The struggle to find eyeliners that works.

For two years I’ve been struggling to find a liquid eyeliner that works for my sensitive eyes. It took a lot of digging and research to figure out what would work for my delicate skin. I am allergic to phenoxyethanol which is in nearly everything on the market sadly. I have very sensitive skin as of late. Finding eye makeup that works without causing irritation is rough. I am here to talk to you about what I found that works for me and why the other eyeliners didn’t.

My allergy.

My allergic reaction to phenoxyethanol causes watery eyes and peeling skin. It’s called blepharitis. I also have dry eyes and It’s kept me from wearing makeup for a long time. When your makeup contains preservatives and fragrances your eyes are most likely going to water and itch. When looking for an eyeliner that doesn’t sting be sure to research the ingredients that are within the product you are using. Not only in your makeup but in your skincare as well. That could be causing part of the problem. (Check out my article here to learn more about parabens.)

Finding the right eyeliners for you.

Not all liquid eyeliners are equal. So how do you choose the right one? First off going the clean route will help you narrow down your options quicker. With clean beauty the products are formulated without parabens, mineral oils, metals and formaldehydes. It’s safer for you and the environment. While clean beauty seems pretty narrowed down you still have to be careful when finding what’s worth purchasing. Like I said before I have an allergy to a preservative phenoxyethanol and it still falls under clean beauty. It can be found naturally in green tea but also as a synthetic solvent so you have to be careful to avoid certain additives. Listen to your skin and do what’s best for you.

Next try only looking at products that are Cruelty Free. When they aren’t tested on animals that just means that the ingredients are most likely safer for you and your environment. Plus knowing that your makeup didn’t harm anyone or anything will give you peace of mind.

 Lastly do research into smaller brands that are not under bigger brand umbrellas. These brands are called Indie Brands. Most of these businesses are independently run and their owners do more than just putting their name on a product. They run their businesses fueled by passion and care.

Following these guidelines can really help you find beauty essentials that you actually find pride in and feel safe using.

1.Honest Beauty – Liquid Liner.

My favorite liquid eyeliner is the Honest Beauty Liquid liner in black. It’s made without silicones, petrochemicals, PEGs, parabens and is completely plant derived. It’s cruelty free and available at Target, Ulta and on their home website. I love the sleek packaging, the matte finish and the short natural ingredients list. It’s been my go to ever since discovering it back in 2020. This liner is comparable to ones I’ve used in the past for my eye look. It claims to last for up to 8 hours but I think that’s a bit of a stretch. It doesn’t flake though. Smudges are inevitable in humid areas like where I’m from so be aware. I don’t know if I’d recommend this liner to people with really oily eyelids but prepping the skin could help combat that. Did I mention that Honest Beauty is founded by Jessica Alba?

You can buy it on Amazon here

2. Pixi By Petra – Eye Define Waterline

As for the eyeliner pencil I use at the moment is one by Pixi by Petra. The Eye Define Waterline in black is my favorite. My eyes had no irritation while using it for the first time and it has incredible staying power. I just picked it up this week and it’s already a staple in my collection. I love it’s creamy formula. It’s cruelty free, paraben free and Ophthalmologically tested. It’s a great choice for a smoky eye and a dramatic look.

Before I developed my allergies I used so many different eyeliners. I’d say the severity of my allergy to phenoxyethanol is not that common so these might work for you. There are cruelty free options and each one falls under clean beauty standards. The eyeliners listed below contain phenoxyethanol.

You can buy this wonderful product on here on Amazon

3. NYX Cosmetics – Faux White Liners.

At a cheaper price point I would totally recommend the NYX Faux Whites liners. This eyeliner is half the price of the previously mentioned and are just as creamy and long lasting. It’s very comfortable and cruelty free. The lighter color is used to brighten the waterline to make you look more awake and combat your eyes from looking smaller.

You can buy it here on Amazon

4. Wet N Wild Beauty – Mega liner

My favorite eyeliner from the drugstore was probably the Wet N Wild Mega Liner. I went through bottles of that stuff. It’s affordable and matte. It comes in a variety of colors but black has the best formulation. It never bothered my eyes until my allergy flared up but do be cautious as it has the largest ingredient list.

You can see the entire line here on Amazon

5. Melt Cosmetics – AllDay/ Everyday Eyeliners

My favorite pencil eyeliner before my allergy flared up was probably the ones by Melt Cosmetics. I used to receive PR from them so I had their entire collection of eye pencils. Their formula is creamy, long-wearing and they come in a variety of different colors. They have vegan shades too. Melt is leaping bunny certified and each one of their ingredients is listed on their site.

You can buy their product at www.meltcosmetics.com/collections/eye-liners

6.Urban Decay – 24/7 Glide On Eye pencils.

