A Beauty Editor Tests the 11 Best Magnetic Lashes of 2024

Go ahead and kiss your messy lash glue goodbye.

model wearing fake eyelashes
(Image credit: Spotlight/Launchmetrics)

Confession: I was not blessed with naturally luscious lashes, which means I’ve had to resort to lash lifts and lash extensions to achieve any sort of volume. Of course, that wasn’t the optimal solution—for one, eyelash extensions are pricey, and two, they took a toll on my natural lashes after repeated treatments.

Put simply, fake lashes on hooded Asian lids are hard. Really hard. Since my lash line completely disappears beneath my lids when I blink, the friction wears away at the glue, turning everything into one sticky glob. So when I saw magnetic lashes floating around my Instagram feed, I was intrigued. Fake lashes that eliminate eyelash glue from the equation entirely and stay on all day? All for the same price as a cup of coffee? I was skeptical—but intrigued.

"By nature, magnetic lashes provide a sleeker and cleaner look," beauty expert Laura Kay tells Marie Claire. "Because there is no buildup of adhesive glue, there is also less damage to your natural lashes. The removal process is much simpler and less damaging to the eyelashes. Less tugging and trauma means you can retain your natural lashes, and the design eliminates the need for mess."

Ahead, everything you need to know about magnetic lashes—plus makeup artist and lash experts' very favorite pairs.

The Best Magnetic Lashes

Sophia Vilensky testing Lilly Lashes.

Sophia Vilensky testing her newly beloved Lilly Lashes.

(Image credit: Sophia Vilensky)

An array of Glamnetic products.

Our array of Glamnetic products for testing: one major pair and one half lash pair to cover any mood.

(Image credit: Sophia Vilensky)

Sophia Vilensky testing Glamnetic magnetic lashes.

Vilensky is a huge fan of Glamnetic's half-lash offerings.

(Image credit: Sophia Vilensky)

kiss lashes-hanahong

Hana Hong tests the Kiss Magnetic Eyeliner & Lure Lash Kit.

(Image credit: Future-Hana Hong)

ardell lashes hana hong

Hana Hong tests Ardell Professional Magnetic Liner & Lash Wispies Black.

(Image credit: Future-Hana Hong)

Sophia Vilensky testing Lola's Lashes.

Sophia Vilensky, mid-getting ready for a concert, with her Lola's Lashes on and ready.

(Image credit: Sophia Vilensky)

Also Recommended

Hana Hong wears a red coat while testing Eylure's ProMagnetic Magnetic Eyeliner & Faux Mink Volume Lash System.

Hana Hong tests Eylure's ProMagnetic Magnetic Eyeliner & Faux Mink Volume Lash System.

(Image credit: Future-Hana Hong)

Velour magnetic lashes on a wooden background.

Velour's lash kit includes their liner for easy application.

(Image credit: Sophia Vilensky)

Sophia Vilensky with her eyes closed, showing Velour lashes.

A major lash look courtesy of Velour.

(Image credit: Sophia Vilensky)

I-ENVY magnetic lashes on a striped background

I Envy makes magnetic lashes with both 10 and 5 magnet strips.

(Image credit: Sophia Vilensky)

Vilensky testing I Envy lashes.

Some proper drama courtesy of I Envy.

(Image credit: Sophia Vilensky)

What to Look For in Magnetic Lashes and Liner

  • Liner Formula

Just like our favorite eyeliners, magnetic liners are not all made equal. When shopping for a magnetic liner, you should first consider your preferred applicator and skill level. A felt-tip liner brush will give you more control, whereas a pen or marker-tip liner is much more forgiving for beginners.

Additionally, texture is a big deal when it comes to the best magnetic liners. “Texture should be smooth and viscous enough that it doesn’t look watery or runny,” says Glamnetic’s CEO and co-founder, Ann McFerran, who also recommends looking for liners that use clean ingredients and no parabens to avoid irritation.

  • Style

As for the magnetic lashes themselves, it’s all a matter of personal preference. Are you going for a dramatic cat-eye? Choose a pair with fluttery length and volume. Looking for something more natural? Go for medium or short lashes made from silk or faux mink for a subtly glam look.

Some other things to bear in mind, according to aesthetician Erica Marie Gatt: The quality of materials, typical length of wear, and if they were created with sensitive eyes in mind.

"Choose lashes made from high-quality materials such as synthetic silk or mink for a more natural look," she says. "[Also], look for brands that offer a variety of lengths and volumes. B curl is the most natural, curl. C curl is natural with a small curl. D curl is typically more dramatic, and curl-DD is longer, fuller and very curly. You can always mix the curl styles and sizes for a natural wispy look."

