Top 10 Best Eyeliner For Sensitive Eyes In 2024

Updated on January 4, 2024

Eyeliners make your eyes stand out, look bigger, bolder, and even more dramatic. But if your eyes are sensitive, wearing eyeliner can make your eyes feel watery, and you may get a stinging sensation, pain, or irritation. Having sensitive eyes can make it twice harder to wear eyeliners. This is because people with sensitive eyes have a low tolerance for certain makeup products as they cause irritation and dry out their eyes leading to continuous blinking throughout the day.

Having sensitive eyes shouldn’t prevent you from rocking your favorite eyeliner. Today, the market is flooded with eyeliners free from harsh chemicals, paraben, and sulfates. These eyeliners will not irritate your eyes or skin. Here is a list of the best eyeliners for sensitive eyes that you should try.

Editor’s Choices

10 Best Eyeliner For Sensitive Eyes

1. Maybelline Eyestudio Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner (Best Waterproof)

This is a liquid eyeliner that features an ultra-fine brush felt tip for precise application in a single stroke. This eyeliner has an intense color that creates a bold and dramatic look effortlessly, and it stays put for up to 12 hours.

This highly pigmented formula is waterproof and smudge-proof and lasts all day long. The formula is also fragrance-free, and it has been tested by dermatologists and ophthalmologists to be safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. The eyeliner comes in a variety of shades to choose from.

Key Features:

• Available in 9 different shades
• Safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers
• Waterproof and smudge-proof formula
• Lasts for up to 12 hours

2. Physicians Formula 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner (Best Dermatologist Tested)

This is a long-wearing eyeliner formula that is made in Japan. The formula comes with an ultra-precise brush tip applicator that is easy to use and delivers just the right amount of formula directly to the base.

This eyeliner from Physicians Formula 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and dermatologist approved. This makes it ideal if you have sensitive eyes or you wear contact lenses. The formula is water-resistant and smudge-proof, and it will get you throughout the day without fading.

Key Features:

• Smudge-proof
• Water-resistant
• Easy to apply
• Hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive eyes
• Has lash boosting effects

3. Burt’s Bees Nourishing Eyeliner, Warm Brown (Best Natural Makeup)

This eyeliner is specifically formulated for the delicate areas of your eyelids and sensitive eyes. It is formulated with nourishing ingredients, which include jojoba, mango oil, and meadowfoam seed oil. These natural ingredients help to nourish your skin.

The eyeliner comes in a unique cedar wood pencil, and it is available in three shades of soft black, warm brown, and midnight Rey. The formula resists smudging, creasing, and fading and lasts all day. It is formulated without sulfates, parabens, or synthetic fragrances which makes it safe for contact lens wearers and people with sensitive eyes.

Key Features:

• Fade and smudge-free
• Available in 3 beautiful shades
• Safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers
• Nourish the skin

4. Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner (Best Smoothly)

This is a pencil eyeliner that has a vibrant rich color that has a long staying power. This is the best eyeliner for sensitive eyelids as it features a cocktail of moisturizing ingredients including vitamin E, that ensures the color glides on smoothly without tugging or pulling.

The eyeliner is waterproof and it does not budge or fade. Apart from being used as a pencil eyeliner, it can also be used as a smudgy eyeshadow. The eyeliner is highly pigmented, and it does not leave your eyes feeling dry or agitated.

Key Features:

• Highly pigmented
• Safe for sensitive eyes
• Has moisturizing ingredients
• Glides on smoothly
• Can be used as a smudgy eyeshadow

5. NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner (Best Fragrance Free)

This is a long-lasting eyeliner formula that stays on throughout the day. The eyeliner comes in a rich creamy color that glides on smoothly and achieves a rich intense color.

The formula comes in nine deeply dramatic shades named after iconic streets in the world. The eyeliner is easy to apply and it lasts for up to 12 hours. It does not smear nor cake, and it stays put all day long.

Key Features:

• Easy to apply
• The formula lasts for up to 12 hours
• Available in nine beautiful shades
• Glides on smoothly
• Smudge-proof

6. Almay Intense in-Color Eyeliner (Best For Adult Age)

If your eyes are sensitive and you are looking for an eyeliner that will not hurt your eyes and cause irritation, Almay Intense i-Color Eyeliner is the product to use. This eyeliner is hypoallergenic, which makes it safe for contact lens wearers and people with sensitive eyes.

It is available in four shades, and it is richly pigmented. The formula is infused with vitamin E, and it does not leave your eyes feeling dry. It comes with a built-in sharpener that ensures precise application and the color does not smudge or fade throughout the day.

Key Features:

• Smudge and fade-resistant
• Color lasts all-day
• Infused with vitamin E
• Highly pigmented
• Hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive eyes

7. Beauty for Real I-Line 24-7 Waterproof Gel Eyeliner (Best Softening)

This is a waterproof eyeliner that is made with cruelty-free ingredients safe for sensitive eyes. Its formula is enriched with conditioning vitamin E that nourishes and softens the delicate areas around your eyelids.

