The Best Mascaras for Sensitive Eyes
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The Best Mascaras for Sensitive Eyes in 2024

Newsflash: Sensitive eyes are not a death sentence for makeup! Having sensitive eyes is irritating, but it shouldn’t stop you from wearing makeup and mascara.

Loads of mascaras are made with sensitive eyes in mind. As someone with sensitive eyes, I know how easy it is for them to flare up from something as simple as using the wrong mascara. After trying and testing many mascaras, I’ve put together some of the best mascaras for sensitive eyes! Get ready for lengthened and volumized lashes that won’t irritate your eyes.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon and other affiliate programs. This means on some purchases, I make a commission. It doesn’t mean you spend more, it simply allows me to keep this blog going!

Best Smudge-Proof: Rimmel Wonder’luxe Mascara

Rimmel Wonder'luxe Mascara

IN A NUTSHELL

  • Colors: Black, Extreme Black
  • Key Features: Smudge-proof formula, Infused with argan, maracuja, marula & camellia oils, Conditioning mascara, Dermatologist & ophthalmologist tested
  • Cruelty-free: Yes

Is it for you?

Rimmel Wonder’luxe Mascara is the best smudge-proof mascara for sensitive eyes. Easy to apply, it doesn’t budge from the eyes yet it’s still easy to remove.

Rimmel Wonder’luxe Mascara is infused with four luxurious oils, the mascara conditions your eyelashes over the day which is a bonus for a mascara! It’s dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested, making it suitable for sensitive eyes.

The formula is wet enough to coat your lashes for a more voluminous and lengthened look while keeping your eyelashes looking natural. However, you can build it up for thick lashes too. It doesn’t clump or flake and it’s still smudge-proof even after applying three coats!

Pros

  • Tested for sensitive eyes
  • Fragrance-free
  • Natural-effect
  • Flake-proof
  • Clump-free

Cons

  • Doesn’t curl

Best for False Lash Effect: Maybelline The Falsies Instant Lash Lift

Maybelline The Falsies Instant Lash Lift Look Lengthening Volumising Mascara

IN A NUTSHELL

  • Colors: Black, Very Black, Blackest Black, Ultra Black, Waterproof
  • Key Features: Lash lift effect, Volumizes, Ophthalmologist tested
  • Cruelty-free: No

Is it for you?

Maybelline The Falsies Instant Lash Lift Look Lengthening Volumizing Mascara is the best false lash effect mascara for sensitive eyes. It gives the look of fake lashes, without any fake lashes!

Away with falsies and uncomfortable lash glues! Instead, fake the look with the Maybelline The Falsies Instant Lash Lift Look Lengthening Volumizing Mascara.

It’s got a chunky double-curved wand with twisted combs going in all directions. It’s the mascara you need for extreme, bold and luscious volume. The brush design is easily the best thing about this mascara. It separates your lashes for an even coat.

One coat is all you need for instant fabulous eyes. Two coats make you look like a glamorous diva. And three is giving Lady Gaga a run for her money! This mascara is volumising with an all-day wear formula. It curls your lashes too and it won’t smear easily.

The formula is just as impressive as the wand, it has a fibre-infused formula that grabs onto your lashes at the root to lift, thicken, and lengthen.

Pros

  • Suitable for contact lenses
  • Fragrance-free
  • False-lashes effect
  • Volumising
  • Lengthening
  • Long-wear formula

Cons

  • Not clump-free

Best for Dry Eyes: Physicians Formula Killer Curves Voluptuous Curling Mascara

Physicians Formula Killer Curves Mascara

IN A NUTSHELL

  • Colors: Black
  • Key Features: Curling, Volumizing, Hypoallergenic, Lifting, Dermatologist & ophthalmologist approved
  • Cruelty-free: Yes

Is it for you?

Physicians Formula Killer Curves Voluptuous Curling Mascara is the best mascara for sensitive and dry eyes. It gives beautiful thick lashes without compromising the health of your eyelashes!

The Physicians Formula Killer Curves Voluptuous Curling Mascara curls your eyelashes with its amazing lash-lifting polymers and volumizing collagen formula, providing you with the perfect combination of curl and volume.

