Finding the perfect eyeliner is a process in itself, but when you add an element like wearing contact lenses, finding an eyeliner that doesn’t cause irritation (while still being able to meet your other expectations ) may seem like an impossible task. That’s why Elite Daily spoke to optometrist Jennifer Tsai, who says the best eyeliners for contact lens wearers are hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. “Eyeliners that contain natural, clean ingredients like vitamin E or jojoba oil are a plus,” Dr. Tsai adds of other features to look for. “Makeup, like mascara and eyeliner, is a common source of contact lens debris depositing,” says Dr. Tsai, explaining why you’ll want to be selective about your eyeliner (and any other eye makeup) in the first place. “Debris can often stick to the surface of contacts, which can lead to eye irritation,” she explains, adding that symptoms often include redness, blurred vision, and watery or light-sensitive eyes. “It can also lead to long-term loss of eyelashes and gland dysfunction, ultimately leading to dry eyes,” she continues. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you’re using the right type of eye makeup. More on this, to come.
The expert
Dr. Jennifer Tsai is a Manhattan-based optometrist and founder of Line Of Sight, where her professional services include everything from comprehensive eye exams and contact lens fittings to dry eye treatment. Dr. Tsai also founded and designed a line of eyewear, Carrot Eyewear.
What to avoid in an eyeliner if you wear contact lenses
Along with looking for hypoallergenic, fragrance-free eyeliners, Dr. Tsai shares several ingredients you’ll want to avoid, including parabens and phthalates. “If you can’t pronounce the ingredient, you probably don’t want to put it near your eye,” she says. “Some harmful ingredients can cause eye irritation, including petroleum, aluminum, talc, silicones and preservatives like benzalkonium chloride,” she adds.
You’ll also want to save waterproof formulas for special occasions only, as they tend to be more irritating than their non-waterproof counterparts. “Waterproof makeup is often difficult to remove and contains film-forming agents that can irritate the eyes,” says Dr. Tsai.
Optometrist-Approved Tips For Wearing Eye Makeup With Lenses
How (and where) you apply your eyeliner can also help minimize the risk of irritation if you wear contact lenses. First, Dr. Tsai says you’ll want to have single-use daily contacts, which should always be inserted before applying eye makeup. “When wearing eyeliner and contact lenses, you should refrain from applying the liner too close to your waterline,” Dr. Tsai says of a common cause of irritation. “This can cause makeup to spread into your eyes and get stuck in your lenses, causing irritation. Many don’t realize that the waterline is made up of meibomian glands, and makeup can clog these sebaceous glands, leading to dryness. eyes and styes.”
It’s also important that you carefully remove any eyeliner and makeup you’re wearing at the end of the day. Dr. Tsai recommends starting with an oil-based cleansing balm that will break down all your makeup: “Using a cleansing balm and massaging your closed eyelids is a great way to remove any oil-based makeup,” she says. , adding that anyone who wears false eyelashes could also benefit from using a tea tree mousse. After that, Dr. Tsai says an easy way to make sure all traces of makeup are removed is to saturate a cotton ball with micellar water and wipe it over your face.
Shop the best eyeliners for contact lens wearers
Press? Here are the best eyeliners for contact lens wearers:
- Best liquid eyeliner for contact lens wearers: Honest Beauty Liquid Eyeliner
- Best colored eye pencil for contact lens wearers: Almay All-Day Intense Gel Eyeliner
- Best black eye pencil for contact lens wearers: L’Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner
- Best hydrating liquid eyeliner for contact lens wearers: W3LL People Fresh Lines Liquid Eyeliner
- Best moisturizing eye pencil for contact lens wearers: Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Cream
1. Best liquid eyeliner
Dr. Tsai named it his favorite herbal eyeliner for contact lens wearers because it’s dermatologist-tested, ophthalmologist-tested, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic. Honest Beauty Liquid Eyeliner is a classic black liquid eyeliner with a formula that resists smudges and flakes for up to 8 hours. The tip of the applicator is flexible and tapered to make precision lining even easier, and the lining is also cruelty-free and vegan.
