Worth It: Cheap, Organic Makeup For Sensitive Eyes

Much unlike many a magazine editor who recommends you buy all sorts of crap that they most likely got for free, your Jezebel staff doesn’t get jack shit (other than books, unsolicited). And that’s how it should be. But on our own time, in our personal lives, we still buy stuff. So this is Worth It, our daily recommendation of random things that we’ve actually spent our own money on. These are the things we buy regularly or really like, things we’d actually tell our friends about. And now we’re telling you.

Let’s face it: putting on eye makeup can be a nightmare sometimes. Whether you have sensitive skin, problems wearing contacts with makeup on, or your eyes get puffy during allergy season (or all of the above, like me!), it can make for frustrating times in front of the mirror.

Luckily, there’s a solution, it can be found at your local drugstore and more importantly, it’s cheap as hell: Physicians Formula. Some drug stores don’t carry a lot of it, but I promise you it’s probably there sandwiched between your CoverGirls, Revlons, and Wet N’ Wilds.

I first noticed the problem with my eyes a few years ago when I began wearing eyeliner with my contact lenses. At first I thought perhaps the pencil was just old, and I swapped to another drugstore brand than what I’d been using. Still irritated. I did a little research online and discovered that Physicians Formula was hypoallergenic and fragrance free, which sounded like a decent enough remedy to to my red eyes. And it was!

What started out as a love affair with eyeliner has transformed into a love of all of their eye-related products. My favorites currently are: Eye shadow that doubles as a bronzer (above), dramatic fine-tipped liquid eye liner, wet-to-dry shadow (also above), and their awesome makeup remover that doesn’t sting. Since I’ve started using said products I haven’t had to rush to the ladies room in order to take out my contacts in the middle of the work day, which has been nice!

Even though I spoke about their eye makeup, the company makes a variety of different products for your face. For those mindful of Mother Nature, Physician’s Forumla is almost vegan. The makeup itself is vegan, but some of the brushes contain goat hair, which is (obviously) not. But for the price, you could stand to purchase an animal-friendly brush and still use the actual makeup. Good-for-you makeup that’s good for the environment and super cheap — that’s all a girl could really ask for, right?

Shimmer strips custom eye enhancing shadow, $11 at Drugstore.com.

Lash Extending Mascara, $5.20 at Drugstore.com.

Eye Definer Liquid Eyeliner, $5.20, at Drugstore.com.

Worth It only features things we paid for ourselves and actually like. Don’t send us stuff.