What to Look for in Eyeliners

Choosing the right eyeliner can elevate your makeup look and ensure long-lasting wear throughout the day. Here are key factors to consider when shopping for eyeliners.

1. Formula Type

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Eyeliners come in various formulas, such as pencil, gel, liquid, and cream. Each offers a different finish and level of control—pencils are great for beginners, while liquids and gels provide bold, precise lines.

2. Longevity and Smudge-Proof Wear

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Look for waterproof or long-wear formulas if you need your eyeliner to last all day without smudging or fading, particularly in humid conditions or on oily eyelids.

3. Color Payoff

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A highly pigmented eyeliner ensures intense color with just one swipe. Consider whether you want classic black, brown, or a pop of color to match your style.

4. Ease of Application

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Consider the applicator design and how smoothly the product glides on. Some eyeliners have flexible felt tips for sharp wings, while others offer retractable pencils that don’t require sharpening.

  1. 1
    Quickliner For Eyes Intense
    4,888 REVIEWS
    All the intensity of liquid liner in a richly pigmented, automatic pencil.
  2. 2
    Cream Shaper For Eyes

    Clinique

    4,763 REVIEWS
    Creamy eyeliner pencil with a hint of shimmer works to shape and define with intense, stay-put color.
  3. 3
    Quickliner For Eyes

    Clinique

    4,059 REVIEWS
    Twists up. Glides on. Smudges to a smooth blur of transfer-resistant colour. Needs no sharpening.
  4. 4
    Long Wear Gel Eyeliner

    Bobbi Brown

    2,892 REVIEWS
    BestSeller
    New from the Camo Luxe Collection, this 12-hour waterproof eyeliner offers the precision of a liquid and the ease of a gel in rich camouflage-inspired limited-edition shades.
  5. 5
    Eye Defining Pen

    Tom Ford

    1,911 REVIEWS
    Complete the look of the Tom Ford seductive eye with exceptional polish, using this innovative, dual-ended liquid liner.
  6. 6
    Straight Line Kohl Eye Pencil Definition
    592 REVIEWS
    A classic kohl eye pencil that lines eyes with rich, creamy color in just one swipe. 
  7. 7
    Ink Eyeliner

    Bobbi Brown

    283 REVIEWS
    Pen-style liquid eyeliner delivers carbon-black pigment with extreme precision.
  8. 8
    The Feline Flick

    Charlotte Tilbury

    205 REVIEWS
    Enhance the look of your eye shape for wider-looking eyes in seconds.
  9. 9
    Intense Gel Eye Liner

    Trish McEvoy

    141 REVIEWS
    BestSeller
    A waterproof gel formula with pigment rich color.
  10. 10
    Liquid Eyeliner

    Jane Iredale

    123 REVIEWS
    Our Liquid Eyeliner will amaze you with its saturated color and real staying power - all without those irritating chemicals.

What to Look for in Eyeliners

Choosing the right eyeliner can elevate your makeup look and ensure long-lasting wear throughout the day. Here are key factors to consider when shopping for eyeliners.

1. Formula Type

Citrus catapult arrow

Eyeliners come in various formulas, such as pencil, gel, liquid, and cream. Each offers a different finish and level of control—pencils are great for beginners, while liquids and gels provide bold, precise lines.

2. Longevity and Smudge-Proof Wear

Citrus catapult arrow

Look for waterproof or long-wear formulas if you need your eyeliner to last all day without smudging or fading, particularly in humid conditions or on oily eyelids.

3. Color Payoff

Citrus catapult arrow

A highly pigmented eyeliner ensures intense color with just one swipe. Consider whether you want classic black, brown, or a pop of color to match your style.

4. Ease of Application

Citrus catapult arrow

Consider the applicator design and how smoothly the product glides on. Some eyeliners have flexible felt tips for sharp wings, while others offer retractable pencils that don’t require sharpening.