6 Colorful Mascaras That’ll Convince You to Ditch Basic Black

18.08.2025, 22:23 allure.com

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This summer, our go-to lineup has included SPF-packed lip balm, oversized sunnies, and, a surprising addition, the best colorful mascaras. While we’ll always love a classic black or brown mascara, we’ve been reaching for bolder shades like cobalt, maroon, emerald, and even silver for concerts, photoshoots, and everything in between. Because the colorful mascara market is comparatively small, we’ve tested almost every formula and picked the brains of makeup artists to find the very best. From easy-to-remove tubing options to long-wearing standouts for long nights on the town, here’s your guide to the colorful mascaras your makeup bag didn’t know it was missing.

Benefit Cosmetics

Ulta Beauty

Allure content director Kara McGrath applying the Benefit Cosmetics BadGal Bang! Volumizing Mascara in Wild Plum

Why we love it: Benefit Cosmetics’ Badgal Bang Volumizing Mascara isn’t just a lash lifter, it gives you a whole new ‘tude. We’re hooked on the Wild Plum shade, a deep, wine-y burgundy that gives subtle drama in a single swipe and turns up the intensity with a few extra coats. But, it also comes in a bright electric blue as well as the classic black and brown. The formula is packed with ultra-light aero-particles, so you get major volume without that heavy, weighed-down feel. Its ultra-slim wand hugs every lash from corner to corner, while provitamin B5 works to keep them looking thicker and stronger over time. We love that it doesn’t smudge or flake as it stays put 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."—Kara McGrath, content director

More to know

Key ingredients: aero-particles, vitamin B5Benefits: volumizing, longwearing, buildableShades: 4 (Wild Plum, Power Blue, Rebel Brown, Intense Pitch Black)Waterproof: no

Maybelline New York

Amazon

Ulta Beauty

Allure contributor 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 lies in its subtlety. The nine shades aren’t loud or flashy but they add just enough color to catch the light and make passersby do a double take. We’re especially partial to the deep red-plum, which brightens the whites of your eyes and flatters every eye color. Bamboo extract and airy fibers deliver lift and length without weighing lashes down, while the flexible brush hugs each lash from root to tip for a soft, defined, and featherlight finish. And at just $8, it’s the easiest, most 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.”—Jailynn Taylor, contributor

More to know

Key ingredients: bamboo extract, fibersBenefits: volumizing, lengtheningShades: 9 (including Burgundy Haze, Plum Twilight, Space Diamond, Blue Mist, and Green Altitude)Waterproof: no

YSL

Nordstrom

Sephora

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the YSL Beauty Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara in Electric Blue

Why it's worth it: Yes, it’s on the pricer side, but Allure editors deem the Beauty Award-winning YSL Beauty's Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara worth it, as it’s a shortcut to high-impact, party-perfect lashes. Its powerhouse formula pulls triple duty—adding major volume, stretching every lash, and resisting smudges—while the oversized brush somehow still manages to reach every corner. New York City-based makeup artist Sara Talias previously told Allure that she “swears by” this thickening recipe. "The brush is great for building volume with extra coats of mascara and allows you to grab all the lashes," she says. We keep both the inky black and rich chocolate brown in rotation (brown is criminally underrated for a softer vibe), but the bold cobalt blue and new green shade is our pick when you want an electric addition to your makeup look. And, yes, the colors actually show up on dark lashes.

