Over the past year, I’ve fully converted to brown mascara. I genuinely can’t remember the last time I reached for jet-black—brown just feels softer, more flattering, especially with my green eyes. And I’m not alone: lately, the beauty world has been leaning away from stark black altogether, with brands rolling out mascaras in every shade from burgundy to cobalt.
Makeup artists say it’s the easiest way to enhance your eyes. Instead of having to draw on an intricate eyeliner look or commit to a colorful shadow that might not be best for everyday, a colorful mascara is a low-effort way to make your eyes pop.
I chatted with celebrity makeup artist Dani Parkes for all her tips on choosing the best colored mascara. “While traditionally, for bold looks, black mascara makes the eyes pop, the right color can actually bring out your eyes too,” she says. So I did what a beauty editor does best: tried all the colorful mascara shades, and let me tell you, they’re actually so wearable for everyday, subtly contrasting the eyes without being too Euphoria-esque. I mean, I never thought I’d be a burgundy mascara person, but here we are.
Ahead, everything you need to know about colorful mascara, including the best colorful mascara for each eye color and the best formulas on the market right now.
Brown Mascara
First, there’s brown—the shade that kickstarted the anti–jet-black movement. “For lighter eyes, I love brown,” says Parkes. It defines without looking harsh, and it’s a perfect shade for everyday makeup. It’s also the easiest entry point into colored mascara if you’re used to black, softening the lashes while still lifting and separating them.
Our Favorite Brown Mascaras
Burgundy Mascara
“I love burgundy on my clients with brown or hazel eyes, and it also really makes green eyes pop since it’s opposite on the color wheel,” says Parkes. After weeks of testing colored mascaras, burgundy has surprisingly been my favorite. It’s a nice in-between from the classic brown, with a touch of red, that makes my green eyes stand out, which I love since I’m not always drawn to a maroon eyeshadow or liner look.
Our Favorite Burgundy Mascaras
Green Mascara
The most underrated mascara shade of all is green. It adds a subtle contrast that brightens your eyes and is ideal on brown and hazel eyes, pulling out those warmer orange and yellow tones. Most green shades lean earthy rather than neon, but if that’s your vibe, there are definitely some bright options too.
Our Favorite Green Mascaras
Blue Mascara
“I love a colorful blue mascara moment on any eye color, but it’s especially fun for a client with lighter features like blue eyes and lighter hair,” says Parkes. Deeper navy shades are more toned down and subtle, while brighter blues give more of that pop. Just a few swipes add a cool-toned contrast that makes the eyes look clearer and brighter.
Our Favorite Blue Mascaras
Meet the expert:
Dani Parkes is a New York City-based makeup artist whose clients include Maddie Ziegler, Gabby Windey, and more.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things makeup. For this story, she tapped makeup artist Dani Parkes for her insight and tested different colored mascaras for weeks.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
