The best liquid eyeliner you can buy

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The Insider Pick:

Liquid eyeliner ranks high on the list of “scary beauty products,” mostly because of how finicky it can be. But the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner is positively foolproof, which is why it’s our top pick in the liquid liner category.

There is a funny joke that tends to circulate among those who are more than a little beauty-obsessed: The moment we’re running late is the moment we attempt a complicated eye look with liquid eyeliner. It’s funny because liquid eyeliner can be a total pain in the butt, which is the major reason why most makeup novices shy away from it.

But not all liquid eyeliners are as scary as they’re made out to be. In fact, liquid eyeliners have advanced by leaps and bounds over the past few years. Gone are the days of flimsy paintbrush-like applicators and runny pigments. Now, the majority of liners come with marker-like tips, making it much easier to create clean, crisp lines. The formulations are much sturdier, which means no runny black tears à la Lauren Conrad on “The Hills.”

All that said, there are a few tricks you want to keep in mind when it comes to working with liquids. The most important? Don’t try to make one, clean line in one swipe — it’s pretty much impossible. Instead, apply your line in short strokes, and go slowly. This is a marathon — not a sprint.

Another tip? If you’re applying a cat-eye with liquid eyeliner, apply to each eye in tandem, not one at a time. So draw the flick on each eye to make sure they’re even, and then fill in each line over the lid. That way, it’s easier to fix if things get messed up.

But all of these tips are totally bunk if you don’t have the right liner in your makeup bag. So which one reigns supreme? Read on for our top picks in every category. And remember these two things: Practice makes perfect, and don’t attempt liquid liner if you’re in a rush. Trust us.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner is our top pick and why you’ll also love the Lancôme Grandiôse Bendable Liquid Liner, the Charlotte Tilbury The Feline Flick, the Surratt Beauty Auto-Graphique Eyeliner, and the Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Liner.

The best liquid eyeliner overall

Stila

Why you’ll love it: With its waterproof formula and sturdy applicator, Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner lives up to its name.

Ask any beauty pro what makes an amazing liquid liner, and you’ll likely hear the same qualifications pop up time and time again. It has to dry quickly and stay put. It has to have a sturdy, yet flexible applicator. And it has to fit comfortably in your hand so that you’re able to work it as easily as you would a pencil.

If you then asked those same beauty pros which liner checked the most of those boxes, you’d likely hear Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner more than once. That’s because it stacks up in basically every category that a liquid liner should hit. It’s like the Target of liquid liners — It’s got everything you need.

Stila’s formula is waterproof, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t glide on like heaven. The marker-like applicator is stiff enough to offer the user maximum control but flexible enough to deliver a swoop of pigment with just the slightest bit of pressure. This stuff sets in seconds, too, which means it won’t budge if you decide to curl your lashes ahead of your mascara application. And that strong hold stays all day — just like its name suggests.

A hold so strong doesn’t come without its setbacks, though. Its quick dry time means that you have to work quickly to clean up any wobbly lines. Wait too long, and you’ll have to pull out your Bioderma to fix any mucked up spots. Once the end of the day rolls around, expect to use some heavy-duty eye makeup remover to wipe this sucker off. Pro tip: Cold-pressed coconut oil is clutch for breaking down tough liner like this.

But Stila’s holding power is what makes it a winner. This liner has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars over at Sephora. One buyer says that they’ve been using this liner for years, and has no reason to try another. If the reviews are any indication, people who buy Stila never look for another liquid liner again. So consider your own search over. This one’s a winner.

Pros: Waterproof, easy to apply, dries down easily

Cons: Can be difficult to remove at the end of the day

Buy Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner for $ 22

The best liquid eyeliner for newbies

Lancôme

Why you’ll love it: Lancôme Grandiôse Bendable Liquid Liner’s innovative applicator bends to fit the contour of your eye, making your perfect cat-eye easier to achieve than ever.

There’s a big issue with all eyeliners — not just liquid ones. They’re a little awkward to apply. Since our eyes are curved, and liners tend to come in straight tubes, it can feel a bit like you’re auditioning for the circus every time you try to apply. It takes a lot of practice to get the angle just right, and that can be daunting for those who are just dipping their toes in the liquid liner pool.

Enter: Lancôme Grandiôse Liquid Liner. This two-in-one applicator can be used both straight or at a 35-degree angle. That tiny little bend allows you to keep your wrist straight as you apply — something that’s much easier for those just starting their liquid liner journey.

But the bend isn’t just good for newbies. It’s amazing for those who are looking for their liner to come as close to their lash line as possible. The 35-degree bend allows for precise application, which is something that even the most skilled liner lovers sometimes struggle with.

Don’t believe us? Stephanie Saltzman over at Fashionista gave this bendable liner a glowing review. “My usually kind of wobbly line was a lot more uniform and hugged my lash line a little more tightly,” she writes. She was also sold on the formula, which she describes as lasting for a “solid 13 hours.” That’s nothing to turn your nose up at.

The only downside to this bendable wonder? The price point. While beginners will love its bendy brush, they may be turned off by its higher price tag. But trust us — Lancôme’s liner is an investment worth making.

Pros: Bendable brush makes it perfect for beginners, or those looking for a more precise line

Cons: Liner newbies may not want to invest in a $ 32 liner

Buy Lancôme Grandiôse Bendable Liquid Liner for $ 32

The best liquid eyeliner for pros

Charlotte Tilbury

Why you’ll love it: If you’ve already mastered the perfect cat-eye, and are looking to up your game in a major way, then Charlotte Tilbury The Feline Flick is the tube you want to reach for.

One of the downfalls of the standard liquid liner that a lot of new beauty devotees gravitate to? The tip tends to be short and stiff. While this is a godsend for those with shaky hands (the more controlled applicator means you’ll have an easier time drawing with it), it can be a little limiting for those looking to get a little more artistic with their liner looks. In these cases, it’s helpful to reach for a liner like Charlotte Tilbury’s The Feline Flick, which has a longer, more tapered tip.

Charlotte’s cult-favorite liner was created with a special calligraphy brush. It’s slightly more flexible than other liner tips. That makes experienced users will have a bit more control over the lines they create. It also means that the lines created are slightly smoother and thinner. The tip was also created specifically for cat-eyes, making that feline flick that much easier to achieve.

But it’s not just the tip that makes this liner a winner. Charlotte Tilbury’s The Feline Flick features an ergonomic rubber handle. It sits comfortably between your fingers, which means more control for you. That makes the transition from newbie-friendly liner to something a bit more advanced that much easier.

The only issue we see with Charlotte’s gorgeous liner is how quickly it dries. Now, that may seem like a positive, but this formula almost dries too quickly. That means the margin for error is super small, and big mistakes take makeup remover to rectify.

All that said, this is the liner to reach for if your go-to look is a cat-eye. Charlotte has the look down to a science, and The Feline Flick will help you get it, too.

Pros: Perfect for eyeliner pros who adore a cat-eye

Cons: Dries quickly, so mistakes are hard to clean up