The S/S 2025 runway circuit sets the tone for the season’s beauty trends—and it looks like colorful mascara is coming out on top. White lashes appeared at Libertine during New York Fashion Week and Francesca Liberatore during Milan Fashion Week; red mascara popped at Diotima, and blue had a moment at LaQuan Smith. Thankfully, adding a little ROYGBIV to your mascara routine is easy (and surprisingly approachable) with help from the best colored mascaras.
You don’t have to abandon your favorite formula or wand, either. Many of your go-to favorite mascaras and tubing mascaras now come in a wide range of shades. Brands like Charlotte Tilbury, Hermès, and Chanel have expanded their color offerings within the past few years, launching cobalt blue, burgundy, and hunter green variations.
Finding the right colorful mascara can be tricky, so we spoke to a few trusted celebrity makeup artists to get the lowdown on choosing the best shade for your eye color and tips for wearing a pop of color on your lashes.
The Best Colored Mascaras
Best Colored Mascara Overall
Benefit Cosmetics Badgal Bang! Mascara
Those who put on false or magnetic lashes daily have more patience than I do, so when I discovered this mascara, it quickly became one of my favorites. It almost gives you the appearance of false lashes (don’t look to close), so I was especially excited to learn that it comes in shades like plum, blue, and brown. The best part? It’s water-resistant, so whether you’re prone to tearing naturally or crying from animal rescue videos on TikTok (this is me), you won’t have to worry about blue-stained tears running down your face.
Colors: Wild Plum, Rebel Brown, Power Blue
Brush Shape: Lengthening brush
Type: Lengthening
What We Love: Volumizing and lengthening
What We Don’t: May flake or smudge
Review for MC: “A little goes a long way, but it’s buildable, so you can really layer it on if desired. Whenever I opt for a colorful mascara, I pack it on because my lashes are jet black, and it takes a few coats to make the shades pop. Thankfully, it doesn’t get clumpy in the process. I love the power blue—it gives me a hot alien vibe, and I am a proud member of the why-fit-in-when-you-were-born-to-stand-out club. Plus, it’s water-resistant, so I can go all day without worrying about flaking or smudging. I’ll wear it from sunrise to way past sundown, and my blue lashes will still be intact.” — Iman Balagam, Beauty Freelancer
I use Wild Plum when I’m feeling flirty (and to bait my crushes).
(Image credit: Iman Balagam)
Best Volumizing Colored Mascara
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push-Up Lashes Mascara
Darling, you’re not ready for this mascara. If Pillow Talk is your go-to lip shade, why not pair it with the brand’s “Dream Pop” mascara? This berry-brown shade compliments every skin tone and eye color—and has a top-tier formula. It contains natural waxes to add volume and length, Kerestore to condition and thicken, and a lash-lifting polymer for extra oomph. Celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty adds that the berry-brown shade looks stunning with bronzy shadows or even on a bare eye. “With its red/purple undertone, it’s not as deep as a regular brown mascara—the berry tone really stands out and delivers a rich, vibrant pigment.”
Colors: Black, dream pop
Brush Shape: Diamond-shaped bristles
Type: Volumizing
What We Love: Lengthening, conditioning
What We Don’t: May bleed
Review for MC: “I’ll be honest: I’m pretty simple with my makeup. You won’t find me wearing turquoise blue eyeshadow or a bold lip. That’s why I was so surprised that I actively reach for this pinky-brown finish. The Pillow Talk-esque hue adds dimension to my blue eyes and provides a soft finish that surprisingly works well for no-makeup makeup days. It’s very subtle, too—a perfect entry for those entering the colored mascara world.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor
Pair Dream Pop with the Luxury Pillow Talk Palette.
(Image credit: MC Editors)
Best Luxury Colored Mascara
Trait D’hermes Revitalizing Care Mascara
While a Birkin is at the top of my wishlist, I’ll settle for Hermès mascara. This comes in six shades: two neutrals—black and brown—and four bold colors, including indigo, blue (or bleu, as the brand calls it), red, and green. Bhatty says that no matter your lash type, the color payoff is impressive, but she especially loves the green hue. “The formula is vibrant and rich, with no flaking, which is often an issue with colored mascaras,” she adds. The packaging, designed by Pierre Hardy, feels luxe, making it a perfect gift for a friend who loves bold makeup looks.
