Natural and Organic Eyeliners for the Summer

Summer is here, and the sun radiation is increasingly intense. Kohl or
eyeliner has been one of humankind’s first sunglasses, and I like to use
it every day to avoid the harmful rays of the sun in my eyes. However,
finding an all-natural, nontoxic, and organic eyeliner can be a bit of a
struggle.

After a long search, I’m bringing you a roundup of the best natural and
organic eyeliners for the summer. My selection includes some of the top
American and International brands that are creating green makeup products with
cleaner and safer ingredients. To round it up, I am also showing you
live swatches of each natural eyeliner, which has been handpicked by me, the person with the most sensitive eyes on the planet and unusually high expectations in terms of pigmentation. So sit back, relax, and dive in!

Kohl is an ancient eye cosmetic that has
been used by men and women for centuries for health reasons. It not
only protected the eye from infections or parasites, but as it was
pitch-dark black it also absorbed the harmful UV rays to avoid sun
glare. Although kohl is still largely used in many cultures in powder
form, there is a way to reap the benefits of this ancient health secret
without the mess: Eye pencils or eyeliners.

The
good thing about modern natural eye pencils that imitate kohl is that
they don’t have water in their composition, making them long-lasting and
less prone to needing harmful chemical preservatives. Plus, they come
in a spectrum of pretty colors that make a wonderful addition to your
summer beauty case.

VERT Beauty Organic Eyeliner Pencils

VERT Beauty has one of the most interesting ranges of natural eyeliners to pick a perfect summery shade. VERT Beauty’s Organic Eyeliner Pencil in Noir Or ($17) is the perfect sexy black gold to compliment your sun-kissed looks. Although in the pictures it doesn’t show its true nature, it has a very delicate iridiscent gold hue that achieves a magnetic gaze. It looks extremely pretty in hazelnut eyes, as it brings out the natural gold speckles in a very natural way.

In contrast, Vert is a seductive cross between a turquoise and a jade. The perfect color for those who aren’t daring enough to go full-blown blue, it is an extremely summery shade that is pretty for the office and transitions well into the night. 

Vert Beauty’s eyeliners have a long staying power, and are great to achieve a long-lasting look. They also build up in intensity, so if you are planning to use them in your waterline, I’d recommend you to put them on the lower lash line instead for a vibrant and long-lasting result.

Ingredient list: Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Limnanthes Alba
(Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Mangifera Indica
(Mango) Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Glyceryl
Caprylate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (Camauba)
Wax, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract,
Ascorbyl Palmitate, MAY CONTAIN (+/-) Mica 77019, Iron Oxides
77510/77491, Titanium Dioxide 77891

ILIA Cosmetics Pure Eyeliner in Havana Affair

Soft and unique, ILIA Pure Eyeliner in
Havana Affair ($24) is a new take in the black-gold trend. The perfect blend of black and gold, the base is a deep husky black color that is gilded with iridiscent gold accents that leave greenish sparkles depending on how light strikes on them. The shimmer is subtle enough to make it office-appropriate, but its buildable properties make it double up as a secret weapon for a special smokey eye.

With a twist up application and a built-in sharpener, it is extremely easy to use as it glides like a dream. Higly pigmenting and one of the most long-lasting formulas of the eye liners tested, ILIA Pure Eyeliner is packed with nutrient-rich oils and butters to give some extra love and caring to the delicate eye area. Plus, as I have very delicate eyes, I have noticed that ever since I started using this pencil the air conditioning doesn’t make them as dry. This means the coconut and avocado oils in the formula work!

For the green gals, this eyeliner is 100% natural and 42% organic.

Ingredient list: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Beeswax (Cera Alba)*, Helianthus
Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Shorea Robusta Resin, Rhus Verniciflua Peel
Wax, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Persea
Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax,
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower/Leaf
Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Steam Extract,
Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape)
Fruit Extract, Silica, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate. May contain:
Mica, Red Oxide CI77491, Black Oxide CI77499, Yellow Oxide CI77492,
Ultramarines, Titanium Dioxide CI77891. *certified Organic Ingredients.