Infused with Provitamin B5, Peptides, and Amino Acids, it nourishes and strengthens the lashes. The wand has a large hourglass bristle brush that coats and sets even the tiniest lashes. The curves form the best lash-lift effect out there. Manually curling your lashes before or afterwards is optional but a warning- you probably won’t need it!

What I love best is how it’s safe for sensitive eyes and doesn’t irritate them while at the same time, it gives beautiful full lashes!

Pros

  • Clinically Tested
  • Fragrance-Free
  • Paraben-Free
  • Safe for Contact Wearers
  • Nourishing ingredients
  • Vegan

Cons

  • Not clump-free

Best Drugstore: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Volume Mascara

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Volume Mascara

IN A NUTSHELL

  • Colors: Black
  • Key Features: Volumizing, Long-Lasting Dermatologist-tested, Hydrating
  • Cruelty-free: No

Is it for you?

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Volume Mascara is the best drugstore mascara for sensitive eyes. Get lengthened and full lashes without compromising your eye’s health!

Created specifically for individuals with sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers, the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Volume Mascara delivers remarkable coverage, impressive volume, and exceptional length.

The key to achieving luscious, voluminous eyelashes lies in its micro-aerated texture formula, providing lightweight lashes with a striking maximum-volume appearance. This exclusive mascara, enriched with ceramides and thickening Carnauba Wax, not only strengthens your lashes but also amplifies their volume, ensuring a captivating look.

The mascara is buildable and clump-free, but what I like best is how weightless and comfortable it feels. It doesn’t harden the lashes but still gives them an effortless fanned-out look.

With its rich pigmentation that effortlessly washes away, this long-lasting formula adheres to your lashes throughout the day. The generously sized tapered bristle brush gives precise application, allowing you to reach even the most delicate inner and outer lashes.

Pros

  • 100% allergy-tested
  • Fragrance-free
  • Safe for contact lens wearers
  • Lightweight formula
  • Buildable
  • Clump-free

Cons

  • Bad smell

Best for Volume: MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara

MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash

IN A NUTSHELL

  • Colors: Carbon Black, Waterproof
  • Key Features: Volumizing, Lengthening, Curling, Flake & Clump-Proof, Ophthalmologist-tested
  • Cruelty-free: No

Is it for you?

MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara is the best volumizing mascara for sensitive eyes, due to its fabulous thickening effect that it gives.

If you love volumized and lengthened lashes that don’t get clumpy, then you will love the MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara. It applies evenly and defines and separates the lashes beautifully giving your eyes a false lash effect!

With just one stroke, you’ll notice thicker and longer lashes. It doesn’t flake or clump, it lasts intact all day! The combination of formula and fabulous brush is what makes this mascara different from many others. But what I love best is the carbon black color that’s so intensely black, it just looks amazing on!

Formulated without any of the bad stuff like fragrance, oil, paraben and lots more, making it ideal for sensitive eyes.

Pros

  • Safe for contact lens wearers
  • Clump-free
  • Volumising
  • Curling and lengthening
  • Buildable

Cons

  • Can be a little wet the first few times

Best Hypoallergenic: Diego Dalla Palma MyToyBoy Mascara

Diego Dalla Palma MyToyBoy Mascara

IN A NUTSHELL

  • Colors: Black
  • Key Features: Volumizing, Lengthening, Hypoallergenic, Promotes Natural Eyelash Growth, Huge Wand, Ophthalmologist-tested
  • Cruelty-free: Yes

Is it for you?

Diego Dalla Palma MyToyBoy Mascara is the best hypoallergenic mascara for sensitive eyes. Made with allergy-free ingredients, it means even those with sensitive eyes can get full, volumized lashes!

Don’t judge a book by its cover, and don’t judge this mascara by its name. It may have an interesting name, but it’s a fabulous mascara that gives the lashes a 4D effect! And it doesn’t end there.

Made with unique ingredients, the Diego Dalla Palma MyToyBoy Mascara naturally promotes eyelash growth and after 30 days of use, you’ll see a noticeable difference in your eyelashes volume and length! Ideal for sensitive eyes, the MyToyBoy Mascara is made from allergy-free ingredients, even those with the most sensitive eyes can enjoy lengthened and volumized lashes!

