The easy make-up switch we’re making this season …
Would you swap your trusty black mascara for brown? At an Hourglass masterclass in Arnotts Dublin, national pro artist Wez (@bywezwatson) demonstrated the Unlocked Instant Extensions tubing mascara in new shade Espresso, and we think we’ve been converted …
Brown is a key shade for AW25. Minimal, naturally elegant beauty is in vogue. And autumn fashion champions warm browns and mochas as neutrals. And a chocolate-coloured mascara is an easy but effective switch, enhancing your eye colour but in a softer way.
Hourglass Unlocked is renowned as a standout mascara for good reason. One coat and your lashes look longer than you ever thought possible. I hadn’t used it for a while, and was really startled to see how effective it is, and it feels luxurious, like a treatment for your lashes. I love the subtle colour, finding it less harsh than black and ideal for a softer daytime look; you can even layer black over for evening. It doesn’t smudge or flake, and it lasts well throughout the day. Pair it with Hourglass’ excellent liquid gel eyeliners, which glide on like ink; they come in various colours including a soft chocolate.
The mascara is also easy to remove. With tubing mascaras, you simply need warm water – no scrubbing required. Just don’t be alarmed by the flaky bits; it looks like your own lashes are falling out down the plughole, but it’s just the little tubes of pigment falling away.
This is a decadent mascara that’s easy to get hooked on. Some brands attempt a luxury feel via tons of packaging – one recent launch comes in a superfluous large box plus a layer of plastic film, which I think is really off-putting and wasteful. Hourglass put the focus on the formula instead, and it shows.
Let’s be honest, though, €35 is not cheap for a mascara. You can, of course, pick up a decent one for way less (Sarah Keary’s brown one is pretty good, and currently reduced to €12.95). And Catrice mascaras are even less; their new waterproof brown Allround mascara is less than €4. If you’re not into lash extensions but still want lustrous length, though, I do think Unlocked is brilliant.
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5 MORE MASCARAS UNDER €17
1 Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black Honey (limited edition), €30. This burgundy mascara is part of the bestselling Black Honey range – go all-out with the matching eyeliner and lip/cheek oil, too.
2 Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara, €35. Try Burnt Umber, a soft, warm brown. A gentle, cruelty-free and very considered formula, this is simply a great lash lifter. At Space NK.
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3 Victoria Beckham Beauty has two excellent mascaras, Vast Lash, for a long-lasting fuller finish, and Future Lash, for defined, lifted lashes (€37 each). Sadly the stunning limited-edition burgundy version of Future Lash (as seen on her AW25 catwalk) has currently sold out, but we’re hoping for a return. In the meantime, Kiko Milano mascara is available in various shades, from electric blue to plum. €17.45, at their three Dublin stores and online.
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4 Fancy French brand Le Rouge Francais has excellent credentials (certified organic, vegan and Cosmos natural), and its upmarket coloured mascaras are well worth trying: go for inky blue or rich burgundy, €40. (I’m dying to try their gorgeous Tinted Balms for lips, too – the ultimate in low-key, effortless beauty).
5 Clarins Wonder Volume Mascara XXL comes in both black and “Extreme Blue”, which we’d describe as electric blue, since it has excellent eighties vibes. Lash it on for a fabulous flash of colour. €31, at Clarins Boutique & Spa, Wiclow Street, Dublin 2 and counters nationwide.
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