Makeup artists, beauty aficionados, and salon stylists prefer the best oil-free mascaras to curate long, high-definition lashes due to their nutrient-rich and non-flakey formulation. Our research further indicates that the number of complaints received by contact lens wearers and people with sensitive skin over the years has amounted to well-known makeup companies creating water-soluble mascaras. Unlike their oil-based counterparts, clear mascaras do not have any heavy pigments in their formulation and are less likely to cause irritation and itching. Moreover, oil-based mascaras break down and dissolve the lash glue used in extension arrangements and hence are not preferred by professional stylists and also cause irritation in people with sensitive eyes. They also do not groom unruly lashes or soften their rough texture, thereby preventing styling and uniform delivery of the color pigment. 

Choosing the best oil-free mascara can be a real hustle, with every brand marketing their products through the virtual medium to target their specific audience. Hence, to make your shopping and styling easier, our team of makeup experts has curated a list of the best oil-free mascaras that are easy to apply, remove, and carry.

• 1
  Editor's Pick

  Perricone MD No Makeup Mascara

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Even on the most boring day, the only thing that your face needs is a lifting and moisturizing mascara. This hydrating mascara by Perricone MD instantly lifts the lashes, lengthens them, and enriches each hair strand. The makeup-infused skincare gives you fuller lashes as well as glamorizes your entire ensemble. Ditch the foundation, and contour and opt for just this soft black mascara to turn heads. Let your eyes do all the talking that adds thickness to each hair.

2

Best Overall

Grande Cosmetics GrandeMASCARA Conditioning

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There's a reason why all the TikTok girlies are obsessed with Grande Mascara. Apart from the luxe gold packaging, this mascara adds fullness and density to your lashes. With a buildable formula, this mascara provides instant volume and length. It's infused with peptides, panthenols, and natural waxes to give your lashes the fullness they deserve. Amp up your entire look with thicker lashes that flutter every time you blink. 

3

Best Oil-free Formula

essence BYE BYE PANDA EYES Defining Mascara

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Wrap each lash in a water-resistant, nourishing liquid of the Essence oil-free mascara. A few swipes of this product provide an individual with clean, voluminous, well-defined, non-clumpy, thicker lashes. Moreover, this award-winning product is curated to last all day without being unfettered by the intrusion of sweat, humidity, moisture, or tears. The best part? It does not cause smudging under the eyes or weigh down your lashes and is thus one of the best options for mundane use. Lastly, this waterproof mascara is easy to apply and even easier to remove without the need for warm water and is loved by beginners and makeup aficionados alike.

4

Most Long-lasting

KC REPUBLIC Eyelash Extension Mascara

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Our in-house skincare experts suggest not to be misguided by the name of the KC Republic water-soluble mascara. Why? After trying this product, they realized it is an ideal mascara for lash extensions and natural lashes. It has an anti-static volumizing brush head that provides natural fuller-looking lashes in a single swipe. Moreover, it is durably pigmented, smudge, fade, flake, rub, and transfer-resistant. Furthermore, this volumizing mascara is best for day and night use because it provides nascent baby lashes with extra definition and does not cause redness, inflammation, or irritation. Lastly, it is durably pigmented but does not cause any stains and specks.

5

Best for Contact Lens Wearers

MAYBELLINE NEW YORK The Colossal Volum’ Express

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A bold, open-eyed, glamorous look is achievable after wearing the Maybelline New York water-based mascara. It has a potent collagen-infused formula that strengthens the intrinsic bonds of the lashes and provides natural, voluminous lashes. Moreover, this long-lasting mascara has a  soft bristle, curved brush that provides a seductive high-definition curl to your lashes without weighing them down. The best part? It has a waterproof formula that makes it the most compatible option for contact lens wearers. Furthermore, this perfect mascara outstretches limp and fragile lashes, thereby accentuating the overall aesthetic appeal of an individual's eye makeup.

