While I haven’t always been the biggest eye-makeup wearer (perhaps due to my hooded lids and downturned, almond eye-shape), finishing off my beauty routine with a swipe of my eyeliner has always been a must. In my case, I’m a firm believer that a perfect natural-looking wing is all I need to give my eyes a widened, more awake look and complement the long and defined lashes I create by layering my favorite tubing mascaras. After trying all types of eyeliners out there, I’ve compiled a list of nonnegotiables to reference when shopping for high-performance eyeliners to add to my lineup.
I’ll always appreciate eyeliners with precise, flexible brush tips for effortless application and an ultra-smooth, non-skipping formula, but I also favor the ones that don’t smudge no matter what I put them through during my fun and busy days as a beauty editor in New York City. Whether my eyes are watery or I give in to the bad habit of rubbing them from time to time, I can count on the 12 eyeliner pencils and pens below to resist pulling a disappearing act before I’m ready to wipe away my makeup at the end of the day. Keep scrolling to see which ones made my list and are backed by glowing five-star reviews from brands like Clinique, Lancôme, and MAC.
The Best Smudge-Proof Eyeliners, Listed
Smudge-Proof Eyeliner Pencils
Nyx Professional Makeup
Retractable Vivid Rich Mechanical Eyeliner Pencil
Combining long-lasting staying power with intense pigment, this pencil is for anyone looking for eyeliner that will create stunning makeup in seconds. Not only does it use a hydrating formula that glides on effortlessly and lasts through the day, but this retractable pencil also comes in 12 rich shades inspired by gems. It’s become the crown jewel of my makeup collection.
Customer Review: “Worked great! I love that it glided on with ease and didn’t smear. Lasted while I needed it too and was a great match. It had very simple packaging and overall I would highly recommend trying the product out.”
Pros: offered at an affordable drugstore price point
Cons: multiple passes of product results in fading and removal
Type: mechanical tip with a gel formula
Shades: 12 shades in gemstone pigments
Kulfi
Underlined Kajal Clean Waterproof Long-Wear Eyeliner
I’m rarely one for bright, graphic eyeliner designs, but when I am, I swear by Kulfi’s waterproof, long-wearing kohl eyeliner. Crafted with a nourishing blend of aloe vera extract for creamy glide and moisturizing vitamin E, this eyeliner keeps my makeup looking fresh all day with intense pigment and longevity that doesn’t fade or transfer, rain or shine.
Customer Review: “Absolutely love this eyeliner! It glides on so smoothly and is easy to smudge out for a smoky look. Highly recommend especially if you have oily eyelids, the eye liner does not move throughout the day. So good!”
Pros: gentle enough for use on the waterline and lower lash line
Cons: limited amount of product provided
Type: kohl formula
Shades: six shades, including Tiger Queen and Cheeky Chiku
Clinique
Quickliner for Eyes Intense Eyeliner
If intensity in your eye makeup is what you’re after, you’ll want to snag this the next time you’re on the hunt for a new eyeliner. Offered in three richly pigmented shades, Clinque’s Quickliner for Eyes Intense Eyeliner offers a twist-up, glide-on design for instant intensity on one end and smudge tip on the other for your desired smokiness. I love how it’s ophthalmologist tested and safe for sensitive eyes and contact wearers.
Customer Review: “I prefer a very natural liner along my upper and lower corner of my lash line. This is soft and buttery and yet still in place until I was my make up off. This is just what I was looking for. It’s not harsh.”
Pros: safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers
Cons: reapplication may be needed for desired intensity
Type: twist-up tip with a gel formula
Shades: three shades, including Intense Black and Intense Charcoal
Lancôme
Drama Liqui-Pencil Longwear Eyeliner
The last thing I want to think about when I’m out and about in New York City is my eyeliner smudging, fading, or flaking. Thanks to the hybrid gel formula of Lancôme’s Drama Liqui-Pencil Longwear Eyeliner, I don’t have to worry about touch-ups. The pencil offers the pigmented effect of liquid liner and the easy application of a pencil liner, making it easy to use for beginners and experts alike.
Customer Review: “I have been looking for a non-transferable eyeliner for months and this one is the one! Once I put it on, it stays on and doesn’t smudge or end up on my under eye area. And it looks really good too! I would highly recommend it.”
Pros: once set, does not smudge, flake, fade, or transfer for up to 24 hours
Cons: moderate price point
Type: hybrid gel formula
Shades: six shades, including Green Metropolitan and French Chocolate
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Satin Kajal Liner
When it comes to kajal liners, I’m extremely picky. The Satin Kajal Liner by Victoria Beckham Beauty, however, far surpasses all my expectations for a liner that delivers high-performance colors with a long-lasting, smudge-free finish. Offered in a broad selection of 20 vibrant shades, the eyeliner is ideal for creating everything from crisp wings to a lived-in finish.
Customer Review: “Ok, so I was skeptical but this is creamy, long lasting, easy to use and a phenomenal eye liner. I have Fig and Sea Grey and looking forward to adding more to the collection. They work wonderfully and are quite smooth.”
