Top Clear Mascara Brands You Need to Try!

Clear mascara is a versatile beauty product that has gained popularity for its ability to enhance the natural beauty of lashes and brows without adding any color. It's an essential item for those seeking a more subtle, polished look or for anyone who prefers a no-makeup makeup look. The market offers a variety of brands that cater to different needs, whether it's adding volume, separating lashes, or simply keeping brows in place. Below, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the best clear mascara brands that have been praised for their effectiveness and formula quality.

Illustration of clear mascara

Best brands of clear mascara in 2025

Maybelline New York

Maybelline New York is a leading brand in the cosmetics industry, particularly renowned for its clear mascara products. Since 1971, Maybelline's Great Lash Clear Mascara has been a staple, known for its hypoallergenic formula, ophthalmologist-tested safety, and versatility in grooming, conditioning, and separating eyelashes and brows. This clear mascara is favored for its natural-but-better makeup look, helping lashes hold curl and adding a glossy finish. It is also widely used as a brow gel and to tame baby hairs. With billions of units sold, Great Lash Clear Mascara remains a popular choice among makeup enthusiasts.

Covergirl

CoverGirl is a prominent brand in the mascara market, particularly noted for its clear mascara products that offer a natural look and multiple benefits. The CoverGirl Professional Natural Lash Mascara, for instance, features a curved brush that separates lashes while conditioning, and it is hypoallergenic, making it gentle on sensitive eyes. This product is part of CoverGirl's extensive range that appeals to a broad audience, with the brand enjoying a brand awareness of 77% as of 2024. CoverGirl's clear mascara is also easy to apply and remove, lasting up to 12 hours without flaking under contact lenses. The brand's focus on innovation and customer needs has helped it maintain a significant market share in the cosmetics industry.

e.l.f. Cosmetics

e.l.f. Cosmetics stands out as a top producer of clear mascara, offering a dual-sided clear gel that conditions and grooms both lashes and brows, infused with vitamins B, E, and algae extracts. This vegan and cruelty-free product is part of e.l.f.'s commitment to clean beauty, free from harmful ingredients like phthalates, parabens, and hydroquinone. The brand's clear lash and brow mascara is highly praised for its long-lasting formula that keeps brows and lashes in place all day. With its affordable pricing and eco-friendly manufacturing practices, e.l.f. Cosmetics has become a favorite among consumers seeking high-quality, sustainable beauty products. As part of the growing clean beauty trend, e.l.f. Cosmetics has seen significant consumer interest, reflecting the industry's 39% year-over-year growth in clean brands as noted in 2019.

Ardell

Ardell, a renowned brand in the beauty industry, is highly regarded for its high-quality clear mascara products. Known for its innovative formulations and user-friendly application, Ardell's clear mascara is a favorite among consumers seeking to enhance their eyelashes without the color. The brand's dominance in the market is evident from its presence in both the mascara and false eyelashes markets, with a significant customer base globally. For instance, Ardell International, Inc. is listed among the key players in the false eyelashes market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2021 to 2032. Ardell's products are widely available in various distribution channels, including online and offline platforms, making them accessible to a broad range of consumers.

Glossier

Glossier stands out as a top producer for clear, natural-looking mascara, particularly with their Lash Slick product, which defines and lengthens lashes without clumping, making it ideal for everyday use. This mascara is praised for its ease of application, thanks to its conical brush, and its ability to coat even the lower lashes evenly. It provides a subtle, 'awake' look that is perfect for those seeking a low-key makeup appearance. Although it is not waterproof and may not layer well, it is highly effective in a single coat and is easy to remove. The product's formula is well-balanced, neither too wet nor too dry, ensuring a smooth and comfortable wear.

Essence

Essence is renowned for its high-quality and affordable beauty products, particularly its clear mascara offerings. The Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara, for instance, is the number one best-selling mascara on Amazon, with over 337,000 reviews in the second quarter of 2024, highlighting its widespread popularity. For clear mascara, Essence's Lash and Brow Gel Mascara stands out for its long-lasting, easy-to-use, and inexpensive nature, earning an 8.8/10 rating from users. This clear gel mascara is versatile, suitable for both eyelashes and eyebrows, and is praised for its non-sticky and fast-drying formula. With its impressive customer feedback and practical application, Essence solidifies its position as a top producer of clear mascara.

Great Lash

Maybelline's Great Lash clear mascara is a highly regarded product, known for its gel texture that conditions, grooms, and separates both eyelashes and eyebrows. This hypoallergenic formula, ophthalmologist tested and safe for contact lens wearers, has been a favorite since 1971, with billions of users worldwide. The small brush provides precise control for buildable volume, making it ideal for everyday use. Great Lash clear mascara is part of Maybelline's extensive range of mascaras, which have won numerous awards, including Allure Readers' Choice and Best of Beauty Awards. Its ease of application and removal, along with its gentle formula, make it a staple in many makeup routines.

Wet n Wild

Wet n Wild is a renowned brand in the beauty industry, particularly for its Mega Clear Brow & Lash Mascara, which has been a staple for over 40 years. This clear mascara is formulated with conditioning ingredients like Soy Protein and ProVitamin B5, providing a strong and comfortable hold while sculpting brows and defining lashes. It is also cruelty-free and vegan, aligning with the brand's commitment to ethical beauty practices. The product can be used as a primer, topcoat, or standalone mascara, making it versatile and highly rated by users. With a 4.7 out of 5 stars average rating, it is clear that Wet n Wild's Mega Clear Brow & Lash Mascara is a trusted choice for many.

NYX Professional Makeup

NYX Professional Makeup is a leading brand in the cosmetics industry, renowned for its high-quality and innovative products, including its acclaimed mascaras. Founded in 1999 by Toni Ko, the company has grown significantly, with sales reaching $120 million by 2014 and subsequently being acquired by L'Oreal for $500 million. NYX is known for its wide range of products, including the popular "Worth the Hype" waterproof mascara, which offers volumizing and lengthening benefits with a buildable, feathery-soft formula. The brand is certified cruelty-free by PETA and offers vegan-friendly options, catering to a diverse consumer base. With a strong global presence in over 70 countries, NYX continues to innovate and expand its product lines.

Almay

Almay is renowned as one of the best producers of clear mascara, offering a hypoallergenic and fragrance-free Eyebrow Styler(tm) Brow Mascara that defines and shapes natural brows without any harsh chemicals. This product is ophthalmologist tested, ensuring safety for sensitive eyes, and is available in three tinted shades and one universal clear formula. The Slimmy Brush(tm) design allows for precise application, conditioning brow hairs with a special blend of oils like Marula oil. Almay's commitment to clean, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly packaging aligns with the growing demand for sustainable personal grooming practices. With its natural and lightweight formula, Almay's brow mascara is a staple in many makeup routines.