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If it wasn’t for our eyelash obsession, we wouldn’t worry too much about oil-free eyeliners. As you know by now, oil in eyeliners tends to break the glue in eyelash extensions. To make sure you don’t experience any unnecessary fallouts, we’ve rounded up the best oil-free eyeliners.
There are amazing oily eyeliners that have this perfect gliding form that most of us love. But people with eyelash extensions need to be very careful with using those. That doesn’t mean oil-free eyeliners are not as good.
There are some great options. And they help define your eyes and create the perfect wing without damaging your extensions. And as they’re oil-free, they’re easier to remove too.
On a side note, I keep updating this round-up because they keep changing formulas. So before adding one to your cart, make sure to double-check the product claims.
The Best Oil-Free Eyeliners
Whether you’re wearing falsies or not, find below the best oil-free liquid and gel eyeliners.
Essence Superlast Eyeliner Deep Black
Overall, this is the best oil-free eyeliner. It’s liquid, so the formula is ideal for eyelash extensions too. In case you’re not aware, Essence has this in waterproof and that one is oil-free too. This one has a flock tip applicator, which might make it difficult to draw super thin lines. But other than that, it’s affordable, long-lasting, and highly pigmented.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Liner
This one by Anastasia Beverly Hills is another hit. It’s a water-based liquid eyeliner with a matte finish. The felt-tip applicator on this eyeliner is the most convenient when you have eyelash extensions or false lashes. Your fingers have enough distance from your eyelashes. But the tip is precise enough to give you full control over how you draw your lines. It’s water-resistant and doesn’t bleed and it stays put.
Shiseido MicroLiner Ink Eyeliner
If you prefer a pencil rather than a liquid, you can try this one. It’s an oil-free retractable eyeliner that makes the application very precise. It has 5 shades with a matte finish. When you want to have full control over your eyeliner, this “micro liner” is the best. It has the tiniest tip and it’s perfect for soft, thin applications when you just want to define your eyes. You can thicken your eyeliner as much as you want without needing any do-overs. Plus, if you’re into colored options, try their burgundy eyeliner for a stunning look.
Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
Gel liners are more cost-effective compared to liquid ones. But they require more expertise. So keep that in mind. Maybelline’s Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner is one of the best oil-free drugstore eyeliners. The texture of the liner is perfect for creating both soft and bold looks. However, the brush that comes with the product may be disappointing for eyelash extensions. Even though the gel is oil-free, the bristles on the brush require a good amount of product and multiple strokes. This may cause fallouts. The creamy texture is an amazing deep black. Use a different brush for sharper looks.
KVD Beauty Tattoo Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Water-proof eyeliners are usually not the best option to wear with eyelash extensions. Because you tend to rub your eyelids to remove them and it may cause fallouts. But sometimes a long-lasting cat-eye is more important than your extensions. This is a best-seller liquid oil-free eyeliner by Kat Von D! The thin brush of Tattoo Liner gives enough control to line your eyes when you have eyelash extensions. With or without the extensions, the eyeliner is beginner-friendly. Even with hooded eyelids, this one doesn’t need any pulling or tugging. It’s waterproof and comes in brown too.
Fenty Flyliner Longwear Liquid Eyeliner
Even though this one does not claim to be oil-free, this is an overall easy-to-use option. Flyliner is a long-wear, silky-finish liquid eyeliner that’s completely fade-proof. The color stays on beautifully throughout the day even when it’s humid. With the easy felt-tip applicator, you can create precise and sharp looks. The tip glides on the lash line without causing any irritation whatsoever to your extensions.
This concludes our round-up of the best oil-free eyeliners you can comfortably use with your lash extensions. If you haven’t found what you’re looking for, here’s how to find one.
How To Choose an Oil-Free Eyeliner
First of all, if you’re going to use your eyeliner for eyelash extensions, you need to make sure that the product claims it’s oil-free or at least water-based. Though water-based doesn’t necessarily mean oil-free, it usually means the water content is more prominent. Additionally, there are eyeliners that are actually oil-free but don’t claim to be. The reason probably has something to do with liability. There are some thickeners that may qualify as oils. So I assume that brands, especially makeup brands, usually stay away from oil-free claims.
What type of eyeliner should I use with lash extensions?
There are different types of eyeliners like gel, liquid, pencil, and kohl. Among these, liquid eyeliners are the safest if you’re wearing extensions. Kohl or creamy formulas usually contain oils. Even if they don’t, they may be difficult to apply if you’re not used to them. And that alone can damage your extensions.
Can you use waterproof eyeliner with extensions?
Even though there are oil-free eyeliners that are also waterproof, they’re not ideal. Because removing them may require rubbing, which can end up causing fallouts.
How can you tell if your eyeliner is oil-free?
If you already own an eyeliner and are not sure if it’s oil-free, here’s what you can do. Apply it to the back of your hand. And when it’s dry, run some water over it to see how it dissolves. Oil-free ones dissolve with just water. And when you rub your finger over the eyeliner residue, you shouldn’t feel anything oily or waxy.
