This unexpected color always turns heads.
It's far too easy to fall into a mundane pattern with your daily makeup routine . Concealer , a quick lip, a flick of mascara , rinse and repeat.
In the rush to get out of the house in the morning, we forget that makeup is supposed to be fun—and that it doesn't need to be overly involved to look and feel fresh. In fact, something as minuscule as swapping your mascara shade can be just the thing to give your look new life.
While celebrity makeup artist Christian Briceno points out that standard black mascara is great for definition and intensity, it's become so commonplace that it removes the whimsy from makeup application. "Blue mascara changes the mood immediately—it feels fresher, more playful, a little unexpected," he explains.
This trend, originally popular in the '80s and then again in the '00s, evokes a certain sense of nostalgia, says Briceno, but these modern-day iterations are anything but dated. "Depending on the blue, it can go from very sophisticated to completely fun." If you're worried about "wearability" but still want to dip your toes into the water, Briceno suggests a navy hue over something more electrifying.
"Unless the light hits, it can almost read black," he explains.
Three makeup artists and a blue mascara–obsessed beauty editor (me) teamed up to find the best options on the market in 2026. Keep reading to find our 10 favorite makes and models—from cobalt blue to deep-sea navy—in a range of prices and benefits that fit every beauty lover's needs.
Pros: High pigmentation, noticeably boosts volume, smudge-proof formula
Cons: Large brush may make it hard to reach inner lashes on small eyes
Shades: 4 | Extra benefits: Nourishing formula, safe for sensitive eyes and skin
WWW editors and celebrity makeup artists have long been fans of YSL Beauty's Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara, so it's no surprise that the brand's blue hue—a bright cobalt coated onto a thick, double-conical wand—is a hit. "I have always loved a blue mascara, and YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara in Electric Blue is one of my favorites," says celebrity makeup artist Tim Quinn .
"It is a wonderfully saturated cobalt with plenty of volume, so it feels bold and modern but still very chic," he adds. The formula not only provides single-swipe color payoff (a rare feat for blue mascara) but also boosts lash volume by 200% and helps hydrate the lashes with iris extract.
What can't it do, really?
Customer review: "Love this mascara! It provides volume, separation, and gets every little lash.
Additionally, it doesn’t clump! I’ll usually do about three coats of mascara on each set of lashes, and with some other mascaras, I have the problem with clumping lashes and 10 lashes turning into a 'unilash,' not with this YSL!
Admittedly, I don’t always remove my eye makeup daily; this mascara works perfectly with layering over 'leftover' mascara without looking spidery."
Pros: Lengthens and volumizes lashes, infused with skincare ingredients, impressive color payoff
Shades: 3 | Extra benefits: Made with peptides, long-wearing formula, doesn't clump
Ever since Marc Jacobs Beauty made its remarkable return this summer, I've been unable to put down the brand's new indigo mascara. Not only is the formula impressively pigmented (it took two light layers to get the bright color I wanted, though I could have easily stopped at one for an everyday look), but it also makes my lashes look lengthy and holds curl beautifully.
Best of all, the hydrating formula is infused with a nourishing blend of peptides and clover flower extract—meaning that each color-infused swipe is doubling as a semi-conditioning treatment. Oh, and did I mention that the packaging is perfect?
Customer review: "Wow. The name of the mascara was spot on! This was lash-defining volume! The applicator was great and didn't hold too much product, so I was able to coat all my lashes without clumping with two coats! I had little to no fallout either. Wore it for a hot day at a concert too. Very satisfied with this."
Pros: Iconic formula, noticeably lengthens and volumizes lashes, easily wearable color
Shades: 9 | Extra benefits: Safe for sensitive eyes and skin
I get it—blue mascara is a commitment, and one you might not be totally ready to make yet. But if you're curious and want to test an everyday-friendly hue without spending too much on this experiment, Briceno suggests trying the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara in Navy Records.
At just $14, this mascara will set you back less than a Sweetgreen salad and delivers buildable pigment in a navy hue that works on all eye colors. The black shade is already beloved by makeup artists and editors everywhere, and this blue formula is no different.
Customer review: "As a woman in my 70s, I can honestly say that Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara is the BEST I've ever used! I've tried almost every brand through the years from Dior, Lancôme, CoverGirl, etc., and never have my lashes looked so good. This mascara makes lashes look so long and thick that some people thought I had lash extensions. So don't hesitate to purchase this. You won't be disappointed!"
