Eyes

For thin, sparse lashes, a volumizing mascara like the Blow Me Up Volume Mascara is worth it, since its denser brush and creamier formula noticeably build up every single lash. If your lashes are naturally already dense but rather short, you're better off with a lengthening formula like the Lengthening Mascara, which deposits fine fibers and visually stretches the lashes. If you want both at once, combination products like the Lift Me Up Volume Mascara are a good choice, uniting volume and length in one formula. For very straight, downward-falling lashes, an eyelash curler right before applying also helps enhance the curve and visually support the mascara's effect. If you prefer natural cosmetics, the Bio Herbal Mascara 7 in 1 or avril's Lengthening Mascara, which is 99% organic ingredients, are equally effective alternatives.

With brown eyes, almost every shade works well, but copper, gold, and bronze tones look especially beautiful, giving the warm brown even more glow. Blue eyes are visually intensified especially by warm, orange, and copper tones, since complementary colors heighten the contrast, while overly similar blue tones tend to weaken the effect. Green eyes benefit from violet, plum, or pink tones, which are likewise in complementary contrast and make the green iris stand out. Regardless of eye color, a neutral, matte shade close to your skin tone almost always works as a base, on top of which you can add accents with bolder colors in the crease or along the outer lid. If you're unsure, it's best to start with a duo or palette product containing several coordinated shades, rather than combining individual colors yourself.

Yes, in a wide selection: avril offers, among others, the Bio Eye Pencil, the Bio Eyeshadow Stick, and the Bio Eyebrow Pencil series with certified organic ingredients, and GEODERM and Uoga Uoga also carry vegan eyeshadows and kohl pencils. Newwell is positioned as attractively priced while also being vegan, for example with mascara, eyeliner, and eyebrow products. These products generally avoid animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax or carmine and are labeled accordingly in the product name or description. If medically tested tolerability also matters to you, Eucerin and La Roche-Posay offer special eye care and eye serum products developed specifically for the especially sensitive eye area.

The eye area has noticeably thinner, more sensitive skin than the rest of the face, which is why it's especially worth checking the INCI list here. For mascara and eyeliner, watch out for potential fragrances, which are more likely to cause irritation close to the eyes than elsewhere on the face. For kohl and eyeliner pencils applied to the waterline, an especially fine, mineral-based formula like the Mineral Eye Pencil is often better tolerated than heavily pigmented, wax-based versions. For eye serums and creams, it's also worth checking the pH value and included active ingredients such as caffeine or hyaluronic acid, which can help against puffiness or dryness in the eye area. If you have known allergies or wear contact lenses, you should generally check the list before buying and test new products carefully first.

Start with the brows, for example with a brow pencil or gel, since well-defined brows set the frame for the rest of the look. Next comes eyeshadow, applied from light to dark and from inner to outer corner to create soft transitions, before you draw the line with eyeliner. Mascara comes as the second-to-last step, so that fine eyeshadow or eyeliner particles that might fall during application don't smudge the freshly applied mascara. Right at the end, if needed, concealer under the eyes is worth it to cover small imperfections from eyeshadow or mascara and to conceal dark circles. If you want to use false lashes, apply them right after the eyeliner and before your own mascara, so both blend visually better.

For sensitive eyes or contact lenses, we generally recommend mineral-based products or ones labeled 'ophthalmologist tested', which cause irritation less often than heavily fragranced formulas. Apply kohl and eyeliner as close as possible to the lash line rather than directly on the waterline, to reduce the risk of particles getting into the eye and irritating the lens. For mascara: replace the product every three to six months, since bacteria can multiply in the moist environment of the tube, which is especially relevant with direct eye contact. Test new products first on one eye or on a small area of skin before applying them to both, and always remove eye make-up with a special, mild eye make-up remover rather than regular facial toner. If burning, redness, or watery eyes persist, stop using the product immediately and, if in doubt, consult an ophthalmologist.

Waterproof formulas like the Dipliner Eyeliner generally don't dissolve with plain water or a mild facial cleanser; here you need a special, usually two-phase eye make-up remover on an oil-water base. Soak a soft cotton pad with the remover and place it over your closed eye for about ten to fifteen seconds, so the formula can dissolve, rather than rubbing right away. Then wipe gently from inside to outside, without pulling or rubbing, since the eye area reacts particularly sensitively to mechanical stress and shows fine lines more quickly. For stubborn residue at the lash roots, a cotton swab soaked in remover helps remove even small remnants thoroughly but gently. As a general rule, avoid vigorously rubbing your eyes with your fingers, no matter how stubborn the make-up seems, to avoid unnecessarily stressing the thin skin.

Classic drugstore brands such as Maybelline New York and L'Oréal Paris score points with proven, intensively tested formulas and a huge selection of colors and products for practically every trend. Natural cosmetics brands such as avril and Uoga Uoga, by contrast, rely on certified organic ingredients and nourishing formulas, often with direct skincare benefits for the sensitive eye area. Newwell is positioned as attractively priced while being vegan at the same time and covers practically the entire eye make-up range, from mascara to brow gel. For care of the eye area itself, for example against dark circles or dryness, it's also worth checking out specialized eye serums in our Serums & Intensive Care category.