Best Eyeliners: Every Type Tested, Pencil, Liquid, Gel & More

Eyeliner is one of the most category-dependent products in makeup. A liquid liner that works perfectly for a graphic wing is the wrong tool for a soft smudged look. A kohl pencil ideal for tightlining is not what you want when you’re trying to draw a precise geometric line. The format matters as much as the formula.

Here’s what works in each category, compared by the Eyeshadow Looks Beauty Desk from published wear notes, pigmentation reports, and current listings — not a first-hand wear diary. Beginners can start with how to apply eyeliner. Style names live on the eyeliner styles guide.

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Best Liquid Liner: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof (~$24)

The gold standard for liquid liner precision and staying power. Stila’s felt-tip applicator has a fine, flexible tip that allows both thin precise lines and slightly thicker strokes depending on pressure. The waterproof, smudge-proof formula dries immediately, roughly 20 seconds to complete set.

Desk notes: Reviewers in humid climates report little migration or smudging at the 10-hour mark on normal and combination skin. The felt tip is widely described as holding its shape across a full bottle. Removal requires an oil-based remover. Pair a wing with mascara after the line is fully dry.

• Price: ~$24 at Sephora/Ulta
• Tip: Felt-tip with flexible precision
• Best for: Graphic liner, winged liner, anyone who needs long-wearing precision

Beauty Desk listing check: Confirm Stay All Day Waterproof liquid (felt-tip) vs the regular/non-waterproof Stila liner, and the shade (Intense Black vs Alloy and other colorways). Full-size vs mini. Pencil vs liquid SKUs share the Stay All Day name — this card is the liquid.

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Best Drug Store Liquid: NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner (~$12)

Performs nearly identically to the Stila at less than half the price. Same felt-tip format, slightly stiffer tip (which means slightly less flexibility but also more predictable control for beginners), and genuine 8-hour staying power that reviewers consistently report.

Desk notes: Pigmentation is described as equivalent to the Stila, deep, matte black in one stroke. Some reviewers prefer the slightly stiffer brush tip because Stila’s flexibility is harder to control.

• Price: ~$12 at drugstores/Ulta
• Best for: Budget shoppers, beginners building liner skills

Beauty Desk listing check: Confirm Epic Ink liquid (felt-tip), Black vs Brown, and washable vs any waterproof Epic Ink listing. Not Epic Wear liner (different formula) and not a pencil. Match the shade name on the cap.

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Best Pencil: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (~$25)

Urban Decay’s 24/7 is the benchmark pencil liner for a reason: the formula is intensely pigmented, applies with almost zero drag (the “glide-on” name is accurate), and sets to a long-wearing finish that doesn’t migrate for 6+ hours on most skin types.

Desk notes: Most consistent performer in the pencil category per published reviews. Available in dozens of shades beyond basic black, including deep urban plum, bronze, navy, forest green, and white. The retractable format means no sharpening; the creamy formula doesn’t break at the tip.

• Price: ~$25 at Sephora/Ulta
• Format: Retractable pencil
• Best for: Smoky eyes, waterline, tightlining, everyday use

Beauty Desk listing check: Confirm 24/7 Glide-On pencil vs 24/7 liquid, and the shade (Perversion / Zero / others are different SKUs). Full-size vs mini. Waterproof marketing copy on marketplace listings is not the same as buying the named pencil shade.

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Best Drugstore Pencil: e.l.f. No Budge Eyeliner (~$10)

For a pencil that costs $10, e.l.f.’s No Budge formula is surprisingly close to the Urban Decay. Pigmentation requires two passes rather than one and the shade range is more limited, but holding power is genuinely comparable per user reviews.

Desk notes: Reviewers report about 6 hours without significant migration on combination skin. People with oily lids often note some migration around 4 hours, at which point eyeshadow primer makes a meaningful difference.

• Price: ~$10 at Target/Ulta
• Best for: Budget everyday use, testing liner colors before investing in prestige

Beauty Desk listing check: Confirm No Budge eyeliner pencil, not the No Budge shadow stick (different product). Shade name on the barrel vs a lookalike “no budge” gel pen. Prefer new, sealed pencils.

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Best Gel Liner (Pot): Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner (~$33)

Pot gel liner offers precision and longevity that pencil liners can’t match, but requires a separate brush for application. Bobbi Brown’s formula is the reference-point gel liner in the industry: intensely pigmented, workable during application, and sets to a film that resists smudging for 12+ hours.

