6 Best Burgundy Mascaras That’ll Make You Rethink Black

29.05.2025, 21:31 allure.com

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.

Black mascara will always be the blueprint, but lately, many have been ditching their dark wands for a softer, more unexpected shade. The best burgundy mascaras brighten the eyes, complement most skin tones, and add dimension—and the experts agree. Makeup artists Zak Taylor and Alexa Hernandez say burgundy mascara offers the perfect middle ground between statement and subtlety, ideal for those looking to experiment with color.

Of course, pulling off colored mascara isn’t just about the shade; it’s also about application. Taylor recommends curling the lashes first to help the pigment show up more clearly. And “on dark lashes [he] suggests a lighter-toned lash primer,” as a base, and don't be afraid to go in with multiple coats. If you're looking for subtle definition or a statement lash moment, there's a burgundy mascara that fits the bill. Below, we’ve rounded up six expert- and editor-approved favorites to help you find your perfect match.

Frequently Asked Questions

Benefit Cosmetics

Revolve

Ulta Beauty

Kara McGrath applying the Benefit Cosmetics Badgal Bang! Volumizing Mascara in Wild Plum

Why we love it: Benefit Cosmetics’ Badgal Bang! Volumizing Mascara is sure to be the coolest in your collection. The wild plum shade, a rich, moody burgundy, adds a touch of drama with one coat and pushes it into full-on main character territory with two or three. The formula uses lightweight aero-particles to build up volume without dragging lashes down. The slim brush reaches every lash, while the B5 works behind the scenes to strengthen and thicken over time. It’s smudge-proof, flake-free, and clings to lashes for up to 36 hours.

McGrath before applying the Benefit Cosmetics Badgal Bang! Volumizing Mascara in Wild Plum

McGrath after applying the Benefit Cosmetics Badgal Bang! Volumizing Mascara in Wild Plum

Tester feedback from Allure content director Kara McGrath

"Badgal Bang is one of my favorite mascara formulas of all time, so it wasn't exactly shocking that I love the burgundy version too. I know wearing purple makeup to contrast green eyes is the oldest trick in the book, but this plum-y brown really does make mine pop without it being super obvious that I'm wearing a colorful mascara."

More to know

Key ingredients: aero-particles, B5Benefits: volumizing, longwearing, buildableWaterproof: no

Maybelline New York

Amazon

Walmart

Jailynn Taylor applying the Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara in Burgundy Haze

Why we love it: The magic of Maybelline New York’s Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara in Burgundy Haze is that it’s not loud or obvious, but it adds just enough color to catch the light and make folks do a double-take. It’s the same coveted Sky High formula you know and love, only now with an elevated twist. The deep red-plum tint subtly brightens the whites of your eyes and flatters all eye colors, especially greens and hazels. A blend of bamboo extract and airy fibers adds lift and length without weighing lashes down, while the flexible brush bends to coat each lash from root to tip, leaving them soft, defined, and featherlight. Plus, at just $8, it’s a low-commitment way to play with color.

Taylor before applying the Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara in Burgundy Haze

Taylor after applying the Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara in Burgundy Haze

Tester feedback from Allure contributor Jailynn Taylor

“I’m usually loyal to my lash clusters, but on lazy days, I reach for Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara in Classic Black. Lately, however, I’ve been craving something different, so I swapped my standby black for Burgundy Haze and it’s quickly become a new favorite in my rotation. The subtle tint warms up my brown eyes and complements the pink tones in my blush, adding just enough color without feeling over the top. It also delivers on performance lifting, lengthening, and separating without flaking or weighing my lashes down.”

Expert feedback from Zak Taylor

Taylor praises Sky High Mascara for being both budget-friendly and impactful. “This burgundy shade is especially for people who want to make their eyes pop and/or want to easily elevate their everyday makeup look,” he says. He’s also a fan of how it performs on the lower lashes: “It lengthens, and the warmth of the burgundy can go so well with many makeup looks.”

More to know

Key ingredients: bamboo extract, fibersBenefits: volumizing, lengtheningWaterproof: no

Victoria Beckham Beauty

Bluemercury

Sarah Han applying the Victoria Beckham Beauty Future Lash in Bordeaux

Why we love it: Victoria Beckham Future Lash in Bordeaux is proof that a colored mascara can be impactful on deeper lash tones. The wine-red pigment reads soft and dimensional, and the formula lifts and lengthens without clumps or crunch. The flexible wand defines even the tiniest bottom or inner corner lashes, coating them in a nourishing formula of shea butter, niacinamide, and plant-based hydrators, and more that prevent breakage while promoting strength and shine.

