The best eyeliner is the one whose format suits the line you want to draw, because the formulas have largely converged: 12 of the 15 liners below claim to be waterproof. What still separates them is the tip, how long the brand says the line lasts, and whether it is meant to go anywhere near your waterline. A felt-tip pen gives the sharpest wing with the least practice, a pencil is the easiest to smudge, and a gel pot gives the most control once you own a good brush.
The 15 here run from a $6 retractable pencil to a $37 gel pot. Formats, wear claims, sizes and list prices are taken from each brand’s own US site, or a major retailer where the brand leaves one out, checked on 27 September 2026. Wear times are the brands’ figures rather than measured results, and where a brand only promises “all day” we say so instead of inventing a number. It is the same approach our electric toothbrush comparison takes with plaque claims.
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The 15 Eyeliners Compared
Start with the type column, then check the waterproof one. Three liners here stop short of a waterproof claim, and that matters more on a hot day or a watery eye than any hour figure.
| Eyeliner | Type | Waterproof | Brand wear claim | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stila Stay All Day | Liquid, felt tip | Yes | All day | $25 |
| Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On | Pencil | Yes | Up to 16 hours | $23 |
| Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl | Kajal pencil with smudger | Yes | Up to 28 hours on the lid, 10 on the waterline | $32 |
| KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner | Liquid, brush tip | Yes | All day | $25 |
| Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner | Gel pot | Yes | 8 hours | $37 |
| MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil | Gel pencil | Yes | 24+ hours on the lid, 12 on the waterline | $26 |
| Clinique Quickliner for Eyes | Twist-up pencil with smudger | Water resistant | Not stated | $29 |
| Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes | Liquid, brush tip | Yes | All day | $22 |
| Make Up For Ever Aqua Resist | Gel pencil | Yes, and sweatproof | 24 hours | $27 |
| Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel 77 | Gel pot | Yes | All day | $26 |
| Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil | Gel pencil | Yes | Up to 36 hours | $10.99 |
| L’Oréal Haute Precision | Liquid, felt tip | Yes | Up to 28 hours | $13.99 |
| NYX Epic Ink Liner | Liquid, brush tip | Yes | Up to 24 hours | $10 |
| Maybelline Hyper Easy | Liquid, flex brush tip | Not stated by the brand | Up to 24 hours | $10.99 |
| e.l.f. No Budge Retractable | Retractable pencil | Water resistant | Not stated | $6 |
1. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner: The Felt Tip to Beat
Type: Liquid, felt tip · Size: 0.5 mL · Shades: 12 · List price: $25
Stila describes the tip as “ultra-precise” and marker-like, and that is the appeal: you draw a wing the way you would with a fine pen, with none of the reloading a brush needs. The formula is sold as waterproof, smudge-proof and transfer-proof, and no other brand here claims all three in those words on its own site. Stila also says it is quick-drying.
If the standard tip feels too broad, the same formula comes in a Micro Tip version for a finer line and a Dual-Ended pen. Stila gives no hour figure, only “morning to night”, and recommends an oil-based remover or cleansing balm to take it off.
What it does well
- Waterproof, smudge-proof and transfer-proof claims on the brand’s own page.
- A marker-style tip that is the easiest way to learn a wing.
- Twelve shades, plus Micro Tip and Dual-Ended versions.
What to know before buying
- Stila recommends an oil-based remover or cleansing balm to take it off.
- No specific wear time is given.
2. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil: The Pencil With the Most Shades
Type: Pencil · Size: 0.04 oz (1.2 g) · Shades: 38 · List price: $23
The 24/7 pencil goes on creamy and then sets, which gives you a short window to smudge it into a smoky edge or blend it as an eyeshadow base before it locks in place. Urban Decay claims waterproof, smudge-proof wear for up to 16 hours, and says half the formula is hydrating ingredients such as vitamin E, jojoba oil and cottonseed oil.
No pencil here comes close on range: 38 shades across matte, shimmer, glitter, satin and metallic finishes, with Perversion as the matte black. The formula is described as vegan, but Urban Decay itself lists 13 shades that are not, including Bourbon, Corrupt, Vice and Roxy, so check the shade if that matters to you.
