Tired of the same old black and brown lashes? Do you ever scroll through social media and see those vibrant pops of color on someone’s eyes and wonder, “How do they pull that off?” You’re not alone! Colored mascara is a fun way to switch up your makeup game, but stepping away from the basics can feel a little scary. Which color will actually look good on *your* eyes? Will it smudge halfway through the day? And how do you wear something bold without looking like you’re wearing a costume?
Choosing the perfect vibrant lash look shouldn’t feel like a guessing game. We know you want lashes that wow, but finding the right shade that complements your eye color, and formulas that last, can be tricky. This guide cuts through the confusion. We’ll break down the best colored mascaras for every eye color, share simple tips for application, and show you how to wear color confidently, day or night.
Get ready to ditch the drab and embrace the dazzling! Keep reading to discover your new favorite eye-opening shade.
Top Colored Mascara Recommendations
- Voluminous Mascara is uniquely formulated to resist clumping, soften and build lashes up to 5X their natural thickness; The Volume Maximizing Brush thickens lashes evenly and smoothly; Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers
- L'Oreal Paris Mascara: Get the long, full eyelashes you love with our best mascaras and primers; Choose from our innovative volumizing formulas and variety of brushes
- Create you perfect eye makeup look with our collection of Voluminous mascaras, achieve sleek lines with smudge proof eyeliner, define your brows and discover eye shadow palettes with shades made for every eye color
- Because You're Worth It: L'Oreal Paris Makeup helps you create the look you want with our full line of makeup including foundations, concealers, highlighter makeup, brow pencils, eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks and much more
- Perfect To Pair With: L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Primer; This lightweight eyelash primer instantly builds dramatic volume and length on each lash for use under Voluminous mascara to instantly boost every lash look
- Voluminous Mascara is uniquely formulated to resist clumping, soften and build lashes up to 5X their natural thickness; The Volume Maximizing Brush thickens lashes evenly and smoothly; Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers
- L'Oreal Paris Mascara: Get the long, full eyelashes you love with our best mascaras and primers; Choose from our innovative volumizing formulas and variety of brushes
- Create you perfect eye makeup look with our collection of Voluminous mascaras, achieve sleek lines with smudge proof eyeliner, define your brows and discover eye shadow palettes with shades made for every eye color
- Because You're Worth It: L'Oreal Paris Makeup helps you create the look you want with our full line of makeup including foundations, concealers, highlighter makeup, brow pencils, eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks and much more
- Perfect To Pair With: L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Primer; This lightweight eyelash primer instantly builds dramatic volume and length on each lash for use under Voluminous mascara to instantly boost every lash look
- Vibrant Color Selection: This set includes six different shades of mascara, allowing you to create bold and colorful eye looks.
- Waterproof and Long-Lasting: Formulated to be waterproof, these mascaras provide all-day wear without smudging or flaking.
- Volumizing and Lengthening: Each mascara is designed to enhance lash volume and length, giving you fuller and more defined lashes.
- Easy Application: The user-friendly design ensures smooth and effortless application, making it suitable for both beginners and makeup enthusiasts.Cruelty-Free & Safe
- Versatile Use: Perfect for various occasions, from daily wear to special events, adding a pop of color to your eye makeup routine.
- Sky High Lash Impact: Our Sky High Mascara features a volumizing and lengthening mascara formula for long, full lashes with a light as air feel. Now available in a new burgundy mascara shade
- Lash Extension Brush: Features our exclusive Flex Tower mascara volume and length brush that bends to volumize and extend every single lash from root to tip. Ophthalmologist and allergy tested, suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers
- Full Volume Meets Limitless Length: This washable mascara formula is infused with bamboo extract and fibers for lightweight lashes that don't flake or smudge. Maybelline Sky High Mascara is available in washable and waterproof mascara formulas
- Maybelline Has What You Need: Create any look with foundation, BB cream, concealer and highlighter for the perfect canvas, eye shadow, brow pencil, mascara and eyeliner for any eye look and lip products, from matte lipstick to au natural lip gloss
- Remove Maybelline Makeup With Micellar Water: Use Garnier Micellar Water as a gentle makeup remover at night, and as a facial cleanser in the morning to prep skin for Maybelline makeup
- 【9 Colored Mascara Set】 It has 9pcs vivid colors: black, white, blue, green, violet, yellow, red coral, dark red, pink.12 colors colorful mascara make you have shinning big eyes, releasing your charm. What’s more, you could have different mood in week, sticking you out from the crowd.
