Ghost Lashes

Going Ghost: Could You Give Up Your Mascara?

Think back to when you were a little girl watching your mom get ready.

There was something almost magical about it. The makeup came out, then the lipstick, and of course…the mascara. A few swipes on those lashes and suddenly Mom was ready to go.

For so many of us, mascara has always been that final step. You can have your foundation on, your blush just right and your lipstick perfect—but look in the mirror without mascara and think, “Wait. Something’s missing!”

Well, apparently something missing is exactly the point.

Meet the “Ghost Lash”

One of the beauty trends getting a lot of attention right now is called ghost lashes—and it is about as simple as a beauty trend can get:

No mascara.

That’s it.

Natural lashes are being left natural, even when the rest of the face is beautifully polished. Instead of thick, dark, dramatic lashes, the look is soft, fresh and almost a little unexpected.

And maybe that unexpected part is exactly what makes it so interesting.

Zendaya helped put the trend in the spotlight when she appeared at the New York premiere of The Odyssey with luminous skin, softly flushed cheeks and bare-looking lashes. On a red carpet where we’re accustomed to seeing every last detail perfectly “done,” leaving off something as ordinary as mascara suddenly made a statement.

And she looked beautiful.

When “Undone” Becomes the Look

Fashion has always had a funny way of doing that.

Sometimes the thing that looks just a little different—the piece that doesn't match perfectly, the unexpected shoe, the oversized jacket or, in this case, the missing mascara—is exactly what makes us stop and look.

We notice it because we aren’t expecting it.

And then, before you know it, everybody wants to try it.

Ghost lashes have shown up on celebrities, models and runways, while beauty experts have been talking about a larger move toward softer, more natural-looking makeup. Zendaya certainly isn't alone. Hailey Bieber, Pamela Anderson, Gigi Hadid and Dua Lipa have all been associated with the bare-lash look.

Even black mascara has felt the shift. Trend data reported in the beauty press showed its popularity in the U.S. falling by close to 10 percent as women increasingly experiment with softer, more natural-looking eyes.

Now, before anybody throws away her mascara…

I don't think mascara is going anywhere.

Especially if you ask my generation.

Speaking for the Baby Boomers…

I’m a Baby Boomer—and I can already hear some of my friends:

“Give up my mascara? Absolutely not.”

We were practically born into it!

For many women of my generation, mascara isn't some passing beauty trend. It is part of getting ready. It's mascara, lipstick, hair…and then you can leave the house.

I have gone out without mascara before—sometimes because I simply forgot it—and I've caught myself looking in the mirror thinking, What is wrong with my face?

Nothing was wrong.

I just wasn't used to seeing myself that way.

And here's my confession: I actually like not wearing it.

At home, I rarely wear mascara at all. When I go out? That's another story. I'm still reaching for that little tube.

So maybe I'm not quite ready to go completely ghost yet.

But Maybe That's the Bigger Point

What I really like about this trend isn't whether mascara is “in” or “out.”

It's the idea behind it.

Women are constantly being told what we need to put on, cover up, smooth out, lengthen, darken, lift, tighten or change before we're considered finished.

And then along comes a beauty trend that basically says:

What if you're already finished?

What if your natural lashes are enough?

What if your freckles show?

What if your hair isn't perfect?

What if there is one little thing about your look that's unexpected?

Maybe beauty doesn't always have to mean adding one more thing.

Sometimes confidence is knowing when to leave something off.

And whether you're Gen Z walking a red carpet without a drop of mascara or a Baby Boomer who wouldn't dream of leaving home without it, I think there's room for both.

Because that's what personal style should really be about.

Wear what makes you feel beautiful. Skip what doesn't. And every once in a while, don't be afraid to do something a little unexpected.

After all, sometimes the thing that's “missing” is the very thing that makes everyone look twice.

So tell me…

Could you leave the house without mascara?

Or is that one beauty staple you're taking with you forever?

— Gigi’s Boutique Collection Fashion. Beauty. Confidence. Your way.