How Magnetic Lashes Work

You may be wondering how magnetic liner gets lashes to stick without glue. Well, it’s all thanks to one magic ingredient: iron oxide. McFerran explains the ingredient is “typically used across all colored cosmetics because it creates pigment, but at a much higher level which gives it its magnetic quality.” Thanks to iron oxide, the magnets on the lashes bond to the liner to give all-day hold.

To get them on, all you have to do is apply the magnetic liner as you would a traditional liquid liner (just make sure to apply a line as thick as the magnets on the lash band, says McFerran) and click into place.

How to Apply Magnetic Lashes

According to Kay, you want to prep your natural lashes for magnetic lash application by starting with a fresh, clean base. "It’s good practice to curl your natural lashes and apply a coat of mascara to help maintain your desired shape," she says. "This also gives the magnetic lashes something to grip onto and helps them blend in more seamlessly with your existing lashes."

The thing is, each magnetic lash brand has slightly different application guidelines—sometimes there's trimming required, liner needs to set for a certain length of time, etc. Read through the instructions on whatever pack you're using ,and follow them.

"Finally, depending on the brand you use and the length of your natural lashes, measure the lash strip against your natural lashes and trim any excess to suit your desired shape," adds the expert. "But remember, you want to achieve a naturally enhanced look, not a false or fake appearance, so just bear that in mind."

How to Remove Magnetic Liner

The one downside to magnetic liner is that it's notoriously hard to remove. McFerran suggests taking a cotton pad with micellar water and rubbing your eye until the liner comes off. I’ve personally found great success using my favorite oil-based makeup remover and gently rubbing the eyeliner away, following that with a double cleanse. Lastly, you’ll want to gently rub off the magnetic bits from the lash magnets and place them back in their original case so they are ready to go for next time.

Our Verdict

Color me impressed—I definitely think magnetic lashes are the real deal. Application is super easy, the lashes stay on all day, and the lack of lash glue also means no more picking leftover clumps of the stuff out of your real lashes (or washing the gunk on your falsies before reusing them).

The liner formulas are super long-lasting—a swatch on my hand didn’t budge, even after a shower—which means you'll need oil-based cleanser to get it off. On the flip side, because the liner formulas are thicker than average liquid eyeliner, it’s harder to control and create a perfect line. You have to make sure to put a good amount on the innermost and outermost part of the line (don’t forget to keep cotton swabs on hand in case of mistakes).

Ultimately, I’d take all three of these over normal strip lashes any day.

Meet the Experts

A woman wearing black scrubs smiling at the camera.
Laura Kay

Laura Kay is a world leading, fully qualified Permanent Make Up artist and Founder of Laura Kay London. With over 20 years in the makeup industry, part of which as a professional makeup artist, Laura has first-hand experience of makeup application.

Following the success of her Fortnum & Mason clinic Laura founded Laura Kay London to offer her clients a lasting solution to make up application. Offering permanent make up treatments in her high-profile salon, Laura Kay and her team pride themselves on giving every client the perfect result using the latest cutting-edge techniques.

Courtesy of Ann McFerran
Ann McFerran

Ann attended the University of California at Los Angeles and decided to major in science as a pre-med and become a doctor. After completing her pre-med studies, Ann felt something was missing without the artistic and creative aspects of her life. She soon discovered the magic powers of false eyelashes and realized no one had created easy-to-apply magnetic lashes and Ann decided to step up to the challenge. Since starting her magnetic lash brand, Glamnetic, in 2019, Ann has sold over 100,000 products, built her team up to 70 full-time employees, and made the Forbes' 30 under 30 list.

Erica Marie Gatt
Erica Marie Gatt

Skin health guru Erica Marie Gatt's decades worth of experience working as an aesthetician and makeup artist has shaped her foolproof, fuss-free beauty philosophy. She believes that curating thoughtful, streamlined skincare regimens for her clients is key to achieving effortless natural beauty and an overarching sense of empowerment, confidence and well-being. As someone who loves the outdoors and being active, Erica recognizes the link between health, wellness and beauty and embraces a holistic approach that puts equal emphasis on both an inner and outer glow.  

Erica honed her talent and channeled her passion under the tutelage of celebrated Los Angeles esthetician Gina Mari after having spent years as a makeup artist. Acknowledging that the optimal canvas for makeup is clear, toxin-free skin, Erica gained invaluable experience working on a myriad of skin types with a range of needs, while learning from the industry’s top beauty mavens.  

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Hana Hong

Hana Hong is the beauty assistant at Marie Claire, where she covers skincare, makeup, and haircare, and is identifiable by her signature cateye.

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