Best Eyeliners for Sensitive Eyes

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Best Eyeliners for Sensitive Eyes

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How to Choose the Best Eyeliners for Sensitive Eyes

Makeup should enhance your features and make you feel good, not cause an adverse reaction. When you put eyeliner on, you want to glow and be glamorous, but sensitive eyes can cause your cosmetics application to backfire. We had our experts conduct careful research and review to bring you a top ten list of the best eyeliners for sensitive eyes, so you can get back to painting the town red in style. Here’s what to look for when shopping.

Best Eyeliners for Sensitive Eyes

Waterproof: Rain? Sad movie? If you’re like most makeup lovers, you appreciate waterproof features. We don’t want you to get stuck looking like a raccoon, so check this spec if being waterproof is on your list of must-haves.

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Color: We bet you look great in any color, but everyone has their favorite. If you’re looking for a specific shade, or want to avoid picking a hue that doesn’t work for you, check this spec for your color options for each of the eyeliners on our list.

How to Choose the Best Eyeliners for Sensitive Eyes

Type: Different strokes for different folks. We bet it took you a long time to master your eyeliner and we don’t want to mess that up. Whether you’re a liquid or pencil fan, this spec will tell you which method of delivery each of the eyeliners on our lists features.

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Organic: If you want to avoid preservatives and chemicals, we have you covered with our organic options. Check this spec for information on whether the eyeliner you like is free from ingredients that make you uncomfortable.

Best Eyeliners for Sensitive Eyes

Smudge-Proof: After you spent the last several minutes perfecting the perfect wing, the last thing you need is to worry if it’s intact for the rest of the day. We want you to be confident, so we’ll let you if the eyeliner is smudge-proof.

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Weight: It’s a good idea to know how much you’re getting, so you can make the right choice for your needs and budget. Check this spec to see how many ounces each product contains.

Top 10 Products

Now that we’ve covered what to look for, you’re ready to start shopping. We’ve compiled the most important information about each of our top ten options to help you make an educated choice. Whether you’re looking for the best waterproof eyeliner for swimming or you just need a good eyeliner for sensitive eyes, we feel confident you’ll find what you desire on our list. Keep the specifications important to you in mind and let’s get started!

Ecco Bella Soft Eyeliner

Ecco Bella Soft Eyeliner
Our top pick, Ecco Bella, is formulated from natural, vegan ingredients. Made using vegetable oil and a combination of sustainably-sourced botanical derivatives that are friendly to the environment and kind to animals, you can feel good about where your eyeliner comes from. Ecco Bella is also preservative-free, saving you from applying harsh toxins to your skin. This cruelty-free and earthy option keeps you feeling pretty inside and out and the Earth and her furry inhabitants thank you. And get this: Ecco Bella applies with a smooth velvet-soft finish that makes your eyes pop and is available in several shades. This premium eyeliner also doubles as a brow pencil, which is convenient if you like to fill in your eyebrows for an ultra-glamorous look. If you’re sensitive to chemicals and you love colorful options that are not over the top, look no further than Ecco Bella. At a reasonable price, we know you’ll absolutely love your new eyeliner!
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Physicians Formula Eye Booster

Physicians Formula Eye Booster
We love this 2-in-1 liquid eyeliner and lash boosting serum and think you will, too! While sitting pretty on your eyelids, Physicians Formula Eye Booster works double-time to give you the illusion of longer lashes. This is awesome eyeliner helps you achieve maximum-looking volume for a glamorous look! We bet your eyes will stand out more than ever if you make this eyeliner your choice. Water-resistant and smudge-proof, this great option is designed for all-day, versatile wear-- even if you forget your umbrella! What’s more, Physicians Formula is hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested. Super sensitive eyes can feel confident knowing this pick has been approved by professionals as a safe bet. If you wear contact lenses, then this is definitely a great choice for you. Equipped with a sleek, innovative eye lining tool to help you achieve the perfect lines, this affordable pick is certainly a crowd pleaser.
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Maybelline New York Eyeliner

Maybelline New York Eyeliner
Searching for the best waterproof eye pencil? Maybelline is a trusted, well-known brand for a reason. It manufactures cosmetics that work well and its New York Eyeliner is a testament to the company’s great reputation. Available in five shades, including Cinnabar, Espresso, Onyx, Pewter, and Sapphire this option is sure to become a must-have in your makeup bag. This pencil eyeliner is designed with a small tip for precision during application. It glides on smooth and creamy, leaving you with a vibrant hint of color that feels light and comfortable. Better yet, New York is both waterproof and smudge-proof, so you can go about your day confident that your eye makeup isn’t running or embarrassing you. It also comes with a self-sharpening mechanical pencil. This is great because having its own personal sharpener helps to preserve the integrity of the product. When you have sensitive eyes, you want your eye makeup to be as clean and pure as possible. Don’t miss out on what New York has to offer.
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Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil

Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil
Urban Decay 24/7 makes the list as a favorite top rated eyeliner thanks to its luxurious, velvety feel and brilliant formulation. Soft and creamy, this eyeliner is perfect for blending, allowing you to achieve multiple looks with the same pencil. If you love the look of wings, but prefer pencil liner then 24/7 is the choice for you. Formulated with Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, and Cottonseed Oil, 24/7 goes on smooth and leaves a bright, beautiful finish in your favorite design. This eyeliner dries and becomes waterproof and smudge-proof within thirty seconds of application, letting you enjoy your day (or night) without worry that your makeup is running. Even better, 24/7 is created with moisturizing ingredients that deliver hydration to the delicate skin of your eyelid and keep your skin feeling smooth. Available in four unique and earthy shades, you’ll love them so much, you’ll want them all!
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Inika Organic Eye Pencil

Inika Organic Eye Pencil
Attention organic shoppers: the Inika eye pencil is a vegan formula created with certified organic botanicals and minerals. Skip on the manmade preservatives and go with earth-derived ingredients sure to keep your sensitive peepers feeling great. The rich, creamy formula glides on smooth and dries for a smudge-proof finish. Our experts agree that this is among the best black eyeliner no smudge technology. We love the confidence that comes along with knowing our eyeliner still looks fresh and is in the same spot as when it was applied hours earlier! The pencil tip aids in even application, helping you apply it quickly and efficiently, so you can move on to the rest of your routine. Inika delivers outstanding color that stays put, so your eyes look fresh from day to night. Its long-lasting color and environmentally-friendly formula put it in the running for our favorite pick. If you’re ingredient-conscious and you like looking sharp, Inika is it.
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L’Oreal Paris Infallible Eyeliner

L’Oreal Paris Infallible Eyeliner
L’Oreal is a best-selling makeup brand loved by fashionistas the world over, because its incredible cosmetics create effortless, finished looks. The L’Oreal Infallible eyeliner stands out for its 0.4mm ultra-fine felt-tip. This tiny tip packs a powerful punch, helping you create perfect, clean lines with ease. It is shaped to prevent dragging and smudging during application, helping you achieve your desired look in a few strokes that won’t need to be wiped off and reapplied. A quick-drying formula helps to preserve your perfect design quickly. The eyeliner itself is smudge-proof for up to twelve hours, taking you from day to night with a fresh face. Your options are black, brown, and grey, all of which provide a neutral base to enhance natural eye color. And here’s the kicker: this luxurious, easy-to-use eyeliner comes to you at a great price and is even offered in a two-pack! If you love liquid liner, but find it to be a delicate art, this is the liner for you!
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Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner

Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner
Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner’s super sensitive formula is infused with olive oil and rainforest shea butter to moisturize and soothe the skin around your eyes. The hydrating and calming ingredients are beneficial for everyone, but if you wear contact lenses or have issues finding makeup that doesn’t irritate your eyes, then this option is definitely for you. We searched far and wide for the best eyeliners for sensitive eyes and Neutrogena Nourishing stood out for being a trusted, high-performance brand that is dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested. This smooth eyeliner glides on easily and stays put all day, keeping smudges away and you feeling fresh and looking good. A built-in sharpener and smudge applicator help protect the integrity of the pencil by providing its own set of maintenance tools while allowing you achieve different looks. Enjoy glamorous, sharp wings or a smoky, romantic blend using this same awesome pencil!
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Burt’s Bees Nourishing Eyeliner

Burt’s Bees Nourishing Eyeliner
Free from parabens, phthalates, SLS, petrolatum, and synthetic materials, Burt's Bees Nourishing Eyeliner is good for you and the environment. Cruelty-free and made with responsibly-sourced Jojoba, Mango, and Meadow Seed oils, this eyeliner delivers hydration to the delicate skin around your eyes, while accentuating them and highlighting their natural beauty. It even comes in a responsibly-sourced cedar wood pencil, making it a great pick for eco-friendly shoppers. Burt’s Bees is dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested, so you can be sure its a perfect match for your sensitive eyes. Available in three creamy colors-- Warm Brown, Midnight Gray, and Soft Black-- it is easy to apply and won’t smudge or fade. If you’re seeking long-lasting wear that illuminates your eyes with deep, natural tones and you’re ingredient-conscious and like to feel good about where your products come from, then Burt’s Bees is a perfect match for you. Now all you need to do is pick a color!
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Almay Intense i-Color Eyeliner

If you’re a brand name shopper, you feel most comfortable with products you know and trust, which takes Almay to the top of your list. Almay Intense i-Color has all bases covered with a sensitive formulation offered in four different colors to match brown, blue, hazel, and green eyes. Smooth and soft, this eyeliner glides onto your lids and around your eyes effortlessly and works to make your eye color pop with its pearlescent hues. A built-in sharpener helps you keep the tip refined to your needs. Even better, using the sharpener strictly for your eyeliner keeps it clean, pure, and unadulterated by other products-- which is great for sensitive eyes! Almay performs safety testing on its products for allergies and recommends this hypoallergenic formula for sensitive eyes and those who wear contact lenses. For beautiful, shimmery looks that won’t smudge or irritate your eyes, Intense i-Color is the way to go.
If you’re a brand name shopper, you feel most comfortable with products you know and trust, which takes Almay to the top of your list. Almay Intense i-Color has all bases covered with a sensitive formulation offered in four different colors to match brown, blue, hazel, and green eyes. Smooth and soft, this eyeliner glides onto your lids and around your eyes effortlessly and works to make your eye color pop with its pearlescent hues. A built-in sharpener helps you keep the tip refined to your needs. Even better, using the sharpener strictly for your eyeliner keeps it clean, pure, and unadulterated by other products-- which is great for sensitive eyes! Almay performs safety testing on its products for allergies and recommends this hypoallergenic formula for sensitive eyes and those who wear contact lenses. For beautiful, shimmery looks that won’t smudge or irritate your eyes, Intense i-Color is the way to go.
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Mia Adora Eyeliner

Mia Adora makes an excellent super-waterproof eyeliner for sensitive eyes! We’d even go so far as to say this is the best waterproof eyebrow pencil for swimming! The retractable tip provides an easy glide capable of producing both thin and thick lines. Once the eyeliner is on, it isn’t going anywhere! So draw your favorite cat-eye or wing and be confident throughout the day, rain or shine, that you still look amazing! The comfortable grip and refined tip help you easily perfect whatever design you desire, even if you’re inexperienced when it comes to applying eyeliner. Mia Adora is so confident in its superior, smudge-proof product that it offers a 30-day guarantee! Perfect for sensitive eyes and those who wear contacts, this eyeliner should not be overlooked when you’re seeking the perfect pencil that won’t irritate. In basic black, it is sure to help you create all the classic looks you love!
Mia Adora makes an excellent super-waterproof eyeliner for sensitive eyes! We’d even go so far as to say this is the best waterproof eyebrow pencil for swimming! The retractable tip provides an easy glide capable of producing both thin and thick lines. Once the eyeliner is on, it isn’t going anywhere! So draw your favorite cat-eye or wing and be confident throughout the day, rain or shine, that you still look amazing! The comfortable grip and refined tip help you easily perfect whatever design you desire, even if you’re inexperienced when it comes to applying eyeliner. Mia Adora is so confident in its superior, smudge-proof product that it offers a 30-day guarantee! Perfect for sensitive eyes and those who wear contacts, this eyeliner should not be overlooked when you’re seeking the perfect pencil that won’t irritate. In basic black, it is sure to help you create all the classic looks you love!
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How To Apply Eyeliner - Hacks, Tips & Tricks for Beginners (VIDEO)

How to Find the Best Eyeliner for Sensitive Eyes

Getting a stunning look can be as easy as finding the right eyeliner for you; there are tons of irresistible shades for you to apply. If you have sensitive eyes, though, you're going to need a product designed to be gentle. Picking out which eyeliner for sensitive eyes will best fit your needs shouldn’t be hard; there are a few things you should keep in mind when looking through brands that we’ve included below.

The Two Types of Eyeliner

You have a few options when applying eyeliner, depending on your preference you can either use a classic pencil liner or a liquid liner.

Pencil

Pencil liner is the classic form of eyeliner that's been used for decades. You can choose between the traditional wooden pencil or a self-sharpening mechanical model. Pencil liners tend to use fewer chemicals than their liquid equivalents. Pencil liners tend to stay good longer, but can be messy when you're sharpening them.

Pros:

+ Less Chemicals
+ Mechanical Options Available

Cons:

- Messy Sharpening
- Can Crumble Easily

Liquid

Liquid liners take out the messy step of sharpening a pencil with a vast selection of hues. These liners can have serums added to further help enhance your eyes. Liquid liners have a huge variety of colors and mixtures but are more prone to bothering sensitive eyes.

