17 Best Eyeliner Pencils That Last All Day Long
Enhance the look of your eyes and make them smudge-resistant.
poulami nag 
Image: TheBridalBox Design Team
The best eyeliner pencils can add so much drama to your eyes and accentuate your beautiful eyes. If you’ve often heard people asking you if you are unwell just because you forgot to wear your eyeliner or skipped it one fine day, this could be a hint that you look better with the eyeliner on, and investing in one could enhance your makeup game.
Eyeliner pencils make a massive difference in the way you look. They seem like the most accessible product to get hold of, but many find it challenging to find one that suits them right. Ensure what you pick is smudge-proof and lasts long. If you are struggling, we bring you a curated list of the best eyeliner pencils available online so that you can choose your favorite one.
Top Picks
17 Best Eyeliner Pencils of 2021
1. Best Long-Lasting:L’Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner
In our hunt for the best eyeliner pencils, this one tops the list. This infallible smudge-proof mechanical pencil eyeliner glides smoothly and delivers long-lasting fade-proof color for upto 16 hours. Whether it is sleek lines that you want to achieve or a bold look you are trying out, this eyeliner will do the trick as it is rich, creamy, and offers 2x density. It also comes with a built-in sharpener and smudger. Watch this review video for more information.
2. Best Waterproof:Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner Pencil
From the makers of America’s #1 long-wear eyeliner, comes this ultra-silky eyeliner that glides like a dream. Not only is it waterproof, it also stays on effortlessly for upto 16 hours. Whether it’s a sharp cat-eye you want or a smokey-eye look, you can use the in-built sharpener or the smudger to achieve it. Ophthalmologist-tested, this eyeliner comes in eight intense shades.
3. Best Smudge-Proof:Mostory Smudge-Proof Winged Eyeliner Stamp
Here is a quick question for you. Can you achieve a flawless winged eyeliner look in less than a minute? Yes. With this 2-in-1 liquid eyeliner and stamp, you definitely can. It is smudge-proof, water-resistant, highly pigmented, and easy to remove as well. It is also hypoallergenic, clinically and dermatologically tested, and cruelty-free. This video gives you more information about the product.
4. Best Cruelty-Free:NYX Professional Makeup Retractable Eyeliner
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has gained over 82,828 positive reviews on Amazon, making it an all-time best-seller.
Let your eyes do all the talking with this insanely pigmented liquid eyeliner that comes with a creamy formula. It’s smudge-proof, and can withstand heat and humidity all day long. If you are someone who likes to experiment with eyeliners in different colors, this one won’t disappoint you – it’s available in 18 shades! Oh, it’s cruelty-free as well! Check out this review video to learn how this product works.
5. Best Highly Pigmented:Covergirl Perfect Blend Eye Pencil
As the name suggests, this eye pencil blends easily if you are trying out an effortless-looking smokey eye. The black-brown shade completes brown eyes and is ideal for a day look. Although it is highly pigmented and stays on for hours, it is not well-suited for hot and humid climates, as it is not waterproof.
6. Best Ophthalmologist-Tested:Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product is so liked by shoppers that it has gained over 24,491 great reviews on Amazon.
For those of you who like to tightline, this eyeliner can do the job well. It is easy to apply, has a high-intensity color, and is ophthalmologist-tested (which deemed it fit for sensitive eyes as well). Although this waterproof kohl kajal glides on seamlessly and stays put for 24 hours, it may not do so in sweltering conditions.
7. Best Easy-To-Use:Maybelline Master Precise Skinny Gel Pencil
This waterproof eyeliner pencil is ideal for those who like their eye makeup to look sharp and edgy. With its 1.8m precision micro-tip, the application is as easy as pie. It stays on for long hours and is easy to remove with an oil-free makeup remover. It is advised that the tip be kept short during application as it may break due to its thinness.
Safety measure: Flammable until dry. It should not be used near fire, flame, or heat.
8. Best For All Eyes:Covergirl Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner Pencil
This self-sharpening eyeliner elevates your eye makeup in a matter of seconds. To transition from precise lines to a softer one, one can use the smudger that comes with the eyeliner. Although it suits all eye and hair colors, it complements women with platinum grey hair and pepper hair exceptionally well. It comes in a pack of three and is also available in eight other shades.
9. Best Self-Sharpening Tip:Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner All-Day Wear
Add drama to your eyes and your life with this smudge and waterproof eyeliner pencil by Maybelline. It comes with a self-sharpening tip and delivers control and definition. This mechanical eyeliner swivels up and down, ensuring that the point always stays sharp. It is ophthalmologist-tested, suitable for sensitive eyes, contact lens wearers, and can also double up as an eyebrow pencil.
10. Best Hypoallergenic:Maybelline New York Eye Studio Lasting Drama 24hr Gel Liner
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
A whopping 3,787 reviews on Amazon make it obvious that users genuinely love this product.
