Clear mascara may seem like a contradiction in terms. After all, isn't mascara supposed to darken the lashes so that they are more visible? Well, clear versions can also help to do this while also serving some additional purposes. Just as a slick of hair gel can make the hair look wet and a bit darker, clear mascara can make the eyelashes look slightly darker. This can be a benefit to women who already have dark, thick lashes, and just want to accentuate them a slight bit.
In order to achieve a more natural look with cosmetics, some people choose to use clear mascara instead of tinted mascara. Clear mascara, when used with very lightly tinted facial powder, blush, eyeshadow, and eye pencil that closely matches that brown color, can create a very natural look. This look is often desired by people who want a look that is neat and finished, but do not want to look as though they are clearly wearing makeup.
The natural look is often used in television and film on actors and actresses who, according to the plot, should not be wearing makeup. Perhaps, in the scene, the actress just woke up, or has been lost at sea for days. In either case, the director might still want the actress to have a hint of glamour. This is a case where natural looking makeup, especially clear mascara, would be useful.
Sometimes clear mascara is used over black or brown mascara. In these cases, the mascara is often used for touch-ups. Mascara can rub and flake away over the course of the day. Re-applying black or brown mascara can leave the lashes looking thick, uneven, and clumpy. Clear mascara can be used to tidy up the lashes and redistribute the tint over all of the lashes. This technique also helps to keep the lashes from being completely caked with colored mascara.
By applying mascara with no tint over mascara that has tint, there will be some contamination. The clear cosmetic may become slightly dark or cloudy. Although it might look a bit odd, the colorless mascara can still be used and will add very little to no additional color to the lashes when it is applied. The best way to avoid this contamination is to clean the mascara wand with warm water and pat it dry with a clean tissue or cotton cloth after every use.