The Latest in Lashes Is Going Ghost

4 min read

Full glam looks on a red carpet have always been anchored around flawless skin and long, voluminous lashes. The latest version of no makeup makeup, however, as seen on Zendaya, Hailey Bieber, and Dua Lipa, challenges everything we thought we knew about minimalist makeup. Instead of a light, lengthening coat, the ghost lashes trend skips mascara altogether. And in some cases, rich black creams are being replaced with clear gloss.

At The Odyssey’s New York premiere, there were zero distractions from Zendaya’s angelic, winged dress, not even her makeup. The fresh-faced look highlighted her bare lashes, which were paired with a light dusting of blush and groomed brows. In an Instagram post, makeup artist Ernesto Casillas explained that for the look, which he created using Prada Beauty, he left the lashes untouched, instead emphasizing a soft-focus, ethereal glow. “For the premiere, we wanted the skin to look fresh, luminous, and naturally skin-kissed,” he wrote. “The makeup was intentionally minimal, with glowing skin at the heart of the look and soft warmth placed where the sun would naturally hit.”

For the everyday wearer, Hannah Murray, global artistic director at Bobbi Brown, tells ELLE that when the eyes play a quieter part in the look, she often switches focus to the lips or cheeks. “There’s nothing more modern than a bold red lip with polished skin and a subtle hint of shine on the eye, a modern Carolyn Bessette. Or a flush of colour on the cheek and lips to create an ethereal, romantic look,” she says.

Why skip mascara?

The amount of product you wear is totally a personal preference, but Murray says the shift from heavy to light or no eye makeup at all is part of a bigger trend. “I think everyone now is so into skincare and embracing healthy, spa-like skin that this is an extension of that,” she tells ELLE. “I’ll always be a fan of mascara, but there are times when going without and being confident in your skin is liberating and beautiful.”

Skipping mascara also gives you a chance to focus on the health of your lashes. A glossy-finish lash serum like Lashes by KeraFactor will add shine, while the PDRN and peptide-infused treatment moisturizes and strengthens.

How do you wear ghost lashes?

If the eye canvas is blank, focus color on other parts of the face to add some flush and freshness. Start with a smooth, naturally glowy base, then add a small dose of blush on the cheeks. “Another key product here is a light-reflective or correcting concealer,” Murray points out. “Correct any darkness without going too close to the bottom lashes. When things are so minimal, it’s a subtle correction like this that ensures you look awake and polished and not like you’ve just rolled out of bed,” she says.

The ghost lash look doesn’t necessarily mean completely bare, either. Murray recommends curling the lashes to open the eyes, then top with a clear mascara to make them hold and look shiny. “At shows and for editorial, I often leave them so that it doesn’t go into ‘pretty territory.’ The beauty here is the bare, almost boyish look, that’s what makes it cool,” she says.

For a little more of a kick, add some eye shadow to the lids. “With the lashes bare, I like to bring a neutral wash of color and texture to the eye. Bobbi Brown Longwear Cream Shadow sticks in Mocha, Downtown Brown, or Stone work beautifully to give that subtle sheen and wash of color whilst still feeling minimal and barely there,” says Murray. She also notes that you can use a brown mascara for a light, natural look. “Wipe the wand gently with a tissue to remove excess product, and brush through lashes. Mascara brings focus and definition to the eye, and this trend is more about an openness to the face.”

Can you apply false lashes with the no-mascara look?

If you feel totally naked without mascara, Murray says a small cluster of falsies is an option, but keep them light and wispy. You can pull this off with a set like Velour’s Everyday Natural Velour-Xtensions Self-Stick Lash Clusters. Blushington Pro Artist Anari LaBoard agrees, noting that “If your goal is something natural, then use a lash that looks very similar to your own natural lashes. Clusters work well for this because you can place them where you need them.”

To keep false lashes even less conspicuous, LaBoard suggests placing individual lashes under the lash line instead of on top. “I’d recommend using individual lashes for this. They give you more control over placement and fullness,” she says, adding that you can finish off the look by doing the tight-lining eyeliner method to make your lash line appear fuller.