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For years, I sought out mascaras that were the blackest black imaginable. Given I am so light-haired my eyelashes are practically translucent, the dream was for my lashes to be as dark and long as possible – basically, the absolutely opposite of what they are naturally. 

I didn’t deviate from this mission until I talked to YOU’s assistant beauty editor, Alice Robertson. When asking for her recommendations for ultra-black lacquers, she looked at me and said: ‘You’d suit brown mascara so much better.’

This shook the very core of my (admittedly limited) make-up knowledge. But according to Robertston, it’s something more people should be considering.

‘Yes, it looks more subtle,’ she admits, ‘but it can also make certain eye colours – particularly blue and green – pop more. It’s mascara’s version of quiet luxury; polished but understated.’

It’s all to do with colour theory. Brown usually has warmer undertones (red, amber and bronze) whereas blue and green eyes are cool-toned. When warm shades sit next to cool shades, they naturally make the cool colour appear brighter and clearer, which is what everyone wants for their eyes, right?

What’s more, because brown eyeliners and mascaras mimic the natural shadow around your lashes more closely, it’s a much softer way to accentuate your features. The result is eyes that look defined but not heavy or smudgey. Think Hailey Bieber ‘clean girl’ beauty, rather than Kate Moss after a heavy night at Glastonbury circa 2002. 

Below, I’ve selected some of the best brown eye products I’ve found to compliment blue eyes. (They’d work equally as well on green eyes, Robertson assures me). If you’re only going to make one change to your make-up routine this spring, let one of these products be it.

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