We tested dozens of eyeliners — here's why Rare Beauty tops our list. (Marie Lodi/Yahoo)
Many of us have that one beauty product that we borderline obsess over, and for me, it’s always been finding the best eyeliner. I’ve been doing a winged eye for almost 20 years, and I won’t stop, no matter how much Gen Z deems it uncool. (Rude.) The best eyeliners have seen me and my fellow cat-eye loyalists through long days (and even longer nights), never failing to impress me with how well they endure through my various hijinks.
Decades ago, when I first started out on my eyeliner journey, the options for an exceptional product were limited. What made things worse was that the few liners I loved kept getting discontinued. (Pour one out for Benefit Cosmetics Magic Ink.) The beauty gods seem to have heard my cries: In the past few years, newer versions of classic eyeliners have only become better and better.
Navigating through the eyeliner world can be confusing for anyone. Not only are there various types of eyeliner — from liquid, gel, kohl, felt-tip and pencil — there's also a vast sea of formulas, finishes, and applicators to consider. Ultimately it all comes down to your personal eyeliner goals. Finding the right eyeliner that complements your makeup style, whether heavy or light, and stays in place without turning into a raccoon-eye situation, is crucial.
That’s where I come in as your trusty eyeliner guide. I went to work testing more than 40 eyeliners, finding the best products that go on smoothly, stay put all day and will make your eyes gloriously pop. Whether you seek to perfect your cat-eye once and for all or simply to find the best smudge-proof liner that will stay on all day, this will help.
Update, August 18, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. Our No. 1 pick for the best eyeliner remains unchanged.
Size: 0.03 oz. | Type: Brush | Finish: Matte | Waterproof: Yes | Shades: 1
Selena Gomez looks great with a cat eye, so it makes sense that her beauty brand would have a top-tier liquid eyeliner in its product line. Made with up to 800 bristles, the brush applicator ensures this eyeliner goes on super smooth. Thanks to the soft, sleek bristles, I was able to apply it quickly and evenly, with zero gaps in the line. It’s richly pigmented, waterproof and lasts a long time, especially if you set it with a shadow or primer — something I suggest you should do with all eyeliners.
Rare Beauty has launched a Made Accessible Initiative, which focuses on rendering all products and packaging accessible for people with disabilities. While the eyeliner isn’t featured as one of these products, it is designed in a way that makes me think the makers had an ergonomic grip in mind.
Compared with other liquid eyeliners I tested, this one has a wider, longer tube, which makes it comfortable and easy to hold. And while brush pens of the past were more difficult to maneuver and create precise strokes, this version acts like a felt tip, allowing me to easily line my upper lids. All of which make it an ideal choice for eyeliner beginners.
Size: 0.012 oz | Type: Gel | Finish: Matte | Waterproof: No | Shades: 13
If you haven't tried About-Face, the makeup brand by the singer Halsey, consider using this pencil eyeliner to be the first product to introduce you to the brand. (FTR, I have tried, and continue to use, a lot of About-Face products because they are really, really good.) The pencil's formula is silky smooth, so the application is a breeze. It comes in 13 different shades, and every single one is intense enough to get a bold graphic eye alone, even without eyeshadow.
This versatile gel pencil is amazing for both a cat-eye and a sultry, smoky look. It’s also well-priced at $14, especially compared to other similar pencils on the market, like Haus Labs, which costs $22. And while the formula isn’t exactly waterproof, it’s water-resistant and lasts for hours.
Size: 0.03 oz. | Type: Brush | Finish: Matte | Waterproof: Yes | Shades: 6
NYX makes some of the best eyeliners on the market today, but its Epic Ink is especially standout. It performs just as well, if not better, than of the pricier eyeliners. In fact, for weeks, I was using a NYX Epic Ink, thinking that it was more than twice the price! Similar to Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes, this NYX formula has a brush tip and a matte finish.
The reviews are impressive, to say the least: On Amazon alone, there are nearly 70,000 five-star ratings.
At $10, this is an affordable, high-quality eyeliner that should hold a spot in everyone's makeup bag.
Size: 0.03 oz. | Type: Brush | Finish: Matte | Waterproof: Yes | Shades: 6
NYX makes some of the best eyeliners on the market today, but its Epic Ink is especially standout. It performs just as well, if not better, than the pricier eyeliners. In fact, for weeks, I was using a NYX Epic Ink, thinking that it was more than twice the price! Similar to Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes, this NYX formula has a brush tip and a matte finish.
The reviews are impressive, to say the least: On Amazon alone, there are nearly 70,000 five-star ratings. At $10, this is an affordable, high-quality eyeliner that should hold a spot in everyone's makeup bag.