Pros: delivers dramatic eye definition in one swipe
Cons: high price point
Type: cream formula
Shades: 19 shades, including Gold Lamé and Orchid
Urban Decay
24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil
Since I have sensitive eyes, I’m always worried that wearing eyeliner may trigger teariness. This best-selling Urban Decay waterproof eyeliner pencil is not only very gentle on my lash line, but it also stays put all day with a uniquely nourishing, easy-glide formula crafted from a creamy blend of vitamin E, jojoba oil, and cottonseed oil.
Customer Review: “I’ve been using this product for several weeks and love it. It is the first eyeliner that I have used that glides on easily. It doesn’t dry out like the others I have used in the past. It also stays on for a long time and does not need to be reapplied.”
Pros: easy-to-use formula does not drag, pull, or skip on the skin
Cons: pencil tip dulls with use—be sure to use a pencil sharpener
Type: cream formula
Shades: 35 shades in various finishes, including Space Cowboy and Chaos
Smudge-Proof Eyeliner Pens
Kevyn Aucoin
The Precision Liquid Liner
When it comes to pens, I’m always on the hunt for one that delivers silky, smooth color without skipping, smudging, or bleeding. This one by Kevyn Aucoin lasts for hours and features an ultra-fine felt tip applicator so that I can create sleek liner looks without worrying about making mistakes. The pen also deposits the perfect amount of pigment and doesn’t dry or flake with wear.
Customer Review: “I love this eyeliner so much. It fits perfectly in my hand, glides on to make a crisp line. So dark black! It really makes my blue eyes stand out against the black line. It never smudges or comes off even when I’m dancing all night.”
Pros: does not skip, smudge, or bleed
Cons: high price point
Type: felt tip
Shade: Black
Stila
Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
There’s nothing I love more than a liquid eye liner that’s as waterproof as it is smudge-proof. This easy-glide, quick-dry precision liner applies smoothly without skipping, smudging, pulling, or running and lasts all day without budging. Whether your goal is a bold wing or natural-looking finish, you can trust this liquid liner to deliver the look you’re after.
Customer Review: “I love this eyeliner! Waterproof is my go to, and this one did not disappoint. It glides on beautifully and stays on all day. 10 out of 10 recommend!”
Pros: features a beginner-friendly thin, marker-like tip
Cons: has a tendency to dry out quickly
Type: marker tip with waterproof formula
Shades: Intense Black and Dark Brown
Nars
Climax Liquid Eyeliner
Nars’s deepest matte black liquid eyeliner uses an innovative fluid pigment system for 16 hours of wear without smudging. Its unique tapered brush is my favorite for bold liner designs and my everyday wings since it contours to every eye shape. Not only is the pen easy to control, but it also offers an incredible waterproof matte finish.
Customer Review: “I really like this liquid eyeliner! The brush is roundish, but has both a skinny side and a thicker side, so you can vary the width of your stroke. It is deep black and goes on smoothly. It lasts most of the day unless I rub my eyes or if my eyes water, as it’s not waterproof.”
Pros: delivers 16-hour, smudge-resistant, waterproof wear
Cons: none
Type: tapered brush tip with waterproof formula
Shade: Black
KVD Beauty
Tattoo Liner Vegan Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
I’ve been using this waterproof liquid liner for at least 10 years, and I still count it as one of my favorites. The aptly named extreme-precision pen has a waterproof and transfer-proof formula and features a 0.01-millimeter tip for precise brush tip for fine line work and more. It’s also vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free and is housed in a luxe aluminum pen. High school Maya knew exactly what she was doing when she picked this up in Sephora.
Customer Review: “It went on smoothly and was pretty water resistant. It stayed all day and didn’t smudge. It also dried pretty quickly and looked good. The pigment and color was great too.”
Pros: optimized with an updated, transfer-proof formula
Cons: has a tendency to dry quickly after initial application
Type: felt brush tip with waterproof formula
Shades: Mad Max Brown and Trooper Black
MAC
Liquidlast 24-Hour Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
MAC’s rich liquid eyeliner allows its user to draw a perfectly defined line that promises all-day wear. In addition to being smudge-resistant, its flexible formula is transfer-resistant and ophthalmologist tested. I’m obsessed with how easy this one is to use thanks to the eyeliner’s ultra-precise, fine brush tip. For a winged finish, try applying it to the lash line with a flick at the outer corner for a lift.
Customer Review: “I’ve tried so many different brands of waterproof liquid eyeliners and MAC has the best. I use it daily and love it. It doesn’t smudge when it is hot and humid or when it rains. It truly is the best that is out there.”
Pros: offers long-lasting, intense pigment with a single swipe
Cons: can be challenging to apply in a clean line without practice
Type: a fine brush tip
Shade: Black
Lancôme
Idôle Ultra Precise Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner
Another felt-tip formula I love is this one by Lancôme. It has a waterproof formula that glides across the skin for intense, long-lasting color with no smudging or fading. Its flexible, slim tip allows for seamless and smooth one-stroke application, making it perfect for liquid-eyeliner beginners. I can’t get enough of Syrup Brown!
Customer Review: “Best liquid eyeliner! I loved the color and the precise, flexible soft felt tip. This tip allows me to draw the perfect wing. I also loved that it is waterproof and the product is long lasting and doesn’t smudge.”
Pros: offers a seamless and smooth one-stroke application
Cons: has a tendency to dry out quickly
Type: marker tip with a waterproof formula
Shades: five shades, including Syrup Brown and Glossy Black
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