It’s no secret that beauty trends have turned much more minimalist in recent years. The latest pared-back obsession that took over this year? Ghost lashes.
As the name implies, ghost lashes are a bare or slightly enhanced eye look centred around your natural lashes. You can skip mascara altogether, apply a lash serum, or at the very least opt for clear mascara. Whatever you choose, the through line is ditching pigmented black mascara, or even brown mascara.
According to Ashunta Sheriff, makeup artist and founder of Ashunta Sheriff Makeup, ghost lashes still draw attention to the eyes despite the lack of product. “Skipping mascara doesn’t mean losing definition. It means redefining beauty in a fresh, effortless way,” she says. Another way to add extra oopmh? Well-groomed eyebrows. “A full lifted brow creates structure and draws attention to the eyes,” Sheriff says.
The trend makes sense, given the shift toward low-maintenance beauty in general. From low-maintenance hair colours to barely there manis, effortless beauty is all the rage these days. Is it a recession indicator? Possibly. But ghost lashes have more benefits to offer than just saving money on mascara and extensions. “Your lashes stay healthier since you’re not constantly applying and removing product, which can cause breakage,” says Sheriff.
While many celebrities embraced ghost lashes this summer, Zendaya’s viral beauty look from the Odyssey press tour was the final nail in the coffin for mascara this summer — and celebrity makeup artist Sangwon Jeon predicts the trend will extend well into autumn.