Sensitive Eyes? These Mascaras Will Make Your Lashes Look Amazing Sans Irritation
Ever swiped on what you thought was your mascara match made in heaven only to be rewarded with itchy, red, teary eyes? You’re not alone. When it comes to choosing the right mascara, anyone with sensitive eyes knows that it can be a struggle to find a mascara that doesn’t leave you looking like you're smack in the middle of pollen season. Some of us may not have even known that we had sensitive eyes until we started testing different kinds of mascaras! So how do we know which mascaras won’t bring us to tears and leave behind smudges? And does having sensitive eyes mean that we can’t have the voluminous, long, fluffy lashes of our dreams? The good news is that you don’t have to sacrifice a single thing. Whether you’re shopping at a beauty counter or drugstore, brands have been creating formulas safer for sensitive eyes in various formulations—and while there’s no way to be 100% sure until you try it, there are a few ingredients and terms to look out for when you read the label of a new mascara that you want to try.
For example, hypoallergenic mascaras and mascaras that are ophthalmologist-tested are gentle formulas typically free of allergens that can be considered safer for sensitive eyes, sensitive skin, and dry eyes. These are generally allergy-tested makeup products, meaning they’re less likely to trigger common allergic reactions. Labels like “fragrance-free,” “waterproof,” “water-resistant,” and “safe for contact lens wearers” are also good signs that a mascara won’t flare up your fragile eye area. Another thing to look out for? Moisturizing or hydrating ingredients, suggests makeup artist Janice Kinjo. “You should look for nourishing ingredients like shea butter and vitamin E that will not break your lashes. Some mascara can be drying to your lashes and can break them,” causing further irritation.
So, whether you're looking for a volumizing mascara, a lengthening mascara, a waterproof mascara, a tubing mascara, or even a smudge-proof kind that’ll survive an all nighter, don't worry: There's a formula for you on this list. Read on for our picks for the best mascaras for sensitive eyes, and get ready to swipe without fear of smudging, clumping, flaking, or of course, irritated eyes.
Meet the Expert
Janice Kinjo is celebrity makeup artist who works with clients including Mindy Kaling, Mary J. Blige, and Donald Glover.
1. Best Sensitive-Eye Mascara for All Lash Types:
RARE BEAUTY Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara
Whether you’ve got curly lashes, sparse lashes, stick-straight lashes, or lashes for days, this dermatologist-tested and ophthalmologist-tested mascara promises to lift, lengthen, and build volume without causing eye irritation. What do we love most about it besides our never-ending love for founder Selena Gomez? It features a combo of bristles in varying lengths so it got into every nook and cranny of our lashes without getting any product into our eyes. “Loved this product so much. It's light and buildable and looks amazing on all lashes for a lovely lash finish. So pretty,” says Ipster mizzehkitteh.
2. Best Tubing Mascara for Sensitive Eyes:
THRIVE CAUSEMETICS Liquid Lash Extensions
We only needed one swipe of this curling and lengthening mascara to see that it totally lives up to its name. This tubing mascara is made with innovative fibers that wrap around your lashes, creating the look of natural-looking lash extensions, along with an Orchid Stem Cell Complex™ that nourishes your lashes to help them grow. It’s formulated to keep your sensitive eyes irritation-free, and even though it's long-wearing, it's super easy to remove without rubbing or using eye makeup remover (which can be super rough on sensitive eyes). We’re always ready to get behind this brand because of their mission to help support women overcoming remarkable challenges such as homelessness, cancer, and abuse, so we were thrilled to find their mascara is an ideal option for sensitive eyes.
3. Best Drugstore Mascara for Sensitive Eyes:
COVERGIRL LashBlast Volume Mascara
Who doesn’t love a good drugstore buy? Especially one that’s waterproof and kind to sensitive eyes. This volumizing, buildable formula promises to add loads of plump to your lashes, thanks in part to a wand with bristles that help lift and separate your lashes, leaving them sky high and clump-free. It’s also smudge-proof, so you won’t have to worry about dark mascara circles under your eyes.
