Metal mascaras are a K-beauty staple – should you switch?

It’s one of the biggest products on the K-Beauty circuit – metal mascaras.

If you’re not familiar the term, a metal mascara refers to a type of mascara that has an entirely metal wand. No bristles, just grooves. In fact, it hardly looks like a traditional mascara at all. And yet, thousands of people swear by them.

This concept is far from new. The original idea can be linked back to 1958 when Helena Rubinstein released ‘mascara-matic’. From here, the mascara design evolved and found popularity with makeup wearers across Korea, Japan and more – who have been using metal mascaras for years.

One in particular by Neogen went viral on TikTok in 2022. Fast forward to 2025 and the current TikTok favourite is by Judydoll. In Japan, the best-seller is by Canmake – that is, according to the best-sellers wall at @cosme, Japan’s biggest experiential beauty department store. Yet, metal mascaras are one of the few K-Beauty trends that have not yet trickled down to Western markets.

How do metal mascaras work?

They function by trapping the mascara formula in the grooves of the metal wand. Then, as you apply like you would any other mascara, the formula is evenly applied over your lashes. But the real magic of these thin metal wands is that they allow you to get super close to the base of your lashes – and without smearing mascara all over your lids in the process.

Metal mascaras are heralded as the ultimate mascara choice for those with very straight lashes. The limited amount of product on the wand means it becomes tackier faster, allowing for more hold. It allows you to get an overall better coat and lift to your lashes, for a longer and more curled flutter.

They’re also and excellent solution for anyone concerned about sanitisation, as the metal wand can be easily sterilised before placed back inside the tube. The Neogen product in particular is also refillable. When the mascara runs dry, keep the wand and just buy a new mascara pot.

Are they worth it?

So, do they work? In my opinion, yes for some people. The Canmake product isn’t a best-seller for just any reason. I bought one on a recent trip and was surprised by how well it suited my lashes.

I have long lashes but they’re dead straight and very fine. It means that weighty or overly wet mascaras do nothing to curl my lashes. But the Canmake metal mascara allowed me to apply and curl right from the base of the lash. It dried down quickly too so the curl held instead of dropping. I also loved that it didn’t lather the product on too thickly and you could control the volume by building the coats up slowly.

So, does that mean it’s time to switch? It entirely depends on your preference. If you prefer mascaras that give lots of volume, this won’t be the one for you. This product is more about lift and length as opposed to bold glamour. But if you want a natural and lifted look, metal mascaras could be a game-changer.

If you are interested in trying this trend, below find some of our favourites.