Ghost Lashes: The No-Mascara Looks Sweeping Our Feeds
May 6 | 5 minute read
Words by Danielle Gay
I gave up on mascara 18 months ago. It wasn’t intentional; over time, I was reaching for mascara less and less. A long European holiday meant back-to-back summers, in which even my favourite waterproof formulas were being left on the top shelf. Hot nights in Greece, swimming all day in Portugal and surviving Croatia’s high-summer heat called for tinted SPF, a dot of illuminator and a simple brow and lash brush up. In short: my eyes were opened to the fact that you don’t need mascara to look polished.
It’s nice when beauty trends catch up with you. The ‘no mascara’ makeup trend has been gaining traction of late across Fashion Weeks, red carpets and in the beauty cabinets of your favourite influencers, driven by a broader shift towards pared-back, skin-first beauty. First seen on the runways during the ready-to-wear AW25 season, ghost lashes were everywhere at the 2025 Met Gala – Lorde, Sofia Richie Grainge and Sarah Snook all walked the red carpet showcasing only a quiet lift to their natural lashes.
Barely-there lashes were seen again more recently during the SS26 shows – at Issey Miyake, Lacoste, Dior and on the Burberry runway, where even a dramatic smoky eye came sans mascara. Celebrities like Hailey Bieber are going mascara-less both on and off the red carpet, with her rhode-approved signature ‘strawberry girl’ looks skipping it entirely.
As the shift away from heavily defined lashes to a fresher, more effortless look gathers pace, one question remains: how to wear it and still feel ‘done’? The beauty of the mascara-less makeup trend is it allows you to play with other elements – a bold lip, colourful eyeliner, soft shadow – or to go all in on quiet luxury and let a softly blurred complexion become the focal point. A mascara-less eye look can offer an intentional shift in your routine – one that still looks polished. Here’s how.
Focus On: Brows and Soft Shadow
A model at JordanLuca, Milan Fashion Week 2025
Focus On: Colourful Liner
For a softer approach that keeps the eyes defined with a bit of interest, swap mascara for eyeliner. Go for a pop of pink with the Morphe Bi-Liner Dual-Ended Gel Pencil in Yours or Mine and soften with the shimmer cranberry on the other side of the dual ended pencil. If you want a subtle nod to the blue eye makeup revival, swipe on the MECCA MAX Zoom Liner in Baby Blue.
A model at Issey Miyake, Paris Fashion Week
Focus On: Blurred Skin
Skin becomes the hero with a focus on a radiant, softly blurred complexion that feels healthy and lived-in – rather than overly perfected. Go minimal with a hint of blush to define the cheeks – begin with the MECCA COSMETICA In A Good Light Illuminating Drops SPF30 to create a sheer, lit-from-within base and then add a wash of ILIA Soft Focus Blurring Blush to the apples of the cheeks. Finish with the Victoria Beckham Beauty Reflect Highlighter Stick, tapping lightly onto the high points of the face for a subtle, natural flush.
A model at the Max Mara show, Milan Fashion Week
Focus On: An Elevated Lip
Anchor the look with a defined lip. Start with M·A·C Cosmetics Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick for full-coverage colour that won’t budge, then finish with Glossier Ultralip High Shine Lipstick for added moisture (thanks to hydrating hyaluronic acid) and a light-reflecting, ‘just-done’ effect.
Finish each look with a quick curl (optional, though we suggest cult-favourite the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler) or a swipe of lash serum (try Kosas GrowPotion Fluffy Lash + Brow Boosting Serum) for smooth, barely-there lashes.
A model on the Lacoste runway, Paris Fashion Week
