13 best liquid eyeliners for the sharpest wings of your life
Even with the best liquid eyeliners, it still takes serious skill to achieve the perfect winged eyeliner look every time. But while the 50% of the result depends on your steady hand, the other 50% depends on the product itself: its applicator and its formula. One liquid eyeliner pen can glide on very smoothly and leave the strongest classic black pigment behind, while others have less precise felt tip applicators or formulas that are more prone to smudging and drying out.
Liquid eyeliners can help you create the most unique eye makeup looks, from Ariana Grande-inspired winged liner and graphic lines to a bolder cateye and the TikTok-inspired “siren eye” look. Whether you intend you wear eyeliner simply with a flick or mascara, or to compliment your Urban Decay eyeshadow game, the glam possibilities are endless.
But finding the best liquid eyeliner to fit your needs and preferences is not as easy as you'd think. You see, if you simply Google eyeliner, you'll see hundreds and thousands of options popping up on your screen. And who has the time to read up on all of the reviews?
The GLAMOUR beauty team tests hundreds of liquid eyeliners per year in order to try out all the different formulas, applicator tips and the pigment to make your life a bit easier. So, we've prepared a guide on the very best liquid eyeliners to add to your checkout, from viral hits to affordable bestsellers and underrated gems to fit all budgets and desired finishes. Scroll all the way down to shop.
Best liquid eyeliners at a glance
What is the easiest liquid eyeliner to use?
I've tried every eyeliner going and maintain that Collection's Fast Stroke pot and quill solution is the best (the lid is weighted to guide it instinctively along your lash line, while the nib is beautifully precise and rigid enough to stay put without splaying). Meanwhile, Bobbi Brown's pro makeup artist, Amy Conway, recommends a gel formula if you're just starting out. "It's more solid and less smeary," she says.
What brand of eyeliner is the best?
With countless liquid eyeliners to choose from, it can be tricky to find the best one for you. To make it a little easier, we have picked out some of our all-time favourites – whether you want a statement graphic line or a defined feline flick. Our advice? have a play around until you find your partner in crime.
Once you've mastered your technique (with a little help from our editor-approved guide, if needed), why not experiment with the latest eyeliner trends? We're off to give kitten liner a spin.
And if it all goes horribly wrong (don't worry, we've all been there), these micellar waters will sort you out - they're able to remove even the most stubborn waterproof formulas in a single sweep.
Scroll for our full edit of the best liquid eyeliners we love...
Best brown liquid eyeliner
The Feline Flick Eyeliner Pen, £23, Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury is known for her cat-eye liner and this product doesn't disappoint. The tip is fine enough to offer pinpoint precision and the formula glides on without snagging. It's the best brown liquid eyeliner on the market, period.
Best smudge-proof liquid eyeliner
Vieve Power Ink Liner, £19, Cult Beauty
Long-lasting? Check. Smudge-proof? Check. Stays in Place? Aaand check. That's right, this eyeliner easily ticks all the boxes, thanks to its super-pigmented formula and the precise tip. You can easily recreate any graphic liner look and experiment with the types of wings. An easy win in our book.
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Best waterproof liquid eyeliner
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner, £12.80, Amazon
Hailed as an all-time favourite by Reddit users, with one fan raving that it can withstand a hot yoga class, Stila's budge-proof liquid liner has a thin marker-like tip that's perfect for crafting a precise, defined line.
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Best jet-black liquid eyeliner
Too Faced Better Than Sex Easy Glide Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, £21, Cult Beauty
A firm favourite in the GLAMOUR office, this liquid eyeliner is the one to get if you're after an eyeliner that will give you the deepest black pigment there is, without smudging of course. It's also waterproof and features a precise tip – perfect for a summer getaway.
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Best high-street liquid eyeliner
L'Oreal Paris Super Liner Perfect Slim Intense, £5.31, Amazon
This bargain-friendly goodie is one of the best liquid liners you can buy on the high street. The thin nib is perfect for creating a gorgeous feline flick and, overall, this pen is great for all liner-users, including beginners.
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Best jet black liquid eyeliner
Pat McGrath Labs Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner, £30, Sephora
Pat McGrath more than knows her way around a liquid liner. Her own rendition is carbon black, waterproof and quick. It dries down into a velvety finish that stays put for as long as you need it to. Plus, it counts Adele amongst its celeb fans.
Best double-ended liquid eyeliner
Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen, £47, Selfridges
Tom Ford’s incredible double-ended liner pen is worth every penny. With two different sized nibs to work with, you have the option of creating elegant, thin, winged feline flicks or full-on cat eyes. The pen is relatively large but it allows you to have a proper grip and draw out from the inner corner of your eye properly. If that’s not enough, the pigment is perfectly opaque and doesn’t budge come rain or shine.
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Best bright liquid eyeliner
Dior Diorshow On Stage Eyeliner, £29, Sephora
Used backstage at the Dior's summer show a couple of seasons back, this remains one of the best options for brightly pigmented, ultra precise liner. If you're bored of black, try this offbeat turquoise, or choose from purple, green and pink.
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Best stencil liquid eyeliner
L'Oréal Paris Flash Cat Eye, £7.49, Amazon
We're always a sucker for good packaging, but clever is on a whole other level. L'Oréal really thought about our eyeliner bugbears with this one, not only giving us a formula that glides, but a cat eye stencil built into the cap so we can pull off a flick in a flash. Genius!
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Best budget colourful liquid eyeliner
L’Oreal Paris Matte Signature Liquid Eyeliner, £3.90, Amazon
For under a tenner, L'Oreal offers up a fun way to play around with colour. This ink pot style liner comes in vibrant pink, cobalt blue, sultry burgundy and crisp white (among others).
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Best vegan liquid eyeliner
KVD Vegan Beauty Tattoo Liner in 'Trooper Black', £19, Boots
This ultra fine and perfectly precise liner has achieved cult status in the beauty world, not least since the viral story of its incredible staying power surviving an actual car crash (no, seriously). Not only is it water- and smudge-proof, it's super pigmented (no washed-out or watery colour here) and, like all the products in KVD's range, it is 100% vegan making it an ideal cruelty-free addition to your make-up bag. No wonder one Tattoo Liner is is sold every 30 seconds around the world.
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Best gel liquid eyeliner
Chromaline Gel Liner, £18.50, MAC Cosmetics
One of our favourite gel liners (possibly ever), this jet black product ensures the perfect feline flick with every use. Super easy to use and coming in a handy little pot, the liner is perfect for beginners.
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Best quick-drying liquid eyeliner
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner, £24, John Lewis
If you prefer to freestyle with your liner, invest in a pot of BB’s brilliant long-wear gel liner. It gives the glossy look of liquid liner with the easy application of a gel. Apply with your preferred eye liner brush for a no-smudge, quick-dry finish.
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