Sarah Han before applying the Victoria Beckham Beauty Future Lash in Bordeaux

Sarah Han after applying the Victoria Beckham Beauty Future Lash in Bordeaux

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

“I've never been one for super dramatic lashes so Future Lash gives me a wispy look that accentuates my lashes juuust enough. I don't really care for black mascara these days so the moment VB launched this Bordeaux, I was all over it. This burgundy...be still, my heart. Even though I have jet-black lashes, it really brightens my lashes and I don't even mind the formula smudging my lids when I messily apply it. I like using the inner curve of the applicator for the first layer to coax some length out of my stubbornly short lashes and then turn it over to the other side to boost volume. I even dab a little onto my lower lashes (a rare occurence!) because the slenderness of the wand means more precision.”

More to know

Key ingredients: shea butter, niacinamide, vitamin EBenefits: lifting, lengthening, conditioningWaterproof: no

L'Oréal Paris

Amazon

Walmart

Sarah Hoffmann applying the L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Mascara in Deep Burgundy

Why we love it: It only takes one coat of this drugstore mascara to get people asking, “Wait, are those your lashes?” L'Oréal Paris’s Voluminous Original Mascara has been a fan-favorite for years and has further raised the bar with its deep burgundy shade, which adds contrast that flatters every eye color without feeling over the top. The brush builds lashes up to five times their natural thickness, coating each strand evenly for a full, fluttery finish. It’s infused with d-panthenol and ceramide-r—science-y names, yes, but they’re lash-loving ingredients that condition, soften, and strengthen with every wear. Expect major volume with minimal fuss: no clumping, no flaking, and no smudging, even after hours of wear. And while it’s not waterproof, it washes off easily with soap and water, making it great for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

Sarah Hoffmann before applying the L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Mascara in Deep Burgundy

Sarah Hoffmann after applying the L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Mascara in Deep Burgundy

Tester feedback from Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann

“L'Oréal Paris's Voluminous Original Mascara is one of my all-time favorite drugstore formulas, and I'm happy to report that the Deep Burgundy shade does not disappoint. In terms of adding drama and length, this affordable formula is up to par with pricier options I've tried and loved, and this berry brown shade is a great option if you're looking for a slightly more daytime alternative to the true black shades.”

Expert feedback from Hernandez

Hernandez calls this red-plum a personal favorite. “I have medium light brown eyes, and this tone just makes them sparkle,” she says. For a more dramatic effect, she likes pairing it with liner: “I love rimming my eyes with black alongside this mascara for a sultry date night look.”

More to know

Key ingredients: d-panthenol, ceramide-rBenefits: volumizing, thickening, conditioningWaterproof: no

Thrive Causemetics

Thrive Causemetics

Why we love it: Thrive Causemetics' Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara in Berry Brown delivers the drama of lash extensions and in a shade that’s better than black. The deep, burgundy-brown tone adds dimension without overpowering, and the tubing formula lengthens and defines with zero flakes or smudges, while wrapping each lash from root to tip in water-resistant pigment. The wand’s bristles ensure clean separation and clump-free volume, while ingredients like shea butter, castor seed oil, and Thrive’s unique orchid stem cell complex help nourish lashes. It wears like a long-wearing formula but removes effortlessly with just warm water. If your goal is fluttery, extension-like lashes in a softer, more wearable burgundy hue, this is it.

Expert feedback from Hernandez

Thrive Causemetics’ Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara in berry brown is one of her go-tos for red carpet looks. “I love the berry shade on green eyes,” she says. To keep the look polished rather than overly colorful, she adds, “I tightline with black or a blackened brown so it still looks sophisticated and not like a colorful look.”

More to know

Key ingredients: shea butter, castor seed oil, orchid stem cell complexBenefits: lengthening, defining, tubingWaterproof: no

Charlotte Tilbury

Revolve

Nordstrom

Bluemercury

Why we love it: Think of Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara as your favorite lash curler and mascara in one. Plus, it’s dream pop shade offers a not-so-basic burgundy twist. The reddish-plum hue enhances your natural eye color, while the dual-sided brush features a fla