Color Theory Reveals Your Most Flattering Mascara Shade

Jul 24, 2026 - 04:05

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Color Theory Reveals Your Most Flattering Mascara Shade

The Eye Maxxing Color Theory Says This Is Your Perfect Mascara Shade E! illustration/Marc Jacobs Beauty

Are you eyemaxxing this summer? It's safe to say black mascaras aren't the norm anymore. The latest social media trend calls for a little bit of color theory. Before buying our next mascara, we're consulting the color wheel for the shade that would complement our eyes the best.

For those who don't remember art class, complementary colors sit opposite each other in the color wheel. In other words, they pair nicely together. For example, green and red are classic Christmas colors for a reason. They're opposite on the color wheel. While you could also opt for a monochromatic look for a softer look, we're looking for high contrast here.

So, what are some mascara colors that would make our eyes pop? Lucky for us, there are plenty of shades to choose from. Makeup brands aren't releasing just black shades in their mascaras—luxe brands like Victoria Beckham have colorful mascaras too, and they're just as chic.

Best Black Mascara Deal for All Eye Colors: Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara Duo
Best Mascara for Brown Eyes: MAC M·A·CStack Elevated Mascara in Denim Stack
Best Mascara for Green Eyes: Victoria Beckham Future Lash Mascara in Bordeaux
Best Mascara for Blue Eyes: Marc Jacobs Beauty Flashes Lash-Defining Volume Mascara in Cocoa

But hey, black is a classic for a reason. It suits every single eye color and gives that high contrast we're looking for. So, if you're not ready to venture into the bold mascara world yet, why not get a good black mascara at a discount?

So, keep scrolling to learn what colorful mascaras work for your eye color and shop the best of mascaras deals at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

Black Mascaras Are Flattering for All Eye Colors:

Shop these black mascaras on sale for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

Lancôme Lash Idôle Volumizing Mascara

This mascara has a curved wand that pushes up and fans out your lashes for an open-eye effect that lasts up to 24 hours without smudging or flaking.

Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara Duo

This set includes two full-sized YSL mascaras, which promise to deliver insane volume in a deep black finish with their double-conical brush and unique formula of nourishing iris extract.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara Duo

This Nordstrom exclusive set includes two of Better Than Sex Mascaras that promise to create full, defined, and unbelievably long lashes.

Best Mascaras for Brown Eyes:

To make brown eyes really pop, opt for deep plum or navy blue mascaras. Brown is derived from the color orange, and the two colors opposite it on the color wheel are dark violets and dark blues. These dark cool-toned shades are complementary to the warm brown of the irises.

L'Oréal Voluminous Original Washable Mascara

This classic drugstore mascara comes in the perfect shade of cool-toned dark violet that's perfect for brown eyes. It promises to quickly thicken lashes evenly for a full and dramatic look.

MAC M·A·CStack Elevated Mascara

Featuring the exact shade of your favorite pair of jeans, this mascara is infused with argan oil and delivers a separated, lifted, voluminous, and defined lash look for up to 36 hours.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara

This beloved Maybelline mascara in a dark plum shade is formulated with bamboo extracts and fibers to give your lashes that coveted volumizing, lengthening, and full look.

Best Mascaras for Green Eyes:

To make green eyes stand out, coat your lashes with red mascaras. On the color wheel, green is opposite red and dark pinks. When it comes to mascaras, opt for a warm-toned shade like brick red, burgundy, or rust—which are complementary to your cool-toned eyes.

Victoria Beckham Future Lash Mascara

This Victoria Beckham mascara makes color-coated mascara sophisticated with this chic burgundy shade and a formula that leaves your lashes looking lifted, full, and fluttery.

ColourPop BFF Volumizing Mascara

The shade "Wine o' Clock" of this Colourpop mascara will have your lashes coated in a deep burgundy color while looking voluminous and lifted.

Urban Decay Tube Job Lash Augmenting Tubing Mascara

This tubing mascara by Urban Decay promises lifted and lengthened lashes for up to 24 hours without smudging or flaking, and will have them looking chic with this auburn red shade.

Best Mascaras for Blue Eyes

To make blue eyes pop with any look, we recommend using brown mascaras. Just like how brown eyes are complementary with dark blue mascaras, blue eyes are complementary brown mascaras because of their positioning on the color wheel. The difference between brown and black mascaras might be subtle, but the difference is huge.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Flashes Lash-Defining Volume Mascara

Featuring a chocolate brown shade, this Marc Jacobs Beauty mascara delivers buildable volume that can be layered for a natural and fluttery or dramatic and bold look.

Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions XL Volumizing Tubing Mascara

This drugstore tubing mascara is formulated with shea butter, murumuru butter, castor oil, and pro-vitamin B to leave your lashes nourished and voluminous in a brown shade all day long.

MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Mascara Volumizing & Lift

In the perfect shade of brown for blue eyes, this volumizing mascara has a clump-resistant formula that delivers visibly fuller, longer, and lifted lashes.

How We Choose

The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.

As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.