The 11 Eyeliners of 2023

Few makeup-related problems are more frustrating than bad eyeliner. Find yourself stuck with a dry, faint formula that drags on the skin and doesn’t deliver on performance or pigmentation, and you’re bound to be left with underwhelming results and potentially physical irritation. But just like a coat of mascara or a pop of lip color can instantly enhance your look, so too can a swipe of a really good eyeliner. So, we put dozens of the most popular options on the market to the test in our lab in NYC, and evaluated them based on pigmentation, dry time, wear, and ease of removal. Ahead, we’re sharing those that ranked the highest, earning them our Byrdie stamp of approval.

Best Overall

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

5

Amazon

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Our Ratings

• Pigment

  4.5

  /5

• Overall Wear

  4.5

  /5

What We Like

• Smooth formula glides on

• Fine tip allows for precision

• Full pigmentation in one swipe

• Easy to remove

What We Don’t Like

• Nothing

As evidenced by our test results, it’s no surprise that this liquid eyeliner has maintained its popularity for many years. It’s everything you would want a liquid eyeliner to be: easy to apply, pigmented, fast-drying, smooth, long-wearing, and easy to remove. Our tester enjoyed the packaging, saying it was easy to hold and navigate the wand effortlessly, and they loved how smoothly the liquid glided across their eyelids. The small felt tip applicator allowed them to create thin, precise lines, or build up the eyeliner for a thicker, more dramatic result. Just one swipe provided a rich, jet-black color payoff with a matte finish, and the formula dried completely within seconds to prevent smearing. Once applied, it didn’t smudge or run, and it was easy to remove with just a few swipes of a makeup remover. 

In addition to how well-performing it is, we love that it’s offered in eight different shades—this isn’t super common when it comes to liquid liner formulas. 

Formula: Liquid | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $24

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  Byrdie / Jessica Juliao

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  Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best Drugstore

Maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise Eyeliner

4.8

Amazon

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What We Like

• Fine-tip applicator

• One-swipe pigmentation

• Fast-drying

• Smudge-free

What We Don’t Like

• Nothing

Finding a high-quality eyeliner doesn’t require a trip to a department store or the need to spend a lot of money. The drugstore has options, and this one from Maybelline is our favorite. The fine-tip felt applicator allows for precision, the pigmentation is bold, and it’s easy to apply with no skipping or dragging. Our tester really appreciated that the formula dried almost instantly because it helped her make sure the liner didn’t smear. It set down to a matte finish, remained smudge-free on the eyes, and was painless to remove. 

It’s also suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers and has been tested by dermatologists and ophthalmologists. A high-performing product at such an affordable price—this one is easy for us to recommend. 

Formula: Liquid | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: No

Price at time of publish: $8

What Our Testers Say

“l love how flawless it was to apply with the super thin tip. It makes it super easy for people who don’t really know how to do a cat eye.” —Stephanie Cartagena, Tester

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  Byrdie/ Jessica Juliao

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  Byrdie / Jessica Juliao

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  Byrdie/ Jessica Juliao

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  Byrdie/Tamara Staples

Best Splurge

Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner

4.7

Victoria Beckham

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Removal

  5

  /5

• Pigment

  5

  /5

• Wear

  4

  /5

• Dry Time

  3.5

  /5

• Application

  5

  /5

What We Like

• Smooth, easy to work with formula

• Dual-ended pencil has smudger on one end

• Can be used for bold and diffused looks

• Beautiful shade range

• Excellent pigmentation

What We Don’t Like

• Takes a bit of time to dry in the waterline

• Slight smudging on oily lids

Our editors and beauty lovers adore this eyeliner, and so does our tester. Aside from the stunning shade range that features unique neutrals and gorgeous jewel tones, the formula is creamy and workable; it comes with a sponge-tip smudger on one end of the pencil, and can be used to create a wide range of looks. Because of the soft, creamy formula, it can be smoked out and manipulated to provide a diffused finish, or it can be used for shaper, more defined makeup looks.  

