The 17 Best Liquid Eyeliners of 2024

Even as beauty experts, we can admit that liquid eyeliners can be a little bit intimidating. They’re not super easy to blend out if you mess up, and they require a lot of Q-tips and makeup remover to correct if you goof up. However, mastering the liquid liner application only really requires a steady hand and a really great liner formula (a little luck doesn’t hurt either). 

You won’t be able to nail a great cat eye look with a liquid liner that’s dry, smudgey, too sheer in color, or takes forever to dry down. Thanks to the help of multiple makeup artists, we’ve narrowed down all the best liquid eyeliners for every type of need, from the best for beginners, the best waterproof, the best double-ended, and many more.

Best Overall

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

Amazon

What We Love What We Don't

The Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid does it all and is a makeup artist fave. Dorman explains that it has an easy-to-use applicator that allows liquid liner to spread evenly along the top lash line. The fine tip is firm and makes a precise line every time. Plus, it will not budge; it really does stay on all day long.

Price at time of publish: $24

Type: Pen | Shades: 8 | Size: 0.016 oz

Best Value

Maybelline Hyper Easy Liquid Liner

Walmart

What We Love What We Don't Love

Jeon's pick for best drugstore eyeliner is Maybelline's Hyder Easy Liquid Pen Eyeliner. It glides on easily on the lash line and provides an even application of the highly-pigmented black liquid.

Price at time of publish: $10

Type: Pen | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.02 oz

Best Variety

Dior Diorshow On Stage Liquid Eyeliner

Sephora

What We Love What We Don't Love

Greenberg, founder of The Blighlighter, likes the Dior Show On Stage Liner because of all the different colors and finishes it comes in. You get a total of 16 highly-pigmented colors like gold, indigo, and emerald, and that come in either matte, satin, or pearly finishes. The Dior spring runway show showed white eyeliner is trending. As an added bonus, she says the liner boasts 24 hours of wear time.

Price at time of publish: $32

Type: Felt tip | Shades: 16 | Size: 0.01 oz

Best Colors

Lime Crime Pigmented Liquid Liner

Amazon

What We Love What We Don't Love

Dorman's pick for best color eyeliner is the Lime Crime Venus Pigmented Liquid Eyeliner because it gives intense color on the eyes and it doesn't flake off. It's a waterproof matte formula that dries quickly and will not transfer or fade.

Price at time of publish: $18

Type: Brush | Shades: 11 | Size: 0.079

Best Black

KVD Liquid Eyeliner

Sephora

What We Love What We Don't Love

Everyone needs a great classic black liner in their beauty arsenal, and you can't go wrong with Dorman's pick. KVD Beauty Tattoo Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner's black shade, "Trooper," is an opaque black with a satin finish that goes on smoothly along the lash line. The ultra fine tip allows you to do so many things with the highly-pigmented liner (think graphic or winged cat-eyes) and it will last all day.

Price at time of publish: $25

Type: Brush tip | Shades: 2 | Size: 0.019 oz

Best For Beginners

Eyeko Black Magic Liquid Eyeliner

Amazon

What We Love What We Don't Love

Greenberg loves the Eyeko Black Magic Liquid Eyeliner for beginners because it has a very, very easy application. The fine brush tip makes it so the liner goes on smoothly and it's pretty much smudge- and foolproof.

Price at time of publish: $22

Type: Brush tip | Shade: 1 | Size: 0.13 oz

Best Splurge

Surrat Auto-Graphique Liner

Surrat Beauty

What We Love What We Don't Love

Dorman loves the Surratt Beauty Auto-Graphique liner because of its Japanese calligraphy-inspired brush that allows for a nice, smooth application. It's also an InStyle Best Beauty Buys winner. The formula is opaque and buildable. It's even one of the sustainable options as you can refill the cartridge once you're out.

