The Best Magnetic Lashes of 2024

Whether you rely on a great mascara or a pair of falsies to do the job, there’s nothing like that oomph of enhancing your eyelashes to make you appear more bright-eyed and even flirty. And now there’s a trendy new way to add length and volume to your lids: magnetic lashes.

Rather than tend with strip lashes and tacky lash glue, this type of false eyelashes adhere to your lids thanks to the power of tiny and discreet magnets in the lash band and corresponding liquid eyeliner that contains magnet-attracting iron. Though it may sound like something straight out of a science fiction movie, the beauty product is quickly gaining steam because it’s a supposedly simple way to apply fake lashes, requiring only a steady hand with liquid eyeliner. We put 9 of the most highly rated options we could find to the test to see which ones live up to the hype.

During our extensive testing process, we found a clear front runner: Lola’s Lashes Rose Quartz Magnetic Eyelashes and Eyeliner Kit (available at Lola's Lashes) , which earned our Best Overall spot. The set was easily the most natural and attractive falsies in the bunch, plus it scored highly in usability, being the hands-down easiest to apply and remove.

How We Tested Magnetic Eyelashes

The Tester

I'm Brigitt Earley, a lifestyle writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience testing beauty products, including every mascara evaluated on Reviewed. Before COVID-19 restrictions on spas, I swore by lash extensions to make my eyes pop. Now, I depend on eye makeup alone for an everyday perk-up, so I wondered: Could magnetic lashes replace my former extensions, saving me the frequent salon trips?

The Tests

I scoured best-seller lists across retailers, beauty blogs, social media, and other best-of lists to find the top magnetic eyelashes on the market. Then, I fluttered my lashes, pitting the top-rated brands against one another to find a winner.

Testing was relatively straightforward: I applied one pair of lashes each morning for 10 days, wore each one for about six hours (we settled on this number because it’s long enough to see you through most special events). Afterward, I peeled off the lashes and removed the magnetic liner using coconut oil (or the included cleanser, which only our top pick offered).

To hone in on the best magnetic lashes of the bunch, I teamed up with Reviewed’s senior scientist, Julia MacDougall, to score and weigh results on a scientifically calibrated rubric. I answered questions regarding:

Application: Does the wand on the magnetic liner hold enough mascara to easily apply it in one stroke? Does the liner go on smoothly? How much liner do you need to apply in order for lashes to take?

Wear: Does the magnetic liner flake, transfer, or smudge throughout the day? Do the lashes stay in place for all six hours? Compared to a fresh application, how do the magnetic lashes look at the end of the day?

What You Should Know About Magnetic Lashes

Before testing or recommending a pair of lashes, I wanted to get an ophthalmologist’s take on magnetic lashes. Could the iron oxide in the liquid liner cause irritation—or, worse, damage to your eyes? “Iron oxides are mineral deposits and can cause staining of the skin,” says Dr. Daniel Laroche, an ophthalmologist in New York City. “However, it is in a variety of makeup and skincare products, like eye shadows and normal eyeliners, and is regulated by the FDA. Trace amounts of iron oxides are permitted by the FDA to be used as a color additive and allowed in the eye area.”

That said, the eyeliner can, in some cases, cause an allergic reaction in patients with a history of allergy and excessive wear can block eyelid meibomian glands, causing a stye, he explains. Anecdotally, some of his patients have also complained that magnetic lashes are uncomfortable and unnatural looking.

The vast majority of professional makeup artists I’ve spoken to are wary of magnetic lashes, too. As I tested 9 of the top-rated products available, I began to understand why. Though I have plenty of experience with beauty products, I also found magnetic lashes frustrating. The majority of the magnetic lashes I tested were easy enough to put on, but they were, by and large, extremely artificial-looking. Worse, in most cases, the magnetic liners were difficult to remove—so difficult that I spent days rubbing my eyes raw in an effort to eradicate every last speck of black.

At the end of the day, I prefer an excellent mascara for everyday wear or a standard set of glue-on falsies for special events. But if you really want to give magnetic lashes a try, here’s what you should know:

Cost: Prices vary widely among magnetic lashes. Unfortunately, this is one case where it’s worth spending a little extra. The more inexpensive lashes tend to look more artificial and don’t fit as comfortably as the pricier options. For further justification of the price, it’s worth noting that magnetic lashes can be used a number of times, cutting down on the cost per use.

Type of magnet: There are two types of magnetic lashes. Some adhere to the lid via magnetic eyeliner that you paint on and allow to dry, with a single row of lashes sitting just above your upper lash line. Others come two per eye and sandwich together over your natural lashes, with the two rows of faux lashes magnetizing to each other. The latter is not ophthalmologist-recommended, as it can put too much weight on your natural lashes, damaging them over time. Because of this, we opted to test only the first variety.

Magnetic Liner: The type of magnetic liner we tested applies much like a standard liquid eyeliner, using a thin brush. In most cases, you need to apply two to three coats with a relatively heavy hand in order for the magnetic lashes to adhere properly. The result is a rather dramatic and dark look. It’s also worth noting that, unless you regularly use liquid liner, there’s a bit of a learning curve to apply it in a steady, straight line—especially on your non-dominant side.

Size: Though I don’t consider my eyes especially small, the vast majority of lashes were too long for my eyelids. You can cut the strips down by snipping the band alongside the nearest magnet, but I found this occasionally affected the curvature of the lashes—instead of sitting flush against my natural lashes from corner to corner, the outer edge ended abruptly. As a result, the lashes had blunt edges on the outside corner that poked my skin.

Application: Many of the kits come with a tweezer-like tool to help you put the lashes onto your lid. The typical design has blunt, curved magnetic edges that match the shape of the lashes themselves and magnetize to the lashes, with the idea you can use the tool to easily transfer the fringe to your eyes. I found these tools to be a bit clunky—using my fingers allowed for more control and precision.

Style: The vast majority of magnetic lashes are very long and full. The resulting look is very dramatic, especially when paired with all of the eyeliner you need to make the lashes stay put. This struck me as very artificial-looking and, in most cases, didn’t suit my personal style. But for those who like to go bold, they will not be disappointed.

Removal: The biggest challenge comes with removal of the eyeliner. While it’s easy to pop the magnetic lashes on and off the liner with a gentle tug, removing the liner itself is, in most cases, a major challenge. Though the instructions say to use an oil-based makeup remover (what you’d use for waterproof makeup), most of the liner didn’t budge. I even struggled to adequately remove the liner with pure coconut oil—something that does the trick with even the most stubborn waterproof mascara. In some cases, removing the lashes was altogether painful (and potentially damaging to my skin and eyelashes) because I had to rub so hard.

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Other Magnetic Lashes We Tested

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