The best eyeliner liquids, pencils, and gels for enhancing your peepers

Pinning down the best eyeliner for you has the potential to take your makeup look to a whole new level.

While the best mascaras give our eyes a boost by adding length, lift, and impact to lashes, eyeliner enhances eyes in an entirely different way. Whether it's the sultry, sooty siren eyes trend, the drama of a sharp wing, or the bright-eyed finish of a light-colored tightline, there are so many different ways in which eyeliner looks can complete your style.

We love the Benefit BADgal BANG Pencil for adding a subtle impact to our eyes when dotted between the lashes, while the Suqqu Color Ink Liquid Eyeliner takes our top spot for liquid liner, thanks to its stellar staying power and strong-but-silky pigment. If your hand takes better to an eyeliner pen, then we love the KVD Beauty Tattoo Eyeliner for its smooth application and robust formula—and it really does live up to its tattoo-worthy name.

How to choose the best eyeliner for you

When it comes to choosing the best eyeliner for you, the first thing to think about is what type of eyeliner you actually want to go for. One of the most versatile products in the makeup bag, eyeliner can come in three different forms—pencil, liquid, and gel—and the type you choose really depends on what you want from the product. 

It's also important to consider what you get from the formula: is it waterproof? How pigmented is the color? Is it smooth enough to create seamless looks on the often loose and crease-ridden skin around the eye? And just as there are different types of mascara wands to choose from when deciding which mascara to buy, the same goes for eyeliner applicators. Here are the main differences you need to know:

• Pencil: Apply these if you're aiming for subtle enhancement or a touch of smokiness. Pencil eyeliners are also travel-friendly. Usually, it's better to opt for something with a plastic casing; as they start to blunt, traditional wooden pencils can scratch and irritate the eye when not sharpened properly. Pencils also tend to have the most "drag" when applied, which is something to consider particularly on more delicate or crepey eye areas.
• Liquid (also comes in pen form): Choose this if you're looking to achieve sleek lines, graphic looks, or bold flicks. First, look at whether the nib is a felt pen or a traditional brush: pens work well for those planning to apply eyeliner when on the go (or in a rush) or for anyone not fortunate enough to have a steady hand. More traditional liquid nibs tend to give you a sharper, sleeker finish, as well as a more pigmented, longer-lasting formula.
• Gel: A hybrid between pencil and liquid, this type of eyeliner allows you to create the looks associated with both, but won't match their results perfectly. They are, however, great for those who are just delving into the world of eyeliner, as they are pliable and more forgiving. Gel is generally applied from a pot with a separate brush, which allows you to play around a bit more to get your look right—but there are also gel pencil options that give you a slightly smoother finish.

The best eyeliners, as chosen by our experts

If you're looking for a simple, straightforward liquid eyeliner pen that performs well, this is the one for you. With a short, sharp nib that's easy to control—even if you apply your makeup on the go or on your daily commute—the eyeliner produces an impactful line that doesn't bleed at all. The formula is thin enough to glide onto lids smoothly without catching the skin, although this may mean you need to apply an extra layer to achieve a heavier, more saturated color. 

If you're looking to create a thick, winged line in an instant, this eyeliner probably wouldn't work for you, though; the sharp nib and thin formula mean it takes longer draw and fill in thicker, more dramatic lines. That said, for quick and easy flicks that last all day, we do love this product. 

As long-time fans of the Benefit BADgal BANG! mascara, we couldn't ignore this product when hunting out the best eyeliner on the beauty counters right now. 

A pencil eyeliner with a creamy formula, this is a versatile piece of kit for your makeup bag. It's capable of working in a range of ways: glide color onto the waterline (the line of skin between the lashes and the eye itself) to create definition without irritation, or use the automatic no-sharpen tip can to dot pigment between lashes, creating subtle impact in place of a heavy line. At the other end of the scale, those of you wanting to create a smoky eye look are in luck too; this eyeliner's formula glides onto lids seamlessly and can be blended and softened using the pencil's built-in smudger (rather than your finger tips!). 

Whatever way you apply your eyeliner, one thing's for sure: it's going nowhere. The strong, water-resistant pigment stays put all day and all night—hence its name—which is a major selling point in our books. 

This liquid eyeliner has everything you'd want—a silky formula, a precise and easy-to-use nib, and all-day staying power. That's the top-line information, but we can be more specific. 

Designed to give you the best qualities of traditional brush applicators combined with more contemporary felt pen-style tips, this sophisticated eyeliner creates a bold, elegant stroke. Its highly pigmented formula glides on easily and dries quickly, making it ideal for quick touch-ups or on-the-go application.

Another note on the formula: it's sturdy. By which we mean once it's on, the stretch fit polymer-infused eyeliner is there for the duration. No flaking, smudging, or cracking. The downside of that is that it can take a bit more effort to remove it—we suggest treating it much like one does when learning how to remove waterproof mascara and using a makeup remover that dissolves it, rather than trying to scrub at the delicate skin around the eye. 

