Here's Why the Next Mascara You Buy Should Be Oil-Free
Mascara can be the perfect finishing touch to any makeup look; adding the perfect amount of volume and length to the lashes while also defining them. With so many mascaras on the market, you may have noticed that some mascaras list their formulas as being oil-free or water-based. For anyone with sensitive eyes (or eyelash extensions that require extra care), the former can be a game changer.
Here's the scoop. Oil breaks down and dissolves the adhesive used for eyelash extensions, making them last for a shorter amount of time. For anyone with sensitive eyes, mascaras with oil can cause also irritation. If you have sensitive eyes or eyelash extensions, problems can be avoided by incorporating an oil-free mascara into your makeup routine.
A good oil-free mascara will give your lashes all the length and volume your heart desires, while also keeping your eyes and eyelashes irritation free. To make your search for oil-free mascaras that much easier, I've rounded up 13 of our favorites that are perfect for anyone with lash extensions or sensitive eyes. Read on for some of my absolute favorite oil-free mascaras.
Our Editors Recommend
Dior is a household known for its impeccable beauty products and style. Level up your style by swiping this Dior mascara on before you head out the door. Available in two bold colors, the Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara does a brilliant job of separating lashes and adding unparalleled volume and length.
This lash mascara from Hourglass is worth obsessing over. Just like the lash mascara's name suggests, this mascara can be trusted to bring on the length and turn heads. Designed with a 4D amplifier blush, it's bound to have you looking your best, rain or shine.
Meet the Dèfinicils High Definition Lengthening Mascara. It gives your eyes a bold, natural look (even with a few coats of mascara on my eyelashes). The best part? It will last you all day.
If you know me, then you know just how much I love Ilia's products. Ilia's Limitless Lash Mascara does an amazing job keeping up with everything you have to do in your day (and keeps your eyelashes lifted and lengthy all day).
Yves Saint Laurent's Mascara Volume Effet Faux Clis Volumizing Mascara is as close to luxury in a tube as you can get. It's a buildable, long-wearing mascara that lengthens the lashes while also offering volume and definition.
Here's another accurately named mascara that's 100% worth a try. Clinique's High Impact Mascara goes on smooth, stays on for a long time, and doesn't clump (meaning you can trust your eyelashes to stay both healthy and beautiful).
This peptide-infused mascara delivers up to 12 hours of thicker, fuller, and longer-looking eyelashes. It's also flake and smudge free, so no need to worry about your eyelashes looking anything less than beautiful.
You can count on this mascara by Saie to provide the perfect pick-me-up for your lashes. This award-winning mascara features a formula to strengthen, condition, and moisturize your lashes for a lasting, high-impact look.
I've been using this mascara for at least 10 years, and it's not going anywhere. It separates and curls every individual lash for maximum length and volume. The secret behind locking in the curl? Its formula uses film-forming polymers.
This mascara acts as a magnet, pulling together your negatively charged lashes with its positively formula to thicken and define them. It also has lash-conditioning ingredients to add nourishment and shine to your eyelashes to help maintain their lift and curl.
Have you seen Essence's Lash Princes False Lash Mascara trending on TikTok? This long-lasting mascara helps define and lengthen your lashes with a a fragrance-free, oil-free, and paraben-free formula.
Burt's Bees Natural Nourishing Mascara offers a 100% natural formula with jojoba oil and moisturizing glycerin to define the lashes while also building up their length and volume. It's safe to use for sensitive eyes and is formulated without parabens, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances.
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Maya Thomas is Who What Wear's assistant beauty editor based in New York City. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.
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