This "Weird" Makeup Product Is the Industry's Best-Kept Secret for Stunning Eyes

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Colored mascara might be one of the most notable makeup-centric beauty trends on TikTok, but utilizing complementary hues like blue, green, brown, purple, and burgundy (the list goes on and on) is hardly a new development within the makeup artist circuit. Over the years, countless artists have told me a quick coat of colored mascara applied to the top or bottom lashes is game-changing when it comes to enhancing the color and whites of the eyes. While the effect is more subtle than you'd think, it's still a trade secret for creating those eye-catching red carpet moments. (Yep, the effect makes a difference even with photos snapped from far away!) 

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(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

Of course, like all surreptitious makeup tricks, there is some strategy involved. Feel free to go ham and choose any color and application technique you'd like (there are no rules when it comes to makeup or beauty—you do you), but there are certain tips makeup artists personally utilize and recommend for executing the trend with professional-caliber skill. Your eye color and skin tone can influence how much the look will pop, and how you approach the rest of your makeup is also worth taking into account. (For instance, if you load up on tons of eye shadow, it might be more difficult to pick up on the colored shade decorating your lashes.)

We reached out to top makeup artist William Scott to get all of their most helpful tips, intel, and product recommendations. From the most flattering color choices to complement your natural features to clutch application tips, we have everything you ever wanted to know about colored mascara (and all of the best formulas to shop the trend!) just below. Keep scrolling!

What's the magic theory behind colored mascara?

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"Colored mascaras play up the eyes with a similar effect as black or brown mascara in that they all create a fluttery, eye-opening effect," Scott tells us. However, they say to think of a colored wand of mascara as a 2.0 version of your go-to black or brown pick. The best colored mascaras effortlessly level up your eye look by adding a colorful veil to your gaze that can range from practically imperceptible to gem-like vibrancy depending on the shade you select. 

"Colored mascara can make a person's eye color appear brighter and richer because, in applying it, you're applying a complementary tone as close to the iris as you possibly can with makeup," Scott continues. "On a bare or neutral lid, the eye color–changing effect is even stronger."

The most complementary mascara colors for your eye color:

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The beauty of makeup is the freedom it allows us to experiment with and try any and every look under the sun. We're big proponents of breaking worn-out "rules" and wearing whatever strikes our fancy, but when it comes to choosing the colored mascaras that will best enhance our eye color, there is some strategy.

As a rule of thumb, Scott says cool tones like blue, green, or violet contrast with brown eyes for a natural brightening effect. They'll bring out the depth of hazel eyes, and they can also make blue or green eyes appear deeper and/or vibrant

If you're keen to try a colored mascara that's on the warmer side, Scott explains shades like burgundy or plum will add depth to brown eyes, contrast with hazel eyes to make them morph to green, and bring a subtle vibrance to eyes that are green or blue. Last but not least, lighter and brighter shades of mascara (think pink, aquamarine, orange, etc.) all wield different yet equally spell-binding kinds of magic. "They contrast with different eyes and skin tones in different ways, but ultimately, they still provide an unexpected pop of color for contrast," Scott concludes. 

How to apply colored mascara like a pro:

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"I personally love a thick, slightly chunky application of mascara, especially if I'm using a colored mascara because I want to ensure every single lash is completely covered with whichever hue I'm using," says Scott. "Black or brown mascara gives us the space to use less product because it matches the color of the eyelash, so actual coverage is less of an issue. With black or brown mascara, a couple of haphazard swipes can be enough on most days."

To really get the most from your colored mascara, however, Scott has a few key tricks up their sleeve. "I always make sure the lashes are curled well, and I'll let each coat dry completely between applications. I keep a clean lash comb handy to spread the mascara all the way from root to tip without overloading on the first application and to control clumps."

Shop the tools:

3 helpful tips if you're intimidated:

How to enhance colored mascara with the rest of your makeup:

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(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

"I tend to suggest a colored mascara to anyone who wants a clean-faced, minimalist makeup look with a subtle yet complementary pop of color," Scott says right off the bat. 

"I love pairing a bright colored mascara with a matching winged liner, like with cobalt blue lashes and a blue line in cobalt or navy, or a tonally similar eye shadow to add depth to a monochrome eye," they continue. "I approach using a colored mascara in the same way I approach bright-colored eye shadow. In regard to the rest of the makeup look, I like to keep the cheek neutral or subtle, and I'll most likely choose a natural lip shade. That said, sometimes, we just need some bright mascara and a bright orange lip to convey how bright we are feeling!"

Scott's go-to formulas:

"Unfortunately, colored mascaras are often seasonal items that get discontinued after a few months," Scott warns. "At the moment, Dior has a variety of formulas in blue, purple, and brown; L'Oreal's star mascara, the Voluminous Original formula, now comes in cobalt blue, deep green, burgundy, and deep violet, all in the same dependable formula; Lancôme makes a vibrant lash topcoat in four shades: gold, green, blue, and pink; and one of my all-time favorite shades of green mascara is by Shiseido—the Controlled Chaos MascaraInk in a shade called Emerald Energy. Although, they have colored shades like sapphire blue and violet as well."

Keep scrolling to shop the entire makeup artist–approved lineup! 

Up next, Thirteen Lune Is the Chicest New Beauty Retailer—Here's What We're Ordering

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.

Beauty Director

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.