The eyeliner is formulated without synthetic fragrance, which makes it ideal for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. This eyeliner has a highly-pigmented color and has long-lasting wear that lasts up to 24 hours. It is available in eleven rich shades for versatile application of flawless lines.

Key Features:

• Waterproof eyeliner
• Lasts up to 24 hours
• Suitable for sensitive eyes
• Highly pigmented color

8. Neutrogena Precision Liquid Eyeliner (Best Homeopathic)

This is a liquid eyeliner that is highly pigmented and offers water-resistant and solid defined lash lines that do not cake or melt. The eyeliner glides on smoothly and quickly offering effortless application of precise sharp or dramatic lines.

The eyeliner is formulated with natural honey and coconut that help to resist smudge. This eyeliner dries up quickly and lasts long without fading or flaking. This formula is hypoallergenic and very gentle for sensitive eyes.

Key Features:

• Water-resistant
• Enriched with honey and coconut
• Smudge-proof
• Gentle on sensitive eyes

9. Fifth & Skin Better’n Ur Eyes Eyeliner Pencil (Best Gluten Free)

This is a great eyeliner for sensitive eyes. It is made with natural and botanical ingredients that nourish your skin. It is infused with jelling jojoba and castor oil, shea, and cocoa butter that stimulates the growth of your eyelashes.

The formula is hypoallergenic, and it does not contain any harsh chemicals that may irritate your eyes and skin. No more watery or dry eyes. The formula is long-lasting and stays put until you remove it.

Key Features:

• Hypoallergenic for sensitive eyes
• Long-lasting
• Fluids on softly and smoothly
• Made with natural botanical ingredients

10. Clinique Quick Intense Eye Liner Midnight (Best Paraben Free)

With Clinique Quick Intense Eye Liner Midnight, you can achieve an intense smokey eye look or create any other eye look that you desire. The formula is super soft and glides on smoothly.

It comes with a tip that enhances easy application and draws precise lines effortlessly. The eyeliner is mild on the skin, which makes it ideal for people with sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

Key Features:

• Easy and smooth application
• Mild on the skin
• Ideal for sensitive eyes ad contact lens wearers
• Long-lasting

How To Choose The Best Eyeliner For Sensitive Eye?

Highly-pigmented Eyeliners

When choosing the best eyeliner for sensitive eyes, always go for eyeliners that are highly-pigmented. Eyeliners that are rich in color stay for long without fading, smudging, or drying out your eyes. Using heavily pigmented eyeliners calls for no touch ups during the day.

Ingredients

The ingredients used to make eyeliners are the other thing you need to consider especially if you have sensitive eyes. Some eyeliners are made with harsh chemicals like parabens and sulfates that irritate your eyes.

Choose eyeliners that do not have toxic ingredients to protect your eyes from pain, dryness, and irritation. Always opt for vegan eyeliners as they are free of ingredients that can upset sensitive eyes.

Color

Eyeliners come in different shades, and you should go for the color that you prefer. If you are looking for eyeliner to wear every day, go for a neutral color or one that matches your natural eye color. On special occasions, you can rock a color that makes you stand out.

Water-resistant

Whatever it rains, or you are going to the pool for a swim or a strenuous workout, a water-resistant eyeliner comes in handy at such times. It does not smudge or flake despite the weather or the activity you are doing.

Waterproof eyeliner stays put until you remove it. It is also ideal if you wear contact lenses and your eyes tend to be watery. This will also save you from ding touch ups during the day.

Thickness

Eyeliners offer varying thicknesses as they can be in the form of a pencil, gel, or liquid. Lightweight eyeliners are always the best for sensitive eyes as they will not feel heavy on your eyes to irritate.

Eye Makeup Tips For Sensitive Eyes

Cleanse your eyes before applying eyeliner

Any makeup product should be applied to clean skin.  Washing your eyes before applying eyeliner will get rid of oil, dirt, and makeup residues that can irritate your eyes. Applying eyeliner on clean skin ensures there are no other components to react with the eyeliner and cause irritation.

Also, before you sleep ensure that you wash your face to get rid of the eyeliner. If you use waterproof eyeliner, use makeup remover products to get rid of the eyeliner easily.

Use skin-friendly eyeliner

With sensitive eyes, you need to be cautious of the products you use. Opt for makeup products that use toxin-free ingredients and ones that are friendly to your skin. Eyeliners made of natural ingredients and oil are mild on your skin and will not trigger any irritation to your eyes, also they offer nourishing benefits to your skin.

Use rose water to relieve eyes irritation

Sensitive eyes easily get dry and itchy. Suing a dab of rose water on your eyelids can help to ease the irritation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

You can still wear eyeliner and experience no irritation or dryness in your eyes, even with sensitive eyes. That is if you use the best eyeliner for sensitive eyes. From our review, we recommend using the Maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner if your eyes are sensitive.

This liquid eyeliner is highly pigmented, and it is waterproof and smudge-proof. The formula is fragrance-free, and it is safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. It lasts for up to 12 hours, and it is available in a variety of shades to choose from.

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