Clear mascara is a beauty essential that can enhance your lashes and eyebrows without the bold, dramatic effect of traditional mascaras. Whether you’re aiming for a natural look or just want to define your lashes subtly, clear mascara is the perfect product to achieve a polished finish. In 2025, clear mascaras are more versatile than ever, offering a range of benefits from volume and lengthening to nourishing and conditioning your lashes.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the 14 best clear mascaras available this year for everyday use. These picks combine quality formulas with practical features that can fit into any daily makeup routine.
What Is Clear Mascara?
Clear mascara is a transparent gel-like product used to enhance the natural look of your eyelashes and eyebrows. Unlike regular mascaras, it doesn’t add color but helps to define, separate, and hold lashes in place. It can also be used as a brow gel for a more polished, groomed appearance.
Why Should You Choose Clear Mascara?
Natural Look: Clear mascara enhances the lashes without creating a bold, noticeable effect. It’s ideal for a subtle, fresh-faced look.
Multipurpose: It can be used for both lashes and eyebrows. Many clear mascaras have conditioning properties that help maintain lash health.
Perfect for Sensitive Eyes: Clear mascaras typically have fewer pigments, making them a great option for those with sensitive eyes or contact lens wearers.
Quick and Easy: Clear mascara is often a time-saver, as it provides just enough definition for a polished look without the need for multiple layers.
14 Best Clear Mascaras for Everyday Use 2025
1. Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara
Maybelline’s Great Lash is a household name in the world of mascaras. The clear version offers a lightweight formula that helps separate and define lashes, leaving them looking natural yet full. It’s also great for setting eyebrows and keeping them in place throughout the day.
Key Features:
Offers natural definition for both lashes and brows.
Lightweight and non-clumpy formula.
Gentle enough for sensitive eyes.
2. L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Clear Mascara
L’Oréal’s Lash Paradise range is loved for its volumizing effects, and the clear mascara in this line delivers similar benefits. It adds volume and length to lashes without the usual dark tint. The formula also contains nourishing ingredients, making it a great option for lash health.
Key Features:
Adds volume and separation to lashes.
Contains nourishing ingredients to support lash growth.
Suitable for sensitive eyes.
3. Tarte Cosmetics Tarteist Lash Adhesive Clear Mascara
Tarte’s clear mascara is perfect for those who need a long-lasting product that also doubles as a lash adhesive. The Tarteist formula helps define lashes and holds them in place while offering a conditioning treatment. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free.
Key Features:
Doubles as a lash adhesive for false lashes.
Defines and nourishes natural lashes.
Vegan and cruelty-free.
4. Essence Lash & Brow Gel Mascara
Essence’s Lash & Brow Gel is an affordable yet effective option for anyone looking for a clear mascara to enhance both lashes and brows. The gel formula keeps everything in place while adding a subtle lift to lashes.
Key Features:
Budget-friendly.
Works on both lashes and brows.
Non-flaky and long-lasting formula.
5. Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Clear Gel
Benefit’s Gimme Brow+ is one of the most popular eyebrow gels, but it also works as a clear mascara. The gel formula is designed to add volume and definition to lashes while offering a natural, polished finish.
Key Features:
Adds volume to both lashes and brows.
Quick-drying and long-lasting.
Water-resistant formula.
6. Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
Anastasia Beverly Hills is a brand known for its brow products, and their Clear Brow Gel works wonders for both brows and lashes. It provides a natural, non-crunchy hold and keeps lashes separated without clumping.
Key Features:
Non-crunchy hold for natural definition.
Long-lasting and quick-drying.
Suitable for sensitive eyes.
7. Glossier Lash Slick
Glossier’s Lash Slick clear mascara is perfect for those who want a natural look without compromising on volume or length. The clear formula helps to define and separate lashes, giving them a fuller appearance without the dark pigment.
Key Features:
Lightweight and natural finish.
Defines and separates lashes.
Water-resistant formula.
8. Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula
Clinique’s Lash Power mascara is known for its long-lasting formula, which is perfect for all-day wear. The clear version offers a subtle enhancement to lashes while keeping them defined and separated.
Key Features:
Long-wearing and smudge-resistant.
Defines lashes without clumping.
Ophthalmologist-tested and safe for sensitive eyes.
9. MAC Cosmetics Extended Play Gigablack Lash Clear Mascara
MAC’s Extended Play Gigablack Lash mascara is a favorite among makeup artists, and its clear version offers a similar effect with a subtle yet polished look. It lengthens and defines lashes without adding any color.
Key Features:
Defines and separates lashes.
Smudge-proof and long-wearing.
Ophthalmologist-tested and safe for sensitive eyes.
10. Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes Clear Mascara
Charlotte Tilbury’s Legendary Lashes is known for its high-performance formulas, and the clear version doesn’t disappoint. It helps to condition and define lashes while providing a natural finish that’s perfect for daily wear.
Key Features:
Defines and lifts lashes.
Nourishing formula with vitamins.
Suitable for sensitive eyes.
11. NYX Professional Makeup Control Freak Eyebrow Gel
Although marketed as a brow gel, NYX’s Control Freak formula can be used as a clear mascara as well. It holds lashes and brows in place while offering a natural, non-crunchy finish.
Key Features:
Affordable and effective.
Holds lashes and brows in place.
Lightweight and non-flaky formula.
12. Burt’s Bees Nourishing Mascara in Clear
Burt’s Bees is known for its natural beauty products, and their clear mascara is no exception. The formula is enriched with nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil and sunflower oil, which help to condition and protect lashes.
Key Features:
Nourishing formula with natural ingredients.
Defines lashes without harsh chemicals.
Hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive eyes.
13. Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara (Clear Version)
Stila’s Huge Extreme Lash mascara is a cult favorite, and the clear version offers similar benefits without the pigment. The formula defines and separates lashes while adding a bit of volume.
Key Features:
Adds volume and definition.
Lightweight and smudge-proof.
Suitable for sensitive eyes.
14. Laura Mercier Translucent Pure Setting Spray Mascara
Laura Mercier’s Translucent Pure Setting Spray is a unique product in the clear mascara category. While it’s technically a setting spray, it works wonders for defining and setting lashes without adding any color.
Key Features:
Multi-purpose setting spray that defines lashes.
Lightweight and non-greasy.
Suitable for all skin types.
Conclusion
Choosing the right clear mascara depends on your needs. If you want something affordable and effective, Essence Lash & Brow Gel and NYX Professional Makeup Control Freak Eyebrow Gel are great options. For long-lasting hold and volume, L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise and Clinique Lash Power are top contenders. If you’re looking for nourishing benefits, Tarte’s Tarteist Lash Adhesive and Burt’s Bees Nourishing Mascara are perfect choices.
Clear mascara is versatile, easy to use, and provides just the right amount of definition without being too bold. Whether you’re enhancing your lashes or setting your brows, these 14 picks offer everything you need for a natural and polished everyday look.