Your Mascara Color Makes a Difference. We Tested Different Shades to Find the Best One.

Colored mascara isn’t magic. And any “rules” that were set out by the experts can often discount the nuances of skin tone, undertones, and even natural lash colors, though they did hit the nail on the head in most cases. Austin Roorda, professor of optometry and vision science, broke down some of the science behind the fact that, overall, different colors won’t really make that much of an impact. So for most people, there’s really no need to stray from your favorite brown or black shade, unless you want a colorful look.

That’s because, unless you are standing very close to someone, they won’t perceive the difference. “When it comes to mascara on the eyes, everything is close together,” Roorda explained, “So, when you are far away, your perception of those eyes might be dominated by assimilation. Only when you are close up would the percept be dominated by color contrast.”

Overall, Charcoal Grey was more of an inoffensive, meh choice than a glow-up. Brown Black was a safe shade for everyone. Berry Brown was mostly an unexpected fan favorite for those with lighter eye colors. And Deep Blue was fun for those with darker skin tones, but it was a little too extra for others.

For me and my personal journey, Brown Black will be my new everyday staple for making my eyes look slightly more awake than my soul feels. I may reach for Berry Brown for a fun concert or for a more-festival look, but I likely won’t get another tube once I’m done with this one. As for Deep Blue and Charcoal Grey, well, let’s just say they’ve already started collecting dust in my vanity.

But the Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions formula itself never failed to deliver everything we loved about the black version, with dramatic length, long-wear separation, and zero clumps.

This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder.