The 12 Best Mascaras for Sensitive Eyes That Don’t Compromise Volume, Length or Color
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These ultra gentle formulas promise curl definition and gravity-defying lift.
InStyle / David Hattan
Uncovering your perfect mascara can already feel like a fruitless journey. The end-all, be-all mascara for short lashes is another person’s smudged and flakey — a successful mascara comes down to personal preference and skin type. “Eyelid skin is the thinnest on the face and can become sensitive to certain ingredients,” says Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, a Miami-based, board-certified dermatologist and founder of skincare brand Dr. Loretta.
And yet, some of the most popular mascaras are packed full of irritants, like artificial fragrance and preservatives, which can spell trouble for the eye area. So we were ecstatic to see the emergence — and subsequently skyrocketing growth — of an entirely new mascara genre wholly dedicated to sensitive eyes that still deliver the results we’ve come to expect of their counterparts. Within this growing subset, you’ll still be able to choose the type of mascara you love, be it volumizing or thickening, without any fear of irritation.
Best Overall: Tower 28 Beauty MakeWaves Lengthening & Volumizing Clean Mascara
What We Love: This brilliant formula has it all: It’s clean, safe for sensitive eyes (and even eczema), sustainably made, and gives major lift and volume.
What We Don’t Love: Those with oily eyelids may need to use a primer base to avoid slippage.
First and foremost, MakeWaves is ophthalmologist-tested and formulated to be safe for sensitive eyes, as well as those who wear contact lenses. It’s even been tested for safety around eczema, a pillar of Tower 28’s brand ethos.
Secondly, it’s also easy to remove, which can be a major source of irritation, particularly when mascara is difficult to get off. This pick rinses off easily with just face wash and water. Formula-wise, MakeWaves includes a handful of interesting ingredients, like vitamin B and castor oil. It also contains Aquaflex Technology, which is more often seen in haircare to define and hold curls, but it's the inclusion of this particular ingredient that gives lashes a lift and curl that will last all day long. Last, but certainly not least, the wand is unusually flexible so you can reach and separate every single lash, regardless of how small it is.
Expert Approved: Yes | Shades: Black | Size: 0.29 oz. | Waterproof: No
Best Budget: Almay Thick Is In Thickening Mascara
What We Love: It’s been tested by ophthalmologists and dermatologists for safety and at under $8, it’s a total steal.
What We Don’t Love: The budget-friendly formula can easily flake.
Dr. Ciraldo recommends Almay’s mascara because they’re fragrance-free, making them especially well suited for sensitive eyes. The thickening formula performs like a bold, expensive mascara yet comes at a drugstore mascara price. The ingredients are specifically designed for easily irritated eyes and contact lens wearers. Plus, the inclusion of aloe and vitamin B ensures that lashes are conditioned and poised to grip color easily.
Expert Approved: Yes | Shades: 3 | Size: 0.26 oz. | Waterproof: No
Best Splurge: ILIA Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara
What We Love: This beloved mascara delivers wonderfully defined and separated lashes with impressive length.
What We Don’t Love: It’s not as long-lasting as other options on this list.
Looking for lashes rich in length, definition, and separation? This impressive mascara is not just one of the best clean mascaras, but it’s also one of the best formulas for sensitive eyes. It’s endured testing by ophthalmologists, who provided their stamp of approval for those with contacts or sensitive eyes.
Another neat feature is the dual-sided brush that allows you to coat lashes with jet-black pigment, along with nourishing shea butter and beeswax to glide on with ease.
Expert Approved: Yes | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.27 oz. | Waterproof: No
Best Drugstore: Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara
What We Love: Beloved by dermatologists, this mascara elongates and volumizes safely.
What We Don’t Love: The big, almost giant, wand brush can be tricky to maneuver.
Dermatologist-recommended and ophthalmologist-tested, Neutrogena’s Healthy Volume is one of the brand’s most popular mascaras, which, according to the brand, helps build volume by up to 400 percent. This is partly due to the formula, but it's mostly the handiwork of the big, bold wand that makes grabbing and coating every single lash easy.
Big wands can sometimes mean big clumps, but this option is surprisingly neither flakey nor clumpy, but it can smudge by the end of the day (which makes sense because the mascara was also designed to be easy to remove).
Expert Approved: Yes | Shades: Three | Size: 0.21 oz. | Waterproof: No
Best Lengthening: Glossier Lash Slick Lift and Lengthening Mascara
What We Love: The lengthening mascara provides a subtle, minimalist, no-makeup makeup look with just enough oomph.
What We Don’t Love: It may be a tad too subtle for those looking for glamour.
Lash Slick won’t provide va-va-voom volume, but it is a winning mascara for lengthening and lifting. The dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested formula is fragrance-free and includes Japanese fiber technology that allows lashes to extend up to two millimeters past your natural tips. While you won’t achieve lush fullness, Lash Slick will deliver a tinted, lifted look.
Expert Approved: Yes | Shades: Two | Size: 0.29 oz. | Waterproof: No
Best Waterproof: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Extension Lengthening Mascara
What We Love: This volume-enhancing waterproof mascara was specifically developed for sensitive eyes and to last all day.
What We Don’t Love: The thick formula can stick to the wand.
Sensitive, allergy-prone, and irritated eyes might be tempted to grab any waterproof mascara, but many involve chemicals and ingredients that can make eyes not only painfully irritated, but also incredibly difficult to remove. But French pharmacy, sensitive skin brand La Roche-Posay has perfected its thickening, smudge-proof, and volumizing mascara, while keeping safety a top priority.
The trick to removing waterproof mascara is to use an eye makeup remover that also caters to sensitive folks.
Expert Approved: Yes | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.25 oz. | Waterproof: Yes
Best for Dry Eyes: Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer
What We Love: The dual-sided tube has a primer on one end and a mascara on the other, and when used together, you can nearly double the lash length.
What We Don’t Love: The formula can flake and smudge after eight hours of wear.
We’ve mused about this impressively lengthening mascara before, and we’ll do it again. It’s clean and hydrating, courtesy of the jojoba oil, but the real clincher comes when the formula is paired with the enhancing primer. Applying the primer serves two equally great purposes: It preps the lashes for maximum results, and it also serves as a conditioning buffer between the eyelid and the mascara, which can reduce the watery reaction that is sometimes triggered in dry eyes. All it takes is one swipe of the primer, pause for about 20 seconds to let it dry, then zigzag the mascara through lashes for results you have to see to believe.
Expert Approved: Yes | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.25 oz. | Waterproof: No
Best for Allergies: Twenty/Twenty Clean Sweep Mascara
What We Love: This mascara was created by an ophthalmologist to be as safe as possible for eyes.
What We Don’t Love: It doesn’t layer coats easily, so swipe slowly and with precision the first time.
Created by board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo, the Clean Sweep Mascara is impressive for many reasons, one of which is that it’s made entirely of non-irritating ingredients. With reactive and allergy-prone eyes (both seasonal and ocular) top of mind, Dr. Hilal-Campo developed a super safe, multitasking mascara rife with conditioning hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and biotin, to deliver hydrating and strengthening capabilities. Your lashes will not only look great, but over time, they’ll be healthier than ever.
Expert Approved: Yes | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.33 oz. | Waterproof: No
Best Volumizing: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
What We Love: This cult-status tubing mascara is famous for the long, natural-looking lashes it imparts.
What We Don’t Love: Tubing mascaras can naturally dry out quicker and this option is no exception.
Celebrity makeup artist Kasey Adam Spickard uses this lengthening mascara on all his clients, full stop, not just the ones with sensitive eyes. “What I love about a tubing mascara is that it doesn’t transfer once it’s dried down and it is still incredibly easy to remove,” he says.
“For my sensitive eye folks, sometimes the worst part of makeup is the removal, which can trigger inflammation and further irritation,” he adds. “This mascara comes off so easily with just warm water — no detergents or makeup remover is needed.” While some volumizing mascaras can clump or leave lashes looking spidery and feeling brittle, emollients shea butter and castor seed oil ensure you get soft, fluttering results.
Expert Approved: Yes | Shades: 3 | Size: 0.38 oz. | Waterproof: No
Best Clean: Ami Cole Lash-Amplifying Mascara
What We Love: This mascara earns high marks for its dark-as-midnight shade and buildable texture that swipes clean, even after a few passes.
What We Don’t Love: Lashes can lose a touch of their curl after a long day.
This buzzy mascara from Ami Cole is formulated with 87 percent naturally-derived ingredients, including moisturizing shea butter and jojoba oil, which also offers just the right amount of slip so the wand travels through lashes easily and thoroughly. Swipe once for definition and twice (or more!) for drama that doesn’t look overdone.
We love the intense Rich Black shade when we want bold, luxurious-looking lashes. Place the bushy brush right at the base of your eyelid and wiggle outward for a fully feathered, dramatic look.
Expert Approved: Yes | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.30 oz. | Waterproof: No
Best Tubing: MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara
What We Love: It’s a great lengthening mascara for everyday wear.
What We Don’t Love: It doesn’t give dramatic results.
This is another tubing mascara that’s easy on the eyes and gives some nice length and dark color, without looking too dramatic or overdone. We like this pick for sensitive eyes because the tubing technology allows for easy removal at the end of the day—no tugging or pulling involved.
