Blue Mascara Is Trending Again—Here’s Exactly How to Wear It in 2026, Plus Our Top Picks
Dare we say, it’s the easiest makeup look ever.
Unlike me, who had an affinity for all things beauty, my mom is much more of a minimalist. She rarely wears makeup…except blue mascara. Growing up, I barely even knew mascara even came in shades other than blue; that’s how often she wore it. She swore it brightened and opened up her brown eyes. Personally, I think she just refused to let go of the ‘80s, but I digress.
Now, decades later, my mom’s signature makeup look is having a resurgence. We’re seeing new mascaras launch immediately in blue shades and old favorites finally come out in a bright hue. And it’s not just one shade of blue we’re seeing everywhere. Cobalt, navy, teal, indigo—all tones are welcome here. It makes sense, too. As blue eyeshadow is making its grand return to trending makeup, colored mascara is an easy first step if you wanna try color without all the necessary blending skills. Plus, it’s truly the quickest way to make your eyes look brighter (and dare I say, the fastest makeup look known to man).
As far as application goes, I’ve learned a few things (as a beauty editor and also from my ‘80s-loving mom). Don’t be afraid to go to town with it. Apply a few coats (waiting for each to dry before layering) to build up color. The mascaras I love below all layer well without getting clumpy.
But before I get into all that, here’s some inspo to help you, courtesy of celebs and makeup artists (and me, lol). Then, I’m breaking down four mascara formulas that come in blue that I actually use.
Blue mascara inspo:
Top and bottom blue mascara
Blue mascara and matching eyeliner
Navy blue mascara
Blue eyeshadow and mascara
Winged liner and blue mascara
My top picks for blue mascara:
If I’m wearing blue mascara, chances are it’s this one. Not only is this formula really opaque on my dark-brown lashes in just a few swipes, but it doesn’t clump no matter how much you layer on. It also adds so much volume to really open up my eyes.
Sometimes, I want a wash of blue over my lashes without going full drama. In those cases, Maybelline’s Sky High is perfect. It coats my lashes in blue pigment while lengthening and separating them. Obviously, it’s blue, which isn’t “natural” per se, but the effect of the mascara is more subtle.
Navy probably isn’t what you think of when your mind goes to blue mascara, but it’s actually so chic. It’s a more subdued way to wear blue, but as your lashes catch the light, you can tell there’s something a bit cooler than a standard black on ‘em. This mascara is also amazing for keeping my straight, fine lashes curled all day.
If you wanna just try out blue mascara without committing to a high price tag, L’Oréal Voluminous in blue is pretty damn good for less than $10. The medium-blue shade covers every lash for a bright wash of color, but the actual formula itself is easy to apply and add a few coats for volume and length. It’s also very easy to wash off, which is helpful when you don’t want flakes of blue all over your face at the end of the day.
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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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