Its 4D wand is spectacular and honestly, huge! It’s probably the biggest mascara wand I’ve seen, it coats every lash easily and is honestly really fun to use. However, its size can be tricky for beginners

It also has a long-wearing formula that doesn’t melt or flake away. I can’t relate to the product name— maybe it’s an Italian thing, but I sure can relate to the amazing benefits this mascara offers!

Pros

  • Oil-free
  • Alcohol & fragrance-free
  • Allergen & latex free
  • Long-wear formula
  • Promotes healthy hair growth
  • Defines and lengthens
  • Volumising and thickening

Cons

  • The huge wand can be tricky to use

Best Lengthening: INIKA Long Lash Mascara

INIKA Long Lash Vegan Mascara

IN A NUTSHELL

  • Colors: Black
  • Key Features: Lengthening, Natural Ingredients, Ophthalmologist-tested
  • Cruelty-free: Yes

Is it for you?

INIKA Long Lash Vegan Mascara is the best lengthening mascara for sensitive eyes. Organic and only made from natural ingredients, it’s ideal for eyes that are prone to allergies.

Get guilt-free beautiful luscious lashes with the INIKA Long Lash Vegan Mascara. It has an all-natural, organic formula that uses 100% plant-derived ingredients to boost your lash length, volume and span and let me tell you, it works!

The wand features fanned bristles that delicately separate and coat each strand of eyelash. Easy to apply and highly pigmented, the mascara glides on the eyes leaving you with stunning long eyelashes!

Pros

  • Organic
  • Natural ingredients
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Lengthening
  • Clump-free
  • Long-wearing formula

Cons

  • Non-curling
  • Not smudge-proof

Best Clean Beauty: Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara

Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara

IN A NUTSHELL

  • Colors: Black
  • Key Features: Lengthens & Thickens, Dermatologist & Allergy-Tested, Clean Ingredients
  • Cruelty-free: Yes

Is it for you?

Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara is the best clean beauty mascara for sensitive eyes. It gives you all the benefits, without any of the negatives!

Jane Iredale is one of the best-known brands for clean beauty. In fact, they were one of the first to get into the industry over 25 years ago! The Jane Iredale mascara is ideal for sensitive eyes because it’s made from ingredients that help protect the lashes making them softer. It also has a unique ingredient that adds temporary length and thickness to lashes giving the illusion of false lashes.

Easy to use, the pigment is silky and lightweight and the mascara lengthens without clumping, while instantly thickening the lashes! It’s easy to see why this mascara works, it’s wand is packed with bristles and larger than the average.

Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara has the full package for sensitive eyes! It lengthens and volumizes without irritating the eyes!

Pros

  • Dermatologist & Allergy-Tested
  • Lightweight and buildable
  • Curling
  • Clump-free
  • Thickens & Lengthens

Cons

  • Not long wearing
  • Pricey

Best for Even Application: Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara

IN A NUTSHELL

  • Colors: Black
  • Key Features: Lengthens, Thickens, Curls, Ophthalmologist-Tested
  • Cruelty-free: No

Is it for you?

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Mascara is the best mascara for even application for sensitive skin. It applies smoothly and easily, defining and lengthening your lashes without irritating them!

If you love a false lash effect without any of the clumping and flakiness that so often comes with it, Estée Lauder’s Sumptuous Extreme Lash Mascara is the one to try! It creates volume, lifts and curves without any of the negatives.

The large tapered bristle wand defines and separates your lashes like a comb, creating a volumized effect. I love how evenly it applies, which is partly why it doesn’t clump.

Its formula is a blend of three high-volume fibres in a mousse-light base. The pigment feels silky and comfortable to apply. It acts almost like lash extensions, multiplying and growing the look of lashes.

This mascara is also made with a conditioning Lash-Advancing Vitamin Complex which helps condition your lashes ensuring they stay soft and hydrated throughout the day.

