Mascara is supposed to give you long lashes for days — but if you've got sensitive eyes, the beauty staple can be tricky.
The stinging and watery eyes resulting from specific formulas might be enough to make some stop wearing mascara altogether. Still, you don't have to miss out on its impressive prowess just because your eyes are a little sensitive.
Shop TODAY turned to celebrity makeup artists to see which mascaras they rely on for clients dealing with sensitive eyes. We also talked to an optometrist for their insight on what causes irritation, along with some helpful tips on how to best take off your makeup.
What to look for | Makeup artist-approved picks | Shopper favorites | How we chose | Meet the experts
What's the best kind of mascara for sensitive eyes?
"The best mascaras for sensitive eyes are those that are hypoallergenic and are not waterproof," says therapeutic optometrist Reena Patel, O.D.
To avoid any allergic reaction or irritation with other mascaras, Patel recommended doing a patch test and checking for expiration dates and outdated products that "can cause allergic reactions and bacterial buildup on the eyelids."
From drugstore finds to indulgent picks, the experts' recommendations include an option for every budget.
Best mascaras for sensitive eyes, according to experts
Almay Multi-Benefit Mascara
- Easy to apply
- Non-irritating for many shoppers
- May be hard to remove
Size: 0.24 oz. | Some skin-friendly ingredients: Aloe leaf extract, hydrolyzed keratin
“It builds volume and length plus keep lashes hydrated without drying up, which can make sensitive eyes more irritated,” says celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose.
Available in both waterproof and non-waterproof formulas, this pro pick boasts benefits like being hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and non-irritating.
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
- Easy to apply
- Great coverage
- Reviews are mixed on quality of applicator
Size: 0.43 oz. | Some skin-friendly ingredients: Beeswax
"This is the classic go-to product most mascara lovers can’t live without, and many beauty lovers have had a long relationship with it," celebrity makeup artist Brandy Allen says. "Not only is it ideal for contact lens wearers, it’s also hypoallergenic and ophthalmologist-tested."
One Target shopper said they even use it for their eyebrows. "My brows are very hard to tame for a good period of time but this mascara hold my brow hairs in place all day doesn't flake off," they wrote.
L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara
- Adds volume
- Users love the brush
- May dry out quickly
Size: 0.28 oz. | Some skin-friendly ingredients: Beeswax, panthenol, ceramide-R
“This mascara is in every makeup artist’s kit,” says makeup artist Rob Rumsey. “The formula and the wand are perfection. It never dries out or flakes, which is key for sensitive eyes.”
It boasts a unique formula that builds lashes to five times their natural length. It contains panthenol and a ceramide to help protect and condition lashes, according to the description.
Pacifica Stellar Gaze Length & Strength Mineral Mascara
- Adds volume
- Lengthens lashes
- No clumping
- May be runny
Size: 0.25 oz. | Some skin-friendly ingredients: Glycerin, coconut oil, vitamin B
“This mascara is infused with coconut oil and vitamin B to hydrate, lengthen and strengthen each lash,” says Ashley Humphreys, makeup artist and owner of the beauty line Nude & Noir Cosmetics. “The supernova color is a beautiful jet black and does not clump or flake.”
The vegan brand says its their bestselling mascara and shoppers are raving about how well it works. One Ulta reviewer even called it an “excellent mascara for mature women.”
Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara
- Lengthens lashes
- Adds volume
- May be hard to remove
Size: 0.28 oz. | Some skin-friendly ingredients: Iron oxide, shea butter, caffeine, castor oil
“Eyeko mascaras use tubing technology, so each eyelash is essentially shrink-wrapped in a sheath of the product. This means it won’t flake or dry out and crumble once applied,” says celebrity makeup artist James McMahon.
This mascara is packed with powerhouse ingredients to offer a variety of benefits: caffeine to “wake up lashes,” shea butter and castor oil to nourish and biotin to thicken lashes, just to name a few.
Eyeko Black Magic Mascara
- Adds volume
- No clumping
- May be hard to remove
Size: 0.29 oz. | Some skin-friendly ingredients: Beeswax, shea butter
“The shea butter and keratin in this mascara hydrates and strengthens your lashes. The wand is great for a one-swipe application,” Rumsey says.
Made without parabens, this water-resistant tubing mascara boasts color and hold that lasts for more than 12 hours. According to the brand, it doesn’t run, smudge, crumble or flake, so you can enjoy the day (or night) without constantly searching for a mirror.
Kjaer Weis Lengthening Mascara
- Does not clump
- Easy to remove
- Users mixed on packaging
Size: 0.18 oz. | Some skin-friendly ingredients: Rice flour, certified-organic jojoba seed oil
Humphreys says that “99.8% of the agriculturally-derived ingredients in the Kjaer Weis Mascara are from organic sources and are safe for sensitive eyes," She continues, "It is a higher price point for mascara, but they do offer a refill for a lower price once you finish your initial product."
