Need to find an organic eyeliner? You’ll find options that work for you and learn about ingredients to avoid in the future.
Making the switch to an organic eyeliner can be overwhelming. How do you know what ingredients are harmful? And what ingredients should you look for?
No worries! I’ve put together a list of great organic eyeliner brands for you to try!
Whether you want that dramatic, bold look, or the sultry, sexy one, these organic eyeliners are sure to be showstoppers!
This post contains affiliate links. You can learn more here.
Is Eyeliner Harmful to Health?
You probably know that you should throw out your old eyeliner after three months. This is because bacteria and fungus can grow in your makeup, causing eye irritation and infections.
But did you know that some ingredients used in your eye makeup are absorbed through your skin?
Talc, BHA, urea, sulfates, and phthalates, for example, are chemicals used as preservatives, stabilizers, and anti-caking agents in your eye makeup, which sounds like a good thing, right?
But these ingredients can cause eye irritation, dermatitis, and dry eye disease. And they are also cancer-causing carcinogens.
In fact, one study found that women have higher concentrations of these chemicals in their urine than men do.
But switching to clean makeup products can drastically reduce harmful chemicals in your body in just three days!
Ingredients to Avoid in Eyeliner
Okay, you’re ready to ditch the old eyeliner and replace it with an organic eyeliner, but how do you know which one to buy?
That’s where I come in! I’ve been on my clean journey since 2012, so I know a thing or two about clean ingredients. I did all the hard research so that you don’t have to!
And I can tell you, not all ‘clean’ beauty products are created equal.
Many list “natural” on their labels, but companies can get away with putting anything they want on their labels and call it ‘natural’.
This is called greenwashing. And the only way to really know if a product is natural is to read the ingredients.
If you find any of these ingredients on a tube of eyeliner, do not buy it!
- Carbon black – Carbon black is a dark black powder that is used as a pigment in eyeliner. It has been linked to cancer and organ system failure. It can also be listed as: D&C Black No. 2, acetylene black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black, and pigment black 6 or 7.
- Ethanolamine compounds – These little compounds are used to help water-soluble and oil-soluble ingredients blend better. But they have nitrosamines in them, which cause cancer. Any ingredient listed as DEA, TEA, or MEA is an ethanolamine compound.
- BAK – Benzalkonium chloride is a preservative used in makeup. This ingredient is toxic to the epithelial cells of the eye, which are responsible for keeping dust and gunk out. You can also find it listed as: quaternium–15, quar hydroxypropltrimonium, zephiran, or alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride.
- Formaldehyde – Formaldehyde is used to prolong shelf life and prevent bacterial contamination. Not only does it cause cancer, but it is responsible for many allergic reactions in women as well. Formaldehyde can also be found listed as: quaternium–15, DMDM hydantoin, urea, methylene glycol, formalin, and formic aldehyde. Diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, and methenamine are formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, so avoid eyeliners with those ingredients too.
- Parabens – Parabens prevent bacteria growth and extend the shelf life in your makeup. But they are endocrine disruptors that can easily be absorbed into your skin. Parabens are linked to reproductive toxicity, early puberty, and breast cancer. Avoid any eyeliner that has an ingredient with the suffix -paraben. These can be listed as ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, and isopropylparaben.
- Aluminum powder – Aluminum powder gives makeup its hue. But it is a neurotoxin and has been linked to organ system toxicity. Look for aluminum, LB pigment 5, or pigment metal on the package.
- Retinyl acetate – Both retinyl acetate and retinyl palmitate are forms of Vitamin A. They kill the oil glands in the eyes, which leads to dry eye disease. Plus, both retinyl acetate and retinyl palmitate have been linked to cancer and reproductive toxicity.
- BHA (butylated hydroxytoluene) and BHT (butylated hydroxyanisole) – Both are derived from petroleum and used as preservatives in makeup. But BHA is an endocrine disruptor and possible carcinogen, while BHT is a respiratory irritant, and is toxic to organs.
If your eyeliner has any of these ingredients in it, consider placing it with an organic eyeliner instead.
How to Apply Eyeliner
Toxic ingredients can harm your eyes, but so can incorrectly applying your eyeliner!
Check out this video, to learn how to safely apply your eyeliner.
What Ingredients Can You Find in the Healthiest Eyeliner Pencil?
Avoiding harmful ingredients is one half of finding the best natural eyeliner. The other half of the equation is finding a product with the right kind of ingredients; the kind that actually nourishes your eyes.