Similar formula to Melt is Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencils. Budge-proof and waterproof too. They are cruelty free and have vegan shades to choose from. Made with vitamin E, jojoba oil, and cottonseed oil these eyeliners don’t feel dry when applied. Both pencils are to be sharpened to keep a point. If you are looking for fun colors look no further they have a ton of different shades.

If you are interested in buying these head over to Amazon here!

7. KVD Beauty – Tattoo Liner/ Ink Liner

KVD Tattoo Liner is an eyeliner that comes in a pen form with a brush tip applicator. Unlike the liner mentioned previously this liner comes in a satin finish that is not fully matte. It has a shine to it when it dries down. It won the Allure Best of Beauty award in 2018 for its unique vegan formula. The claims are that it’s waterproof and have a smudge-proof formula but I don’t think that’s true for everyone. (This liner has undergone some formula tweaks since I last used it. The bristle head gives you control for thin lines and precise application.KVD also has an eyeliner with a felt tip applicator as well called the Ink Liner. For best application I’d suggest storing it upside down so that the ink is ready when you need it next.

If you would like to purchase their product head over to Amazon here!

8. NYX – Epic Ink Liner

If you are looking for a matte version of the liner previously mentioned I have good news. The NYX Epic Ink Liner is just the thing. This liner is also vegan and has a waterproof formula. (Be careful with this liner as the ink comes out faster than the KVD one.) No need to store it upside down or apply lots of pressure. It’s a liquid liner so avoid the waterline and or corner of the eye to avoid bleeding of the ink or irritation.

You can buy their liner over on Amazon here

9. Physician’s Formula – Eye Booster

Before those eyeliners came on the market I was a huge fan of physicians formula Eye Booster in Blackest black. Very similar to the two mentioned before: same waterproof formula, brush tip applicator and a semi-matte finish. It’s hypoallergenic, paraben-free, gluten-free, dermatologist tested, clinically tested, and vegan. It was made with sensitive skin in mind.

You can see a list of their products on Amazon here

10. Flower Beauty – Forever Wear Long Wear Eyeliners

Flower Beauty has some retractable eye pencils that are super easy to use. They are the Forever Wear Long wear Eyeliners. Cruelty free and vegan. These are available in a few shades as well. Drugstore pricing. Quality product for sure.

Now that I shared my favorites I thought I’d share the ones that didn’t work for me. On my search for natural clean beauty options I tried one from Pacifica.

You can buy them here on Amazon

The Rejects.

1.Pacifica – Eye Love Liquid liner

I was so excited to have found an eyeliner that didn’t contain phenoxyethanol. I bought it as soon as I read the ingredients. It had okay reviews and seems like a good place to start. It’s formulated without parabens, talc, phthalates or mineral oil. It claimed to have rich color and pigment. Well honestly it did match those claims. The Pacifica Eye Love Liquid Liner had no real staying power, wasn’t opaque and didn’t apply smoothly. The ink ran out quickly and didn’t last. I am really unimpressed with the formula other than it being safe for my eyes. It didn’t make my eyes water or itchy but it wasn’t worth purchasing because it was just a poorly developed product. It definitely needs improvements.

2. W3LL People – Expressionist Liquid Eye Liner

Another one that seems very promising was one by W3LL people. Their Expressionist Liquid eyeliner was such a bummer. Made with clean ingredients, bold claims and free of parabens I was intrigued. I loved the idea of an all day wear liner made for sensitive skin and a fade free formula but I was sadly disappointed with my purchase. It had a weird scent and creamy texture that never fully dried down. The eyeliner smudged even with the smallest amount applied. It was hard to achieve a clean cat eye without it getting everywhere and it wasn’t worth the price. Please save your money.

3. Naked Poppy – Liquid Liner

I felt so good about the eyeliner from Naked Poppy. It sounded perfect to me. Went ahead and ordered it last week because its ingredients are pretty basic and the claims are very promising. Being Ophthalmologist tested specifically for sensitive eyes it drew me in. The packaging is very similar to the one by honest beauty so I was so excited. It won last years 2020 shape beauty award as well as the Byrdie award for clean beauty. But this eyeliner wasn’t a hit with my eyes unfortunately. The formula dried very slowly and it needed building up. When applying it on to my lash line it got all over my lashes and smeared onto my cheeks. I wore it for several hours but upon looking in the mirror I noticed that it started chipping away. The finish was semi- matte and around the three or four hour mark I had to take it off as it was making my eyes itchy. I wouldn’t recommend to people with extremely sensitive eyes. It’s a very flaky formula. Maybe I got a dud but I am just being honest with you all.

If you are looking for eyeliners that give you a perfect wing or just a defined look I can’t tell you what one you’re going to like the most. I do hope that this list gives you a good idea of what ones you might. I keep up with beauty products and try my best to help you find winners for your makeup bag. Though I have still yet to find a gel liner for my sensitive eyelids I am still working on this list and hope to update it as soon as I find out more favorites.