The brand says the wand is precise enough to deposit “just the right amount of mascara for smudge-resistant, flake-free flutter.”
Clinique Lash Power Mascara
- Lengthens lashes
- Great definition
- May be hard to remove
Size: 0.6 oz. | Some skin-friendly ingredients: Beeswax, jojoba seed oil
“The tubular, smudge-proof, flake-free formula is great for sensitive eyes, and has a lot less ‘run off.’ It’s my secret weapon!” says Los Angeles-based makeup artist Brett Freedman.
According to the brand, this long-wearing formula lasts 24 hours through any conditions including rain, sweat, humidity and even tears. One Ulta reviewer said they put it to the test during a two hour heated yoga class and the mascara successfully stayed put the entire time.
Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara
- Adds volume
- Easy to apply
- May dry out quickly
Size: 0.24 oz. | Some skin-friendly ingredients: Iron oxide, Amazonian clay, vitamin C
"This vegan mascara contains vitamin C to help condition your lashes and keep them strong and healthy. The mascara brush also makes your lashes look thicker and longer," says celebrity makeup artist Archangela Chelsea.
Made without parabens, sulfates or phthalates, the brand says it contains Amazonian clay to "hydrate and replenish dry and brittle lashes to prevent fallout" and even calls it a "lash treatment and mascara in one."
Alima Pure Natural Definition Mascara
- Lightweight
- No clumping
- May dry up quickly
Size: 0.28 oz. | Some skin-friendly ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin B5
“This mascara offers a beautiful application and contains more than 90% natural and naturally-derived ingredients. It contains vitamin B5 and natural oils and waxes to condition your lashes,” says Humphreys.
One reviewer said they’ve been using it for years and it “never clumps, washes off easily but doesn’t smear or flake, and they love the brush” for the way it separates lashes easily.
Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Volume Mascara
- Lengthens lashes
- Even application
- May be hard to remove
Size: 0.22 oz. | Some skin-friendly ingredients: Beeswax, carnauba wax
“This is a great waterproof formula that also conditions your lashes. It’s fragrance-free, allergy tested and great for contact wearers,” says Rumsey.
The unique S-shaped brush is designed to make sure no eyelash is left behind, according to the brand. It touts benefits like no clumping or flaking and keeping your eyes free of the dreaded raccoon look.
Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara
- Adds volume
- Lengthens lashes
- May clump
Size: 0.21 oz. | Some skin-friendly ingredients: Carnauba wax
"This is one of my favorite mascaras, and achieves a luscious look with just one stroke. It has natural beeswax that delivers instant volume without irritating the eye," says Allen.
Defined by the brand as a "high-precision mascara," this luxe designer option has a brush that is designed with both long and short bristles to give you a full-fanned lash effect. "This mascara loves my eyelashes and they love it," raved one Macy's reviewer.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to Patel, most mascaras usually contain fragrances, preservatives and dyes, which makes the formulation a common culprit that causes irritated eyes and eyelids.
"Some mascaras even contain nickel and other metals, so those that are allergic to nickel may experience a negative reaction," she says.
The best way to remove mascara is with a cotton pad to ensure "that individual cotton fibers don't break loose and enter the eye," Patel advised.
She also suggested using a "cleansing oil and wiping the mascara off in the direction of your lashes, from top to bottom rather than rubbing from side to side." If you wear contact lenses, she mentions that it's a good idea to remove them before wiping off the mascara.
"The oils from makeup removers can build on the contact lenses and create a film over the lens, leading to a blurry and uncomfortable...experience," she adds
How we chose the best mascaras for sensitive eyes
The Shop TODAY team rounded up the best non-irritating mascaras for sensitive skin by enlisting the recommendations of a therapeutic optometrist and multiple makeup artists. We also conducted general market research by filtering our searches for top-rated products and delving into online shopper reviews.
Meet the experts
- Reena Patel, OD, is a therapeutic optometrist who practices in Brooklyn, New York.
- Nick Barose is a celebrity makeup artist in New York, New York and Los Angeles, California.
- Brandy Allen is a celebrity makeup artist in Los Angeles, California and New York, New York.
- Rob Rumsey is a makeup artist.
- Ashley Humphreys is a makeup artist and owner of the beauty line Nude & Noir Cosmetics.
- James McMahon is a celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles, California.
- Brett Freedman is also a Los Angeles-based makeup artist.
- Archangela Chelsea is a global celebrity makeup artist who's based in New York, New York and Los Angeles, California.