Pros: Wearable shade, rich in nourishing ingredients, effectively lengthens lashes and holds curl
Shades: 3 | Extra benefits: Safe for sensitive skin, conditions lashes, offers impressive curl and hold
Blue mascara can sound intimidating, but navy isn't quite so unattainable. "For a softer, deeper blue, I love Sisley So Curl Mascara in Deep Blue," says Quinn.
"It is especially lovely for someone who wants the brightening effect of blue without wearing an intensely electric shade." (Blue hues make the whites of the eyes look more radiant, Quinn explains.) This luxurious formula coats each lash in a curl-enhancing wash of dark denim, offering an intriguing flash of color without looking glaringly vivid. Plus, it's enhanced with a rich blend of peptides, arginine, pro-vitamin B5, castor oil, and more for a conditioning experience—justifying the arguably high price point.
Pros: Budget-friendly, wearable color, long-wearing (yet easy to wash off)
Shades: 7 | Extra benefits: Smudge-resistant, 24-hour wear, volumizes lashes
Mascara can get pricey quickly, which is what makes options like L'Oréal's Voluminous Panorama Chromatic Mascara in Blue Suede great to have on your radar. "I prefer a deep navy instead of a brighter blue," says professional makeup artist and founder of her namesake brand Jenny Patinkin .
"It’s more subtle and makes the white of the eyes look very clear and bright," she adds. Patinkin calls this dark-wash hue "chic" for its almost-black depth, which gives it impressive versatility—working well with every eye and skin color.
It's also resistant to smudging, smearing, and falling flat throughout the day.
Customer review: "This mascara is probably the best mascara I have ever used. It goes on easily and does seem to thicken eyelashes but not to the extent of clumping.
The mascara lasts a long time with virtually no smudging. The brush does a great job of separating lashes and making them look fuller at the same time.
It is a very dark blue, which does not look garish or unnatural… [it] is very subtle and complements my gray-blue eyes, [and] much softer-looking than black mascara. The price is very good for what I received."
Pros: Tubing formula, elongates and volumizes lashes, offers wearable color
Shades: 5 | Extra benefits: Smudge- and flake-free, easy to remove
Turquoise has been fashion's shade of the summer, but beauty lovers were already wearing the color on their lashes last year thanks to Dua Lipa. The singer and YSL Beauty ambassador teased the brand's teal mascara in the summer of 2025, inspiring hordes of fans (including myself) to find look-alikes until her exact shade came out.
In the interim, I fell in love with this teal hue from celebrity makeup artist Donni Davy's makeup brand, Half Magic. As the head makeup artist for HBO's Euphoria , the artist is no stranger to color, and this mascara packs a pigmented punch with bold color payoff and impressive length in very few swipes.
Customer review: "I love this mascara! The formula is long-wearing, the color is vibrant on my medium brown lashes, and it's easy to apply. The color (I chose teal) is bold without being overbearing, and it makes me look put together without needing eyeshadow. It's a whole look on its own. I feel like if a mermaid wore mascara, it would be this shade. Love, love, LOVE it!"
Pros: Pigmented color, creates lash definition, long-wearing formula
Shades: 3 | Extra benefits: Smudge- and transfer-resistant, infused with conditioning ingredients, 24-hour wear
Both Quinn and Briceno are quick to recommend Dior's Diorshow Mascara in this electrifying blue for statement-making fringe. "Dior has always done colored mascara exceptionally well, and its blue gives the lashes definition while still feeling polished and sophisticated," says Quinn. Its spiked brush effortlessly separates the lashes to create colorful definition, all while imparting a touch of nourishment thanks to the formula's inclusion of D-Panthenol.
Customer review: "I love it for my blonde lashes. Covers well and pigmented color looks beautiful on the days I'm feeling blue. Easy to come off and I don't notice much fall out or eyelid transfer throughout the day."
Pros: Impressive volume, bold pigmentation, all-day wear
Shades: 3 | Extra benefits: Vegan formula
This $16 tube from the Sephora Collection is one of Briceno's recommendations. With a fluffy, thick wand and bright blue pigment, it's easy to achieve bold color and volume in just a few lazy swipes. The long-wearing formula offers a day's worth of separated, defined, and fully coated lashes, making this tube rival designer mascaras despite its budget-friendly price tag.
Customer review: "The most beautiful vibrant blue I discovered while employed with Sephora. I work as an RN in a cardiac operating room now for 10 hours at a time, and this has never flaked, crumbled, or smudged. It comes off with water at that. Purchased when it launched in 2025 and have been wearing it every day. Gone through several tubes already."