Creamy Long Last Liner by 100% Pure

100% Pure is a brand that’s synonym with natural cosmetics, in
the sense that they only use natural ingredients and zero synthetic
chemicals in their formulas. Quite an accomplishment, because aside from
being clean this brand delivers on its promises.

100% Pure Creamy Long Last Liner in Dark Cacao ($26) is a wonderful addition to any green makeup routine. Rich in Vitamin E, it glides gorgeously and hydrates the skin for a comfortable wear for hours on end. Smudgeable, it is great to build up a variety of looks and works very well combined with the brand’s eye shadows (I paired it up with the Nude Palette 2 with wonderful results.)

Dark Cacao is a long-lasting, creamy pencil liner in a rich chocolate hue. Ideal for those who like to wear eye makeup but feel that black is a bit too much, Dark Cacao is a wonderful shade for the summer and works beautifully paired up with some terracotta loose powder on the cheeks and lids.

Ingredients: Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olus
(Hydrogenated Vegetable) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil,
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Canola Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea
(Marula) Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Glycbryl
Caprylate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Tocopheol (Vitamin E),
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate. May Contain:
Iron Oxides and Mica.

[Zoom In: The Choosy Chick picks]

If finding the right natural and organic eye pencil is a bit of a struggle, you’re not alone. As the world “natural” means next to nothing in terms of labeling, it is easy to get confused with brands that use some ingredients that you wouldn’t want in your cosmetics bag if you are going green.

As usual, The Choosy Chick is a great place to start your search. Aside from carrying some of the cleanest make up brands on just the one place, Margot is a really well-informed person and will be able to point you in the right direction. Let’s say she knows her ingredients well! For the summer, I have picked the following essentials carried by The Choosy Chick:

Swipe On Essential Eyeliner by Au Naturale in Night

Au Naturale Cosmetics has recently undergone a complete revamp in packaging, although most of its wonderful green and nontoxic formulas stay the same (yay!). Their Swipe On Essential Eyeliner collection ($20) is to die for. With a gentle formulation designed to glide easily on your lids, they also protect your beauty in the long term as no tugging is needed. Plus, these pencils apply like a dream, and deliver a consistent and rich pigmentation that is also long-lasting.

Night is an essential matte black that compliments your LBD and your summer outfits with a seamless application. Plus, this little wonder saves a lot of packing space with its smudging tip, which doubles up as an eye brush. What I like most is that with just the one pencil I can create from a cat eye to a dark, gradient smokey eye for a perfect summer night. Plus, the cruelty-free and vegan formula is very long-lasting and withstands the heat well.

Ingredient list: Organic castor oil, mica, wildcrafted euphorbia cerifera (candelilla)
wax, organic simmondsia chinsis (jojoba) seed oil, castor wax, iron
oxides, kaolinite, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) oleoresin.

Certified Organic Eye Pencil by INIKA in Coco

INIKA Organics has been a total discovery for me. Its gentle yet highly pigmenting natural formulas are a dream come true for the green soul, and to me it is one of the best brands carried by the folks at The Choosy Chick. I told you that Margot is a visionary!

The INIKA Certified Organic Eye Pencil in Coco ($22) is a highly pigmented chocolate shade that has one of the richest consistencies I have ever seen in an eyeliner. With an easy glide, this eyeliner stays put for hours (I took the shot of my swatches after having worn the eyeliners for four hours and taken a shower). The organic formula is perfect for the most sensitive eyes, especially if the high intensity of the sun makes them cry (yep, that happens to me!)

Handcrafted using natural botanicals and mineral color blends, INIKA’s eye pencil delivers an astoundingly pigmented performance for hours on end. Plus, the beautiful rich chocolate shade of Coco is perfect for those who find black a bit daunting during the day, but want an extra boost to their summer looks. Do your green self a favor and check this brand out!