Pros:

+ Large Selection of Colors
+ Serums Can Be Added In

Cons:

- More Chemicals
- Goes Bad Faster

The Basics of Picking The Best Eyeliner for Sensitive Eyes

Even eyeliner has a few basics you should look into before buying a stick. Keep reading below to learn the basics of picking a new liner.

Ingredients

When you have sensitive eyes, you have more to worry about when purchasing eye makeup. There are many chemicals that go into giving eyeliner their pigments and staying power. Liquid liners may be packed with even more additives to help keep its gel-like nature. Look for liners that use the fewest ingredients, anything using carbon black, a chemical that can cause toxicity, should be especially avoided.

Staying Power

Every eyeliner has a different amount of staying power. Depending on the formula, eyeliner can stay on your eyes for different durations of time. For all-day wear, look for formulas made for 8 to 12-hour wear. If you have to use make-up remover to get it off at the end of the day, then you have found a good liner.

Eyeliner Colors

Eyeliner comes in a vast rainbow of colors, including unique mixes like metallics or pearlescent. You can find virtually every color under the rainbow in a liner. Make sure to do a swatch test to know precisely how vibrant a liner will be.

When To Throw Away Eyeliner

Pencil eyeliner will last around a year after being unsealed. Liquid Liners have a much shorter life and need to be replaced around every three months. When kept for too long, an eyeliner will become less effective and can have a build-up of bacteria.

Getting The Best Look Out of Your Eyeliner

Here are a few tips for making sure the application process goes smoothly.

Sharpening Your Pencil

When using a pencil liner, you will want to sharpen regularly. Keep from giving your eyeliner to fine of a point and use a sharpener designed for make-up to avoid crumbling or splintering. If you pencil splinters, make sure to file it down before use.

Where To Apply

If you're using a liquid liner, it’s best to start from the middle of your eye and then fill in the gaps. Pencil liners apply best when you start from the inner corner of your eye. Be sure to do the lid and under eye in separate swipes.

How To Apply

Avoid using tons of pressure when putting on a liner. Lightly glide your liner on, if you have sensitive eyes, use your finger to keep your eyes open for easy application. Always use a mirror to make sure you're hitting all the right spots. Make sure to take the process at your own pace to avoid injury.

When To Remove Your Eyeliner

It’s best to remove your eyeliner any time you feel irritation. Make sure to always remove make-up before going to bed to avoid damage to your skin in the long run. Don’t panic if you fall asleep occasionally without removing your liner; it takes long stents of time for eye make-up to start causing damage.

Best Accessories for Your Eyeliner

If you're using eyeliner to enhance your look, then there are a few accessories you can pick-up to make you look like a pro. Whether you need to protect your eyes or ensure cleaner lines, these accessories will enhance your make-up routine.

Eye Make-up Remover

Make-up remover is a must for anyone that uses eyeliner. Eye make-up remover helps you safely remove your make-up each day. There are a variety of make removers, including oil-based remover for liquid liners and hard to remove pencil. For easy to remove liners, there are cleansing water removers.

Pencil Sharpener

If you're using a wooden pencil, then just any sharpener won’t do. You should pick up a sharpener made specifically for your liner to get the most out of your make-up. 

Eyeliner Guide

Even if you have an unsteady hand, an eyeliner guide can help you make straight lines. These devices are made to hold over your eyes and direct your liner down a straight path. Eyeliner guides will keep you from having uneven lines saving you from having to redo your make-up.

Eyeliner Stencil

If you want to go the extra mile, then check-out eyeliner stencils. These help you give your eyes fun looks without having to worry about a steady hand. Many stencils offer multiple looks for you to choose from.

Seal

If your going out in bad weather or have a long workday, then you need your make-up to stay in place. Using an eyeliner seal helps to keep your liner in place so you can look your best no matter the situation. There are plenty of seals that use a coating made for sensitive eyes.


Further Reading & Article Sources

https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Eyeliner-to-Sensitive-Eyes

https://www.glamour.com/story/9-eyeliner-hacks-that-will-change-your-life-save-you-time

https://www.makeup.com/eyeliner-tips-for-beginners

https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/simple-makeup-tips-for-sensitive-eyes/#gref

About the Author

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Heather Patton

Expert Researcher and Writer

Heather Patton is a lead researcher and writer at GeekWrapped. She has been creating high-quality content for over a decade and covers home, lifestyle, beauty, fashion products and more.

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Article last updated on:

October 10, 2019

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TOP PICK

Ecco Bella Soft Eyeliner

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