If gel liner is what you gel with, this ophthalmologist and dermatologist-tested gel liner might be the ideal one for you. Especially formulated to last for upto 24 hours, this intense oil-free black eyeliner gel glides on smoothly. Its highly concentrated pigments help in intensifying your eye makeup. It’s hypoallergenic and is available in 10 super-saturated shades.
11. Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Almost 9,271 happy users have mentioned the value and quality of this product.
With this soft eyeliner, you will notice that a little can go a long way. Get full color definition for up to 10 hours with this waterproof eye definer. It comes with a built-in sharpener, which helps in creating smooth and clean lines, while the built-in smudger helps in building a smokey eye. This creamy textured eye definer is available in five intensely pigmented shades.
Choking Hazard: Small parts. Not for children under three years.
12. Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner
Highly-recommended for tightlining your eyes, this waterproof eyeliner is rich in color, vibrant, and easy to use. It comes in eight different shades such as graphite-lionfish, metallic umber-midnight blue, and tetra, among others. This stick also contains vitamin E, which provides moisturizing benefits as well.
13. Jonteblu Ultra Lasting Formula Liquid Eyeliner
Achieve a smooth and controlled application with this ultra lasting formula by Jonteblu. Its inky-black liquid is fast-drying, waterproof, and smudgeproof. When applying it on your lids, it won’t tug at it or leave you with squiggly lines. However, it doesn’t glide smoothly when used over a highly-pigmented eyeshadow.
14. CmaaDu Eyeliner And Eye Wing Stamp
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product has received 28,814 reviews from customers on Amazon, indicating its popularity and reliability.
This double-headed liquid eyeliner features an eyeliner pen on one side and a wing stamp on the other. These heads come in two sizes (small and big). This long-lasting eyeliner is easy to apply, dries instantly, and is waterproof as well. Easy to use, even for beginners, it is non-irritating and cruelty-free.
15. MAC Technakohl Brownborder Liner
This mechanical pencil-style liner by MAC blends easily upon application and dries quickly. It leaves a clean, no-smudge finish, is transfer-resistant, safe to be used in the waterline, and ophthalmologist-tested. It lasts for 8 hours and is also available in 6 different shades.
16. L’Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Liner
A creamy kajal eyeliner by L’Oreal, this one is smooth to apply and gives your eyes a stunning definition. You may have noticed the thickness of the tip, it is especially designed for a bold eye makeup look. The eyeline comes with a custom sharpener to maintain the shape of the pencil. You may need some heavy-duty makeup wipes to remove this eyeliner.
17. L’Oreal PARIS Color Riche Le Kajal
The secret to this eyeliner’s intense dark formula is kajal. Kajal is rich, dense, and adds stunning definition to the eyes. It can be used to tightline, to create a perfect wing, or also for a bold smokey-eye as well. It comes with a creamy formula that is easy to blend. Once it dries, it doesn’t smudge.
Now that we’ve looked at some of the best eyeliner pencils that can withstand the test of time, let’s take a look at some of the basics of choosing the right eyeliner pencil.
How To Choose The Right Eyeliner Pencil
Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- If you are a beginner, start with a waterproof eyeliner pencil. They are easy to apply, rectify, and also easy to wipe off. Once you are confident that you can apply eyeliner well, you can move on to liquid eyeliners. However, liquid eyeliners are not for tightlining or the lower eye line.
- It may come as a surprise, but your skin tone can play a huge role in deciding the color of eyeliner you should buy. If you have extremely fair skin, it is wise to stay away from jet blacks and black eyeliner in general. It will make your skin look harsh, and make you look older as well. So, you should choose something like a brown eyeliner or gel. However, if you have medium to dark-toned skin a black eyeliner will work wonders for you.
- A neat trick that most top makeup artists follow is to contrast the eye color and the eyeliner color. For example, if you have blue eyes, use a color that’s like copper to bring out the contrast.
- Choose an eyeliner that is versatile; one that allows you to transition from your day look to your evening look in a matter of minutes. For the day look, simply apply eyeliner on your upper lids, and if you can, try a wing as well. For an evening look, apply a thick stroke of eyeliner to your eyes, smudge it out softly to create a smokey-eye look.
Eyeliner pencils not only enhance your entire makeup look but also give you those dramatic eyes when needed. However, not all eyeliner pencils are made equal. Before choosing one that is ideal for you, you must ensure the eyeliner is hypoallergenic, dermatologically tested, and cruelty-free and understand your skin tone. Besides, ensure that your eyeliner pencil is also smudge-proof, transfer-resistant, and waterproof, especially if you are new to eyeliners, so that your makeup look lasts long with minimal effort.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Poulami Nag is our in-house product writer and reviewer passionate about skincare, makeup, and hair care. She has gone through multiple reviews of several products on different websites to bring you this list of the best eyeliner pencils that are smudge-proof and waterproof. Moreover, she has also included a buying guide to help you pick the right one based on your unique requirements.
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