But what to look for?
- Wax – Look for an eyeliner that contains beeswax or carnauba wax. They are safe alternatives for thickening agents. Waxes help the eyeliner stay on your skin.
- Oil – Eyeliners that contain jojoba oil, hydrogen vegetable oil, sunflower seed oil, etc., are all very great choices. Oil helps the eyeliner to stay glossy for a long time, without smudging.
- Pigments – Look for an eyeliner that uses iron oxide or mica. Mica gives your eyeliner a shimmery appearance, while iron oxide gives it its color.
These ingredients nourish your skin, as well.
And now on to what we all came here for…the best organic eyeliners!
Best Organic Eyeliner for Sensitive Eyes: Antonym Eye Pencil
The Antonym Eye Pencil goes on smoothly and stays on all day. It gets the top vote for longest lasting color without smudging, as well as being the best organic eyeliner for sensitive eyes.
You might have to heat the tip with a blow dryer though if it’s hard to apply. But don’t let that get you down! My favorite thing about this eyeliner is the handy sharpener that comes in the cap.
Key ingredients: marula oil, jojoba oil, candelilla, and carnuba
Cost: $21
Best Organic Gel Eyeliner: Ilia Clean Line Gel Liner
Ilia Clean Line Gel Liner glides on effortlessly and allows you to blend, but it still stays put once it dries. I love all of Ilia’s products because they’re clean and just as effective as conventional makeup.
I also love that this gel liner behaves like a traditional pencil. It’s not as bold as normal gel liner, which I appreciate.
Key ingredients: charcoal powder
Cost: $26
Best Organic Liquid Eyeliner: Naked Poppy Liquid Liner
Naked Poppy Liquid Liner has a felt tip that moves seamlessly across your lid. It’s meltproof, fadeproof, and easy on sensitive eyes.
Naked Poppy Liquid Liner won the Shape Beauty Award for the Best Eyeliner in 2020 and Byrdie’s 2020 Eco Beauty Award. If you’re looking for any new makeup, this is one of my favorite brands!
Key ingredients: cornflower water and iron oxide
Cost: $22
Best Organic Eyeliners at Target:
If you are looking for the best natural eyeliner at Target, I recommend trying W3II People or Honest Beauty. They are two of my favorite clean beauty companies!
W3ll People Fresh Lines Eye Pencil
W3II People Fresh Lines Eye Pencil is a creamy, high-pigment eyeliner pencil. Its rich color goes on easily, even without foundation, and doesn’t budge at all during the day! It even makes it through my dance performances!
If you want to learn more about W3ll People, I have a full review of my favorite products!
Key ingredients: mango seed oil, jojoba oil, castor seed oil
Cost: $17
Honest Beauty Vibeliner Pencil
The velvety smooth, creamy formula of the Honest Beauty Vibeliner Pencil applies rich, gorgeous color in just one easy swipe. With five matte or metallic shades to choose from, you can create gorgeous definition or smudge it out, if that is your thing.
Key ingredients: jojoba oil, mango seed
Cost: $12.99
Best Organic Eyeliner on Amazon: Honeybee Gardens Effortless Eyeliner
Honeybee Gardens is another fav of mine. This was one of the first natural eyeliners I ever tried!
The creamy, smooth formula of the Honeybee Gardens Effortless Eyeliner makes application a cinch. It doesn’t drag or pull your skin at all, but it can be tricky to sharpen, because it is so soft.
So read the sharpening tips before sharpening your pencil.
The Honeybee Gardens Effortless Eyeliner won BeautyMag’s Top Beauty Pic for 2021 as The Best Eyeliner for Sensitive Eyes and Best Organic Eyeliner. And you can see my honest thoughts on the brand in my full review here!
Key Ingredients: aqua
Cost: $8.99
Alima Pure Natural Definition Eye Pencil
The Alima Pure Natural Definition Eye Pencil glides on smoothly and blends easily. It lasts all day, although some women have seen smudging after working out.
I personally have noticed that it smudges much easier than most pencils when I accidentally rub my eyes. But the flip side is it rubs off really easy afterwards!
Key ingredients: soothing, natural oils, waxes, and chamomile extract
Cost: $18
Lily Lolo Eye Pencil
The Lily Lolo Eye Pencil has a soft, smooth application and long staying power, although you may need to reapply if you are headed out for a night on the town.
I’ve been a fan of LIly Lolo for a while, but their eyeliner isn’t my all-time favorite. Definitely worth a try though!
