Is your makeup ageing you? The A-listers ditching mascara for au naturel 'ghost lashes' - but beauty expert warns it's making some stars look older

While dark smoky eyes and heavy lashes may once have been the fixture of makeup routines over the decades, it seems times are ever-changing in Hollywood.At the New York premiere of 'The Odyssey' on July 15, Zendaya seemingly ditched eye makeup altogether and embraced a sun-kissed, au naturel look instead - and she isn't the only one. Pamela Anderson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Meryl Streep, and Uma Thurman are among the Hollywood stars shunning mascara and embracing 'ghost lashes' for a more youthful look after Gen Z declared eyeshadow is 'dated'. 'Mascara isn't dead, we're just finally realising it isn't always the secret to looking younger,' explained beauty expert William Grande. 'For years, we've been told more mascara equals bigger, younger-looking eyes, but that's not always true. Sometimes, it can actually age you, so removing it can make you look fresher.'But which A-listers have successfully mastered the mascara-free look - and who should keep using it for a more youthful look? At the New York premiere of 'The Odyssey' on July 15, Zendaya opted for zero eye-makeup - tapping into the so-called 'ghost lashes' look sweeping the red carpet Pamela Anderson With mascara: Pamela Anderson has long been associated with the 'blonde bombshell' aesthetic thanks to her glam looks throughout the 90s, noughties and 2010s Without mascara: The actress turned heads in 2023 when she arrived at Paris Fashion Week completely free of makeup - a look she continues to rock today From the 1990s through to the 2010s, the Baywatch actress, now 59, maintained her staple look of golden blonde tresses, sharp smoky eyes, thick mascara, ultra-thin eyebrows and an overlined, bold lip.But, in 2023, Pamela surprised the industry when she attended Paris Fashion Week sans make-up, and has continued to rock a natural look ever since.While she occasionally wears light, subtle touches of blush, lipstick and eyeshadow at events like the 2026 Golden Globes, her go-to look is a far cry from the dramatic aesthetic that cemented her status as a sex symbol in the Noughties. William: 'Pamela has completely changed the conversation around ageing. In my opinion, she actually looks fresher without mascara because your eye goes straight to her healthy, glowing skin instead of dramatic lashes.'There's something incredibly confident about it, and confidence is one of the biggest beauty tricks there is. She proves you don't need loads of makeup to make an impact.'Gwyneth Paltrow With mascara: Gwyneth Paltrow has long been renowned for her thinner eyebrows, sun-kissed bronzer, neutral lips and barely-there mascara throughout the decades Without mascara: The GOOP founder's clean, wellness-focused lifestyle is often now reflected in her makeup looksWhile Gwyneth Paltrow has always maintained her signature, understated red carpet looks throughout the decades, the GOOP founder's modern 'clean beauty' philosophy is often reflected in her general aesthetic today. The actress, 53, has long been renowned for her thinner eyebrows, sun-kissed bronzer, neutral lips and barely-there mascara from the late 90s right through to the 2010s.Her approach today focuses on glowing skin and lightweight makeup application to allow her natural features to shine. William: 'Gwyneth has always championed that effortless California glow, so ditching mascara feels completely on-brand for her. Very GOOP of her! 'In my opinion, she looks softer, more relaxed and arguably younger because nothing is competing with her natural features. It's a great reminder that sometimes less really is more.'Meryl Streep With mascara: Meryl Streep, pictured at the 82nd Academy Awards in Hollywood in 2010, is renowned for her understated elegance - even full-glam makeup Without mascara: The 77-year-old actress now opts for pared-back looks on the red carpet Throughout an illustrious Hollywood career spanning nearly fifty years, Meryl Streep, 77, has embraced an effortlessly elegant look, allowing her true character to take centre stage. During the experimental, fashion-heavy decades of the 1970s and 1980s and the glamorous red carpets of the 90s and Noughties, the actress's makeup remained simple: soft peachy eyes, subtle mascara, sheer lips, and a touch of blush. While she now prioritises a luminous, dewy complexion, she previously wore a highly pared-back look, sporting minimal eye makeup at the 2017 Academy Awards. William: 'Meryl's beauty has always been about elegance rather than trends. 'Personally, I think a little mascara still helps frame her eyes beautifully, especially for photographs and red carpets, but when she wears less makeup, she has a lovely softness that feels authentic rather than overdone. It's all about balance.' Uma Thurman With mascara: Uma Thurman at the opening night red carpet for 'Giant' at the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2025, sporting a soft and dewy yet glam look Without mascara: The actress turned heads at the 2015 premiere of The Slap with her bare lids and heavier brows Kill Bill star Uma Thurman, 56, is known for her understated, classic beauty and soft glam on the red carpet, but rare appearances in the last decade have seen her opt for a minimal, less-is-more approach. Throughout the 1990s and noughties, Uma's looks centered around her signature bangs, soft, glowing skin, a sweep of black eyeliner and rose lips. But at the 2015 premiere of The Slap, the actress caused a stir with her experimental, editorial French style - ditching her trademark look for a bold red lip, heavier brows and bare lids, a move that triggered a wave of headlines labelling her 'unrecognisable'.William: 'Uma has such a striking bone structure that she doesn't need lots of eye makeup to stand out. In my opinion, she carries the no-mascara look incredibly well because her features do all the talking. 'Heavy eye makeup can sometimes distract from that, whereas a softer approach makes her look effortlessly chic.'Drew Barrymore With mascara: Drew Barrymore, pictured at the 'For The Love of Collaboration' event in New York in 2019, has long experimented with dramatic makeup looks since the 90s Without mascara: The ET star is often seen sporting a natural, understated makeup look today A true beauty chameleon, ET star Drew Barrymore is more known today for her soft, fresh-faced makeup looks, but her red carpet history is defined by a combination of bold, dramatic features and understated elegance. During the 90s, at the height of Charlie's Angels, the 51-year-old actress perfected the Y2K grunge aesthetic, rocking pin-thin brows, brown lipstick and heavy smudged kohl eyeliner. In the noughties and 2010s, Drew's red carpet looks shifted toward timeless elegance, marked by finger-waved and backcombed hair, dark eyeshadow and a pink lip. Now in her early 50s, she has adopted an increasingly natural aesthetic largely free of eye makeup. William: 'Neither look is wrong, it just depends on the occasion. However, her makeup-free look really captures that fresh-faced trend we're seeing everywhere.''The biggest beauty myth is that more makeup automatically makes you look younger. The opposite can actually be true. 'Heavy mascara, thick liner and dramatic lashes can sometimes make the eyes look harsher, whereas softer definition and glowing skin create a fresher, more youthful appearance. That's exactly why the 'ghost lashes' trend is taking off.''Confidence is the new mascara. Healthy skin, brushed-up brows and a glowing complexion will always make more of a statement than piling on product.'