerin, hydrates hairs and skin to help prevent flaking. Plus, the formula comes off easily with warm water—no scrubbing required.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: glycerin
- Waterproof: no
Best for Sensitive Eyes: Maybelline New York Great Lash Clear Mascara
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Maybelline New York
Great Lash Clear Mascara
Amazon (2-Pack)
Ulta Beauty
Why we love it: While, in general, most clear mascaras are better for sensitive eyes than colored mascaras, Maybelline New York’s Great Lash Clear Mascara (with its Best of Beauty Hall of Fame status) best fits Dr. Chung’s criteria: Its short ingredient list features hydrating glycerin and the gentle preservative phenoxyethanol, plus conditioning panthenol to support healthy lashes. This two-for-one formula is designed to be used on lashes or brows, with a larger spoolie that can brush through both quickly and easily. Another fun use? Slicking back flyaways. And best yet, one tube costs less than $10 and is easy to track down at the drugstore.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: glycerin, panthenol
- Waterproof: no
Best Dual-Ended: e.l.f. Cosmetics Clear Brow & Lash Mascara
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E.L.F. Cosmetics
Clear Brow & Lash Mascara
Amazon (2-Pack)
Ulta Beauty
Why we love it: No need to double dip—e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Clear Brow & Lash Mascara has two spoolies and two chambers of clear gel, one for your lashes and the other for your brows. The formula is made to be worn as a base underneath your mascara and brow products, with PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polymer) to keep your hairs curled and in place all day long. And at under $5 a tube, replacing it regularly (as Dr. Chung suggests—more on that later) won’t set you back too much.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polymer that holds hair in place)
- Waterproof: no
Best K-Beauty: Etude Dr. Mascara Fixer For Perfect Lash
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Etude
Dr. Mascara Fixer For Perfect Lash
Amazon
Yesstyle
Why we love it: Korean makeup is always ahead of the curve, and Etude’s Dr. Mascara Fixer For Perfect Lash is no different. This waterproof formula is designed to be worn alone or underneath traditional mascara to help set the curl of your lashes and prevent the second coat from smudging. Waxes help prevent your lashes from drooping, while emollients keep them soft and conditioned, instead of stiff and brittle. Want a little extra drama? The formula also comes in a gray lengthening formula or classic black.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: trimethylsiloxysilicate (an emollient)
- Waterproof: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use clear mascara?
Depending on the formula, most clear mascaras are designed to be worn alone as a treatment that softens and conditions lashes. Others are meant to be applied after you use a lash curler, to help prolong, well, a curl. Some options can pull double-duty as brow gel, hydrating hairs and offering stronger hold. And some can even be applied on top of regular mascara as a waterproof seal, which can come in handy if you’ve found a formula you love that just doesn’t stand on its own over long days.
Is clear mascara better for your lashes than black or colored mascara?
In a way, yes. The pigments, dyes, dispersing agents, and preservatives in black or colored mascara can land in your meibomian glands—the tiny glands along your lash line—eventually clogging them, causing dry eye and irritation, Dr. Chung says. With clear mascara, “the formulas are simpler: just the film-forming polymers, waxes, and conditioners that give you length and definition,” she adds. “Fewer ingredients means less irritation, less allergen exposure, and healthier eyes long term.”
Specific ingredients Dr. Chung recommends avoiding in any mascara, clear or colored, include:
- Carbon black, sometimes listed on the label as Cl 77266
- Synthetic azo dyes, like FD&C Blue 1 and Red 33
- Banzalonium chloride
- Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, like DMDM hydantoin and quaternium-15
- Fragrance or parfum: “These terms can hide dozens of undisclosed sensitizers,” Dr. Chung says.
However, Dr. Chung notes that it’s still important to remove your mascara carefully at the end of the day, no matter what color it is. She suggests finding a good makeup remover that melts your mascara away without you having to rub or tug at your eyelids to protect your eyes.
How often should I replace my clear mascara?
Every three months. “I know it feels wasteful, especially with a formula you love,” Dr. Chung says, “but the moment you open that tube, you're introducing bacteria with every application.” If you keep using your mascara past the three-month mark, you risk contracting an eye infection like a stye or conjunctivitis (a.k.a. pink eye), she explains.
Meet the experts
- Julie Chung, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist based in Santa Monica, California
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best clear mascaras, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and Korean beauty experts to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product's performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.