Eyeliner is one of the most distinctive ways you can alter your face. You can do a strong, bold black or a head-turning, shimmering purple. Some people prefer one heavy line and others just a subtle shading. There are browns, greens, golds, and every other color and shade.
But not everyone can wear eyeliner and not everyone should. Toxic chemicals in the cosmetics industry, especially parabens and lead, can wreak havoc on your eyes and the rest of your body as well. They can be absorbed through the skin and transported all throughout your body, where they accumulate over time, causing many different issues and ailments, or they can even more easily flake off and get trapped in your eye, causing damage and pollution! Some people who regularly wear commercial eyeliner find that they no longer can use it over time because of damage from the harmful ingredients that have made their eyes sensitive. And others may have wanted to use eyeliner, but have always had a sensitivity and have never been able to find an eyeliner gentle enough for them.
Certain common chemicals used in eyeliner that should always be avoided include talc, kohl (often contains lead), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), urea, sulfates, and phthalates. These are all skin-irritants or known carcinogens that are frequently used in eye makeup.
But there are a lot of good options out there and this grief is unnecessary! You don’t have to give up on eyeliner just because most of them are bad. For people with sensitive eyes who have always wanted the look of eyeliner but have never found one they could tolerate, to those who have always used the ink but never realized what it was doing to them, there is a better option, and that is to use an eyeliner that is free from harmful chemicals and synthetic preservatives. Don’t worry, they really exist, and they’re good, too.
Top Brands
Here are the top four:
| Brand | Price | Rating /5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prestige Cosmetics |  | $$ | 5 |
| Ecco Bella |  | $$$$ | 4.5 |
| Jes Organics Eyeliner |  | $$$ | 4 |
| Au Naturale |  | $$$$ | 4 |
1. Prestige Cosmetics
Prestige Cosmetics Natural Eyeliner is a beautiful matte black. There is absolutely nothing harmful in it, some of the main ingredients are jojoba oil, candelilla wax, tocopherol (Vitamin E), chamomile extract, and iron oxides for color.
Most of those ingredients are included to give it a terrific glide and distinction and to actually nourish the skin of your eyelids. It is also smooth and non-flaky, so it won’t break off and cause eye irritations. It is so safe that you don’t have to worry about using it on the waterline of the eye, or even as a goth lipliner. It is also completely safe to consume.
2. Ecco Bella
If black isn’t your color or you need a little more variety, Ecco Bella’s Natural Soft Eyeliner Pencil comes in six different colors: bronze, cocoa (reddish), royal blue, seal, velvet, and violet. They are all completely non-toxic and chemical-free and are made with natural ingredients such as bees wax and mica.
These eyeliners give great coverage and are true to shade, but they are meant to be blendable so if you don’t want a smudgeable makeup, then this might not be your fit. If you like a good shade though, apply this eyeliner and use a Q-tip or your finger to adjust it how you like for a lovely, soft, smoky eye. And you won’t feel bad being so sexy because the eyeliner is vegan and cruelty-free too.
3. Jes Organics Eyeliner
Jes Organics Eyeliner is the simplest and the best loved of them all. Only a few natural ingredients are included in the formula. Nothing harmful, nothing questionable, just good quality moisture and brilliant color. Speaking of color, this eyeliner comes in five: black, dark brown, charcoal, natural brown, and smoky blue.
If you’re addicted to liquid liner, going natural can still be disappointing— most natural options for eyeliner are in pencil form. But Jes Organics does carry a natural and organic liquid eyeliner in black! So you don’t have to panic! You can still do that sharp, defined drama.
4. Au Naturale
If you’re still not happy because you really wanted that green, we have one more great pick for you, and it has all the greens you’ve been missing. Au Naturale’s Organic Eyeliner Pencil comes in six shades: amethyst, cocoa, deep sea, meadow, mint, and night.
All their liners are paraben, fragrance, gluten, and cruelty–free, as well as non-nano, vegan, and made in the USA. Castor seed oil and mica are some of the gentle ingredients that this formula includes.
Conclusion
Now you know that you don’t have to forgo the beloved eyeliner in order to be toxin–free. There are beautiful, natural eyeliners in every shade and style that compete with the very best synthetic ones. They won’t damage or irritate your eyes, and they won’t introduce dangerous chemicals into your system or lead to unwanted problems later. They’ll just look good, and so will you.