Pros

  • Fragrance-free
  • Clump and flake-free
  • Defines and gives volume
  • Non-sticky formula
  • Thickens and lengthens

Cons

Not long-wearing


What to Look Out for In Mascaras for Sensitive Skin

If you’re using a waterproof mascara, be sure that the formula is guaranteed safe and easy to remove for sensitive skin. So how do you know mascara is generally “safe” for your skin?

The trick is when browsing for mascaras for sensitive eyes and skin, look for key terms like hypoallergenic, allergy-tested, clinically-tested, dermatologist-tested, and ophthalmologist-tested on the product. Ophthalmologist-tested indicates the product’s testing was overseen by an eye doctor and therefore safe for even the most sensitive eyes. 

Application Tips

1. Patch Test

Patch tests are essential before using beauty products, and whether’s really for sensitive skin or not. Apply a small amount to both thin and thick parts of your skin to really help you gauge the safety of the product.

For mascaras, do a patch test by swiping the tiniest amounts of the product on your outer lashes and then wait a few hours. If you generally have sensitive skin and eyes then proceed with caution and look out for any side effects.

2. Avoid The Roots & Lash Line

For sensitive eyes, avoid getting too close to your lash lines. This is especially helpful if you haven’t gone through a thorough patch test.

Apply your mascara by starting on the very middle of your lashes, then gently zigzagging out to your lash tips. From there, you may apply closer to your lash line with each coat, but never fully apply the product to your skin.

For your bottom lashes, master the art of using the wand’s tips and design features to dig into your bottom lashes without touching the lash line. It may sound tricky to pull off, but actually, it’s really easy! It just takes a little getting used to!

3. Gently Remove

The best practice is to never sleep with your makeup on. An even better practice is to remove your mascara and eye makeup in separate steps. This is to minimise the tugging and possible hair fall.

First, remove your mascara. Saturate a cotton ball with a gentle makeup remover, and gently press over your lashes for 10 seconds. Or more. By doing this, the makeup remover has time to break down your mascara. This means fewer sweeps and rubbing for you.

Given that, it is essential that you are also using a makeup remover for sensitive eyes, since you’ll be soaking it on your skin for quite some time. Once all of your mascara is off, you can then remove the rest of your makeup.

4. Follow the 6-month rule or expiration date

Some products go bad quicker than others, like the organic INIKA Long Lash Vegan Mascara on our list. Since it’s organic, it can go bad really fast and must be changed immediately. So no matter what, throw away, or stop using your mascara if it’s expired already.

No matter how good the mascara smells, if you have sensitive eyes, I recommend getting rid of it once it’s passed the expiration date and not a day later! Read more tried and tested tips on eye makeup for sensitive eyes.

My Thoughts

As you can see, there’s a whole market out there for sensitive eyes in makeup! All of these mascaras are amazing and will give your makeup and skin some serious savings.

Get ready for beautiful lashes that won’t get red, or irritated with these best mascaras for sensitive eyes! For more tips check out how to grow thick and long lashes.

Hollie xx

Why Trust Beauty With Hollie

To compile this list, I spent hours researching the best mascara for sensitive eyes. I extensively dug into their key features—like formula, shade range, comfort and ease of application—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. As someone who suffers from sensitive eyes, I also used my own personal experience on which mascaras don’t cause reactions in sensitive eyes.

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About Hollie

Hi, I’m Hollie, and I’m passionate about everything beauty. Over the last decade and a half, I’ve tested thousands of products to bring you the best of the best! I also love bringing you fun and creative beauty looks. Learn more.

Beauty profile – 35, dry, aging skin, focused on aging well with a healthy glow and natural makeup look ✨



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2 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for your mascara review! I really have to watch what I use, I get irritation so easy and when I rub my eye, it will get all over and get even worse. That can’t be good for the eyes. Maybelline looks promising to me, I wish they have a less clump but I think that is normal when it comes to thickness and length. I have yet found one that doesn’t clump yet.  La-Roche is another good brand that I like as well, I think I can take the smell, it is far from my nose and I think no stranger can smell that. I may go for Mac as well as long as it doesn’t irritate my eyes then I am up for it. Thanks for taking the time to share all the options! 

    1.  I love the Maybelline one and generally don’t have a problem with clumping. I find that my mascaras start to clump when it’s time for me to throw them out!

      Thanks for stopping by:)

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