Have you ever admired the countless graphic eyeliner styles that appear on TikTok and Instagram, only to feel let down when you attempt to replicate them? Remain calm; you are not by yourself. Although it’s reasonable to attribute some of the disappointment to not being a skilled makeup artist, the liner and formula you select also play a significant role. While crayon kajals quickly add smokey eye intensity, liquid felt-tip liners are renowned for their sleek cat-eye enchantment.
According to Nick Lujan, Director of Artistry & Education at Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, “using eyeliner on the waterline is the simplest method for almost all formulas and experience levels.” “I use this technique to begin every eye makeup look because it’s a great way to frame the whites of your eyes.” Your choice of eyeliner color can give your look a flirtatious moment, which will truly spice things up. According to Lujan, “white or a flesh tone in the lower waterline makes the eyes appear more open and bigger.” Red eyeliner should be avoided since it can make eyes appear bloodshot and angry.
We investigated and tested 33 well-known eyeliners on our own eyes in order to save everyone from smudgy raccoon eyes. We assessed each liner’s application ease, pigment intensity, and—above all—how our rimmed eyes appeared throughout the day, including whether smudges occurred or if additional applications were required. Each eyeliner was given a score and graded; the crayons, pens, pencils, and pots with the highest scores are included on this list.
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
There were several things that quickly stood out when we tested it. To begin with, the pen is the ideal size; it is neither too long nor too thin, which can all make application more difficult. Even when we wanted to draw a little wing liner, we could truly manipulate the tip effortlessly because it fit pleasantly in our hands. Another thing we adore about this best-rated eyeliner is that: Because of the tip’s sharper point, getting exact strokes is easier to accomplish. In order to master the siren eye style, it also streamlines detailed tight corners, such as those in the inner eye area.
Furthermore, it fulfills the claims made about its long-wear: We experienced no smearing or caking, and it seemed to dry relatively instantly. Despite the fact that removing many long-wearing eyeliners may be quite difficult, we discovered that this liquid liner was simple to remove with just two or three makeup wipe swipes. The one drawback (or benefit, depending on your perspective) of this product is that, despite the liner’s dark color, you need to use multiple strokes to have a noticeable effect because of its narrow tip. Having said that, you’ll fall even more in love with this liquid liner if you favor ultra-thin liner.
Maybelline Master Precise Eyeliner
Who said a good eyeliner that makes you swoon had to cost more than $15 or $20? We tested the ease of application, the pigmentation of the liquid liner itself, and the ease of removal of this drugstore find, among other things. We were astounded by the outcomes in each case.
Above all, we were delighted with the smooth, effortless application that the extremely thin tip provided. It is quite simple for novices or those who want to perfect their cat eye thanks to this extremely accurate and sharp tip. Furthermore, you may achieve an opaque line without making numerous passes thanks to the strong pigmentation of this liner. It also dries almost fast and stays in place all day, so transfer problems are a thing of the past.
Charlotte Tilbury Eyeliner Pencil
This soft kohl liner from Charlotte Tilbury is a fan favorite if you’re searching for an eyeliner that works well on your waterline and elsewhere. Its highly pigmented formula glides on easily, blends beautifully right away, and dries down quickly for long-lasting wear. Every application was incredibly fluid, smoothly and evenly gliding across our lid. One stroke was sufficient to achieve the desired drama thanks to the rich, inky pigment. Applying it to the waterline without transfer and the top lid felt almost too simple.
However, it should be noted that because this is a pencil liner made of kohl, it is a little thicker than regular liquid or mechanical gel eyeliner and produces chunkier lines as a result. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a little bit thicker, more blurred wear, we suggest it. However, once dried, it remains in place for hours on end, so don’t let that give you the impression that it’s a mess that smudges easily.
Lancôme Drama Liqui-Pencil
Look no further than the Lancôme Drama Liqui-Pencil if you prefer pencil eyeliners to liquid ones. Fans of Lancôme cosmetics swear by the brand’s creamy gel texture, which applies smoothly and creates a uniform, intensely pigmented swatch of color in just one swipe. In terms of color, it comes in eight hues that are further divided into matte, metallic, and glitter finishes. The majority of the colorways are more on the neutral or autumnal side of things, even if eight colors is more than most businesses offer. (Thus, you might want to keep looking at the items below if you’re looking for a striking splash of color.)
This long-wearing, smudge-proof pencil eyeliner has a critical feature that makes it easy to remove: it stays bendable for a brief period of time after application. As such, it’s ideal for achieving overall smokey eye effects and blurred lower lashlines.
Melt Cosmetics Ultra Matte Gel Eyeliner
We have the best recipe if your ideal gel eyeliner is one that comes in a container. We tested this matte gel eyeliner and discovered that it offers the best pigmentation and the most accurate application.
After just one application, the vivid color of this gel liner was evident due to its exceptional pigmentation. We found that using a flat eyeliner brush made it simple to apply product to the back of our hands before gliding the brush’s flat tip across our lids. The liner felt a little moist on our lids at first, but it applied evenly and smoothly, didn’t transfer, and dried quickly. We discovered that this liner was quite simple to remove with a wipe; forceful tugging wasn’t necessary, even though it doesn’t transfer or smear and may be worn all day as a result.