Key ingredients: organic jojoba oil, shea butter, canola oil, and Vitamin E
Cost: $16
Inika Certified Organic Eye Pencil
This rich, super soft eye pencil is great for sensitive eyes. It glides on smooth, has a fantastic shimmery finish, and comes in fun colors. It can be difficult to sharpen, however, because it is so soft.
I love the staying power of this eyeliner! Inika is one of those brands that has never disappointed me.
Key ingredients: botanical extracts, coconut oil and carnauba wax
Cost: $32
Ilia Clean Line Liquid Liner
The Ilia Clean Line Liquid Liner creates a nice, barely-there tight line with ease and lasting definition. It dries quickly and stays put with no smudging, even through a sweaty dance routine!
I’ll admit that I’m not much of a liquid liner person. But this liner makes me want to be one! Ilia has yet to steer me wrong with loving their makeup.
Key ingredients: aqua and charcoal powder
Cost: $28
Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil
Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil is a soft, natural eyeliner that is easy to frame the eyes with.
It can be a bit stubborn going on unless you heat it up with a blow dryer, though, and it doesn’t quite have the staying power as some of the other organic eyeliner brands.
I have yet to find a product from Ere Perez that performs well. But I’m including it on this list because the ingredients are fantastic. And the company has a pretty strong following.
Key ingredients: jojoba, coconut oil, hydrogenated vegetable oil, carnauba wax, and Vitamin E
Cost: $21
Kjaer Weis Eye Pencil
The Kjaer Weis Eye Pencil has a thick, buttery smooth texture with rich color. It is easy to apply and to smudge, if you want that look, but also stays put.
It is CCPB Certified Organic, with 95% of the ingredients coming from organic farms, and is refillable, limiting waste. It combines luxury with performance!
Key ingredients: organic coconut oil and Vitamin E
Cost: $26
100% Pure Liquid Eyeliner
100% Pure Liquid Eyeliner is richly pigmented from micronized black tea leaves, giving it a deep, dramatic color. It is long lasting, smudge proof and water resistant, but is sometimes dry and crumbly when it comes time to remove it.
I love that 100% Pure focuses on using whole plant ingredients in most of their makeup! I would have never thought to use black tea in an eye liner. I think it adds a much more natural-looking color.
Key ingredients: black tea, aloe, cocoa butter, thyme, rosemary, oregano
Cost: $30
Burt’s Bees Defining Retractable Eyeliner
Burt’s Bees Defining Retractable Eyeliner glides on easily, with a gel-like, creamy feel.
It is incredibly moisturizing and never irritates the eyes. It comes in six gorgeous shades, and many women love the way they sparkle.
It can be hard to get a nice, thin line, and will not work if you are trying to do a kohl look, because it is so moisturizing that it just smears.
I also want to mention that Burt’s Bees has been bought by Clorox a long time ago, and their products have slowly become more and more toxic. This eye pencil still makes the list, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I have to take it off soon.
Key ingredients: jojoba oil, shea butter, natural resins and beeswax
Cost: $9.99
W3ll People Fresh Lines Liquid Eyeliner
W3II People Fresh Lines Liquid Eyeliner has a fine brush tip for precise lines. It glides on easily and stays put.
It does take a delicate hand to apply, however, so practice up! I’m not so good at using liquid liners, so I’ll stick to my pencils.
Key ingredients: aloe and rosemary
Cost: $17
Final Thoughts on Non-Toxic Eyeliner
Ready to replace your normal eyeliner with a non-toxic eyeliner?
Choose from W3II People, Naked Poppy, Ilia Clean Line, and 100% Pure if you like liquid.
Kjaer Weis, Ere Perez, Inika, Lily Lolo, Alima, Honeybee Gardens, Honest Beauty, W3II People, and Antonym Eye all have great eyeliner pencils.
And if gel is your thing, then check out Ilia Clean Line!
No matter how you draw it, there’s an organic eyeliner just waiting for you to try!
Which organic eyeliner is your favorite? Which did I miss? Let me know in the comments below!
Related to Organic Eyeliners:
The Top 3 Nontoxic Foundations Totally Worth Obsessing Over
The Best Natural Mascara For Every Kind of Clean Beauty Lover
An Honest W3II People Review | Clean and Affordable Makeup!
Honeybee Gardens Review | Sustainable and Affordable Clean Makeup!
The Best Chemical-Free Stage Makeup Products that Won’t Irritate Your Skin
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