Price at time of publish: $44

Type: Pen | Shade: 4 | Size: 0.30 grams

Best for Winged Liner

Kaja Wink Stamp Eyeliner

Amazon

What We Love What We Don't Love

Jeon's pick, the Kaja Wink Stamp, makes a cat-eye super easy — even for eyeliner novices out there. You get a classic black liquid liner along with a double-ended wing stamp pen in this set. Simply position the stamp at the outer corner edge of the eye (it is labeled "left" and "right" for the corresponding eye) so that the longest edge of the wing connects to your lower lash line. Then draw the liner along the upper lash line and connect it to the wing. And voila! A perfect cat-eye in seconds.

Price at time of publish: $25

Type: Felt tip and stamp | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.01 oz

Best Waterproof

L'Oréal Infallible Flash Cat

Ulta

What We Love What We Don't Love

The L'Oreal Infallible Flash Cat Eye Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner will not move. It stays on vividly with no flaking or smudging all day. As an added bonus, it comes with a cat-eye stencil to help you create a winged eye look in seconds.

Price at time of publish: $11

Type: Brush tip | Shades: 2 | Size: 0.18 oz

Best Shimmer

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner

Urban Decay

What We Love What We Don't Love

Who doesn't love a little shine? Add some sparkle to your eyes with the Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner, which contains fine colored glitter on a clear base for a buildable pretty liner look. It dries quickly and lasts all day.

Price at time of publish: $25

Type: Brush tip | Shades: 11 | Size: 0.25 oz

Best For Sensitive Eyes

Honest Beauty Liquid Eyeliner

Ulta

What We Love What We Don't Love

Jesscia Alba's Honest Beauty Liquid Liner is made with sensitive eyes in mind. Dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested, this is labeled hypoallergenic and doesn't include known irritants like parabens and silicones. You can easily define your eyes with its fine tip brush and super black color.

Price at time of publish: $13

Type: Felt tip | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.06 oz

Best Precision

Lancome Felt-Tip Liquid Eyeliner

Sephora

What We Love What We Don't Love

Sleek and classic, the Lancome Artliner Precision Felt-Tip Liquid Eyeliner is going to be your new go-to for a simple lined eye look. It has one of the finest felt-tip brushes that makes lining your lash line super easy. It's also made with double film-forming polymers so that it lasts all day.

Price at time of publish: $31

Type: Felt tip | Shades: 4 | Size: 0.04 oz

Best Brown

Lancôme Idôle Ultra-Precise Eyeliner

Ulta

What We Love What We Don't Love

Celebrity makeup artist Tomy Rivero loves this liner in Syrup Brown. “I like that it stays put for hours without losing the intensity of the color,” he says. “It also doesn’t break down (or flake off) if you need to touch it up throughout the day, or if you have oily eyelids.” 

One of the downsides of this pick is that it seems to dry out relatively quickly. Always make sure to reapply the cap back after you’ve used it, and shake up the pen before applying to your lids. 

Price at time of publish: $23

Type: Pen | Shades: 4 | Size: 0.03 oz

Best Dip Pot

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

Sephora

What We Love What We Don't Love

In our experience, you’re either a dip pot convert, or you’ve never used one before. If you haven’t tried one already, consider opting for the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner. This pick comes in four shades and is a favorite amongst many. “The Bobbi Brown one is a go-to of mine because it glides on and gives a soft look while also allowing you to build opaqueness if desired,” explains Lo. 

One issue to note with this dip pot is that you will need to purchase a separate eyeliner brush to be able to apply this to your lash line. Additionally, if you’re a big germaphobe, you might not like that you have to double dip your brush into this pot, as it’s not the most sanitary option. 

Price at time of publish: $34

Type: Dip pot | Shades: 4 | Size: 0.1 oz

Best Felt Tip

e.l.f. Cosmetics Intense H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen

Ulta

What We Love What We Don't Love

It’s hard not to love a great liquid eyeliner that only costs $7. This pick from e.l.f. Is one of Rivero’s favorites because it stays “wet” on the felt pen tip for a long time without drying. Meaning, it will last you a long time and won’t dry out too quickly. “This pick glides with ease, is at a great price point, and has a very intense color payoff, too.”