Size: 0.04 oz | Type: Kohl | Finish: Satin| Waterproof: Yes | Shades: 6
Like liquid eyeliners, we’ve had a true evolution in the pencil eyeliner category. I still remember having to soften my black eye pencil by melting it with a lighter. Thankfully, those days are long gone, and creamy eye pencils — like Charlotte Tilbury’s Rock 'N' Kohl Eyeliner Pencil — now exist, without any of us having to incorporate some sort of potential fire hazard.
This kohl liner is creamy and glides on smooth without tugging on eyelids, which is extremely important for an everyday pencil. I was able to tightline (see below) my lashes and do a smokey eye, complete with a nicely defined wing with this. It doesn’t matter if soft, subtle glam is your go-to aesthetic or if you want to experient with more sultry-meets-grunge eye makeup, Charlotte Tilbury’s Rock 'N' Kohl Eyeliner Pencil is the one eyeliner pencil you need in your life.
The staying power is also impressive. It’s waterproof, smudge-proof, and lasts up to 14 hours, in case you have a long night ahead. There's an impressive shade range, too. Keep the classic “Bedroom Black” around as an everyday staple, but I've also been loving Midnight Blue and Velvet Violet.
I’ve been writing about beauty products for over a decade, but I have been using liquid eyeliner and drawing on a cat eye as my signature beauty look even longer.
After choosing my top 40 eyeliners to test, I swatched each on my hand to get a preview of the formula, then tried a single brand every single morning for around five weeks. I took notice of the following:
Pigment: Was it inky enough or did it look faded on?
Application: Did it glide on my skin smoothly?
Comfort: How comfortably the pen or pencil fit in my hand
Precision: Specifically, how easy or hard it was to draw on a wing
Formula: Is it waterproof, smudge-proof or easy to blend?
Wear time: Did it disappear after a few hours or last all day?
Unlike other beauty products I've tested, I didn’t care too much about the ingredients for this one or removal (as I know the best makeup removers had me covered there!) and I tested brands that I've either had good experience with over the years or that I've heard of from online influencers, makeup artists and fellow beauty editors.
As I mentioned, the eyeliners currently on the market today are worlds better than those you could buy 20 years ago. It's a good problem to have, but it also made it difficult to narrow things down. I tested a wide swath of eyeliners but was most surprised that the following didn't make the cut.
Nars Climax Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner: I enjoyed testing this liner, and it was this close to making the list. However, the brush has a challenging tapered tip which is not the most user-friendly or at least has a bit of a learning curve, so it might be better for more experienced liquid eyeliner users.
Chanel's Intense Longwear Eyeliner Pen: Leaving this liner off the list was also tough, as it has a rich, intense pigment that I love and a nice application. The downside is you have to put the pen together to "activate" the ink. While it's not at all difficult to do the extra step, it might be a turnoff for some, especially at an over $40 price point.
Chantecaille Le Stylo Ultra Slim Liquid Eyeliner: This liner is ultra-precise, but the brush tip was just a tad too stiff, so I had some difficulty drawing it on.
What is the best type of eyeliner for beginners?
Our top pick from Rare Beauty is an excellent liquid eyeliner for beginners. In general, a gel pencil is easiest eyeliner to begin with because this type tends to be super flexible and forgiving. They're also easy to smudge for a softer look.
How do I wear eyeliner without smudging?
The number one trick to ensuring that your eyeliner lasts is to always use a primer. I like Urban Decay and About Face. In a pinch, you can dab a tiny dot of concealer on your lid and gently brush on some translucent setting powder. Last, if smudging really becomes an issue, consider using a liner with a waterproof or long-wearing formula.
What is the difference between liquid, gel and pencil eyeliner?
Liquid eyeliner offers precision and a dramatic look and is usually what people use to get a thicker, crisp, razor-sharp line. Gel eyeliner is more versatile, still offering precision along with a more blendable application. Meanwhile, pencil eyeliner is the classic, great for tightlining (applying eyeliner to your upper waterline) and can be used for creating softer lines too.
What are some tips for applying a cat-eye to hooded or aging eyes?
If you want to do a cat-eye, draw it using a pencil liner or matte black eyeshadow applied with a small angle brush. Celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg starts with eyeshadow and then goes in with a liquid liner that has a thin brush, as seen in this TikTok video. Some experts suggest a smaller wing better complements hooded eyes, but you should always do what you want!
What is tightlining, and how do I do it?
Tightlining is essentially applying eyeliner to your upper waterline to create an illusion of thicker lashes. Pencil eyeliner is best for this, especially kohl. Use it to gently fill in the gaps between your lashes.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
