15 best mascaras for sensitive eyes, according to experts
Finding the best mascara for sensitive eyes sounds like a highly specific ask for a makeup product that notoriously leadings people on never-ending searches. Just figuring out the best mascara in general can be tough, particularly if you want one that does it all: lengthening, volumising, and holding a curl — all while being easy to remove and flake-free.
But thanks to the growing number of innovative formulas designed with irritated eyes in mind, a good portion of the options now actually tick that extra box off without even trying.
Best mascara for sensitive eyes 2023, at a glance:
- Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Extension Waterproof Lengthening Mascara, £20.38
- Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Paris Intense Volume Mascara, £7.02
- Best Curling: Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Volume Lift And Curl Mascara, £23
- Best Clean: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara, £30
- Best Tubing: IT Cosmetics Hello Lashes+ Lash-Loving Volumising Mascara, £25
The timing couldn’t be better, since sensitive eyes are more common than you might think. The usual signs include “redness of the eyelids or the eyes themselves, watery eyes, itching or burning, swelling or puffy eyes, and lastly, blurry vision,” says Ashley Brissette, MD, an ophthalmologist in New York City and founder of eye care brand Daily Practice. “If you experience any of these, it could mean you have a sensitivity or even an allergy to eye makeup ingredients.”
The most frequent allergens in question tend to be synthetic fragrances, parabens, phthalates, coal tar (which is used in limited concentrations), polyethylene glycol (a thickening agent), and formaldehyde—which isn’t that common anymore, but can still be found in certain formulas, she says.
While it’s tough to make any generalisations about which ingredients to avoid, there are a few strategies you can try. For starters, look for an ophthalmologist-tested, hypoallergenic mascara that’s “safe for sensitive skin with excellent safety testing,” says Dr. Brissette. She also advises avoiding a waterproof formula whenever possible. “It is so hard to take off that you end up pulling and tugging on the delicate eyelid skin and lashes, which can cause damage and irritation,” she explains.
Beyond not exacerbating dry eyes, the best mascara for sensitive eyes should also do the stuff you actually want the best mascara to do, like thickening, lengthening, and defining your lashes.
It’s a tall order, but here are 14 gentle formulas that truly do it all.
La Roche-Posay specializes in skin care gentle enough for sensitive skin, so it’s not a huge surprise that the brand offers an excellent hypoallergenic mascara—even in a waterproof version. The formula’s polymers help separate and define lashes, and it’s gentle enough for contact lens wearers.
- Pros: One of the few waterproof formulas for sensitive eyes
- Cons: Requires a dedicated eye makeup remover
- Shades: 1
- Waterproof: Yes
An affordable TikTok sensation which uses Castor Oil to thicken lashes over time, this volumising wand effectively coats lashes from root to tip – but crucially doesn't make them spiky or tough. This means lashes remain soft and fluttery, and don't feel irritating throughout the day.
Pros: Affordable.
Cons: The wand is quite chunky which makes lower lash application trickier.
Waterproof: No.Save when you shop for the best mascara for sensitive eyes with these Boots promo codes.
This straight and narrow brush enables you to coat your lashes in the Vitamin E and biotin-infused formula (both of which are nourishing ingredients) from root to tip. It lifts the lashes dramatically, and testers didn't report irritation during wear.
Pros: It lifts and lengthens better than lots of mascaras we've tried.
Cons: The gel serum consistency can be a little trickier to get used to.
Waterproof: No.Save when you shop for the best mascara for sensitive eyes with these Sephora promo codes.
With a clean ingredients list which doesn't include anything associated with irritation and sensitivity, this epic lifting and curling mascara is a dream for those with sensitive eyes. The flat brush effectively curls lashes – and adds volume – and the formulation is so lightweight that you can hardly feel you're wearing mascara at all.
Pros: It's vegan friendly. and easy to remove.
Cons: Nothing worth noting.
Waterproof: Water resistant, but not waterproof.Save when you shop for the best mascara for sensitive eyes with these Sephora promo codes.
This ophthalmologically tested mascara is a tubing mascara, so it wraps lashes in individual tubes of the product instead of coating them. It's also a lash serum as well as a mascara, formulated with biotin, Argan oil and jojoba oil to care for and nourish the lashes during wear.
Pros: Smudge resistant but easy to apply.
Cons: The bendy wand is a little tricky to control at times.