- 【Ideal Christmas Day Gifts for Her】 With 9 different colors, it will be an ideal gift to lover, family and friends on Birthday Party, Cosmetic Show, Live Show, Prom Night, Dance Party, Wedding Makeup, party or holidays, like Christmas, New Year, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving Day and so on.
- 【Waterproof and Long lasting】 It's waterproof mascara and long lasting,very easy for daily use. And it's easy to glide on your eyelash & easy to remove with a simple makeup remover.
- 【Natural & Comfortable Formula】 Mascara glides on smoothly and lasts all day, while thickening and separating every lash for a clump-free, flake-free, smudge-free look, with natural, enriched and comfortable formula.
- 【Easy Application】 The lightweight and portable makeup mascara easy to glide on your eyelash & easy to remove. Soft and Comfortable for your eyeslash. Great for daily use clubbing or party and more.
- Voluminous Mascara is uniquely formulated to resist clumping, soften and build lashes up to 5X their natural thickness; The Volume Maximizing Brush thickens lashes evenly and smoothly; Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers
- L'Oreal Paris Mascara: Get the long, full eyelashes you love with our best mascaras and primers; Choose from our innovative volumizing formulas and variety of brushes
- Create you perfect eye makeup look with our collection of Voluminous mascaras, achieve sleek lines with smudge proof eyeliner, define your brows and discover eye shadow palettes with shades made for every eye color
- Because You're Worth It: L'Oreal Paris Makeup helps you create the look you want with our full line of makeup including foundations, concealers, highlighter makeup, brow pencils, eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks and much more
- Perfect To Pair With: L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Primer; This lightweight eyelash primer instantly builds dramatic volume and length on each lash for use under Voluminous mascara to instantly boost every lash look
- ULTRA-BLUE, HIGH-IMPACT COLOR: Introducing the essence I Love Extreme Blue Crazy Volume Mascara, perfect for those who crave bold lashes with a pop of electric blue! This vibrant shade adds an eye-catching, unique twist to your look, enhancing volume with every stroke.
- EASY, FLAWLESS APPLICATION: The specially designed elastomer brush effortlessly coats each lash, making it easy to achieve intense volume and a stunning blue finish in just one swipe. Layer up for an even bolder statement!
- LONG-LASTING, ALL-DAY WEAR: With a high-pigment formula that lasts, this mascara ensures that your ultra-blue, voluminous lashes stay flawless and captivating from morning to night. Make your eyes pop with this captivating colorful mascara!
- CLAIMS: Vegan & Cruelty Free. Free from parabens, fragrance, preservatives, oil, & microplastic particles. Made in Italy.
- CRUELTY FREE: essence cosmetics is certified and acknowledged by PETA as a cruelty-free brand. We do not test any of our products on animals.
- Lengthening Mascara: Enhance your lashes with intense length and unique lash-by-lash separation; Ophthalmologist tested and allergy tested; Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers
- Precision Application: The flat side of the patented flexible Precision Brush lengthens lashes up to 60 percent, while the comb side of the brush precisely separates lashes for a clump-free result
- Perfect To Pair With: L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Primer; This lightweight eyelash primer instantly builds dramatic volume and length on each lash for use under Voluminous mascara to instantly boost every lash look
- Because You're Worth It: L'Oreal Paris Makeup helps you create the look you want with our full line of makeup including foundations, concealers, highlighter makeup, brow pencils, eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks and much more
- L'Oreal Paris Beauty: A leading total beauty care company based in Paris, we offer innovative products and unique expertise from beauty experts in makeup, skin care, hair care, styling and hair color
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Dazzling Colored Mascara
Colored mascara lets you add a fun pop of color to your look. It’s a great way to experiment with makeup. This guide will help you choose the best tube for your eyes.
Key Features to Look For
When buying colored mascara, look closely at a few important features. These details decide how good the mascara will look and last.
- Pigment Intensity: How bright is the color? Deep, rich colors show up better, especially if you have dark lashes. A sheer wash of color might not be what you want.