6

Best for Dry Skin

Neutrogena healthy Volume Mascara

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400% fuller lashes are now achievable with the Neutrogena water-based mascara. Well, our in-house skincare experts were as awestruck as you are when they came across the claim made by the company. But after trying this mascara, they believe a few minor changes can help the product stand true to its claim. The immensely plumping and hydrating formula penetrates through each lash follicle and brings out its best natural self. Moreover, the formulation consists of sweet almond and olive oil that conditions shedding lashes and enhances lash root strength. However, to remove the product, our experts recommend using the Neutrogena makeup remover to avoid causing residual accumulation and infections.

7

Best for False Lashes

GladGirl Lashe Enmasse Mascara

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After trying the GladGirl oil-free mascara, our in-house skincare experts assure you will be more than “Glad” enough to reorder a second one. Why? Because the product delivers the color pigment uniformly, amplifies volume, and offers a smooth, uniform, non-clumpy finish in just one stroke. Addedly, it helps to elevate the length of short lashes and intensifies the overall look without making the follicles look overwhelming or fake. The best part? It is suited for false lash extensions, including single, strip, or clustered arrangements, as the product comes with curved brushes that do not tamper the lash glue. Lastly, it does not lead to lash follicular fractures and is thus a reliable choice among makeup aficionados.

8

Best Lengthening Mascara

The Blink Noir Mascara

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Our experienced skincare professionals say, "The market is flooded with mascaras that tend to get runny. But the Blink noir oil-free mascara is an exception.” The product is suitable for both lash extensions and natural lashes because it has a superb lash conditioning formula that helps to restore frail lashes and causes minimal damage to lash extensions. Moreover, it helps to provide a high-definition curl to felting lashes and a dramatic volume in an instant. Lastly, it comes with an ergonomically designed durable applicator to ensure seamless application.

9

Best for Everyday Use

ALLURING Length & Volume Mascara

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This non-oil-based mascara is indeed very alluring. Why? Because, it is safe and gentle for both natural and fake-looking lashes. It has a brush with potent bristles that strengthen the adhesive bond between your lashes and prevent repulsive felting. Moreover, it lifts fragile lashes and offers a soft but strong hold over the follicles without weighing them down. Lastly, it provides remarkable longevity and coats each lash from the root to tip that remains undeterred by sweat, water, and humidity.

Now that you have gone through our product recommendations for the best oil-free mascaras, take a look at our comprehensive buying guide.

Here is how you can choose the best oil-free mascara - 

1. Composition of Ingredients: The water-soluble mascara should contain natural skin benefactors like castor oil, almond oil, carnauba wax, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C that help to preserve the color of your lashes, strengthen keratinous bonds in the lash follicles, and prevent loss of moisture due to excessive exposure to environmental aggressors and mechanical stressors. The formulation should be devoid of harmful ingredients like sulfates, phthalates, parabens, and oil as it would weaken the follicular strands, causing itchiness, and may also lead to premature lash felting. 

2. Texture: Who loves hypoallergenic mascaras that tend to smear all over, get smudgey, and cause spider eyes? Well, these are all problems that occur due to improper texture. Hence, to avoid such problems, the texture should be gel-based, easy to apply, and non-oily, as it would prevent smearing all over the eyes and spoil the overall aesthetic appeal. Moreover, it should be easy to remove and clean.

3. Color And Shade of the Product: The color and shade of the product should complement the outfit and accessories the person has chosen to wear for the day. It is important for people to choose a shade that complements their skin tone, undertone, and the color pigment of the iris. 

4. Skin Type of the Individual: The skin type of an individual plays an important role in selecting the best water-based mascara. While dry and normal skin types will need more emollients, humectants, and occlusives to ensure proper retention of moisture within the lash follicles, oily, combination, and acne-prone skin will need more exfoliants like salicylic acid in order to regulate sebum production. 

Oil-free mascaras are always a safe alternative as they do not tamper the intrinsic composition of lash follicles, enhance nutritional absorption at a cellular level, and work diligently toward improving follicle growth without any visible side effects of felting, fractures, or flaking. This is why they are recommended by ophthalmologists and dermatologists for people with all skin types. But following a trend without having complete knowledge would not work for most people as every skin type is different and the requirement of every individual's lashes would vary from the other. Hence, we have curated a list of the best drugstore oil-free mascaras that are compatible with all skin types and have an easy glide formulation. However, our certified in-house skincare experts advise you to go through our buying guide once in order to understand what works best for you.