What it does well
- 38 shades in five finishes, the widest choice in this roundup.
- Smudgeable for a few moments, then waterproof for up to 16 hours by the brand’s claim.
What to know before buying
- Its product page does not market it for the waterline; Urban Decay sells a separate waterline pencil.
- Not every shade is vegan, despite the vegan formula label.
- A sharpener is not included.
3. Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl: Made for the Waterline and a Smoky Eye
Type: Kajal pencil with smudger · Size: 1.2 g · Shades: 6 · List price: $32
This is the liner to buy if you want colour on the waterline and a soft, smoked-out edge. Charlotte Tilbury tells you to run it through the waterline and use it to tightline, and it is one of the few brands that puts a separate number on that: up to 28 hours on the eyelid and up to 10 hours on the waterline, from a test on 33 people. A smudger on the other end does the blending.
The pencil was reformulated with what the brand calls an enhanced kajal formula, and it is sold as waterproof and smudge-proof. Bedroom Black is the classic shade. At $32 for 1.2 g it is one of the pricier pencils here, and the $7 sharpener is sold separately.
What it does well
- Marketed for the waterline, with a separate waterline wear claim.
- A built-in smudger for smoky looks.
What to know before buying
- Six shades only.
- No sharpener included.
4. KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner: The Brush Tip for Sharp Wings
Type: Liquid, brush tip · Size: 0.55 mL · Shades: 2 · List price: $25 ($15 mini)
Where Stila uses a felt tip, KVD uses a brush: 325 flexible vegan bristles that come to what the brand calls a 0.01mm point. Press lightly for a hairline, press harder for a thick wing, which is the kind of line a felt tip cannot vary as much. KVD claims waterproof and transfer-proof wear that resists fading and smudging all day.
It comes in Trooper Black and Mad Max Brown only, and the brown doubles as a brow or faux-freckle pen by the brand’s suggestion. The whole formula is vegan and paraben-free, and a $15 mini is a cheap way to try the brush before committing.
What it does well
- A fine, pressure-sensitive brush that varies line thickness.
- Waterproof and transfer-proof claims; fully vegan formula.
- A mini size to try it first.
What to know before buying
- A brush takes more practice than a felt tip.
- Only black and brown.
5. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner: The Gel Pot With the Most Control
Type: Gel pot · Size: 0.1 oz (3 g) · Shades: 4 · List price: $37
Bobbi Brown now sells this as the Long-Wear Smudge-Proof Gel Eyeliner, and the idea has not changed: the precision of a liquid liner with the ease of a gel. You dip a fine brush and draw, and a gel is easier to control than a runny liquid. The brand claims eight hours of wear that is waterproof and resists sweat and humidity, and it is ophthalmologist-tested.
The range is down to four shades: Black Ink, Espresso Ink, Chocolate Shimmer Ink and Denim Shimmer Ink. The brush is not in the box; Bobbi Brown recommends its Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush, sold separately, so budget for one if you do not already own a fine angled or pointed brush.
What it does well
- More control than a pen once you have a good brush.
- Waterproof, sweat and humidity resistant, and ophthalmologist-tested.
What to know before buying
- The most expensive liner here, and the brush costs extra.
- An 8-hour claim is modest next to the pencils promising 24 hours or more.
- Older shades such as Black Plum and Hunter are discontinued.
6. MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil: The Longest Waterline Claim
Type: Gel pencil · Size: 0.35 g · Shades: 18 · List price: $26
MAC tells you to apply this straight to the lid or the waterline, and it backs that with the longest waterline figure in this roundup: 12 hours, against more than 24 on the lid. The formula is sold as waterproof and transfer-proof, and it is ophthalmologist-tested and described as safe for contact lens wearers, which is reassuring for anything that sits that close to the eye.
Glide Or Die is the carbon black, and the 18 shades include pastels such as Blueberry Milk for a brighter waterline. MAC has since renamed it Colour Excess Gel Eye Liner on its own site; it is the same pencil.