- Brush Type: The wand matters a lot. Some brushes are thin and help separate lashes. Others are thick and focus on adding volume. Choose a brush that matches your goal—length, volume, or just color.
- Water Resistance: Do you expect rain or tears? Waterproof formulas stay put all day. Non-waterproof formulas remove easily but might smudge if you sweat.
- Wear Time: Check how long the mascara claims to last. Good colored mascaras stay vibrant for 8 to 12 hours without flaking.
Important Materials in Colored Mascara
The ingredients list tells you what the mascara is made of. These materials affect how it feels and performs.
Base Ingredients
Most mascaras use waxes (like beeswax or carnauba wax) and oils. These materials help the formula stick to your lashes. Good formulas use light oils so they don’t weigh your lashes down.
Color Pigments
The color comes from safe, cosmetic-grade pigments. For bright blues or purples, manufacturers use specific mineral or synthetic dyes. Always check that the product is approved for eye use. Avoid products with harsh chemicals if you have sensitive eyes.
Conditioning Agents
High-quality mascaras include conditioners like Vitamin E or panthenol. These ingredients help keep your lashes soft. This prevents the colored formula from making your lashes dry and brittle.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Not all colored mascaras perform the same. A few factors greatly impact the final result.
Quality Boosters
Smooth Application: A high-quality formula glides on easily. You should not have to pull or tug at your lashes to apply the color evenly. Look for reviews that mention a smooth, non-clumpy application. Buildable Layers: The best mascaras allow you to apply a second or third coat for deeper color. If the first coat looks great, you can build up the intensity.
Quality Reducers
Flaking and Cracking: Cheap formulas often dry out too fast. This causes the color to flake onto your cheeks later in the day. Clumping: If the brush pulls too much product, you end up with spidery, clumpy lashes instead of separated color.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about when and how you plan to use your new color.
Everyday Pop vs. Dramatic Statement
For a subtle look, choose deep jewel tones like navy blue or dark plum. These colors look almost black in dim light but offer a hint of color in the sun. For festivals or costume parties, you might want neon green or electric pink. These require a very strong pigment.
Application Tips
For the best results, always start with clean, bare lashes. If you have very light lashes, applying a coat of white or clear primer first can help the colored pigment truly pop. Wiggle the wand at the base of your lashes and pull straight through to the tips.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Colored Mascara
Q: Can I wear colored mascara every day?
A: Yes, you can wear it daily, especially if you choose subtle shades like dark brown or deep navy. Remember to always remove it completely before bed to keep your lashes healthy.
Q: Does colored mascara stain your natural lashes?
A: High-quality formulas should not stain your lashes. If you notice staining, it might be from a very strong dye in a lower-quality product. Always look for “ophthalmologist-tested” packaging.
Q: How do I make bright colors show up on dark lashes?
A: You need a white or nude lash primer underneath the color. Apply one coat of primer, let it dry fully, and then apply two coats of your bright colored mascara over the top.
Q: Is colored mascara harder to remove than black mascara?
A: It depends on the formula. Waterproof colored mascaras require an oil-based makeup remover or micellar water. Non-waterproof versions come off easily with regular cleanser.
Q: What colors look good on blue eyes?
A: Orange-based shades, like bronze or deep copper, make blue eyes look even brighter. Purple mascara also creates a beautiful contrast with blue irises.
Q: What colors look good on brown eyes?
A: Brown eyes are versatile! Try deep greens, like forest or emerald, or rich burgundies. These colors enhance the warmth in brown eyes.
Q: Will colored mascara make my eyes look tired?
A: Dark, muted colors (like muddy brown) can sometimes look dull. To prevent tiredness, stick to vibrant jewel tones or ensure your eyeliner is dark black to create a sharp frame for the color.
Q: Can I mix colors on my lashes?
A: Absolutely! This is a fun way to use the product. Try applying black mascara to the roots and your colored mascara only on the tips for a dip-dye effect.
Q: What is the difference between colored mascara and tinted lash primer?
A: A tinted primer is usually thinner and designed to be worn *under* regular mascara to add volume or a slight tint. Colored mascara is the final step, designed to deliver the main color payoff.
Q: How long is colored mascara usually good for once opened?
A: Like all mascaras, colored tubes are generally safe to use for about three months after opening. Bacteria can grow inside, so replace them regularly.