After 20 hours of research evaluating 125 products, we picked Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil as our top choice.
Got a dedicated spot in your makeup bag for your favorite eyeliner? You’re not alone.
In 2016, Americans spent nearly $618 million on eyeliner, making it the second most popular cosmetic for eyes (mascara topped the charts with annual sales of around $942 million).
Eyeliner has been around since 10,000 B.C., and ancient Egyptians believed it had magical healing properties that prevented bacteria from damaging the eye region.
But times have changed:
And, unless you’re trekking through Nile-like marshlands on the regular, you probably don’t need an eyeliner to boost your immune system. Lucky for you, the best eyeliner still works wonders by concealing the effects of sleep deprivation and completely changing the shape of your eyes. Well, until you reach for the makeup remover, of course.
If you want to brighten tired eyes with a white pencil, define your style with the best liquid eyeliner for winged tips, or simply find a cheap way to get the lined look you love, we’re here to help.
We’ve narrowed down the crazy-huge selection of eyeliner at drugstores and popular beauty retailers to bring you this list of the best eyeliner options for every budget.
#1 Best Eyeliner Overall
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
- Long-lasting formula
- Perfect for tightlining your eyes
- Glides on gently and easily
Pros
Available in approximately 40 colors, from classic black and grey shades to vibrant pink, green, and blue hues. Recipient of numerous awards, including Allure’s Best of Beauty and Readers’ Choice awards.
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#2 Best Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
- Lasts all day
- Easy to apply, even for liquid liner novices
- Marker-style tip
Pros
Glossy finish enhances your eyes beautifully. Versatile tip lets you create different looks without switching between different eyeliners.
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#3 Best Drugstore Eyeliner
COVERGIRL Perfect Point Plus
- Soft tip
- Self-sharpening design
- Easy to use
Pros
Produced by COVERGIRL, which has been a trusted cosmetics brand for more than 50 years. Built-in smudger allows for easy blending.
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#4 Best Designer Eyeliner Pen
TOM FORD Eye Defining Pen
- Deep black hue
- Perfect for all-day wear
- Dual-sided applicator
Pros
This luxurious liner makes it easy to define your eyes with crisp lines and dramatic designs (cat eyes, anyone?). The highly pigmented formula produces rich black lines.
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#5 Best Gel Eyeliner
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
- Easy to apply
- Resists humidity, sweat, and tears
- Rich, deep color
Pros
Three-time recipient of the Allure Best of Beauty Award and one of the top-selling gel eyeliners at Sephora.com. Flake-resistant formula lasts up to 12 hours.
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#6 Best Cruelty-Free Eyeliner for Animal Lovers
Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner
- Vegan friendly
- Lasts for 12+ hours
- Double-ended design features a liquid liner and a pencil
Pros
One of Allure’s Best of Beauty award winners in 2016. The ophthalmologist-tested formula is safe for ladies who wear contact lenses.
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#7 Best Precision Eyeliner Pencil
Antonym Certified Natural Waterproof Eye Pencil
- Eco-friendly ingredients
- Thin, pointed tip
- Smooth application
Pros
Certified organic product that’s approved by dermatologists. Water-resistant formula delivers long-lasting eye enhancement.
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Eyeliner Tips & Advice
The eyeliner is undoubtedly a staple in our beauty routine. It defines the eyes, makes your lashes look flirtatiously thick, and is versatile enough to be used for both ultra-chic and barely-there makeup looks.
In spite of being one of the most popular makeup products, many of us are still intimidated by the thought of using eyeliners. After all, they’re also one of the easiest makeup items to mess up. But with the right technique and product, acing eyeliner application is totally possible.
In this guide, we’ll give you everything you need to know to master eyeliner application regardless of what eyeliner type you prefer. We also have some handy advice on eyeliner colors, and of course, eyeliner tricks that will save your life—or at least your time.
Different Types of Eyeliners and How to Use Them
Not all eyeliners are created equal. In fact, eyeliners are some of the most diverse makeup products on the market today. But don’t let that scare you! We’ve detailed and differentiated all the different kinds of eyeliner below. Check them out.
Wood Eyeliner Pencil
Everyone knows this as the OG eyeliner. The wood eyeliner pencil was an indispensable tool back in our teenage grunge/punk/goth/emo days. And even if you’d rather not admit that you went through any of these phases, there’s a high chance that the classic eyeliner pencil is one of the very first makeup items you’ve ever tried.