What it does well
- A 12-hour waterline claim and more than 24 hours on the lid.
- Ophthalmologist-tested and safe for contact lens wearers, by the brand’s claim.
What to know before buying
- Only 0.35 g of product, far less than the drugstore gel pencils.
- MAC does not sell it through an official Amazon store, so buy it direct or from an authorised retailer.
7. Clinique Quickliner for Eyes: The Gentlest Pick for Sensitive Eyes
Type: Twist-up pencil with smudger · Size: 0.01 oz · Shades: 11 · List price: $29
If eyeliner usually leaves your eyes itchy or watering, start here. Clinique says the Quickliner is ophthalmologist tested, allergy tested, safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers, and free from fragrance, parabens and phthalates. It twists up, never needs sharpening, and has a smudge tool on the other end; you get about 60 seconds to blend before it sets.
The trade-off is staying power. Clinique calls it water, smudge and transfer resistant rather than waterproof, and gives no wear time. Note that it twists up but does not retract: the brand says to swivel up only an eighth of an inch at a time, because the pencil will not go back down.
What it does well
- The longest list of sensitive-eye credentials in this roundup.
- No sharpener needed, with a built-in smudger.
What to know before buying
- Water resistant, not waterproof.
- Twisting up too far wastes product because it does not retract.
8. Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner: A Liquid Liner for Contact Lens Wearers
Type: Liquid, brush tip · Size: 0.9 mL · Shades: 2 · List price: $22
Most liquid liners here make no eye-safety claims at all. Rare Beauty’s does: it is ophthalmologist tested, described as suitable for sensitive eyes and safe for contact lens wearers, and the formula is vegan, cruelty free and paraben free. That makes it the liquid equivalent of the Clinique pencil, but with a waterproof claim.
The brush has up to 800 soft bristles, so the line thickens as you press. The finish is matte and the brand promises it will not fade, feather or flake all day, without giving an hour figure. Shake it before use, and use a waterproof eye makeup remover to take it off.
What it does well
- Ophthalmologist tested and safe for contact lens wearers, with a waterproof claim.
- Vegan, cruelty free and paraben free.
What to know before buying
- Black and brown only.
- Sold direct and at Sephora rather than through an official Amazon store.
9. Make Up For Ever Aqua Resist Color Pencil: Built for Sweat and the Waterline
Type: Gel pencil · Size: 0.04 oz · Shades: 14 · List price: $27
Aqua Resist is the pencil for workouts, heat and long days. Make Up For Ever claims 24 hours of waterproof and sweatproof wear from an instrumental test on 25 subjects, calls it smudge-proof, and says it is safe on the waterline and suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
It is sharpenable, and before it sets you can smudge it into a shadow. The 14 shades span matte, metallic, shimmer and glitter finishes, with 01 Whatever Black as the everyday choice. To remove it, the brand says to press a soaked cotton pad against the eye rather than rub.
What it does well
- Waterproof and sweatproof, with a 24-hour claim.
- Waterline safe and suitable for contact lens wearers.
- Four finishes across 14 shades.
What to know before buying
- Needs a sharpener.
- There is no official Make Up For Ever store on Amazon, so buy it direct or from Sephora.
10. Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel 77: Nearly Twice the Gel for Less
Type: Gel pot · Size: 5.5 g · Shades: About 20 · List price: $26
Shade 77 is Inglot’s cult matte black, and the value is easy to see: a 5.5 g pot for $26, against 3 g for $37 from Bobbi Brown. Inglot calls it waterproof and quick-drying, says it does not smudge or flake, and promises it stays on for the entire day. It also works as an eyeshadow.
You will need a brush; Inglot recommends its 23T, 30T, 31T or 42T. Inglot also sells Duraline, a liquid that thins the gel for a finer line. Take it off with a waterproof makeup remover.
What it does well
- The most product for the money among the gel pots.
- Waterproof, quick-drying and usable as a shadow.
What to know before buying
- Brush sold separately.
- No specific wear time is given.
