The eyeliner guide every beauty lover needs
Eyeliner remains one of beauty’s most transformative tools. With a single stroke, it can sharpen the gaze, soften it, or shift the entire mood of a look. Yet with the sheer range of formulas now available, choosing the right one can feel more complex than it should be.
This guide brings clarity by highlighting the best performers across every essential category. From the liquid liner that stays immaculate through long days, to the blackest formula for striking definition, to the pencil that hugs the waterline with ease, each pick earns its place for its precision, pigment, and consistency.
Whether you prefer subtle color, soft smudging, or an ultra-thin tightline, these are the formulas that deliver every time.
Best for long-lasting wear: K-Palette 1DAY Tattoo Liquid Eyeliner
Known for its meticulous Japanese formulation, this liner delivers endurance that feels almost architectural. It creates a clean, steady line that locks onto the skin and stays sharp from morning until late evening.
The brush tip offers precise control, allowing you to shift effortlessly from a tight, refined edge to a more expressive wing. Its smudge-proof and water-resistant finish stands up to humidity, long commutes, and full days outdoors
Blackest formula: Haus Labs Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner
Delivering a level of inky depth rarely seen in liquids, this formula creates a line that is strikingly opaque from the first pass.
Inspired by the precision of calligraphy tools, its ultra-fine brush tip offers complete control over placement, allowing for intricate detailing or clean, sweeping lines. The pigment locks onto the skin and holds its intensity throughout the day without feathering or loss of richness.
Best pencil for tight-lining and the waterline: Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil
This professional-grade pencil is designed to perform exceptionally well along the waterline and lash root.
The formula glides smoothly without tugging, delivers dense pigment in a single pass, and sets quickly to prevent smudging or transfer. Its waterproof hold makes it ideal for humid climates and long days, and subtle definition that enhances the lashes without the appearance of a heavy line.
Best for subtle color: Canmake Creamy Touch Eyeliner
It is an ideal choice for those who want quiet definition. This softly pigmented liner offers a refined wash of color that enhances the eyes without overwhelming them.
The formula is also exceptionally gentle yet impressively precise, gliding on with a buttery smoothness that makes application effortless. Once set, it becomes long-lasting and smudge-proof, allowing the soft taupes, browns, and muted plums to stay crisp throughout the day.
Best for smudging: KIKO Milano Essential Dossier Colour Kajal
This kajal delivers an intensely black pigment with a slightly wet, glossy look that immediately adds depth to the eyes. Its creamy texture melts smoothly along the lash line, giving you generous playtime to smudge before it sets.
The result is a soft, smoky finish that feels lived-in yet polished, retaining richness even as the edges diffuse.
For the thinnest lines: Faboulash Gel Pencil Eyeliner
This ultra-slim gel pencil is designed for the closest possible lash-root definition. The tip is exceptionally fine, allowing it to glide into the upper tightline and along the waterline with ease and precision.
Its powdery-matte finish resists smudging and oil, making it ideal for all-day wear even in humid conditions. The result is a natural yet striking lift that enhances the eyes without leaving a visible line.