Waterproof: No.Ilia makes so many of our beauty bag staples, and this clean mascara is no exception. It feels totally weightless, has ample pigment, and gets a hydrating boost from skin care staples aloe and rosewater. The lengthening, defining wand leaves lashes with a pretty flutter.
- Pros: Lasts all day, despite not being officially waterproof
- Cons: Won’t curl straight lashes
- Shades: 1
- Waterproof: No
Save when you shop for the best mascara for sensitive eyes with these Sephora promo codes.
Clinique has a reputation for making gentle, irritation-free makeup, and this mascara is proof. “Their formulas are extensively safety-tested, and I recommend their products to my patients—and use this myself as well,” says Dr. Brissette. “It’s easy to apply and to take off, and lasts all day.” To her point: It’s ophthalmologist- and allergy-tested, mineral-oil- and fragrance-free, and safe for contact lens wearers. On top of that, it's really freaking good, giving definition on the first swipe and drama on the second.
- Pros: Works on multiple levels to highlight the lashes
- Cons: None
- Shades: 2
- Waterproof: No
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This volumizing mascara gets tons of rave reviews from makeup artists and customers alike for its noticeable results, especially from those with sensitive eyes. Chanel’s buildable formula makes good on its nonirritating reputation, thanks to its conditioning, flake-free formula, and creates impressive length thanks to a combination of long and short bristles.
- Pros: Quickly and easily separates lashes for a fuller look
- Cons: May transfer after a day of wear
- Shades: 1
- Waterproof: No
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This classic is formulated without phthalates, sulfates or formaldehydes, consistently delivering long (though not necessarily thick) lashes. The advantage, however, is that it doesn’t clump, flake, or transfer onto skin, making it a great go-to for an everyday eye look.
- Pros: Slim brush allows for precise application
- Cons: Formula can get dry
- Shades: 3
- Waterproof: No
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Pacifica proves, time and time again, that “beauty with a conscience” doesn't need to cost the earth. Sustainability is at the core of their brand, where all products are 100% vegan and cruelty free. It's these qualities that make this mascara perfect for those who can get irritated by certain formulas - and those who wear contact lenses. Lashes looked thick, fluttery and long after use.
Pros: The tube is cute AF – and the packaging is recyclable.
Cons: Nothing to note, tbh.
Waterproof: No.Save when you shop for the best mascara for sensitive eyes with these Sephora promo codes.
Promising a 'baby extension' effect, Glossier's debut mascara curls as it lengthens thanks to its film-forming polymers. Plus, it's been tested by both dermatologists and ophthalmologists.
Pros: Suitable for those who wear contact lenses.
Cons: A little bit of flaking after a long day.
Waterproof: No.Maybelline’s Full ’N Soft beeswax-based mascara is beloved for the long, natural-looking lashes it imparts. The formula is hypoallergenic, and whereas some lengthening mascaras can leave lashes brittle and spidery, this gives you results that are as soft as the name claims, thanks to a moisturizing combo of panthenol and vitamin E.
- Pros: Doesn’t clump when you apply it
- Cons: No brown shade
- Shades: 1
- Waterproof: No
If you’ve been let down by flaking, smudging formulas before, set your trust issues aside and give this drugstore gem a try. The vegan mascara features a fragrance- and oil-free formula that uses tubular fibers to impart volume and definition without any smearing. Plus, it comes off easily with just warm water (but still manages to stay on through a sweaty workout).
- Pros: Won’t flake or smudge—at all
- Cons: Only offers a very natural look
- Shades: 1
- Waterproof: No
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Tarte’s mascara truly checks every box: It’s vegan, cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, and ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-tested—so many stamps of approval. If you can’t get through the day without your eyes suffering, this conditioning and clump-free tube brings peace of mind (and tons of volume).
- Pros: Easy to apply, deposits rich pigment in one swipe
- Cons: Can be tough to remove
- Shades: 2
- Waterproof: No
Save when you shop for the best mascara for sensitive eyes with these Sephora promo codes.
This affordable tube is completely smudge-proof—but whereas some mascaras use harsh ingredients to lock onto your lashes, CoverGirl’s doesn’t even call for makeup remover. In fact, it easily washes away with soap and water.
- Pros: A dream to apply, and stays put all day
- Cons: Formula can feel dry out of the tube
- Shades: 1
- Waterproof: No