Desk notes: Published notes give the gel a longer working window than liquid (about 60 seconds before it begins to set), which allows more control and correction. Once dry, reviewers report it stays put, including through workouts.

• Price: ~$33 at Sephora/Bobbi Brown
• Requires: A separate angled liner brush (gel brushes ~$10–$25 from Real Techniques or Sigma)
• Best for: Precise liner looks, smoky eye base, long-wear requirements

Beauty Desk listing check: Confirm the pot Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner (typically ~1.5 g) vs Bobbi Brown’s long-wear gel pencil. Ink Black / Black Ink vs other pot shades. Kit-with-brush vs refill pot — match the listing photo to the product named here.

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Best Gel Pen: Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Pen (~$10)

Combines the formula advantage of gel liner with the convenience of a liquid liner pen applicator. No separate brush needed, and the felt or rubber tip allows reasonable precision. Best choice for beginners who want gel staying power without learning pot-and-brush technique.

Desk notes: Reviewers call it slightly less intense than pot gel (pigmentation often needs 2 strokes for maximum depth), but more convenient. Staying power is commonly reported at 7–8 hours on combination skin, which beats most pencil liners.

• Price: ~$10 at drugstores
• Best for: Beginners wanting gel staying power, people who don’t own liner brushes

Beauty Desk listing check: Confirm Lasting Drama gel pen vs the Lasting Drama pot, and Blackest Black vs brown. Waterproof vs regular if both appear. This is a pen SKU, not a pencil.

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Best Kohl: Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl (~$29)

Kohl is the softest, most blendable liner format, it’s designed to smudge deliberately. Charlotte Tilbury’s version is intensely pigmented (the “Bedroom Black” shade is particularly deep), applies easily to the waterline and tightline, and blends into a smoky effect with a fingertip. For a full smoke, see the smokey eye tutorial.

Desk notes: Does not have staying power for precision looks, that’s not the purpose. For creating soft, smoky, or smudged inner corner effects, published notes put this kohl ahead of standard pencil and gel. Apply to both the lower waterline and upper tightline for the most impactful result.

• Price: ~$29 at Sephora/Charlotte Tilbury
• Best for: Smoky eyes, waterline emphasis, that slightly undone look
• Note: Apply this last, after eyeshadow is fully blended, as the soft formula transfers easily

Beauty Desk listing check: Confirm Rock ‘N’ Kohl in Bedroom Black (or the named shade), not a Charlotte Tilbury lip/eye pencil with a similar name. Kohl vs liquid liner from the same line. Full-size vs mini.

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Best White Liner: NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (~$5)

White liner on the inner corner brightens and widens the eye more dramatically than any highlighter. The “Milk” shade from NYX, a clean bright white, is the classic recommendation from professional makeup artists. It’s soft enough to apply comfortably on the waterline, opaque enough to show up clearly, and costs $5.

Desk notes: Still the standard recommendation for inner corner and waterline brightening. Apply immediately before finishing your look, as it tends to dissipate more quickly than other liner types on the wet waterline.

• Price: ~$5 at drugstores
• Best for: Brightening inner corners and waterline, cutting crease looks

Beauty Desk listing check: Confirm Jumbo Eye Pencil shade Milk (often 604), not another Jumbo shade (Black Bean, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese) and not a Jumbo lipstick. Pencil vs any NYX liquid white liner. Prefer new stock so the soft formula has not dried.

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Eyeliner by Use Case

Goal	Best Choice
Sharp wing	Stila liquid, felt-tip
Budget wing	NYX Epic Ink
Everyday pencil	Urban Decay 24/7
Maximum staying power	Bobbi Brown pot gel
Smoky, smudged look	Charlotte Tilbury kohl
Tightlining	UD 24/7 pencil or kohl
Waterline brightening	NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
Beginners	e.l.f. No Budge pencil or NYX gel pen

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Sources

• Temptalia.com, Eyeliner formula testing: smudge resistance, line precision, longevity (2025–2026)
• Jones, Robert. Makeup Artistry Techniques. Thomson Course Technology, 2004, liner formulation types
• Urban Decay Cosmetics, 24/7 Glide-On liner formulation data and wear testing (2024)

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Wide range of formulas for every skill level
• Waterproof options last all day
• Available at every price point

Cons:

• Liquid liners have a steep learning curve
• Some formulas smudge on oily lids

Related Guides

• Eyeliner Tutorial: Every Technique for Every Eye Shape
• Graphic Eyeliner Looks: 8 Bold Styles to Try
• How to Make Eyes Look Bigger With Eyeliner
• Best Eyeshadow Palettes

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