The most frequent problems my lash clients have with eyeliner are either buying the wrong type or removing it the wrong way.

I wrote this article to make sure you can rock your liner looks while still maintaining excellent retention of your lashes. 😻

Best Eyeliners for Lash Extensions

There are only two types you should really consider.

• Water-based eyeliner: They are oil-free, use water as a base, and are extremely easy to remove. These are all the characteristics we are looking for to play well with your extensions, and that’s why they are my favorites. 🙂
• Powder eyeliner: Also called shadow-based or water-activated, these eyeliners use a little bit of water to transform the powder to a more creamy consistency. They are easy to remove so can safely be used with your lash extensions as long as there are no oils in the ingredient list.

Here are my top 3 that I often recommend to my clients:

• Lash Affair Lash Chick liquid eyeliner
• Xtreme Lashes Lash Densifying liquid eyeliner
• LLBA liquid eyeliner

Eyeliners to Avoid

When you wear eyelash extensions, you need to take into account the interactions of the ingredients in your eyeliner (or any makeup) and in the lash adhesive.

So, what could go wrong?

The biggest problem is the degradation or dissolving of the lash adhesive used to affix extensions to your natural eyelashes.

Over time, this will cause your extensions to detach from your natural lashes.

Alright, so here are the worst ones and the reasons why.

1- Waterproof Eyeliner

Just like you should avoid waterproof mascaras with eyelash extensions, waterproof eyeliners are awful for your extensions.

They are thick and contain waxes and oils that degrade the bond created by lash glue to attach extensions to your natural lashes.

Also, they are very hard to remove!

You’ll often need ruthless scrubbing around the eyes to get it off.

As a rule of thumb, if the eyeliner claims not to flake or smudge, chances are it’s waterproof, and you’ll have a rough time removing it.

2- Oil-Based Eyeliner

This one is easy.

You probably already know that any oil-based makeup is not compatible with lash extensions because it breaks down the adhesive.🚫

Eyeliners are no exception here.

3- Pencil Eyeliner

The problem with pencil liner is the application process itself.

You need to gently pull your eyelid and then apply a decent amount of pressure on your pencil liner while you draw the line.

Both these actions will tug on the lash line and can weaken the lash glue.

Also, most pencil liners have waxes and oils to prolong their retentiveness.

Lastly, I know kohl liners are great for that smoky-eye look, but you must stay away from them because they leave stubborn stains that are hard to remove.

4- Gel Eyeliner

These types of liners will leave residue on your lash line that will get stuck to the base of your extensions.

They are often quite hard to remove.

This means you have more chances of pulling and tugging on your extensions during the removal.

And again, a lot of them will contain oils, which we already know, doesn’t play well with the lash adhesive.

How to Apply

Because eyeliner is applied so close to the lash line where your extensions are fixed, you need to be careful when using them.

There’s one thing you must remember.

Eyeliner should always be applied on the skin above the lash line (no tight-lining by adding it in-between the lashes) when wearing eyelash extensions.

Other than that, the process is pretty much the same as if you would do it without extensions (i.e. start drawing from the inner corner of your eye and go towards the outer corner).

How to Remove

If you’ve used a water-based eyeliner, the removal process will be very easy.

Simply use an oil-free makeup remover on a makeup brush (or your fingers) and gently swipe along your lash line to remove your makeup.

You can then rinse your eyes with water gently without splashing your face.

Once you finish, clean your lashes with a cleanser that’s specially formulated for cleaning extensions

Why We Care

Lash extensions and eyeliners are like two peas in a pod.

This combo can get you amazing results, making your eyes pop, and your lashes look better than ever.💖

From a classic winged look to a bold cat-eye, possibilities are endless. You just need the right liner!

— Asako

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