On top of appreciating how well the formula is able to glide on the skin, our tester loved the vibrant color payoff and the smudging tool on the pencil. Because it can be smudged, it’s a good thing that it doesn’t dry down immediately so that you have a minute to work with it, but our tester noted that it takes around 20 seconds to dry down on the waterline, so keep this in mind. It’s also worth noting that she experienced a bit of smudging on her top eyelids, so we recommend using an eyeshadow primer before applying it if you have oily lids. 

Formula: Pencil | Shades: 11 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $30

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  Byrdie/ Jessica Juliao

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  Byrdie/ Jessica Juliao

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  Byrdie/ Jessica Juliao

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  Byrdie/Tamara Staples

I Gave Up On Eyeliner—Then I Tried the Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner

Best Liquid

KVD Beauty Tattoo Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

4.8

Sephora

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Removal

  5

  /5

• Pigment

  5

  /5

• Wear

  4

  /5

• Dry Time

  5

  /5

• Application

  5

  /5

What We Like

• Rich pigmentation

• Smooth application

• Waterproof and smudge-proof

• Precise applicator

What We Don’t Like

• Minor cracking during wear

This popular liquid eyeliner is an editor favorite and has been a staple on the market for years. The small brush tip applicator makes creating precise definition easy and, and it provides full pigmentation in just one swipe. It glides on effortlessly, dries down almost instantly, and remains smudge-proof as you wear it. Our tester had nothing but good things to say about the application, and loved almost everything about how it wore, minus a tiny bit of cracking on the outer corner of her eyes. 

It’s often compared to the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, and we can see why—they’re very similar. We absolutely recommend them both, but the Stila won our best overall pick due to the super impressive wear and the vast range of shades. 

Formula: Liquid | Shades: 2 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $23

Byrdie/ Jessica Juliao

Best Pencil

Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl Eyeliner Pencil

4.8

Sephora

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What We Like

• Rich pigmentation

• Smooth formula and application

• Easy to remove

What We Don’t Like

• Some online reviewers noted issues with smudging, mainly when used on the waterline

A creamy eyeliner pencil that glides across the skin with ease and can be manipulated to create different types of looks is a makeup bag staple. We love this one because, in addition to being offered in several elevated neutrals, it features a creamy formula that can be applied in a solid line or can be smudged out for a blurred effect. According to our tester, the formula doesn’t need to be layered, and it delivers full pigment in one swipe. It applies on the skin and waterline without tugging or pulling, and once set down, our tester had no issues with running or smudging. 

It is worth noting however, that while our tester didn’t have a problem with it, one consistent gripe with this product in some online reviews is that it smudges, mainly when used on the waterline. If you’re prone to eyeliner smudging, we recommend reserving this formula for your upper eyelid or setting it on your waterline with a small amount of eyeshadow. 

Formula: Pencil | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $29

Byrdie/ Jessica Juliao

Best Gel

Melt Cosmetics Ultra Matte Gel Eyeliner

5

Sephora

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Removal

  5

  /5

• Pigment

  5

  /5

• Wear

  5

  /5

• Dry Time

  5

  /5

• Application

  5

  /5

What We Like

• Impressive pigmentation

• Fast-drying

• Transfer-proof

• Easy to remove

• A little bit goes a long way

What We Don’t Like

• Wet formula takes a bit of getting used to in terms of application process

Some people find that using a small eyeliner brush and dipping into a pot gel liner is much easier than applying liquid and pencil formulas. If this sounds like you, we can’t recommend this gel eyeliner formula enough. It comes in a variety of vibrant shades on the brand’s website, which is awesome for those who love experimenting with color, but the jet-black shade is timeless and definitely something worth investing in if you consistently wear black eyeliner. 

