There’s more to life than black mascara, and the proof is in colored mascara wands that come in all shades of the rainbow: from brown to green, blue, burgundy, violet, and even pink. While a colored mascara might feel intimidating at first, it’s actually a great way to brighten and compliment your natural eye color, or it can add a bold touch to any neutral makeup look. Here, we’re breaking down what to look for when shopping for a colored mascara, what hues might suit your eyes best, plus 12 colored mascara picks to shop.
Best colored mascaras, at a glance:
- Best overall: Pat McGrath Labs Dark Star Colour Blitz Mascara, $13
- Best volumizing: L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Mascara in Deep Burgundy, $9
- Best drugstore: Essence Lash Without Limits Brown Extreme Lengthening & Volume Mascara, $5
- Best long-lasting: Benefit Cosmetics Badgal Bang! Volumizing Mascara in Wild Plum, $29
- Best lengthening: Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk Push Up Lashes Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara in Dream Pop, $29
- Best for blue eyes: Too Faced Better Than Sex Sex Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara in Chocolate, $29
- Best for green eyes: Half Magic Eyelectric Extreme Lengthening Mascara in Violet Act, $25
- Best for brown eyes: Lime Crime Astronomical Volumizing Mascara in Blue Moon, $15
- Best for hazel eyes:Eyeko Colored Lash Alert Mascara in Green, $19
- Best vegan formula: Tower 28 MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara in Drift, $20
- Best waterproof formula: Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara in Blue Mist, $10
- Best buildable pigment: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions, $26
What to look for in a colored mascara
When determining the right colored mascara for you, there are a few things to consider. Like other mascaras on the market, you’ll want to pay attention to the pigment itself, how long it lasts on the lashes and the finish.
Here’s what to look for when shopping:
The pigment
Powerful pigment is a must when it comes to choosing a colored mascara. If the brightly-colored hue flakes off after a few hours or doesn’t show up, it defeats the purpose of wearing a colored mascara to begin with. Opt for a formula that’s extremely saturated and coats each lash evenly.
The longevity
Like your typical black mascara, you want to opt for a colored mascara that has a long-lasting finish. Colored mascaras aren’t often waterproof (boo!), but luckily, you can opt for either a tubing formula or one that guarantees an up-to-12-hour finish.
The finish
The finish of a mascara is of the utmost importance: you want to ensure it doesn’t clump or dry out after application. Colored mascara formulas with moisturizing ingredients like castor oil, pro-vitamin B5 or peptides will help condition lashes and keep them looking fluffy and soft.
Shop our colored mascara picks
Best overall: Pat McGrath Labs Dark Star Colour Blitz Mascara — $13.00
Colored mascara is a great way to bring drama to a neutral makeup look—and these brightly pigmented mascaras do just the trick. Inspired by retro-futuristic beauty, Dark Star comes in three shades: a vibrant red, aqua blue, and electric green that will add a striking, editorial finish and dimension to any bare lash.
Shades: 3
Cruelty-free: No
Waterproof: No
- Volumizing
- Long-lasting
- Highly pigmented
Best volumizing: L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Mascara in Deep Burgundy — $9.00
The best colored mascara formulas don’t compromise volume for pigment, which is why Voluminous Original is at the top of our list if you’re in search of both. The drugstore pick comes in five colorways and gives you a highly pigmented finish, all while making your lashes look long, thick, and dense.
Shades: 6 (including black)
Cruelty-free: No
Waterproof: No
- Contains panthenol and ceramides to condition lashes
- Makes the lash hairs look thicker
- Affordable
Best drugstore: Essence Lash Without Limits Brown Extreme Lengthening & Volume Mascara — $8.00
This mascara is proof that you don’t need to break the bank when opting for a colored formula. It’s a silky brown shade that clings to each lash for a separated, defined look and is great if you’re first diving into the colored-mascara trend. The wand is also extremely flexible and easy to use, making it ideal for getting into every lash nook and cranny.
Shades: 1
Cruelty-free: Yes
Waterproof: No
- Under $10
- Available at the drugstore
- Great for a colored mascara rookie
Best long-lasting: Benefit Cosmetics Badgal Bang! Volumizing Mascara in Wild Plum — $29.00
This intense, long-wearing mascara is a must if you’re looking for a pigment that won’t budge. It comes in two limited edition shades: an electric blue and a soft plum. We love that it’s volumizing and water-resistant, not to mention—completely flake-free—so it won’t pill throughout the day.
Shades: 4
Cruelty-free: No
Waterproof: No
- Long-wearing
- Water-resistant
- Contains pro-vitamin B5 to condition the lashes
Best for green eyes: Half Magic Eyelectric Extreme Lengthening Mascara in Violet Act — $25.00
Green eyes will love this pigmented violet formula that’s bold yet wearable. It has a vibrant purple finish with a slight iridescence for a touch of sparkle, unlike any other colored mascara on the market. It’s long-wearing as well, which means you can wear it from dawn to dusk.
Shades: 3 (including black)
Cruelty-free: Yes
Waterproof: No
- Vibrant with a unique shimmer finish
- Up to 12-hour wear
Best for brown eyes: Lime Crime Astronomical Volumizing Mascara in Blue Moon — $25.00
Green eyes will love this stunning violet formula that’s dramatic yet wearable. It has a vibrant purple finish with a slight iridescence for a touch of sparkle, unlike any other colored mascara on the market. It’s long-wearing as well, which means you can wear it from dawn to dusk.
Shades: 3 (including black)
Cruelty-free: Yes
Waterproof: No
- Vegan formula
- Brightly pigmented
- Under $20
Best for hazel eyes: Eyeko Colored Lash Alert Mascara in Green — $19.00
Green mascara might sound intimidating to some, but it stands out on hazel eyes. This vibrant mascara pick is one of our favorites for this reason—it adds just the right amount of green hue and gives you a clean, defined, and curled lash finish.
Shades: 4
Cruelty-free: Yes
Waterproof: No
- Infused with biotin and caffeine to wake up and nourish lashes
- Some users report that the formula dries out quickly
Best vegan formula: Tower 28 MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara in Drift — $20.00
PSA: You can find a colored mascara that’s vegan with nourishing ingredients. This soft brown lengthening mascara pick is a must-have in our book for these reasons, plus it’s long-wearing, water-resistant, and gives a natural, lifted finish.
Shades: 2 (including black)
Cruelty-free: Yes
Waterproof: No
- Contains castor oil to condition lashes
- Buildable
- Some users report dryness and flaking over time
Best buildable pigment: Thrive Causematics Liquid Lash Extensions — $26 — $26.00
A buildable, colored mascara doesn’t get much better than this formula which comes in five rainbow shades: brown, blue, purple, green, and pink. It won’t clump or flake and is easy to remove with just water. Add one coat for a subtle colored finish or up to three for a bold look—this one is totally customizable.
Shades: 6 (including black)
Cruelty-free: Yes
Waterproof: No
- Comes in a variety of colors
- Vegan
- Smudge-proof
- Water-resistant
- Some reviewers report that the formula is clumpy
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