And that’s not surprising at all. After all, it’s way easier to use and maneuver than liquid and gel eyeliners—making it one of the most beginner-friendly pieces of eye makeup available. It’s also creamy, easy to smudge out, and easy to blend into your eyeshadow.
Eye pencils are also pretty versatile. When sharpened, they can create precise lines and get really close to the roots of your lashes. When you want a messier, smudged look, you can simply use your pencil with a blunter tip.
On the flip side, wood eyeliner pencils are difficult to use if you want supermodel cat eyes. A super opaque, a jet-black line is pretty much impossible to achieve using this tool, too—so if you like that look, you might want to go for liquid and gel liners.
How to use: Typically, wood pencils will have a creamy and/or waxy consistency. While this makes them super easy to blend out, such a formula also makes them more likely to crease and run. That said, prepping your eyelids with a shadow primer will help avoid this mishap.
To create thin lines, start off with a freshly sharpened pencil and carefully draw using short, precise strokes—staying as close to your lash line as possible. Tilt the pencil a little bit to the side so you’re drawing with the side of the point instead of the tip. This makes it easier to see what you’re doing in the mirror.
Best for: Ladies who want an easy-to-smudge and easy-to-blend eyeliner, and those who like the versatility of a pencil that can create both thin and thick lines.
Mechanical Eyeliner Pencil
The mechanical eyeliner, which is also frequently called the twist-up eye pencil, provides all-day staying power and creamy pigment. It’s an iteration of the wood eyeliner pencil, but this time, you only have to twist it up instead of sharpening it. Because they’re not encased in wood (they use plastic packaging), some mechanical eyeliner pencils are able to sport waterproof formulas.
Mechanical eyeliner pencils are typically creamy, which makes them great for blended looks—and blended looks only. The twist-up mechanism means they operate with a blunter tip, so precise lines are difficult to achieve. Another downside is that it’s more prone to breakage than wood pencils—so if you hate wasting product, you have to be extra careful.
How to use: Twist the eyeliner to reveal the tip. Make sure not to reveal too much product at once as this might lead to breakage—especially if you’re quite heavy-handed. Press the tip of the liner onto the roots of your lashes and proceed to shade using a side-to-side motion.
Use a smudger to soften the lines using the same side-to-side technique. The creamy nature of this product buys you a bit more time to blend. But If you’re using a waterproof formula, you should definitely work quickly as it tends to dry in place a lot faster.
Best for: Girls who either hate sharpeners or couldn’t care less about razor-sharp lines. Also, those who are looking for a creamy, pigmented tip that won’t hurt their waterline.
Gel Eyeliner
Gel eyeliners usually come in tiny jars or pots and are best applied using a thin eyeliner brush or a pointed pencil brush. They deliver solid pigment in one swipe and enable you to create both precise and smudged lines.
Most gel eyeliners are waterproof and long-wearing. And although they can be blended out during application, they’re pretty much smudge-proof once they dry. Also, if you’re a fan of the smoky eye but find pencil liners too lacking in terms of color payoff, then the gel eyeliner is definitely for you.
How to use: For a precise cat-eye, use a brush that is slightly stiff and has a super-thin edge. Drag the edge of the brush across the eyeliner to pick up some product. If you feel like you’ve picked up too much, wipe off a bit of the gel on the cap.
Press and drag the brush starting from the outer edge of your eye all the way to the middle. Next, create another line from the inner corner toward the middle. It’s important to do this in the right order. You should only draw on your inner corners when there’s not much product left on the brush.
You can stop right there, or you may proceed to draw a cat-eye. You may also use a smudger to softly blend the liner for a smokier look.
Best for: Gals who would like to have a versatile, super pigmented tool that can create razor-sharp lines, yet is blendable enough to be smudged out.
Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner
Felt-tip liquid eyeliners resemble the tiny color markers we used to use as kids—only now, they’re thinner, sleeker, and using them makes us feel put together. A felt-tip liquid liner will have a stiff-yet-spongy applicator and an inky liquid formula. They’re commonly long-wearing and smudge-proof, as well.
A good felt-tip eyeliner will give you solid pigment in a single swipe, which means a single pen can potentially last you a long time—that is if it doesn’t dry out. That said, make sure to always replace the lid tightly to prevent the pigment from drying out.
