{"id":991980,"date":"2026-11-12T03:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?post_type=articles&#038;wetrend=2558f875-2"},"modified":"2026-11-12T06:18:15","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T11:18:15","slug":"makeup-artists-agree-after-60-switching-from-black-to-brown-mascara-softens-your-expression-25497-c1","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/makeup-artists-agree-after-60-switching-from-black-to-brown-mascara-softens-your-expression-25497-c1\/","title":{"rendered":"Makeup Artists Agree: After 60, Switching From Black to Brown Mascara Softens Your Expression"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_991995\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-991995\" style=\"width: 2880px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-991995\" src=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/11\/shutterstock_editorial_17223396dk-e1794482271786.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2880\" height=\"1602\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-991995\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mandatory Credit: Photo by Jojo Korsh\/BFA.com\/Shutterstock (17223396dk)<br \/>Doutzen Kroes, Pat McGrath<br \/>Hair and Makeup &#8211; The 2026 Victoria&#8217;s Secret Fashion Show, Sony Pictures Studios, Los Angel, Culver City, California, United States &#8211; 18 Oct 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em><strong>For most of us, black mascara is a reflex we&#8217;ve had since our teens. But after 60, makeup artists say a simple switch can make a visible difference: trading black for brown. The result, they explain, is a softer, more natural expression, without giving up definition.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><br \/>\n<b>In short<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Makeup artists quoted by the Spanish beauty site Trendencias agree that brown mascara softens the look after 60.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Black creates a strong contrast around the eyes, while brown adds depth more gently.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Brown mascara still curls, lengthens and defines the lashes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Picture this<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You&#8217;re getting ready in front of the bathroom mirror. Foundation, a touch of blush, then the same black mascara you&#8217;ve used for 40 years. The lashes look great, yet the whole face suddenly seems a little harder than you&#8217;d like. Makeup artists say the culprit may simply be the color in that tube.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why black can feel harsh<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The main difference is contrast. Tamara Preece, makeup artist and training director for the British lash brand Uklash, explained to Woman magazine, as reported by Trendencias, that black strongly outlines the contour of the eyes, while brown brings depth in a softer way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With age, lines and a little sagging can appear around the eyes. A very dark frame tends to draw attention to that area, whereas a softer shade blends in.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What brown does better<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to Trendencias, brown tones add warmth and can make the eyes look more open, fresher and more rested. Sofia Alves, a makeup artist at the beauty retailer Care to Beauty, notes that a chocolate shade blends better with the natural tones of the face.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">And there is no need to give up on lashes that stand out. Preece points out that one of the advantages of brown is that it still allows very defined lashes. Brown mascara keeps the curl, length and volume, and it remains clearly visible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Who it suits best<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Women who prefer a natural, everyday look.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Blondes, because brown reduces the contrast with their natural lashes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Women with brown eyes or brown hair.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How to make the switch<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Choose a chocolate or coffee brown rather than a very light shade.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pair it with a brown eyeliner, or an invisible eyeliner along the lash line, instead of black, as Trendencias suggests.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Keep your black mascara for evenings and special occasions: it remains a makeup bag essential.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Part of a softer approach after 50<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The same logic applies to hair. Stylists favor softer lines and lighter shapes, as with <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/hairstylists-reveal-the-4-haircuts-that-instantly-look-younger-after-50-25497\/\">the 4 haircuts that instantly look younger after 50<\/a><\/strong> or <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/goodbye-long-gray-hair-these-9-short-haircuts-make-silver-strands-look-chic-according-to-stylists-25497-c1\/\">the short cuts that make silver strands look chic<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is advice from makeup professionals, not a rule. Black mascara can still look great, especially on very dark lashes or for a dramatic evening look. The best shade is the one that suits your coloring.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After 60, the most flattering change may be the smallest one. A brown mascara keeps your lashes defined while letting your eyes, not the makeup, do the talking.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42690,"featured_media":991995,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[30],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v18.5 (Yoast SEO v20.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Brown vs Black Mascara After 60: Why Makeup Artists Recommend Brown | Grazia USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After 60, makeup artists recommend switching from black to brown mascara for a softer, more natural look. 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