Category AI Visibility Report
Mascara AI Visibility Report 2026: Top Brands & Buyer Topics in AI Search
Data updated 2026-08-27 · 30-day window · ChatGPT · Google AI Mode · Google AI Overviews
≈9,703
Est. AI queries / month
24
Buyer topics monitored
10
Brands on the AI shelf
Key insights
- Over the last 30 days, GEOly monitored 24 buyer topics in Mascara across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews — an estimated 9,703 AI queries per month.
- Maybelline leads the AI shelf with 13.7% of brand mentions, followed by Clinique (10%) and L'Oréal (6.8%). The top three hold 30.5% combined — a shelf that has not consolidated yet, leaving a clear window for challengers.
- The highest-demand topic is “Mascara for length and volume” (top keyword “best mascara for length and volume”, ~6,600 searches/mo).
- AI answers lean on reddit.com most (25.1% of citations) — earning presence on these sources is the shortest path to being recommended.
Brands AI recommends most
Share of brand mentions across AI answers in the last 30 days (Share of Model).
| # | Brand | AI mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maybelline | 1,527 | 13.7% |
| 2 | Clinique | 1,117 | 10% |
| 3 | L'Oréal | 765 | 6.8% |
| 4 | Tarte | 739 | 6.6% |
| 5 | Thrive Causemetics | 637 | 5.7% |
| 6 | Lancôme | 516 | 4.6% |
| 7 | essence | 486 | 4.3% |
| 8 | ILIA | 457 | 4.1% |
| 9 | CoverGirl | 409 | 3.7% |
| 10 | Hourglass Cosmetics | 392 | 3.5% |
What shoppers ask AI
Buyer topics monitored in this category, with estimated monthly AI queries and the top Google keyword behind each topic.
| Topic | Est. AI queries / mo | Top keyword | Search volume / mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mascara for length and volume | ≈9,703 | best mascara for length and volume | 6,600 |
| Vegan mascara | — | vegan mascara | 27,100 |
| Affordable mascara | — | cheap mascara | 9,900 |
| Water-based mascara for lash lift | — | water-based mascara for lash lift | 8,100 |
| Waterproof mascara | — | waterproof mascara | 27,100 |
| Volume mascara | — | mascara volumizing | 33,100 |
| Lengthening mascara | — | lengthening mascara | 8,100 |
| Hypoallergenic mascara | — | hypoallergenic mascara | 12,100 |
| Prestige brand mascara | — | lancome mascara | 18,100 |
| Retailer-led mascara searches | — | sephora mascara | 6,600 |
| Cruelty-free mascara | — | cruelty free mascara | 6,600 |
| Tubing mascara | — | tubing mascara | 60,500 |
| Mascara for sensitive eyes | — | mascara for sensitive eyes | 6,600 |
| Mascara for mature women | — | best mascara for older women | 8,100 |
| Brand-led mascara searches | — | mascara telescopic | 60,500 |
| Clear mascara | — | clear mascara | 14,800 |
Sources AI cites in this category
Root domains AI engines cited most when answering category queries in the last 30 days.
| Domain | Citations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| reddit.com | 683 | 25.1% |
| allure.com | 674 | 24.8% |
| goodhousekeeping.com | 227 | 8.3% |
| elle.com | 158 | 5.8% |
| vogue.com | 105 | 3.9% |
| glamour.com | 103 | 3.8% |
| lorealparisusa.com | 94 | 3.5% |
| marieclaire.com | 81 | 3% |
FAQ
Which brands do AI assistants recommend most for mascara?
Over the last 30 days the top brands by AI mention share are: Maybelline (13.7%), Clinique (10%), L'Oréal (6.8%), Tarte (6.6%), Thrive Causemetics (5.7%). Data from GEOly's continuous monitoring across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews.
How many people ask AI about mascara?
GEOly estimates ~9,703 AI queries per month in this category across 24 buyer topics, led by “Mascara for length and volume”.
Which sources do AI engines cite for mascara?
The most-cited domains are: reddit.com, allure.com, goodhousekeeping.com, elle.com, vogue.com. Building brand presence on these sources is the most direct way to win AI recommendations.
Methodology
GEOly continuously runs category buyer prompts across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews and records which brands are mentioned and which sources are cited. Figures aggregate a 30-day window; AI query volumes are modeled estimates from keyword demand and AI-adoption share. Data: GEOly MCP Server, updated 2026-08-27.
See your brand inside this category
GEOly tracks how ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Google AI Overviews mention, rank and cite your brand against every competitor above — and what to fix to win the AI shelf.