While it might not be the most forgiving or simple-to-master eyeliner for beginners, in the right hands it can achieve a sleek finish that's resilient throughout the day. 

Epic in name, and epic by nature, this budget liner really does make an impact on your peepers. The traditional brush nib applies a dark, saturated finish, whether it's used to create fine flicks or bold wings, and it's fine enough to get right into the lashline—a level of precision and coverage that's not always possible with every type of eyeliner. 

While the rich, pigmented formula is more liquid than viscous, meaning it glides on easily, it's not the fastest-drying, which means it can transfer to the skin around the lashes during application. We also noticed that, on occasion the color can bleed at little. If you can get past the odd touch-up, in general it's a well-priced eyeliner that can achieve bold-looking eyes. 

When it comes to brightening out peepers, and achieving an almost doll-like '60s makeup look, we don't think there's anything better than the Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'N' Kohl in Eye Cheat. Using white liner on the waterline to make your eyes look bigger and brighter has long been a makeup industry trick, but we have to say, we prefer the subtler finish you get with a nude pencil, like this one. Essentially, it offers the same impact without the stark, shock of a bright white line.

The creamy, waterproof formula is packed with pigment so, even when applied with the lightest of touches, this pencil delivers a good amount of color. A soft kohl texture makes it easy to smooth onto the waterline, although the drawback of this is that the nib breaks down more easily than other pencils we tried—meaning more frequent sharpening to maintain a fine line. With all-day resilience (it's designed to stay put for 14 hours) there's no need for top ups though, so the occasional need to whip out a pencil sharpener is a point we can let slide. If you love a wide-eyed makeup look and are weighing up mascara vs eyeliner in order to create it, this is certainly your easiest, most smudge-proof option. 

Finding a good waterproof eyeliner can be harder than you'd think. While many of the products on our best eyeliner list do have waterproof features, this is the one that really stands out for its water-resistant abilities; even in hot, humid weather this Urban Decay essential has some serious staying power. When we tested this felt pen-style eyeliner, we didn't notice any smudging, fading, or transferring. And its powers aren't limited by skin types, either—it works just as well with oilier skin as it does with other types. 

There are positives to discuss beyond the aforementioned staying power, too: it has a fine nib that gets right into the lash line, and the sharpness of the tip lets you create neat, precise flicks. While the formula is a little drier than we would usually like, it does create lines with a nice semi-matte finish.

Traditionally, gel eyeliner comes packaged in a pot and is applied with a separate eye-liner brush, but nowadays we're seeing more hybrid formulas on the beauty aisles. This is one such example: a gel-pencil hybrid that offer you the benefits of gel's forgiving formula, but that comes packaged in an easy-to-use pencil form. 

Created by renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath, this silky gel liner is packed with pigment, meaning it creates defined, dramatic eyes. And, not only is it effective visually, but it's also comfortable to wear—even when used on the waterline, there wasn't the slightest hint of irritation. 

We also love the variety of shades that this eyeliner comes in—there's a host of fun, glittery options as well as the more traditional colors, meaning you can be more playful and experiment with your look for different times of day or to suit special occasions. Whatever color you choose to apply, however, you'll have to work fast; like many gel liners it does dry very quickly. This factor does, however, have an upside—it contributes to the long-lasting finish that just. doesn't. budge.

A cult product on the eyeliner market, this stretchy gel is more forgiving than a traditional brush or felt-tip pen formula, giving you the flexibility to wipe and correct your handiwork if you need to. Saturation isn't an issue here, because the separate pot and brush allows you to customize your look and decide how much product you want to apply with each stroke—and thus, how heavy a line you create. 

The texture of the gel also means that you can mimic both a sleek liquid-liner finish and a softer pencil eyeliner look, although you won't get quite the same finish; flicks won't be as sharp as those slicked on with a liquid liner, and a blended, smoky-eye smudge is likely to be a little denser and more defined than that achieved with a pencil. All things considered though, it's a brilliant product for beginners as it allows you to experiment with different looks without having to crack out the double cleansing kit.

The luxe packaging of this eyeliner makes for an eye-catching makeup look… before you've even begun to apply it! Better still, once you do remove the lid and get to work, it doesn't disappoint; the gel formula can be applied smoothly, without catching along the delicate skin around the eye or drying too quickly. It's also comfortable throughout the day, and doesn't cause any irritation on sensitive eyes—glittery shades included. 

The waterproof finish means that this liner really does stay put—yes, even when it's used on the waterline—and, no matter what style of eye makeup you've oprted for, every shade of pigment is saturated enough to stand out.

Do note that while this formula is incredibly resilient, it does fix in place fast, so you have to blend it pretty quickly once it's applied. On balance though, when you factor in all its benefits, including the clever built-in sharpener that comes in very handy when you're out and about, this range of eyeliners is a bright way to boost your eyes, and your makeup bag.