The formula is soft, wet right out of the pot, and insanely pigmented. It glides onto the eyelids with ease, and our tester loved that although it’s lightweight and wet when picking it up with a brush, it dries down very quickly once applied and sets to a matte, waterproof finish. It stays fully intact as you wear it, and our tester noted that despite the incredibly rich pigmentation and wet formula, it was easy to remove.

While the wet formula makes it soft, lightweight, and comfortable to apply, it’s worth noting that it can be a bit tricky to get used to. We recommend starting with a tiny amount of product on your brush and slowly building up in order to maintain a mistake-free application. 

Formula: Gel | Shades: 7 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $22

Byrdie / Jessica Juliao

Best for the Waterline

Lancôme Drama Longwear Liqui-Pencil Eyeliner

5

Ulta

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Removal

  5

  /5

• Pigment

  5

  /5

• Wear

  5

  /5

• Dry Time

  5

  /5

• Application

  5

  /5

What We Like

• One-swipe pigmentation

• Formula glides on with ease

• Wears well even on oily lids

• Painless to remove

What We Don’t Like

• Nothing

If you’re someone that likes to line your waterline (the inner rim of your eyelid), then finding an eyeliner formula that glides on with ease, is pigmented, and most importantly, is long-wearing, is a must. This one is fantastic for the waterline because it has a very smooth formula that’s like a hybrid between a gel and a cream, making it soft to use in the delicate area. You don’t need to apply much pressure at all to yield incredible color payoff, and once applied, it sets down completely and remains totally smudge-proof. The formula is also safe for sensitive eyes, suitable for people who wear contacts and has been tested under ophthalmological control. 

While it’s an excellent choice for the waterline, it also works beautifully on the eyelids. Our tester shared that it didn’t pull at her skin or feel hard or uncomfortable while applying it, and she was even able to remove it with just a few swipes of a makeup remover wipe. Perhaps most notably, she expressed how pleased she was with how well it wore, a true feat considering that she has oily eyelids. 

Formula: Pencil | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: No

Price at time of publish: $23

Byrdie/ Jessica Juliao

Best Longwear

MAC Pro Longwear Fluidline Gel Eyeliner

Ulta

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What We Like

• Formula is easy to work with

• Sets down quickly

• Wears beautifully

• Doesn’t smudge, bleed, or run

What We Don’t Like

• Could have slightly more even pigmentation

It’s safe to say that no one likes runny, smeared, or faded eyeliner, which is why finding a long-wearing formula is so important—especially if you’ll be wearing it during special events or long days. This is a great long-wearing option because once the waterproof formula sets down, it locks into place and won’t budge until you wipe it away with makeup remover. Our tester liked that the formula is meant to be used with an eyeliner brush, allowing you full control over how much product you use. She also appreciated that it dried down quickly and felt lightweight and comfortable on her eyes. Once set, it wore excellently—no smudging, smearing, or fading. And despite its waterproof formula and long-wearing formula, she noted that it wasn’t difficult to remove. 

Our only slight gripe with this formula is that you might need to apply a second layer in order to get full, even, pigmentation, but considering that it’s easy to layer and the color payoff is still really nice, this isn’t a major con for us. 

Formula: Gel | Shades: 5 | Cruelty-Free: No

Price at time of publish: $19

Byrdie/ Tamara Staples

Best for Beginners

Kaja Wink Stamp Eyeliner

4.7

Amazon

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What We Like

• Comes with stamping product and a separate liquid eyeliner

• Size and shape of the stamp is nice

• Richly pigmented

• Waterproof and smudge-proof

• Easy to remove

What We Don’t Like

• Formula creates a slight tight sensation on the skin

• Eyeliner pen could have more smooth application

Achieving sharp, even winged eyeliner is one of the biggest makeup technique challenges that many people face—it’s difficult! That’s why products like this one which find innovative ways to help us achieve the eyeliner looks we envision are so great. The product comes with one pen, which has a stamp on the end that resembles the outer wing part of winged eyeliner, as well as a regular liquid eyeliner to finish the look and line the eyelids. 