Ingredient list: Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, C10-18
Triglycerides, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Copernicia Cerifera
(Carnauba) Wax*, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera (Candelilla Wax), Mica,
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Oryzanol, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Glyceryl
Caprylate, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499). *Certified
Organic

Natural Eye Pencil by Lily Lolo in Black

Lily Lolo has taken the world of green beauty by storm. Its formulas made in London have been awarded several prizes, and for a good reason. If its Natural Eye Pencils are an example of its success, I am confident that this brand will experiment a booming growth in the next couple of years.

The Lily Lolo Natural Eye Pencil in Black ($16) is soft and smudgy, and perfect for creating that smoky eyes halo that looks so good with your tan. With an extremely gentle formula, these eye pencils include organic jojoba oil and shea butter to condition the delicate skin around the eye area. The smooth,
creamy texture and long-lasting color make this natural eye liner
perfect for outlining, defining and enhancing eye.

Now let’s talk about Black for a little bit. This is the perfect super dark black that every Choosy Chick needs in her green beauty bag. Extremely pigmenting yet surprisingly mild in my very sensitive eyes, it delivers a consistently super black line wherever you use it. Yep, that includes the waterline.

Ingredient list: Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Caprylic Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Shea Butter, Mica, Canola Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Glyceryl Caprylate, Candelilla Cera, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate. May contain Iron Oxides.  

Also, The Choosy Chick is doing a 4th of July special promotion: If you spend $95, you can either receive a free DN-UNIK Day Cream for a $45 value with code DNUNIKDAY or 10% off your entire order with code SAVE10. This offer is valid from Saturday, July 1 through Wednesday, July 5th while stocks last.

Verdict and Swatches

Vert Beauty, ILIA, 100% Pure, Au Naturale, INIKA and Lily Lolo have something in common: their vegan, cruelty-free and natural eyeliners are simply excellent and last a long time. However, each and every one of them is suited best for a different type of need. 

Vert Beauty: The brand with the most interesting colors for the summer. Vert, or a greenish deep blue, compliments every skin shade with a summery color.

Ilia: The best take on gold black in the natural world. The formula is ideal for applications close to the waterline. One of the longer lasting formulas of the brands tested. Very gentle on sensitive, dry eyes.

100% Pure: If you are looking for a soft and creamy pencil, this is your best choice. It’s highly pigmenting and delivers a consistent and rich color both on the eyelid and the waterline.

Au Naturale Cosmetics: With a formula that concentrates on delivering a long-lasting color, it is a bit harder than other options but withstands better the contact with water. Buildable color. Includes a smudging tip for an easy smoky eye.

INIKA: Extremely gentle on sensitive and dry eyes, it delivers a beautiful pigmentation both on the lid and the waterline. The rich cocoa color is a great alternative to kohl for those who want to shy off the all-black look, but also helps avoid the glare of the sun.

Lily Lolo: If you are looking for a super, deep black, this is your pencil. Soft, smooth, and creamy, it interacts beautifully with mineral eyeshadows and makes easy and perfect smokey eyes in a few seconds.

To test them all, I decided to take a picture with natural light comparing how they look on a white paper and on the inside of my wrist after four hours of application and a shower to replicate summer conditions. It was a good way for me to test for smudginess, hardness, pigmentation, and overall color effect. Click on the picture below to enlarge it and find a side-by-side comparison of what the color looks like on a white canvas (which is very similar to the inside of your eye) and on the flesh (which is very similar to the lid.) I hope this side-by-side comparison is useful!

Do you use any of the green brands that I’m describing in the article? I’m curious!

Disclaimer Level 1: The author received NO compensation of any
type to
write this post. The author received samples of some of the products
featured for editorial consideration; others were personally purchased
by the author. Receiving a sample didn’t influence the
decision to feature a brand nor the opinions expressed by the author.
All links provided in the article are for
information only and are not part of any affiliate marketing program.