Colors: 85 Rouge H, 01 Noir Fusain, Bleu Encre96 , 06 Violet Indigo, 95 Brun Bistre, 05 Vert Titien
Brush Shape: Ultra-fine brush
Type: Volumizing
What We Love: Removes easily, feels natural, doesn’t flake
What We Don’t: May smudge
Review for MC: “One thing that really stood out to me is the thin brush, subtly shaped like an ‘H’ (because branding is key), which deposits just the right amount of product onto the lashes. I have extra-sensitive eyes, and many mascaras irritate me, causing me to tear up throughout the day or when I stare at my computer screen for too long. Thankfully, this formula is suitable even for the most sensitive eyes, enriched with nourishing shea butter and moringa butter. Plus, I love using Hermès mascara—the packaging is gorgeous, and I’m just waiting for the moment someone asks me to show it off in my bag for a TikTok video.” — Iman Balagam, Beauty Freelancer
Feeling blue in shade Bleu Encre.
(Image credit: Iman Balagam)
Best Colored Mascara with a Large Shade Range
Addiction Tokyo The Mascara Color Nuance
Many brands that offer colorful mascaras stick to just a few shades, but not Addiction Tokyo. This brand boasts 14 vibrant options, allowing you to experiment with different makeup looks to your heart’s content. There’s a yellow-green, a bright purple, and even a bold scarlet red. The translucent finish gives your lashes a subtle shimmer (perfect for catching someone’s eye!). Bhatty adds that the mascaras are also beautiful on brows if you’re looking to add a pop of color there as well.
Colors: Black river, rusty brunette, dark mustard, rusty apricot, deep plum, dusty sky, starry sea, pine tree, dazed violet, ashy rose, pure scarlet, ruby plum, blue lapis, matcha blink
Brush Shape: Precision wand
Type: All-in-one
What We Love: Plenty of shades, waterproof, buildable, lightweight
What We Don’t: A little difficult to remove
Review for MC: “One great thing about this mascara is that it’s smudge-resistant and humidity-proof, so whether you’re on a beach vacation or walking through New York in the summer, you won’t have to worry about it budging. I wore the plum shade to a late-night DJ set from 2 AM to 9 AM (because I wanted to look edgy), and by the time the sun came up and everyone could really see me, it was still perfectly in place. I would note that a lot of the shades weren’t very noticeable on my lashes, but would be better suited for lighter brown or blonde lashes.” — Iman Balagam, Beauty Freelancer
Mustard mascara gave my lashes a soft brown finish.
(Image credit: Iman Balagam)
Other Colored Mascaras We Love
Best Lengthening Colored Mascara
Chanel Noir Allure
If you want a refined take on the colored mascara trend, makeup artist Amrita Mehta recommends Chanel. “These colors are a little more refined and understated, still offering a pop of color without being neon bright,” she says. With shades like Amethyst, Lilas, Rouge Intense, and Orange Bruni, you can specifically choose a color that makes your eye color pop. Makeup artist Amber Dreadon suggests using the lilac shade, saying, “It’s so fun and delicate and would look amazing paired with a neutral eye. Apply the lilac shade on the lower lashes for a cute pop of color.”
Colors: Noir, Amethyste, Lilas, Rouge intense, Orange bruni
Brush Shape: Slim brush
Type: Volumizing and lengthening
What We Love: Separates lashes, offers a natural look
What We Don’t: Not waterproof, may dry and flake
Best Colored Mascara Brush
YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara
If you’re leaning into the indie-sleaze rock ‘n’ roll vibe, this YSL mascara is exactly what you need. Known for its ability to volumize and lengthen, YSL delivers this bold electric blue pop of color that lasts all day, ensuring your lashes steal the show. “I love this mascara because it’s so easy to build volume, and the blue is incredibly vibrant,” Dreadon says. She recommends pairing it with smudged black eyeliner and a sharp black suit—we’re taking notes!
Colors: Noir, Uninhibited Brown, Electric Blue
Brush Shape: Oversized brush
Type: Volumizing
What We Love: Doesn’t flake, lengthening, easy to use brush
What We Don’t: Dries quickly, Difficult to remove
Best Drugstore Colored Mascara
L’Oreal Paris Makeup Voluminous Original Mascara
This mascara is a staple in everyone’s kit—from the girl you went to high school with to celebrity makeup artist Katie Mellinger. Mellinger says it’s one of her “faves” and she’s “been using this mascara for years.” While it comes in classic black and brown shades, you can also find it in deep burgundy, green, violet, and cobalt blue, covering all your color needs. I love a good dupe, and Mellinger adds, “this is almost like the budget version of Diorshow.”