Unfortunately, while the felt tip seems to stay wet for a while, sometimes the cap will pop off randomly, and leave a mess in your bag. Make sure to check on the top, and secure it in place every time you put the cap back on. 

Price at time of publish: $7

Type: Pen | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.02 oz

Best Brush Tip

MAC Brushstroke Eyeliner

Ulta

What We Love What We Don't Love

Sometimes it’s hard to notice from pictures, but there are a few different types of liquid eyeliners that you can purchase—there are the felt tip liners, the dip pot liners, and the brush tip liners. This trusty pick from MAC is part of the latter group, and uses small brush hairs to distribute the liner pigment, rather than a felt tip. If you love to draw a thin line with a lot of precision, the MAC Brushstroke Eyeliner is the way to go. 

This pick comes in two colors and is safe for contact lens-wearers. Although the packaging promises 24-hour wear, we’ve noticed that it doesn’t last that long—you might find that it smudges or runs by the end of the day.   

Price at time of publish: $24

Type: Brush Tip Pen | Shades: 2 | Size: 0.02 oz

Best Double-Ended

Tarte Double Take Eyeliner

Target

What We Love What We Don't Love

Why opt for one formula when you can use both? This pick from Tarte is our favorite double-ended eyeliner because it comes with a liquid end, as well as a pencil end. “The Tarte Double Take eyeliner is a fantastic option, as it has a pencil that allows you to draw out the line, then flip the liner for a liquid to add definition with a beautiful matte finish,” explains Lo.

We love this pick for travel because you only have to bring one liner instead of two. Unfortunately, some folks have found that the pencil side breaks easily, so make sure you are applying the liner with a gentle pressure each time you use it. 

Price at time of publish: $15

Type: Double-ended pen | Shades: 2 | Size: 1 oz

What to Keep In Mind

Brush Type

Most liquid liners land in two categories: felt tips or brush tips. If you don't have the steadiest of hands or feel like a beginner, all experts agree to opt for the fine felt tip brush so you have better control when outlining your eye. Brush tips have bristles that can leave to stray lines or a messy wing if you don't have control of how to use it.

Formulation

We all want our makeup in general to stay put. Depending on your skin type (i.e. oily) or if you have hooded eyes, eyeliner may be one the products that easily transfers or fades. If that's the case, opt for waterproof or water resistant formulations to ensure that line stays on as long as you want it to. You can always prep it with a makeup primer or lock it in with a setting spray as well.

You Questions, Answered

What's the best way to apply liquid eyeliner?

Greenberg says the best way to apply eyeliner is to outline where you want your liner to go. She recommends placing very small dots — one in the inner corner on the top lash line, one in the middle of the lop lash line, and another on the outer corner on the top lash line — while your eye is open looking at a mirror.

Next, connect the dots. Start slowly from the inner corner and bring in the liner until you reach the middle. Then start slowly from the outer corner and bring in the liner until you reach the middle Then go back in and add thickness to the line or you can leave it as is.

Dorman adds that most people find that a thin line that thickens at the outer third of the eye with a slight wing is flattering on most eye shapes. She says if your wing looks disconnected when the eye is closed but crisp when your eye is open, it means you have a hooded eye. In this case, she says to do your best to fill in the wing so that it looks more straight and precise when the eye is open.

What brush tip is best for beginners?

Dorman recommends a firm felt tip brush for beginners. She explains that if the top is too pliable, it will become difficult to control. If the applicator is too thick, she says it will make precision difficult.

Jeon agrees and adds that if the brush is thin and small to begin with, any mistakes that do happen will also be small and easier to fix. So definitely opt for liquid liners that have a small fine felt tip if you're just starting out.

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