Pros: Instantly volumizing, extremely long-wearing, lash-defining
Cons: Not as bright as some other blue mascaras
Shades: 2 | Extra benefits: Up to 36-hour wear
If you're bored of black mascara but not yet ready to take the bright blue dive, this navy shade is the one for you. Inspired by your favorite dark-wash pair of jeans, this denim hue looks nearly black unless in direct sunlight—and even then, it's hard to tell whether you're just wearing less black mascara or if it's a trick of the light.
It's softer than black, but undeniably more intriguing. Plus, it's infused with argan oil for healthier lashes with every swipe.
Customer review: "For years now I have been searching for this blue color mascara, and yet again MAC made it possible! OMG! The appearance is gorgeous, long-lasting, and very easy to wear without smearing. I wore it all day; lots of people (and even my kids) commended my look for the day. I'm obsessed!"
Pros: Separates and defines lashes, bold pigment, lengthens and volumizes lashes
Cons: Shoppers occasionally cite dryness
Shades: 5 | Extra benefits: Water-, smudge-, and flake-free; up to 36-hour wear; sensitive eye– and skin-friendly
Kiss clumps goodbye with this lash-defining pick recommended by Briceno. This already-beloved mascara formula from Benefit Cosmetics comes in a vibrant royal blue, offering not just punchy pigment but up to 36 hours of eye-catching volume and resistance to water, smudging, and flakes. Honestly, does it get any better than this?
Customer review: "I've been wearing makeup for close to 40 years, so yes, I have tried quite a few brands in my time, from the cheap ones to the most expensive. This mascara right here tops them all! It gives length, volume, and fullness, and you don't even need a lot. Two coats maybe, and you're good to go! Also dries very quickly. It will be my only brand from now on."
While there are certain eye colors that especially pop when paired with blue mascara (ahem, brown!), there are no rules at all when it comes to this whimsical mascara color. "A cobalt mascara paired with brown eyes is an incredible combination due to the contrast—it makes the different tones of the brown stand out," Briceno explains.
He also credits hazel and deep blue eyes as fun pairings, as bright blue can bring out different shades within the irises. He does, however, suggest a bit of contrast when it comes to blue eyes.
"Light blue eyes look beautiful paired with dark navy for a polished look, but cobalt on blue eyes can also look intentionally monochromatic," he adds. "Green eyes look great with navy, blue-violet, or even teal." He reminds us that "these are guides, not rules," and that hair, skin, and eye color do not define what "works" for you.
Sometimes, it can be hard to build the color of your blue mascara up to a noticeable shade. Lucky for us, there's a makeup artist–approved trick that can get the most out of your color without applying layer on top of layer.
"My longtime trick—particularly on darker lashes—is to begin with Lancome Cils Booster XL Lash Primer," says Quinn. "The white base helps a blue mascara look much brighter and more true to color," he adds.
"I apply the mascara while the primer is still slightly tacky rather than allowing it to dry."
Briceno also recommends toying with the color's intensity. "Decide how blue you actually want it to look—sometimes subtle, only-showing-when-light-hits [color] feels like a little secret in the makeup," he muses.
His suggestion? A lash balayage.
"Keeping the roots dark and adding more blue through the middle and ends still gives definition close to the eye, [but] the blue becomes more obvious as the lashes move," Briceno instructs. "And don't forget the tops and sides of the lashes, too."
To compile the best blue mascaras of 2026, our associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia tapped three celebrity makeup artists— Christian Briceno , Tim Quinn (also the cofounder of Halo42 Skincare ), and Jenny Patinkin —for application tips, tricks, and recommendations. Brascia tested and examined options across every shade, price point, and lash goal, considering factors like pigment payoff, volume, length, and longevity, before selecting the formulas above that are worth adding to your routine.
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
Alyssa Brascia is an associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. She is based in New York City and has 3+ years of industry experience.
Brascia has personally tested more than a thousand beauty products and services—from the hottest new eye shadow palette to the buzzy manicure sweeping New York Fashion Week. Brascia graduated with a BS in apparel, merchandising, and design from Iowa State University.
She was formerly a shopping writer at People.com . Her earlier work can be found at InStyle , Travel + Leisure , Shape , and more.
When Brascia isn’t writing, researching, or testing new beauty products, you can find her watching the latest movie to generate Oscar buzz, taking a workout class with friends, or updating her wardrobe post-shopping spree in her beloved city.