Colors: Black, Black brown, Blackest black, Carbon black, Cobalt blue, Deep burgundy, Deep green, Deep violet,
Brush Shape: Volume brush
Type: Original, Waterproof
What We Love: Doesn’t smear, clump, or flake, waterproof, affordable
What We Don’t: Easy to overdo it
Best Colored Mascara for Intense Pigment
Pat McGrath Dark Star Volumizing Mascara
I love essentially everything Pat McGrath sells—especially this mascara, which comes in three bold shades. “It’s perfect for creating an edgy color-blocked eye,” says Dreason. After all, fortune favors the bold. You can’t go wrong with any of these colors, but “a red metallic eye paired with a touch of red mascara is such a cool look, perfect for a hot night out,” she adds.
Colors: Pink Mystique, Renegade Red, Electric Jade
Brush Shape: Contoured brush
Type: Traditional
What We Love: Lightweight, pigmented, buildable
What We Don’t: Smudges easily
Best Tubing Colored Mascara
Half Magic Eyelectric Extreme Lengthening Mascara
If Euphoria is the blueprint for your makeup looks, you’ll love Half Magic—the brand founded by the HBO show’s makeup artist Donni Davy. Mehta is a fan of this mascara, saying it “delivers with its vibrant colors and great color payoff.” It offers length without flaking throughout the day, and because it’s a tubing mascara, it washes off easily when you’re ready to call it a night.
Colors: Urchin, Teal Widdit, Violet Act
Brush Shape: Lengthening brush
Type: Tubing
What We Love: Zero flaking, smudging, transfer-proof
What We Don’t: Not super pigmented, may dry out fast
Best Buildable Colored Mascara
Diorshow 24h Buildable Volume Mascara
“Diorshow gives you the color you want with the volume we all crave,” emphasizes Mehta. Your lashes will look significantly fuller and longer without feeling weighed down or clumpy for up to 24 hours. It’s highly pigmented yet washes off easily at night with a good oil-based cleanser or makeup remover. While there aren’t many colorful options—just blue—it does pop on even the deepest lashes, which is no easy feat. “It’s a great way to incorporate color for those with darker lashes who haven’t been able to participate in the trend fully,” she says.
Colors: 090 Black, 260 Blue, 795 Brown
Brush Shape: Volumizing brush
Type: Volumizing
What We Love: Holds a curl, lasts all day
What We Don’t: May finish fast, flakes if on too long
Best Affordable Colored Mascara
Af94 Push to Start Volumizing Mascara
“This mascara is bold and affordable,” says Mehta. At just $10, it’s a must-add to your cart the next time you do an Ulta run. While you can opt for traditional black, it also comes in three fun shades—blue, red, and pink. Wiggle the brush through your lashes and watch as each one gets coated in ultra-pigmented color. Plus, it’s formulated with shea butter, to nourish your lashes simultaneously.
Colors: Bada-bing, Black, Punch drunk, Semi-charmed
Brush Shape: Contoured brush
Type: Volumizing
What We Love: Long-lasting, lengthening, volumizing
What We Don’t: Not super pigmented, dries out quickly
How to Pick the Best Colored Mascara for Your Eye Color
While anyone can wear any shade (we love options!), certain colors will make specific eye shades pop—it’s all about color theory. Mellinger recommends choosing a mascara color opposite your eye color on the color wheel. For example, she explains that if you have blue eyes, opt for orange or peach tones. Green eyes? Go for red or burgundy. And if you have brown or hazel eyes, you’re lucky—many colors will make your eyes stand out. For brown eyes, identify the undertone and choose a contrasting shade. Warmer browns look fantastic with purple mascaras. Hazel eyes can bring out blue with orange, green with red, and golden tones with purple.
Another option, aside from using the color wheel, is to color-block your eye makeup. “A cute pop of colored liner along the lash line with a matching mascara can be a cool way to add color to a look,” says Dreadon. “A burgundy or red-toned eyeliner paired with burgundy mascara would be so dreamy.”
How to Wear Colored Mascara
There are plenty of ways to experiment with colored mascara. If you want a more subtle look, Mehta suggests isolating it to either the top or bottom lashes, or adding a pop of color just to the tips.
To intensify your look, “pair colored mascara with a matching eyeliner shade,” she says. You can even double down on a monochromatic statement with complimentary eyeshadow—think baby blue shadow with cobalt mascara for a bold and unexpected pop of color.
How to Apply Colored Mascara
For those with naturally brown or black lashes, try using a lash primer before applying mascara. “Look for a primer with a white tone to get maximum color payoff when you layer the colored mascara on top,” Dreadon recommends.
Meet the Experts
Amrita Mehta is New York/Los Angeles based makeup artist.
Katie Mellinger is New York/Los Angeles based makeup artist.
Kirin Bhatty is New York/Los Angeles based makeup artist.
Amber Dreadon is a makeup artist that hails from New Zealand and is now based in Los Angeles