These Eyeliners for Sensitive Eyes Cause Zero Irritation—Even in the Waterline

Easily my favorite eyeliner discovery this year, I’ve been reaching for Ilia’s new drop every single day. The shade Flourish, a copper-brown shimmer, honestly reads more like a deep rose gold—I’ve never found anything like it. It sets super quickly, so there’s not a ton of playtime; I recommend working quickly. It lasts me all day, and most notably, it never makes my eyes bloodshot or causes irritation.

Review: “The pigment payoff does require a bit of pressure, particularly with the shimmery shades. That being said, once it’s on the skin, it’s not budging. It did not drip, drag, or fade throughout an eight-hour day. And most importantly, I never look like a sleep-deprived, allergy-ridden disaster after wearing it for eight hours, which is a huge win in my book.” — Samantha Holender, Senior Beauty Editor

My 57-year-old mom is actually the one who put me onto this—it’s specifically designed for women 40+. It doesn’t drag or skip, making it so much easier to glide over the thin, sometimes crepey skin on mature eyelids. That being said, my sensitive, 29-year-old eyes love the formula just as much. I can wear the shade cocoa in my waterline all day long without feeling dry or needing to rub my eyes.

Review: “Don’t get me wrong—you have to work quickly, but once this baby sets, it’s not going anywhere. The color payoff is so strong and it really doesn’t transfer or smudge, like at all.” — Mindy Holender, Contributing Beauty Writer

This is easily my most recommended eyeliner—ever. Period. Whether you have sensitive, mature, or oily eyes, this is a winner. The biggest standout features are the uber-creamy texture—you can blend this out almost like an eyeshadow stick—and the dual-ended smudger. I like the domed sponge so much better than a smudge brush.

Review: “I had a feeling that I would love this eyeliner, and I was right. I tested the shade "Night Flash" in my upper and lower waterline and found that it gave me a smudgy, rockstar-type color. I also tried the sold-out shade "Jeans" and the matte brown option, "Cocoa," and found that they all wore so well. If you buy one product from the line to test for yourself, make it this one.” Julia Marzovilla, Former E-Commerce Editor

Free of all the common irritants like parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates, mineral oils, and sulfates, it’s clear that care went into the development of this luxury liner. I love this particularly for waterline use—the pigment lasts all day, even when my eyes are extra watery in the winter.

Review: “As an eyeliner addict my entire adult life, Tom Ford eye defining pen is my ultimate go-to for an elegant cat-eye that carries from daycare drop-off to a dinner or red carpet.” —Maneet Ahuja, @wallstreetmaneet

Just because you have sensitive eyes doesn’t mean you have to have boring eye makeup. This range comes with 10 colors, including a stunning, rich purple, a bold blue, and a striking green. While this isn’t something I gravitate toward day in and day out, it’s my go-to for special occasions. The formula glides right on—no tugging or skipping, even my when my eyes are feeling super dry.

Review: “This eyeliner is perfect for watery, oily, hooded and sensitive eyes. I have been applying winged liner daily for years. Recently it had been transferring to my upper eyelids, wearing off, or smearing throughout the day. This product does none of that. It stays in the exact same place I put it all day. It goes on smoothly and it has a fine tip applicator so you get precise lines. Definitely recommend!” — Sephora

I live for a multi-purpose product, and this one? Well, it’s something special. While I use it most often for eyeliner, it also doubles as a lip liner and blush, so I find myself reaching for it when I want a monochromatic makeup look. The shade Check Me Out, a warm rose, is my personal favorite—especially during the summer months.

Review: “I love using these under my eyes instead of powder eyeshadow. Powder eyeshadow sometimes bothers my eyes but i can blend these out under my eye and no irritation. i have these in every color. They work fine as a lip liner too.” — Sephora

It’s no secret that I am a Westman Atelier super fan. The new foundation is probably my favorite product in the entire range, and I’d be lying if I said Baby Cheeks Blush wasn’t my second, but the eyeliner is certainly up there on my list of most-used products. As with all of products in the line, it’s formulated with sensitive skin (and eyes!) in mind. The kohl base is super creamy, making it perfect for a smudged-out look.

Review: “This is a great eyeliner if you’re going for a lived-in look or want to do soft smudged liner. The pencil itself has a nice formula that leaves the texture feeling very soft and smooth. I wouldn’t recommend it if you want to do sharp eyeliner but it’s great for smoky style if that’s what you’re going for. I always use it on my waterline and it lasts all day.” — Sephora