12 Best Eyeliners for Perfectly Lined Eyes
Shop these top-tested pencil, liquid, and gel formulas from drugstore and luxury beauty brands.
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
No matter how you like to apply your eyeliner (subtle or dramatic), you want to know it's going to last all day. In fact, hundreds of consumers told the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab in a recent survey that longevity is priority #1 when shopping for eyeliner.
Ask for long-lasting eyeliner and we shall deliver! But first, let's discuss the three main formulas you'll want to consider:
PENCIL: This is the most commonly used eyeliner (50% of women surveyed said it’s their go-to). It’s typically easier to use than liquid because it’s more forgiving when you make a mistake. Use on the upper lid and inner waterline and if you want a smoky eye.
LIQUID: When pigment is applied through a saturated felt or sponge tip, it tends to result in a more intense, rich color. Close the liner and shake before use for a more consistent color application. You may have to practice a few times to get the hang of liquid liners, but you’ll get a super-precise line. Just be sure to only use on your upper lids, not on your waterline.
GEL: This formula usually comes in a small pot, and you need a special brush to apply it. But newer gels like Benefit’s They’re Real! Push-Up Liner (learn why our pros love it below) come in twist-up applicator packaging. You’ll get the best of both worlds with this type — the stability of a pencil with the pigmentation of a liquid liner.
Quick eyeliner application hack: Rest your elbow on a tabletop as you work. It’ll help keep things steady and if you do mess up, don’t feel like you need to completely start over. Simply use a Q-tip dipped in makeup remover and try again, or use concealer to cover any small mistakes. Using eye primer beforehand can also keep your handiwork intact. Try Laura Mercier Eye Basics or Urban Decay Primer Potion — both are past Anti-Aging Makeup Award winners. At night, reach for top-tested Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover to take it all off. It’s a Beauty Lab staple and backed by the GH Seal.
Now, read on to shop the Beauty Lab's favorite eyeliners:
Physicians Formula #InstaReady Gel Eyeliner
If you want an eyeliner that will stay put without fading, this Physicians Formula gel pencil is it. In our Lab’s test, 100% of women who tried it agreed that it didn’t fade during wear. One even wore it to the gym and only noticed slight fading on her bottom lash line. It comes with a sharpener at the base, but some testers found it difficult to use because the liner is so soft.
L’Oréal’s retractable pencil wowed during testing in the Beauty Lab. Reviewers were impressed with the high performance at a low price, getting raves for never needing a touch-up.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Infinite Waterproof Eyeliner
This Estée Lauder pencil impressed us with its rich color (pick from eight shades!), smooth application, and stay-put wear. “I loved mostly everything – especially how it had a built-in smudger and a sharpener,” one tester said. “At the end of the day, one makeup wipe removed it all, cleanly!” Apply with a light touch. While we like its creamy texture, that also makes it easy to apply too thick if you’re not careful.
Great if you like thick, dramatic liner, Giorgio Armani’s liquid version lives up to its name. The consumer favorite in our Lab test, it didn’t smudge or fade throughout the day. That also means you have to work fast when applying it — once the rich color dries, it sets. Testers raved about the applicator and said it was helpful in creating a smooth, consistent line. Aside from classic black, it’s also available in fun colors like turquoise and burnt orange.
Urban Decay’s liquid liner is designed like a thin felt-tip marker so you can get the a super-defined, sharp look. Testers gave it top scores for helping them create their perfect look and applying smoothly onto eyelids without tugging or skipping. Perfect if you’re just dipping your toes into the world of liquid liners, one tester said, “This one can put anyone’s liquid eyeliner anxiety at ease!”
CoverGirl’s drugstore liquid liner glides on lids smoothly, creating your desired look without fading throughout the day. “It behaved like a waterproof eyeliner, but when you wanted to take it off, it came off with ease and left no traces behind,” one tester said. To see the final color, let the formula dry completely. A tester noted that it dries to a deeper hue.
The tip of Maybelline’s liquid liner bends at an angle so you can easily maneuver it around the lashline. “It gave me more control and helped achieve a better winged effect with a rich black color,” a tester said. A GH Beauty Breakthrough Award winner, it also earned high marks for making the lashline look visibly full and staying put.
This former Beauty Breakthrough Award winner was voted the top liquid pick by the Beauty Lab. "It goes on easy — but not too wet, so it's hard to make mistakes — and stays on all day without smudging," one tester said.
This GH Beauty Breakthrough Award winner can be used straight or pivoted at a 35-degree angle to reach every corner of the lashline or create a winged look. Lancôme's bendable handle makes it easier to maneuver around your eye, plus the liquid formula is long-lasting and doesn’t transfer.
This GH Beauty Breakthrough Award winner has a circular applicator (like a pizza cutter) that lets you roll on a flawless, precise line that lasts. Testers gave Revlon’s product near-perfect scores for smooth application without skipping. “The wheel makes a really thin, crisp line,” one said. “You could swim across the ocean and this eyeliner would not come off!” another said.
If you're considering trying a gel formula, start with this one: "I was surprised by how easy this product was to apply," said one tester. "I've never used a brush/gel eyeliner before, but it was not hard at all." Plus, it lasted for 6 hours without smudging.
The perfect combination of pencil and gel, Benefit’s liner gives you all the pros of a gel formula without needing extra tools. We found the color was incredibly rich and applied smoothy to lids without smudging or fading. Because of the unique twist-up gel design, there’s a slight learning curve when applying the product, but once you master it, you’ll get unbeatable results.
Danusia (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and a M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. Danusia has over 10 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and efficacy testing.
Nicole Saporita was an editor and writer at Good Housekeeping from 2014 to 2020, where she researched, wrote and reported original content for the Good Housekeeping Institute and several other departments, including health, travel and family.
Readers Also Read
The Best At-Home Hair Color Products
The 12 Best Hair Dryers
The Best Wrinkle Creams
Our Beauty Pros Love These Perfumes