In terms of the application process and the effectiveness of the stamp, our tester said it went pretty smoothly. “The stamp part makes a nice shape and gives a perfect wing,” she said. “But, you need to get it precise the first time as double stamping makes it really thick.” It’s absolutely understandable that a tool like this will take some trial and error to get perfect, but she loved how evenly the stamp applied the product, and well the shape worked to create the wing. She noted that while it looked nice and the formula didn’t budge, it did create a bit of a tight sensation on her eyelids. 

In terms of the separate liquid eyeliner that the product comes with, she noted that it didn’t provide the smoothest application across her lash line, but she was ultimately able to achieve a pretty look. There are some minor flaws to this product, but considering how effective the stamp is, we think it’s a fantastic option for winged eyeliner beginners.  

Formula: Liquid | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

Price at time of publish: $29

Byrdie/ Jessica Juliao

Best Clean

NakedPoppy Clean Liquid Eyeliner

4.6

Naked Poppy

View On Nakedpoppy.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Removal

  5

  /5

• Pigment

  4

  /5

• Wear

  4.5

  /5

• Dry Time

  4.5

  /5

• Application

  5

  /5

What We Like

• Brush and handle make application easy

• Fast-drying

• Smudge-proof

What We Don’t Like

• Needs to be built up a bit to achieve completely opaque pigmentation

If you have sensitive eyes or you’re really cautious about the ingredients in your beauty products, this is a fantastic liquid eyeliner for you. It has a simple ingredient list free from potential irritants, and the formula has been ophthalmologically tested for sensitive eyes. 

Aside from the clean formula, it performs beautifully, too. Our tester explained that the felt tip applicator and long handle made applying the eyeliner with precision easy, and she shared that it dries down quickly and is completely transfer-resistant. It felt comfortable as she wore it, and a few swipes of makeup remover dissolved it effortlessly. Her one con is that it did take a bit of building up in order to achieve jet black color payoff, but all things considered, this isn’t a dealbreaker for us. 

Formula: Liquid | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $25

Byrdie / Jessica Juliao

Hourglass Cosmetics 1.5MM Mechanical Gel Eye Liner

5

Sephora

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View On Hourglasscosmetics.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Removal

  5

  /5

• Pigment

  5

  /5

• Wear

  5

  /5

• Dry Time

  5

  /5

• Application

  5

  /5

What We Like

• Smooth formula glides on

• Highly pigmented

• Transfer-proof

• Easy to remove

• Thin tip allows for precisions

What We Don’t Like

• Once you click up product, it can’t be twisted back down

• Ultra-fine pencil makes it more prone to breakage and running out of product quickly 

Eyeliner tends to be one of the more tricky makeup items to apply, which is why finding one that makes application practically effortless is a win. This one is great because not only does it have an incredibly fine tip which makes getting in hard-to-reach areas and lining with precision easy, but the formula also glides on without tugging or dragging in the eye area. According to our tester, it provides an intense color payoff in one stroke, and dries down quickly to a budge-proof finish. It was also easy to remove, making the entire process of using it from start to finish a breeze. 

The one thing our tester shared she would have changed about the product is that once you click it up, you can’t retract the product, meaning that you have to be careful about not clicking up too much at a time. And because the pencil is so incredibly thin, it is prone to breakage if you’re not super careful. But as long as you’re conscious of this and only click up a tiny bit at a time, it’s still a great product to have in your makeup collection, especially if you like to draw precise lines. 

Formula: Pencil | Shades: 5 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Price at time of publish: $20

What Our Testers Say

“Amazing application! It went on smoothly and extremely pigmented without any difficulties. The product glided across my eyelids beautifully with ease, no tugging or extra pressure.” —Jia Wei, Tester 

Byrdie / Jessica Juliao