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Forget the glue and tweezers heat resistant tile adhesive
Melanie Rud is a freelance beauty writer, editor, and expert living in Chicago.
For those of us who aren't blessed with long, lush lashes, false eyelashes are a game changer. But while some falsies require messy glue, magnetic lashes make it easier than ever to amp up your fringe.
Magnetic lashes take the mess out of the process and are less likely to come off, and application is much more seamless than using traditional tweezers and glue, says celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty.
There are two kinds of magnetic lashes. Some use a magnetic eyeliner that holds the lash strip. Others feature two strips, which you sandwich above and under your natural lashes and snap together via tiny magnets at the base.
We tested both kinds of magnetic lashes, 15 in total, and assessed how easy they were to apply (and remove), how comfortable they were to wear, and, of course, the type of look they delivered.
Below, the best magnetic lashes that PEOPLE tested.
Magnets are spaced perfectly for secure adhesion
Held their shape well, even after several cycles of wear and removal
Magnetic liner is easy to remove with micellar water
May be too long for some and require trimming
Ringing in at less than $17, these prove to be a serious steal, especially since they come with an included magnetic eyeliner and can be reused up to 15 times. These synthetic lashes held their shape beautifully without bunching up or crinkling, even after wearing them and removing them multiple times. Despite their attached magnets, these lashes are feather-light, and we also loved how easy it was to manipulate and position the lashes and how secure they felt once they were in place. Plus, both the lashes and the liner itself were incredibly easy to remove with just a little bit of micellar water and a cotton swab.
While this kit comes with only one style of lash (which may or may not require trimming, based on how long you like your lashes), there are other styles available, and, at this wallet-friendly price, you really can’t go wrong.
Lash Type: Synthetic | Features: Four styles available | Reusable: Up to 15 times
Magnets are secure but allow adjustment
Eyeliner glides on seamlessly and dries quickly
Requires a fairly thick coat of liner for proper adhesion
For those looking for lashes that you can just pop on with no trimming or tweaking required, these are a great choice. Eight magnets are inset on the cotton band, delivering the exact right amount of hold — not so much that we couldn’t adjust the placement as needed, but enough that the lash strip felt totally secure all day long.
We did find that a good coat of liner is required in order to get full adhesion, but the liner is easy to apply, making that process seamless as well. Just keep in mind that these lashes are fairly voluminous; they may be a bit dramatic for those who want more of a subdued effect.
Lash Type: Synthetic | Features: Voluminous | Reusable: 30+ times
Extremely thin, light, and comfortable
Blend seamlessly with natural lashes
Magnetic liner is sometimes difficult to remove
False lashes don’t have to look fake, and here’s proof. We found that this set of thin and light falsies blended in seamlessly with our natural lashes, adding the ideal amount of subtle enhancement without looking too dramatic.
They were extremely comfortable to wear, and we also loved the fluttering effect, as well as how quickly and easily they attached to the magnetic liner (which, it bears mentioning, needs to be purchased separately). The shape and size of these also make them a nice choice for those with smaller-shaped eyes.
Lash type: Vegan silk | Features: Wispy | Reusable: Up to 30 times
Magnets guide placement and attach securely
Hold and maintain their shape throughout the day
Liner can be difficult to apply
If you’re after a more intense, eye-catching look, consider these dramatic falsies. The clustered fringe created an extra glamorous effect, more suited for a special occasion than everyday wear. Its magnetic liner had a thick consistency that made it challenging to get an even application along the lash line; however, after a little trial and error, we achieved an even line, and the lashes popped right on.
While these did feel a bit thicker on the eye than others, they were still comfortable and came right off with remover, although the liner did require a bit more elbow grease.
Lash Type: Synthetic | Features: Dramatic, comes in several styles | Reusable: Up to 60 times
Held their shape and curl all day
Applicator is a bit flimsy
Liner takes awhile to dry
Completely synthetic, these faux mink lashes easily mimic the quality you’d get from real mink lashes. While they were a bit more dramatic and long, they were still nearly undetectable when on. We loved how comfortable they felt and how nicely they held their shape, even after extended periods of wear. However, these fell a bit short when it came to the magnetic liner. We didn’t like how flimsy the eyeliner brush was, making application tricky, or how long it took the liner to dry.
While the lashes themselves popped right off without pulling or tugging, the liner ended up a bit crumbly, getting into our eyes during the removal process and causing mild irritation.