4. Best Mascara for Contact Lens Wearers:
TOWER 28 MakeWaves Lengthening and Volumizing Mascara
We know how makeup on our contact lenses can be a total day ruiner. Luckily, this mascara will keep your vision clear and irritation-free. Formulated specifically for sensitive eyes, this vegan and cruelty-free mascara touts itself as being a clean mascara that helps lengthen, lift, and define while keeping your contact lenses free of migrating makeup residue. It’s smudge-proof, water-resistant, free of parabens, and buildable without the clumps.
5. Best Double Duty Mascara for Sensitive Eyes:
HONEST BEAUTY Extreme Length Mascara & Lash Primer
A lash primer that’s safe for sensitive eyes and a mascara that’s safe for sensitive eyes, all in one handy tube? We’re into it. Made with nourishing jojoba esters, this combo promises high-impact pigment with sky-high lift and length when you swipe on the primer first. Even better, it's made without parabens, paraffins, mineral oil, or fragrances that can irritate sensitive eyes and skin. We were in love at first (and second) swipe.
6. Best Waterproof Formula for Sensitive Eyes:
CLINIQUE High Impact Waterproof Mascara
Contact lens wearers can rejoice. This waterproof mascara is paraben-free, fragrance-free, and ophthalmologist-tested for sensitive eyes. It delivers a visible volumizing boost and enviable extra length without flaking, clumping, or smudging throughout the day. It's also waterproof, meaning it can withstand just about any liquid (besides a good eye makeup remover, of course). We wiggled the brush from the root to the tips of our lashes for wow-worthy results.
7. Best Vegan Mascara for Sensitive Eyes:
MILK MAKEUP Rise Lifting & Lengthening Mascara
Made with four kinds of vegan waxes (sunflower wax, carnauba wax, tree berry wax, and candelilla wax), this vegan and cruelty-free mascara helped lift and separate for our most natural-looking lashes ever. Seriously, the lift and curl looked like we were born with it. We also love how buildable this baby is, making it perfect for any day-to-night look. And of course, it's super easy on the eyes.
8. Best Smoky-Eye Mascara for Sensitive Eyes:
BENEFIT COSMETICS Fan Fest Mascara
If you’re looking to up the drama, you’ve come to the right place. We layered two coats of this lash-nourishing mascara over smudgy eyeliner and bam—instant glam. Each swipe coats your lashes in ingredients like pro vitamin B5 and cranberry extract to keep your lash hairs healthy, conditioned, and super soft once you rinse it off. “I love this mascara. It made my lashes pop!,” says Ipster Ladybird1.
9. Best Roll-Off Mascara for Sensitive Eyes:
CALIRAY Come Hell or High Water Tubing Mascara
Thanks to being so easy to remove, it’s no surprise that another tubing mascara made it to our list of mascara faves. All it takes to remove CALIRAY’s version is a simple roll-off motion with a little warm water and a light massage. No rubbing, no red eyes! This formula is made with lash-loving argan oil (basically skincare), and it's free of parabens, sulfates, silicones, mineral oil, and drying alcohols. “It doesn't irritate my eyes and I wear contacts, and doesn't smudge or flake once it's set. This is one of my favorite mascaras and I always have a backup on hand,” says Ipster sgiouzelis001.
10. Most Buildable Mascara for Sensitive Eyes:
LANCÔME Definicils High Definition Lengthening Mascara
The “hedgehog” patterned, comb-like bristles in this tube of magic’s brush help you distribute the perfect amount of mascara on your lashes with every swipe. Made with a mix of polymers that help your lashes look lifted and lengthened, this mascara is so easy to apply and won’t flake, clump, or irritate sensitive eyes. It’s also made with panthenol and pro vitamin B5 to help nourish and condition lashes every time you apply. Pretty much a win-win!
11. Best Lash-Lifting Mascara for Sensitive Eyes:
WANDER BEAUTY Mile High Club™ Volume and Length Mascara
Join the mile-high club for your eyes (we know that sounds weird, but stay with us). WANDER BEAUTY Mile High Club™ Volume and Length Mascara lengthens and lifts up lashes so far they’ll look (and feel) practically sky-high. The best part? A few swipes of this natural mascara formula—packed with nourishing castor seed oil, lengthening trehalose, and conditioning peach leaf extract—are all you need. The only side effects are instantly improved eyelashes and no clumping, itching, or irritation in sight.
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