The rice bran wax allows the mascara to add length and structure to your lashes, while the olive oil esters and fatty acids help to condition your lashes, too. Plus, the packaging of this mascara is really sleek and sexy. One thing to note is that this formula will not give you as dramatic results as some of the other mascaras for sensitive eyes on this list.
Expert Approved: Yes | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.30 oz. | Waterproof: No
Best Natural-Looking: CoverGirl Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara
What We Love: The formula looks natural and not overly done.
What We Don’t Love: Tends to get a bit clumpy if you’re not careful.
This drugstore pick from Covergirl is ophthalmologically-tested and works for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. It’s made with 100 percent cellulose plant-fibers, and is formulated without parabens, talc, mineral oil, fragrance, or sulfates to be ultra-gentle.
This pick gives your lashes a natural lift and some volume — it’s not dramatic and is ideal for those who prefer a no-makeup makeup look. Some folks have complained that the wand gets too much product on it. You might want to unload some of the product onto the side of the tube before swiping it on your lashes to prevent clumping.
Expert Approved: Yes | Shades: 5 | Size: 0.32 oz. | Waterproof: No
What to Keep in Mind
Doctor Tested: Reaching for mascaras that have been tested by dermatologists and ophthalmologists during product development is crucial. Dermatologists focus on evaluating the mascara’s interaction with the skin and whether it is triggering a reaction, while ophthalmologists zero in on the ingredients as they relate to the overall health of the eye. It will ensure a professional level of vetting that results in a safer product, which is particularly necessary for sensitive eyes or contact lens wearers.
Waterproof: You might want to grab a waterproof formula if you have sensitive or allergy-prone eyes, thinking that it could outlast any eye-watering or rubbing throughout the day. However, waterproof formulas often have more chemicals that boost their longevity, making them more potentially risky to reactive types. That said, if you really prefer the lasting power of waterproof formulas, there are a handful of sensitive products that are both expert-approved and waterproof. Be sure to use a sensitive-eye and skin makeup remover and resist rubbing or tugging.
Your Questions, Answered
Is clean mascara better for sensitive eyes?
Mascara naturally has a dizzying list of ingredients while clean formulas aim to eliminate unnecessary filler ingredients when possible. “For me, I think of it like an insurance policy — why not use ingredients that are better for you, especially when it’s going so close to your eyes,” notes Amy Liu, founder and CEO of Tower 28. It’s important to note that the ‘clean’ seal of approval doesn’t always mean it is ophthalmologist-approved — or that it’s absolutely safer.
Does mascara expire?
“Mascara expires faster than most beauty products due to issues like cross-contamination and the fact that bacteria thrive in dark, damp environments (like a tube of mascara),” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. Every single expert used the exact same lifespan for mascaras: Three months. In fact, if you have particularly sensitive eyes, cut that window down to one month, recommends Dr. Hilal-Campo, who argues that it’s simply not worth the irritation.
Why do my eyes burn when I wear mascara?
“It can be a reaction to the type of wax used or to any strong fragrance in the formula,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. “Even if you use a ‘clean’ formula, you may still have allergies to something in it. For example, many people have nut allergies — you may experience a reaction if you use a mascara with coconut oil.”
What is the best way to remove mascara?
Most mascaras for sensitive eyes come off easily with soap and water, thereby eliminating the need for makeup removers (which can be alcohol-based — a major no for sensitive eyes). In the case of fiber mascaras, they don’t even need soap: A true fiber or tubular mascara will slide off the lashes with ease when soaked in warm water for 10 seconds. For all other formulations, Spickard recommends saturating a cotton pad in an oil-based remover. “Hold the cotton pad to the closed eye for 30 to 60 seconds,” he says, allowing the remover to break down the product. Then gently swipe away and continue your cleansing routine.
Why Shop With Us
Kristin Limoges is a freelance editor for numerous publications, including Byrdie, Harper’s Bazaar, and WWD Shop, and has nearly a decade of beauty writing experience. She considers herself a sensitive eye expert — having experimented with innumerous mascaras on her sensitive, often irritated eyes for decades. To compile this list, she researched and tested several sensitive eye mascaras, and consulted with many experts — ophthalmologist Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo, dermatologist Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, makeup artist Kasey Adam Spickard, and sensitive skin expert and brand founder Amy Liu — to lend their expertise and share their favorite tips and products.
Additional reporting was done by Daley Quinn, a freelance writer, specializing in beauty and health, who has contributed to numerous publications, such as Elle, Real Simple, Allure, The Cut, WWD, and more. She also writes for her blog, The Daley Dose.
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