Want to know how to make anything fashionable in beauty? Just dial it right down and pop the word ‘ghost’ in front of it. That big Hollywood blow-dry? Let those curls drop down until they've all but faded away into a ‘ghost wave’. A hair colour refresh? Ensure shades blend seamlessly to create barely-visible ‘ghost balayage’. And now, turn down your full-volume mascara and embrace the quiet beauty of the ‘ghost lash’.
The latest ghost beauty trend offers just a whisper of definition, with a 'your natural lashes but better’ look. Eyelashes manage to be both fashionably understated while still opening the eyes. Leading the way is, of course, the queen of minimal makeup, Pamela Anderson, who has been appearing on the red carpet with just the merest hint of mascara.
‘A tubing formula is ideal for this look, as it darkens the lashes without loading them with clumpy pigment,’ says top celebrity makeup artist Victoria Bond. A tubing mascara wraps finely around lashes for subtle definition, with far less volume than you’d see in traditional mascara – find our guide to the best here.
However, there’s more to the ghost lash look than that. For the purist version of this trend, you can ditch the mascara entirely, and find other ways to beautify lashes. It's all super-natural, if you'll pardon the pun.
It's a version of the trend that Pamela herself has opted for, appearing this week with absolutely no mascara on her lashes and looking effortlessly chic.
Ghost lashes is something that translates beautifully into real life, says Victoria. 'I think it's a beautiful, clean look, and it's a very easy one to wear, because you don't need to worry about your mascara running all the time, or having to remove it with a special cleanser.’
‘When I’m doing fashion or even close-up beauty work, I don't tend to use mascara because it always tends to look a little clumpy close up,’ explains Victoria. ‘The way I open the eyes instead is to give lashes a really good curl at the root. Then I tend to put a bit of gloss on the eye, and that gives a really chic, minimalist look.’
If lashes prove particularly prone to dropping, she'll permit a clear mascara – but only for hold.
For that ‘ghost’ eye definition, she likes to use a tight-liner technique, applying dark eyeliner in the upper water-line. ‘That frames the eye in a very natural way. And you also want your eyebrows to be really well groomed to pull the look together.’
If you’re worried about your eyes vanishing completely without mascara, consider booking in for a lash tint as a way to ease yourself into the trend. ‘The ghost lash trend does work better on darker lashes, so a tint is definitely a good idea if you’re blonde,’ adds Victoria.
To give this ghost trend a little more life, you might want to combine a tint with a salon lash lift. ‘This combination is ideal if you’re leaning into the ghost lash trend – it enhances your natural lashes without needing mascara,’ says brow and lash guru Shavata Singh, who regularly creates this look at her salons.
‘The tint adds soft definition, and a lift gives your lashes that flattering curl, so you can skip mascara completely. It’s a beautiful look that opens the eyes. Ghost lashes don’t have to mean invisible lashes,’ says Shavata.
It also fits in with the wider trend towards 'less is more' beauty, which is flattering and ageless, she adds. ‘We’re seeing a shift away from full-glam lashes toward more natural, cared-for looks. A lash lift gives shape, a tint gives depth, and adding in nourishing serums like RevitaLash or our Brow & Lash Strengthener castor oil support stronger, longer lashes in the long run. The key is making your natural lashes look their best.’
In short, this trend is polished, fashionable and luxe with low-effort. No need to scrub off spidery clumps every night? This is one ghost story we’ll listen to time and again.
