The 4 Best Eyeliners for Sensitive Eyes in 2021

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Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Vapour Beauty Eye Definer at Dermstore

"It's made with marula oil and shea butter so it conditions skin rather than irritating."

Best Long-Wearing:

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner at Amazon

"This gel liner is also highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way."

Best Pencil:

INIKA Eye Pencil at Amazon

"This all-natural, vegan pencil liner is safe for easily irritated eyes."

Best Felt-Tip:

Yves Saint Laurent Bold Felt-Tip Eyeliner Pen at Neimanmarcus.com

"The water-based formula doesn't flake, so particles won't irritate eyes."

In This Article

Our Picks

If genetics left you with delicate eyes or an annoying contact lens prescription, this doesn't mean you can't be as broody or catty with your eye makeup as your current mood desires. There's a whole world of products out there that claim to be "sensitive," and "smudge-proof," but as we're sure you know, they don't all actually work. Luckily, we found a few that do—and it seems, aside from the inexplicable sorcery behind YSL, it's all about the ingredients involved, not application preference.

Keep scrolling for eyeliners that will let you express yourself cosmetically without red, itchy, and runny eyes.

Buy on Dermstore Buy on Credo Beauty Buy on Skinstore.com

Vapour's Eye Definer offers bold definition and blendable color. Plus, it's made with marula oil and shea butter so it conditions skin rather than irritating. It's also unscented—a bonus for those with allergies to harsh perfumes and scents.

Buy on Amazon Buy on Sephora Buy on Bobbibrowncosmetics.com

The range of shades in Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ensures there's a hue for whatever look you're after. This gel liner is also highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way. You'll need to invest in an eyeliner brush since the product comes in a pot, but the application process ensures this liner has staying power.

Buy on Amazon Buy on Pharmaca.com

INIKA's all-natural, vegan pencil liner is safe for easily irritated eyes. Despite containing no toxins, the product still offers a smooth application and rich shades that make for intense, but natural pops of color.

Yves Saint Laurent Beauty Effet Faux Cils Bold Felt-Tip Eyeliner Pen

Buy on Neimanmarcus.com Buy on Saks Fifth Avenue Buy on Yslbeautyus.com

A felt tip allows for precision in Yves Saint Laurent's eyeliner pen, which comes in colors ranging from jet black to deep blue. The water-based formula doesn't flake, so particles won't irritate eyes, and it claims to last for up to 12 hours.

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