Lash Type: Faux mink | Features: Dramatic, four styles available | Reusable: Up to 50 times
Worked with another brand’s magnetic liner
Shorter style looks and feels more natural
Half-strip falsies offer a nice option for those who may be new to false lashes or anyone who just wants to give their fringe a small boost of volume. These lashes — which are much shorter than others we tested — did offer that effect while also feeling extremely comfortable. We couldn’t tell we were wearing them, even while blinking, which felt more like lash extensions than full-on falsies.
The one major drawback? The magnetic liner that came with the lashes dried up upon opening, causing us to use another brand’s magnetic eyeliner to attach these lashes. However they still worked well, even with a different liner, which is a nice boon for those who may want to mix and match.
Lash Type: Human hair | Features: Half-strip | Reusable: Yes
A one-stop magnetic lash shop, this set comes with a magnetic liner, five different styles of lashes (all of which are reusable), and a convenient case with an included mirror.
There are five magnets inset on the band of the full strip of lashes, which secured quickly and easily to the liner and stayed put throughout the day. Unlike some other products we tested, the magnets tugged on our skin ever so slightly during the removal process, although it wasn’t painful and the strip did still come off nicely. We also found that the lashes, even the more dramatic style, felt comfortable and fluttery.
Lash Type: Synthetic | Features: Five styles available | Reusable: Yes
All our recommended products go through rigorous testing in our NYC beauty lab and at home, so while you’re shopping for magnetic lashes, consider adding one of these PEOPLE editor-approved favorites to your cart.
While all of the winning magnetic lashes that we tested were meant to be paired with an accompanying magnetic eyeliner, others on the market are meant to be used without. Choose based on your personal preference, suggests Bhatty. If you don’t feel comfortable using eyeliner or don’t like the look of it, opt for magnetic lashes that come with two strips that are sandwiched together on top and bottom, she says, although she does add that liner tends to make application easier for a full strip.
As with any false lash, it’s still important to consider what kind of overall look you’re trying to achieve. Magnetic lashes come in a variety of styles, ranging from more natural and subtle (like the Moxielash Classy Lash) to full-on glam and dramatic, like the Glamnetic Magnetic False Lashes. Again, this comes down to a matter of personal preference and exactly how you like your lashes to look. Just keep in mind that the more dramatic options will likely be and feel a bit heavier on your eyes.
Ideally, the magnets should be so small that they’re hardly visible, says Andrew Sotomayor, a celebrity makeup artist who’s worked with Kerry Washington. “Something too delicate or thick likely can’t be reused as often, and one that’s too thick might feel heavy. Anything in the middle should be fine,” he explains.
To find the best sets of magnetic lashes, the PEOPLE Tested team researched dozens of formulas and selected 23 products for real-world testing.
Definitely, although you will want to remove them and clean them at night. You can use a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol to clean the band where the magnets are, or try Sotomayor’s trick and spritz them with an organic, unscented hand sanitizer and let them dry overnight. And, if you are using a set that requires eyeliner, make sure to remove the eyeliner at night as well.
If you’re using the kind that requires a liner, the key is making sure that the liner is fully dry before attaching the lashes, says Bhatty. If you’re applying a full strip that doesn’t require a liner, “use a lash application tool that’s designed for applying magnetic lashes. I find this to be the easiest method, as it will clamp down on your natural lash much like a lash curler. When you release, the lashes will be bound together by the magnets,” she explains.
Another important tip: If you’re going to also be wearing mascara, apply it before putting on the lashes, so that the product doesn’t get on them and you don’t have to aggressively clean them, Sotomayor points out.
If they’re the kind that’s paired with a liner, “Start from the outer corner and gently pull downward and inward until the lash comes off,” says Bhatty. It should lift and come off fairly easily. Then, make sure to fully remove the liner; there are special removers made for magnetic liners, although, generally speaking, an oil-based makeup remover should do the trick.
If you’re wearing the kind of lashes that are sandwiched together, “simply peel the top lashes straight up and the lower lashes will fall right off as the magnets detach,” says Sotomayor.
Melanie Rud has been a contributing writer for PEOPLE since 2022, specializing as a product researcher across a variety of beauty and lifestyle categories. She has 15 years of experience as a beauty writer and has written about all kinds of false lashes during her career. For this piece, she compared the features, benefits, and testing insights for a variety of the different top magnetic lashes on the market. She also tapped top makeup artists Kirin Bhatty and Emmy-winning makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor for their expert opinion on the category in general, as well as for application and removal tips and tricks.
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