What are ghost lashes?
Ghost lashes are a beauty trend focused on natural, barely-there lashes. The trend falls under the no-makeup, makeup look, which allows your natural eyelashes to take center stage. You can skip mascara entirely, apply a lash serum, or go for a thin coat of clear mascara to follow the trend. However, it’s all about ditching super dark, dramatic black lashes. Ghost lashes are trending due to the shift toward low-maintenance beauty looks, such as the clean girl aesthetic. Since you’re putting less emphasis on your lashes, you can focus on defining your eyebrows or tightlining your upper lash line with a neutral-toned eyeliner. Meet the wikiHow Experts Christin Birckhead is a makeup artist and the founder of Conceptual Beauty, with over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. Cassandra McClure is a makeup artist and clean beauty advocate who specializes in sustainable and healthy cosmetics, with over 15 years of experience. Alicia D’Angelo is a New York City-based makeup artist who works for teams with Dior Makeup, YSL Beauty, and Pat McGrath Labs.
How to Achieve Ghost Lashes
Skip mascara for the most natural lash look. This is the easiest way to embrace the ghost lashes look, since it doesn’t require any makeup products. If your lashes need some extra oomph, you can always curl your eyelashes or brush them with an eyelash comb. Clamp the curler for “20 to 30 seconds” or “45 seconds to a minute if your lashes are really straight,” says makeup artist Christin Birckhead. According to makeup artist Cassandra McClure, “you want to warm up your [eyelash curler] between your hands or using your blow dryer” before curling to help set the curl better.
Curl your lashes and apply a clear mascara. Can’t quit mascara completely? Swap your black mascara for clear to help your lashes stand up without using any color. Just prep your lashes with an eyelash curler, then apply a thin, even coat of clear mascara. If you don’t have clear mascara, apply a thin layer of Vaseline or aloe vera gel onto your lashes with a clean spoolie. Alternatively, opt for a brown mascara for a more defined yet natural look. “Curling your eyelashes, even without makeup will immediately make the eyes appear larger,” says makeup artist Alicia D’Angelo. However, “adding mascara will open the eyes and both top and bottom lashes.”
Apply a lash serum to support and strengthen your lashes. If you have sparse lashes or you’re recovering from lash extension damage, avoid mascara and try a lash growth serum. You usually swipe lash serum at night, but follow the directions of your specific product carefully. If you experience any eye pain, infection, or vision changes, stop using it and visit an optometrist. The most commonly prescribed eyelash serums are Latisse and Lumigan. However, you can buy over-the-counter serums, like GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum or The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum.
Tightline or smudge eyeshadow along your upper lash line. Make your eyes pop without mascara by “concentrating darkness on the outer half of your lash line using liner or shadow on an angled brush,” says D’Angelo. You can also tightline your upper lash line with a neutral-colored eyeliner to open up the eyes, or smudge a medium brown shadow at the root of your lashes. To tightline your eyes easily, tilt your head back and gently pull upward on your upper lid to expose your waterline (the rim near the base of your lashes). Take your eyeliner pencil and trace the line starting at the outer corner and stopping before your tear duct.
Benefits of Ghost Lashes
Ghost lashes can help promote longer, healthier eyelashes. When you wear mascara daily, it can clog your eyelash follicles, cause blepharitis (eyelid inflammation), and contribute to long-term lash thinning (since it makes your lashes more brittle and breakage-prone). The ghost lash trend lets your natural lashes breathe and gives your eyes a break from potential dryness, irritation, and inflammation. Overall, your lashes are healthier because you’re not constantly applying and removing mascara. Applying a lash growth serum in place of mascara can also improve lash length, volume, density, and shine over time. Additionally, your makeup routine becomes a lot easier because you don’t have to worry about smudging, clumping, or reapplying mascara.
Other Lash-Boosting Treatments
Professional lash lifts and tints Think of a lash lift and tint as a perm for your natural eyelashes, but without chemicals like parabens or formaldehyde. A professional applies a solution to your eyelashes to curl them upward, then applies a dye to help darken and define them. This makes your lashes appear fuller, giving you a lifted, open-eyed look. The results are immediate and semi-permanent, usually lasting 6-8 weeks.
Natural wispy lash extensions If you aren’t blessed with genetically long lashes, you can always opt for lash extensions that look soft and real. A lash artist will analyze your eye shape and apply individual lash extensions to your lash line to mimic natural lash growth. Unlike classic extensions, the wispy style includes a mix of different lengths to create a fluttery, feathery effect. With proper maintenance, wispy lash extensions can last between 3-6 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are ghost lashes trending? Ghost lashes are trending because people are embracing a more natural and low-maintenance beauty look. It’s quick, simple, and easy to achieve, and the trend aligns with the popularity of “clean girl” and “old money” aesthetics. Brands like Kosas, Merit, ILIA, Tower 28, Rhode, Rare Beauty, and Glossier are popular choices for natural, “clean girl” makeup. Some believe the ghost lash trend is a recession indicator, meaning it’s a beauty trend that signals an economic downturn and shift in consumer spending habits.
What are some other popular lash trends? Although natural lashes are having a moment right now, colored lash extensions are also trending. Many people are layering accent colors, such as blue, emerald green, and bright purple, within their lash set or adding a hint of color just to the outer corners. If you don’t want to get lash extensions, you can achieve the look by applying a few coats of colorful mascara on your natural lashes.
Which celebrities are rocking ghost lashes? Hailey Bieber, Laura Harrier, Jasmine Tookes, Bella Hadid, Addison Rae, and Sofia Richie Grainge are just a couple of celebrities who have been sporting the barely-there lash look this summer.
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