Mascara Break

Are we… quietly giving up on mascara this year? It might sound unlikely, but if the recent Met Gala 2026 red carpet is anything to go by, the idea is gaining traction. A noticeable number of celebrities stepped out with what beauty insiders are calling “ghost lashes”, meaning little to no visible mascara at all.

Bare lashes are having a moment, with celebrities skipping mascara altogether. Here is how to tap into the look without giving it up completely.

It ties neatly into the ongoing clean girl aesthetic, where the focus leans towards fresh, polished skin and softer, more understated eyes. Hailey Bieber, often considered the poster girl for this look, has even admitted to skipping mascara during the day, favouring a more effortless finish that does not feel overly done.

More recently, Alexa Demie took a similar approach at the Euphoria season three premiere. Known for her character Maddy Perez’s bold, playful eye looks, Demie went in the opposite direction instead. Think dewy, skin-first make-up, softly defined features, and notably, no mascara. The result felt intentional rather than stripped back, proving that minimal does not have to mean lacking impact.

And she is not alone. At the Met Gala 2026, where beauty looks are just as much a talking point as the outfits, names like Gigi Hadid and Hunter Schafer also seemed to skip mascara altogether. Instead, it was more about flushed cheeks, soft eyeshadow and clean liner, with the lashes left pretty bare, which honestly just added to that whole effortless, not trying too hard kind of vibe.

Still, let’s be realistic. For many of us, mascara is not so easy to part with. It is the one step that instantly opens up the eyes and pulls everything together. If going completely without feels like too much, there is a middle ground that still taps into the trend.

Swapping your usual jet black for a softer brown mascara can make all the difference. You still get the lift, length and definition, but with a gentler finish that blends more seamlessly into the rest of your make-up. It is a subtle shift, but one that mirrors the same pared-back, effortless energy seen on the red carpet.

But if you are like me and there is no way you are giving up mascara completely, there is an easy way to still tap into this without going completely cold turkey. Opting for a softer brown or even a clear mascara still gives you that lift and lengthening shape, just without that thicker, more defined lash or the heaviness of a classic black. Some of our favourites include the Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara in Espresso and Makeup By Mario’s Master Mascara The Perfect Brown.

So no, mascara is not exactly cancelled. But this summer, it might just be taking a quieter role.