Formula: Liquid Nourishing Ingredients: glycerine Available colors: 1 Raincoat: Nope
Relevant notice: “I love this eyeliner. It’s very precise and easy to apply. I’m very picky about my liquid eyeliners, and this is one of the best eyeliners I’ve ever had. [have] never used. It doesn’t flake off and it’s very comfortable for my eyes, especially since I wear contact lenses and have sensitive eyes.”
2. Best colored eye pencil
When you are in need of a waterproof formula, Almay’s All-Day Intense Gel Eyeliner gets Dr. Tsai’s choice for its formula suitable for sensitive skin. The sharpener gives you up to 24 hours of wear with a formula free from common irritants like parabens, phthalates, fragrances and mineral oils. The gel pencil has a creamy texture that deposits deeply pigmented color on your lids in one stroke (and without pulling hard). Although it’s waterproof, the eyeliner is ophthalmologist tested and hypoallergenic, so it’s less likely to cause sensitivity than your average waterproof formula.
Formula: gel pencil Nourishing Ingredients: Vitamin E Available colors: 5 Raincoat: Yes
Relevant notice: “Versatile eye pencil that’s fierce enough for bold looks, yet gentle enough for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. It is even suitable for use on the waterline! From the outside, this easy-to-use eyeliner looks like a regular eye makeup pencil; however, the color is as intense as a liquid liner, glides smoothly and effortlessly over lids without skipping or pulling, and dries instantly. […]”
3. Best Dark Eye Pencil
For a classic non-waterproof black pencil, L’Oreal’s Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner is an Amazon favorite with over 15,000 five-star ratings. Even though the eyeliner is formulated with multiple hydrating ingredients like vitamin E and sunflower seed oil, it promises to stay put without any fading or smudging for up to 16 hours. Plus, the mechanical eyeliner has a built-in sharpener to keep the tip extra sharp, and it features a smudger on the other side to help you master smoky looks.
Formula: Mechanical Pencil Nourishing Ingredients: Vitamin E, Hyaluronic Acid, Sunflower Oil Available colors: seven Raincoat: Nope
Relevant notice: “I’ve been using this eyeliner for over a year. As a contact lens wearer, I’m delighted that it doesn’t irritate my eyes and stays on all day. Looks natural and beats high end marks. range and more expensive. Nice color, too.”
4. Best hydrating liquid eyeliner
Dr. Tsai says the herbal ingredients included in this eyeliner, like sunflower seed oil, aloe vera, and rosemary leaf extract, make it a great hydrating and soothing option. Although it has mixed reviews on Amazon, W3LL People Fresh Lines Liquid Eyeliner is a waterproof and smudge-proof formula that uses a tapered, felt-tip brush to give you more control and precision during that you are working. The brand focuses on removing potential irritants from its products, so you can also rest assured that the vegan and cruelty-free eyeliner contains no parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, mineral oils or talc.
Formula: Liquid Nourishing Ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, aloe vera, rosemary leaf extract Available colors: 1 Raincoat: Nope
Relevant notice: “My favorite eyeliner. An all-natural, water-resistant eyeliner that doesn’t irritate my eyes. Goes on smoothly and doesn’t smudge.”
5. Best Hydrating Eye Pencil
For those with fair hair and/or fair skin, brown eyeliner may be preferred as it is less harsh than black eyeliner. Neutrogena’s Nourishing Eye Liner comes with an ultra-precise tip to create the thinnest lines possible. To give the eyeliner a creamy texture and help hydrate the skin around your eyes, it contains nourishing ingredients that you would typically find in skincare products, such as hyaluronic acid, buttermilk capuaçu and vitamin E.
Formula: Mechanical Pencil Nourishing Ingredients: Olive Oil, Vitamin E, Capuaçu Butter, Hyaluronic Acid Available colors: 2 Raincoat: Nope
Relevant notice: “Great product for the price! Super soft (not crumbly) and soft, glides on smoothly, blends easily, great pigment, looks great and lasts all day […] It’s also easy to remove and doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes.”
Expert:
Dr. Jennifer Tsai, Manhattan-based optometrist and founder of Line Of Sight.
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