Best overall
Maybelline New York
Lash Sensational Sky High Washable Mascara
8.4Great
A $13.99 drugstore mascara with a bendy Flex Tower wand that creators rate for length and separation, though some find it clumpy.
Mascara5$13.99
The best eye makeup
Mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow palettes and brow products, scored on payoff, wear and value.
- 7
- products scored
- 8.0
- average score
- 34
- creator reviews
Top rated
The podium.
Eye makeup covers mascaras, liquid, gel and pencil eyeliners, eyeshadow palettes and singles, and brow pencils, gels and pomades. Formulas vary enormously in how long they last, how easily they come off and how well they suit sensitive eyes or contact lenses.
Safety deserves more attention here than anywhere in makeup. The FDA notes that eye cosmetics are usually safe when new but can grow bacteria and fungi with use, and that some color additives approved for cosmetics in general are not approved for the eye area. The agency advises never sharing eye makeup, never adding water or saliva to dried mascara, discarding eye products after an eye infection, and avoiding at-home lash and brow dyes. Manufacturers usually recommend replacing mascara two to four months after opening.
Our Beauty score for makeup weights payoff and performance 30%, wear time 15%, shade range and inclusivity 15%, value 20% and community love 20%. For eye makeup, performance means lengthening, volume and curl hold for mascara, crisp lines for liners and pigment and blendability for shadows; wear time covers smudging, flaking and creasing through the day; and shade range applies mainly to brow products and palettes, where we reward options for very light, red, gray and very dark hair and shadows that show on deep skin.
All eyes
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7 products
Community favorite
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette
8.1Great
A 14-shade warm-neutral palette of 9 mattes and 5 metallics that creators still return to for everyday-to-evening looks.
Eyeshadow palette5$48.00
Cult favorite
Stila
Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
8.1Great
A long-running marker-tip waterproof liner built for precise lines and wings, offered in 12 shades at $25.
Eyeliner5$25.00
Best value
L'Oréal Paris
Voluminous Lash Paradise Washable Mascara
8.1Great
A soft-bristle drugstore volumizer that creators keep testing as a cheaper Better Than Sex alternative, at $13.99.
Mascara5$13.99
Cult favorite
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Brow Wiz
8.0Great
ABH's ultra-fine retractable brow pencil for hair-like strokes, in 11 shades; a long-time favorite whose $26 price invites dupes.
Brow4$26.00
Best value
essence
Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
8.0Great
A $4.99 cone-brush mascara that gives a dramatic false-lash look; reviewers love the payoff but some report transfer.
Mascara5$4.99
Cult favorite Trending
Too Faced
Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara
7.6Good
The prestige volumizing mascara with an hourglass brush: dramatic, curled lashes in a coat or two, at a premium $29 price.
Mascara5$29.00
Buying guide
How to choose eyes.
- 01
Choose mascara by what you want and how you remove it
Waterproof mascaras resist humidity and tears but need an oil-based remover and more rubbing. Tubing mascaras form polymer sleeves that slide off with warm water and tend not to smudge. Washable formulas are easiest on lashes and sensitive eyes but can smudge on oily lids.
- 02
Replace mascara every few months
The FDA notes manufacturers usually recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase, because the wand carries bacteria back into the tube. Throw it out sooner if it dries, smells odd or you get an eye infection, and never add water or saliva.
- 03
Check eye-safe colors and kohl
Not every approved color additive is approved for the eye area, so avoid using lip liners or craft glitters on the eyes. Traditional kohl, kajal and surma often contain lead and are not allowed for sale as cosmetics in the US.
- 04
Test palettes for pigment and fallout
Matte shades should blend without patchiness; shimmers should apply in a single swipe with little fallout. Swatches on skin close to yours, especially on deep skin, show whether lighter mattes are chalky or deep shades are muddy.
- 05
Sensitive eyes and contact lenses
Look for fragrance-free, ophthalmologist-tested formulas, apply liner outside the lash line rather than on the waterline if you are prone to irritation, and insert lenses before applying makeup. 'Ophthalmologist-tested' is not a standardized claim, so stop using anything that stings.
Video reviews
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FAQ
Questions, answered.
How often should I replace mascara?
Every two to four months, which is what manufacturers usually recommend according to the FDA. Replace it immediately after an eye infection, and if it dries out, throw it away rather than adding water or saliva.
What is tubing mascara?
Tubing mascaras coat each lash in a flexible polymer film that hardens into tiny tubes. They tend not to smudge or flake and slide off with warm water and gentle pressure rather than oil-based removers. They often give more length than volume.
Is it safe to tint lashes or brows at home?
The FDA says not to dye or tint eyebrows or eyelashes at home. The only color additive it permits for lash and brow tinting, silver nitrate, is restricted to professional-use products, and permanent lash and brow dyes have been linked to serious eye injuries, including blindness. Brow gels, tinted pomades and mascaras are safer alternatives.
Why does my eyeliner smudge under my eyes?
Oily lids, warm weather and creamy formulas all cause transfer. Long-wear gel or liquid liners, an eyeshadow primer and setting pencil liner with a matching powder shadow can help. If it happens with every product, a waterproof or tubing mascara can reduce smudging from below.
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