Han before applying the YSL Beauty Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara in Electric Blue

Han after applying the YSL Beauty Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara in Electric Blue

Tester feedback from Allure commerce editor Sarah Han

“I'm not sure why it took me so long to try this Best of Beauty winner but I'm happy we're here now. The cone-shape wand is pretty unique and latches onto every lash, which is much needed because I have naturally black lashes and colored mascaras rarely make the impact I'd like them, too. But YSL delivers and I'm left with pizzazzed-out blue lashes that make me feel ~some type of way~. The only thing is some product does transfer onto my lids, even when I'm not applying while staring into my teensy phone screen, but I don't mind it!” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

Key ingredients: N/ABenefits: volumizing, lengthening, thickening, long-lasting, pigmentedShades: 3 (Electric Blue, Scandalous Green, Uninhibited Brown, and Overnoir Black)Waterproof: no

Tarte

Ulta Beauty

Tarte Cosmetics

Allure contributing editor Deanna Pai applying the Tarte Tartlette Tubing Mascara in Navy

Why it's worth it: Tarte’s Tartelette Tubing Mascara has earned its viral status a permanent spot in our vanities, and the XL version is even a Best of Beauty winner. The formula is loaded with shea butter, castor oil, and carnauba wax to keep lashes flexible, soft, and flake-free all day. Its slim, bristle-packed brush hugs every lash from root to tip (even those tricky inner corners), delivering a lifted, lengthened look with zero clumps. True to tubing-mascara form, each lash gets its own water-resistant, smudge-proof coat in shades like classic black, deep brown, bold navy, emerald green, or punchy magenta, all of which are so rich and pigmented. Removal is super easy, too—just warm water works (or your favorite cleansing balm if you so please), no tugging required.

Pai before applying the Tarte Tartlette Tubing Mascara in Navy

Pai after applying the Tarte Tartlette Tubing Mascara in Navy

Tester feedback from Allure contributing editor Deanna Pai

“My everyday mascara is black, but when I want to skip eyeliner and still bring out my eyes, I like to sub in navy. It's more subtle, but because the tubing mascara takes my lashes out there, you can still catch glints of it when I blink. I feel like it also brings out the gold tones in my eyes, and is a nice change of pace for when I want to step it up." —Deanna Pai, contributing editor

More to know

Key ingredients: shea butter, castor oil, carnauba waxBenefits: easy to remove, lengthening, rich color, zero flakingShades: 6 (including Navy, Electric Blue, Emerald Green, and Magenta)Waterproof: no

Tood

Revolve

Free People

Allure senior news editor Nicola Dall'Asen applying the TooD TooDscara

Why it's worth it: Of all the mascaras we’ve tried, TooD’s Toodscara wins on the list for best color payoff, and it was also a winner of an Allure Best of Beauty Award. Why? One swipe delivers a bold hit of pigment, even on the darkest lashes. Available in jet black and cobalt blue, we reach for the black on workdays or date nights, and save the blue for concerts and nights out when we want our eyes to stand out. The slim brush grabs every lash from root to tip, adding length and volume you’ll keep coming back to.

Dall'Asen before applying the TooD TooDSCARA

Dall'Asen after applying the TooD TooDSCARA

Tester feedback from senior news editor Nicola Dall'Asen

“TooD's colorful mascaras are not for subtle people, and that's exactly what I love about them. On my dark lashes, my favorite shade, Blue Mood, builds from a barely noticeable navy to a headturning bright royal blue. I vied for its Best of Beauty win not just for that but also for the extreme length I get from the tubing formula.” —Nicola Dall’Asen, senior news editor

More to know

Key ingredients: grapefruit seed oil, floral extractsBenefits: major color payoff, lengthening, volumizingShades: 6 (including Blue Mood)Waterproof: no

Dior

Sephora

Why it's worth it: Dior’s Diorshow 24h Buildable Volume Mascara delivers up to a full day of wear without a single flake or smudge—and since it’s not waterproof, it comes off just as easily as it goes on. And that’s not the only reason makeup artist and brand founder Jenny Patinkin uses it on her clients. “The color is so subtle you don’t notice it from far away, but closer up, it really brightens the eyes and is flattering on all eye colors,” she says. She’s a fan of the Maron shade, which has sadly been discontinued, but the brown is a great fill-in, and the electric blue is always fun for a pop. Patinkin adds that you get the same volume from the colorful options of this mascara as