KVD Liquid Eyeliner
For good reason, the KVD Beauty Tattoo Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is a staple in many celebrity makeup artists’ kits. It’s easy to create perfect lines with the tiny, pointed felt tip that dispenses the rich liquid liner in the smoothest, most even way possible. Additionally, this liner lends itself to ultra-crisp wing application because to its tiny tip. Having said that, we did discover throughout testing that the formula began to falter after the wing’s initial 15 minutes. We just added another layer to repair it and get the desired entirely opaque wing.
Aside from a tiny crack, we thought this was the most user-friendly liquid eyeliner out there. It was simple to remove with micellar water and had an excellent overall appearance.
NakedPoppy Liquid Eyeliner
Clean beauty formulations are frequently taken to imply less pigmentation. That is, until you use the Naked Poppy Clean Liquid Eyeliner, and everything changes. It takes several passes to get a clean, exact line with this new liquid eyeliner and applicator, but once the color is filled in, it is a bright, easy-to-wear black hue that doesn’t fade to gray like other liners do.
The product’s ease of application is yet another highlight. Its long handle and felt tip allow for precise application, and because it dries rapidly, it feels light and doesn’t transfer to lids. As a result, this liner not only ranks as the best clean alternative but is also a fantastic option for both beginners and experts.
Kaja Wink Stamp Eyeliner
Admire the appearance of wing tips but struggle with application technique? You’ll fall in love with the Kaja Wink Stamp. This liquid eyeliner has a wing stamp loaded with ink on one side and a thin felt tip on the other. It provides a beautiful wing and forms a wonderful shape. A word of caution: Unless you enjoy a thick, black line that results from several passes, we found that stamping with a slow, steady, and precise movement is the best approach.
Even if the stamp is revolutionary, we have to concede that the pen portion of this liner is a bit lacking. Although it is fairly pigmented, there are some bumps and ridges that are evident when touched, and it does not apply smoothly. We used our usual go-to eyeliner to join the lines, but we found ourselves reaching for this stamp almost daily.
Remember this additional point: Compared to other liner in our list, this one isn’t as weightless. Although it dries in a matter of minutes, we could feel it drying, and occasionally the tight feeling it caused was uncomfortable. This could be a warning sign for people who wear contacts or have sensitive eyes.
Hourglass Cosmetics Mechanical Gel Eye Liner
The Hourglass 1.5 mm Mechanical Gel Eyeliner is a useful tool for creating precise wing tips or ultra-subtle eyeliner effects due to its exceptional application. The highly sharp tip made it possible for precisely the correct quantity of product to show through, resulting in a smooth and intensely pigmented line. There was no suggestion of pulling, no pressure, no discomfort. And once applied, this best-selling eyeliner stayed put; there was no transfer and it dried quickly. Despite being smudge- and budge-proof, this liner is surprisingly simple to remove.
The liner’s one dubious feature is that, although being mechanical, it cannot be retracted, meaning that once you twist it up, there’s no turning back. Because most liners last much longer than that, it seems a bit unusual that the brand explicitly specifies that the liner lasts for 17 to 20 uses. Nevertheless, this liner is still a great choice given its color payoff and simplicity of use, particularly for tiny lines.
Sephora Collection Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner
For those who want to replicate the boldest, brightest eye looks of the year, the Sephora Collection Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil is a dream come true. The creamy pencil comes in an astounding eighteen tones and a range of finishes, like as shimmer, matte, and satin. On the first pass, it applies a rich, even color and glides across lids with ease. However, because it’s a pencil liner, applying it in dashes rather than in one continuous swipe is advised because pulling the pencil over your lid could be painful and create tugging. We discovered that using a connect-the-dots method prevents this.
In terms of color payoff, we thought every finish was just as amazing because of the strong pigments, which really made the shimmery, glitter-filled hues pop. When choosing shimmer hues over mattes and satins, one thing to bear in mind is that the flecks are harder to get rid of. The creamy texture of the pencil’s once-pointy tip went flat and dull after just one usage, which disappointed us. However, the pencil’s built-in sharpener will quickly provide you with a sharp point.
MAC Fluidline Eyeliner and Eyebrow Gel
We are big fans of makeup products that can do two things well, and this MAC gel liner is one of them (albeit it’s more appropriate for people with really black eyebrows). Using an angled brush, the solution melted onto our lids smoothly no matter how we applied it. Just be out not to squeeze the gel liner too hard while picking it up, since this might build up on the brush and result in thick lines. Therefore, before applying it to your lids (or brows), always wipe off the edges.
Additionally, be ready for some unexpected color. We initially believed this to be black eyeliner, but it was actually a very dark metal gray that gave the appearance of being blue on the eyes. You don’t need to be concerned about it inadvertently spreading to your upper lids or behind your lower lashlines because it dries quickly. Using an eye makeup remover, a general makeup remover, and a washing balm made it easy to remove.
