Ami Cole Lash-Amplifying Mascara: Five Editors Try—Photos and Reviews

The cards are stacked against smaller brands for a plethora of reasons, especially when the first product launch is a bonafide sensation. Sure, things start off with a bang, but topping the first launch becomes nearly impossible. This was the case for Ami Cole, a brand from Glossier vet Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye, aiming to bring the no-makeup-makeup look to melanated skin. The brand launched with three products—a lip oil, skin tint, and clear highlighter balm—but the lip oil became an overnight sensation. It was sold out for months, and even earned the title of the “Telfar bag of lip gloss.”

Luckily though, the brand was able to match that success with the launch of the Ami Cole Lash-Amplifying Mascara, which was the favorite among judges at the 2022 Glamour Beauty Awards. (The brand has since launched concealers and powders, which, spoiler alert, are also amazing.)

Instagram content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

The brand describes it as a “buildable, volumizing mascara,” and promises no flaking or clumping. Its tapered brush is designed to grab at every single lash, from root to tip, and the inky black formula delivers on drama. One coat gives you a natural look, but what our judges loved most about it is the fact that it can be built up to falsies-level va-va-voom. Unlike falsies though, the formula has conditioning ingredients like shea butter and jojoba oil to nourish, protect, and hydrate lashes. It’s made from 87% naturally derived ingredients, is vegan, and cruelty free.

To prove our love for the formula, we have five Glamour editors put it to the test. Read on for our honest Ami Cole Lash-Amplifying Mascara reviews.

Talia Abbas, commerce editor

Courtesy of subject

What immediately stood out to me with Ami Colé’s mascara is the formula: It’s so creamy and thick. Don’t think it’s goopy, though. It’s the perfect mascara for applying multiple coats since it doesn’t dry out immediately, allowing me to create big, fanned out lashes with an even amount through—no curler required. My only gripe with the formula is that does smudge, but it’s a small price to pay for cute doe eyes throughout the day

Ariana Yaptangco, senior beauty editor

Courtesy of subject

My mascara philosophy completely subscribes to the idea that “more is more,” so I love to pile on as many coats as I can. This mascara makes it easy to build length and volume, without my lashes looking like a clumpy mess. The brush is perfect for maneuvering the inner and outer corners of my eyes to grab those hard-to-reach lashes, while the formula is a dark, inky black that leans into the drama. But it’s definitely versatile—on days where I want to go more natural (like at my office, pictured above) one or two coats gives me the perfect doe-eyed look.

Jenny Singer, staff writer

Courtesy of subject

This mascara gives me insane length. Truly a “My eyelashes are forming a battering ram against my glasses” situation. It also gives me insane clumps. Yes, it looks like I’m wearing falsies, but falsies at 1AM after a couple of hours of dancing and sweating and maybe eating a street hot dog. This is not clean, barely-there makeup, it’s “Hot girl getting ready to make mistakes” makeup. The packaging is cute to the point that I want to rework the interior design of my entire home around it.

Andrea Navarro, commerce writer

Courtesy of brand

It’s giving drama, honey! Mascara is hands down my favorite beauty product and I never leave the house without it. That being said, I’m always down to try a new one as formulas keep getting better and better. Once I saw the orange packaging of this mascara, I was inspired to do a full fiery orange-red look along with it, and let me tell you…it really does give your lashes that oomph! I have pretty long lashes and this wand gripped each and every single one. The formula isn’t clumpy and it’s buildable if you want keep swiping some more product on. There’s shea butter and jojoba oil in the ingredient list, and I was pleasantly surprised by how soft and nourished my lashes felt once I washed it off.

Bella Cacciatore, beauty writer

Courtesy of subject

I’m a bit of a mascara hoarder, but this one has been in my daily rotation since it launched—it’s just that good. The cone-shaped brush is clutch for grabbing each and every lash, and the spiky-yet-dense bristles separate and fan them out. The formula is *black—one of the darkest I’ve ever used—*and pretty wet, which I love. One coat gives me pretty significant lashes, but I like to layer up to four or five for a clumpy-on-purpose vibe. The drama I get from this is so insane that I can skip liner all-together, which is saying something when it comes to my small eyes. My only gripe is I get a little transfer to my upper lid—no flaking though—but it’s such a good formula otherwise that I don’t really mind.