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
    Cream Shaper For Eyes

    Clinique

    4,731 REVIEWS
    Creamy eyeliner pencil with a hint of shimmer works to shape and define with intense, stay-put color.
  2. 2
    Quickliner For Eyes

    Clinique

    4,028 REVIEWS
    Twists up. Glides on. Smudges to a smooth blur of transfer-resistant colour. Needs no sharpening.
  3. 3
    Long Wear Gel Eyeliner

    Bobbi Brown

    2,890 REVIEWS
    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.
  4. 4
    Perfectly Defined Gel Eyeliner
    644 REVIEWS
    BestSeller
    This unique gel-based pencil delivers richly pigmented color and precision lining with up to 12 hours of waterproof wear. 
  5. 5
    Mystikol Powdered Eyeliner

    Jane Iredale

    404 REVIEWS
    Create the sexy look you love with new improved Mystikol Powdered Eyeliners!
  6. 6
    Long-Wear Cream Eyeliner Stick
    219 REVIEWS
    Fine-tip design creates sleek, defined looks effortlessly, while the creamy, blendable formula smudges softly for smokey eye looks. 
  7. 7
    Intense Gel Eye Liner

    Trish McEvoy

    139 REVIEWS
    BestSeller
    A waterproof gel formula with pigment rich color.
  8. 8
    Phyto-Khol Star Waterproof Eye Pencil
    101 REVIEWS
    BestSeller
    An automatic, retractable eye pencil with an integrated pencil sharpener.
  9. 9
    Satin Kajal Liner

    Victoria Beckham Beauty

    39 REVIEWS
    BestSeller
    A creamy, smudge-free eyeliner with vivid, high-performance colors that simply demand attention.
  10. 10
    Dawn to Dusk Gel Eyeliner
    30 REVIEWS
    BestSeller Exclusive
    This 14-hour long-wear gel eyeliner offers the precision of a liquid liner and the control of a gel without smudging.

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.