How to use: The beauty of liquid eyeliner pens is that there’s no need to sharpen, twist, or dip anything before use. They usually require you to give the pen a bit of a shake, though, and that’s to make sure that the pigment is well-distributed in the formula.
You can use this pen to create lines of various widths. Drawing with a light hand will give you a thin line while pressing firmly will result in a thicker one.
Best for: Those who want a long-wearing, matte, and solid color payoff without hassle.
Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner
Brush tip liquid eyeliners come in two forms: tube and pen. The pen form looks and functions exactly like the felt tip liquid eyeliner—but obviously, with a brush tip instead of a felt tip.
The other form makes use of a tube filled with a liquid liner formula and a brush wand that dips into the tube. Most liquid glitter and metallic eyeliners use this format; and that’s because the tube can accommodate a variety of formulas such as matte, glitter, shimmer, metallic, and even glossy shine.
How to use: Untwist the cap and pull out the brush wand. Then, carefully line your lids using the brush. The pointed tip lets you create thin lines with light strokes, but drawing with a firmer hand will also let you create thicker lines.
Best for: Glitter liner lovers, and those who like the flexibility of a brush tip.
Kohl or Kajal Eyeliner
Di you know that signature intense smoky look that’s associated with Queen Cleopatra herself? That’s made possible by Kohl and Kajal eyeliners. They are among the oldest known cosmetic products in history—with their use dating back to Ancient Egypt, India, and Africa.
Kohl and Kajal liners create super thick and pigmented lines that are easy to smoke way, way out. They come with a waxy applicator that looks like a chubby crayon. Because of their size and shape, they’re not meant for creating thin lines.
How to use: Kohl and Kajal liners are your best bet for smoky, smudged-out looks where precision isn’t that much of a big deal, so applying them is actually pretty simple. Simply press and drag where you need color, and then blend it out with an eye brush until your desired look is achieved.
Best for: Ladies who want an easy-to-smudge and super pigmented product and are not fans of super thin lines.
Best Eyeliner Shades for Every Eye Color
We all adore black eyeliner. It’s a classic staple that makes us feel put together day and night, after all. But don’t sleep on colored liners! Using the right shade can actually play up the color of your eyes. Here are the best eyeliner colors for your peepers—trust us, it works!
Blue eyes: Blue eye makeup may look stunning on blue eyes, but we all know that a blue liner is not that easy to execute every day. On the other hand, copper and gold liners boast warm, metallic hues that perfectly accentuate blue eyes. And they’re perfectly wearable, too!
Brown eyes: For brown eyes, ditch your usual black liner in favor of deeper shades that are visually more interesting. A nice navy or dark green liner will do wonders to brighten your eyes.
Hazel eyes: Olive-toned and chocolate brown eyeliners will look amazing against hazel eyes. The secret here is simple, really. All you have to do is find a liner color that’s close to the green and brown pigments on your irises.
Green eyes: Violet eyeliners pair amazingly well with green eyes if you want a flattering pop of color. Go for a darker violet if you want something that isn’t as attention-grabbing, but bronze liners will work well, too.
The Best Eyeliner Tips and Tricks
- Feeling like your pencil eyeliner isn’t giving you enough color payoff? Sharpen it. Some pencil liners tend to form a waxy film when they’re exposed to air for a long time, and this film affects the performance of the liner. Sharpen yours to expose a fresh layer of pigment underneath.
- Use nude eyeliner to make your eyes look bigger. Shading your waterline with a nude or cream eyeliner will brighten your eyes and make you look more awake. This tip is perfect for masking late nights and even hangovers!
- Struggling to draw precise lines? Look down into the mirror for better control. Using your bathroom mirror won’t make eyeliner application easier, but placing a handheld mirror on the counter below your eyes will.
- If creating cat eyes that look even remotely even on both sides seem like Mission Impossible, we recommend that you start drawing the wings first. Carefully trace a small line that follows the natural upturn of your lower lash line on one side, and then do the same on the other. Once you’ve got two even lines, you can process to draw the rest of your eyeliner in.
- Alternatively, you can use clear tape or a stick-on note as a guide for drawing your cat-eye. Make sure the tape you’re using is not too sticky, though—as this can damage the delicate eye area.
- Having an extra-long day? Use a matching eyeshadow to set your eyeliner in place. It will last twice as long, we promise.