11. Maybelline TattooStudio Sharpenable Gel Pencil: The Longest Wear Claim Here
Type: Gel pencil · Size: 0.04 oz · Shades: 16 · List price: $10.99
For less than half the price of the prestige pencils, TattooStudio makes the biggest claim in this roundup: up to 36 hours. Maybelline says the gel formula is waterproof, smudge and fade resistant, and holds up against tears, humidity, sweat and oily lids.
There are 16 shades, including two colour-shifting duo-chromes, with Deep Onyx as the black. Despite the long-wear formula, Maybelline says micellar water or an eye makeup remover takes it off. The brand does not market it for the waterline; its instructions cover the lash line.
What it does well
- A 36-hour, sebum-resistant claim at a drugstore price.
- Removes with micellar water, by the brand’s account.
What to know before buying
- Needs sharpening.
- No waterline guidance from the brand.
12. L’Oréal Haute Precision Liquid Eyeliner: A Drugstore Felt Tip With a Fine Point
Type: Liquid, felt tip · Shades: 5 · List price: $13.99
Haute Precision is the drugstore answer to the Stila pen. L’Oréal gives it a cushioned felt tip it measures at 0.01mm, and claims waterproof, fade-proof and transfer-resistant wear for up to 28 hours, even through humidity and tears.
It replaces L’Oréal’s Infallible Grip Precision Felt liner, whose product page now redirects here. The five shades are Black Silk, Brown Leather, Blue Suede, Burgundy Cashmere and Green Velvet, so it also covers the coloured-liner trend at a low price.
What it does well
- A fine felt tip and a 28-hour waterproof claim for under $15.
- Five shades, including burgundy and green.
What to know before buying
- Transfer resistant rather than transfer-proof.
- A new product, so it has less of a track record than the Stila.
13. NYX Epic Ink Liner: The Most Shades in a Liquid Liner
Type: Liquid, brush tip · Size: 1 mL · Shades: 15 · List price: $10
Epic Ink is the budget brush-tip pen, and NYX calls it its number one brush tip liquid liner. The claims are waterproof, smudge-proof and flake resistant for up to 24 hours, and the formula and brush are both vegan.
What sets it apart is range. The 15 shades include six originals, three matte denim blues and six glitter shades, which is more than any other liquid liner here. NYX recommends an oil-based remover or micellar water, and says liquid liner is not the cleanest option for the waterline, pointing you to a pencil instead.
What it does well
- Fifteen shades, including glitter liquid liners.
- Waterproof, 24-hour claim and vegan for $10.
What to know before buying
- A brush tip is less forgiving than a felt tip for beginners.
- Not for the waterline, by the brand’s own advice.
14. Maybelline Hyper Easy Liquid Eyeliner: The Easiest Grip for Beginners
Type: Liquid, flex brush tip · Shades: 2 · List price: $10.99
Hyper Easy is built around a shaky hand. The barrel is hexagonal so it does not roll in your fingers, and the flexible brush tip is designed to lay down a line with, in Maybelline’s words, no skips and no gaps. It won Allure’s Best of Beauty award for liquid eyeliner in 2020, and the brand claims up to 24 hours of smudge-free wear.
Be aware that Maybelline’s own page never calls it waterproof, even though retailer listings do. It comes off with a makeup wipe held on the lid for three seconds, which is convenient, but another sign this is not the liner for swimming.
What it does well
- A non-slip hexagonal grip and flexible tip for first-time liquid liner users.
- Up to 24 hours of wear by the brand’s claim.
What to know before buying
- No waterproof claim from the brand.
- Pitch Black and Pitch Brown only.
15. e.l.f. No Budge Retractable Eyeliner: The Cheapest Waterline Liner
Type: Retractable pencil · Shades: 5 · List price: $6
At $6 this is the cheapest liner here, and e.l.f. markets it specifically as a waterline eyeliner that also works along the lash line and across the lid. It is a creamy, matte retractable pencil, so there is nothing to sharpen, and you can smudge it within 30 seconds for a smoky look or leave it to set.
The formula is 100 percent vegan, cruelty-free and Fair Trade. Keep expectations in line with the price: e.l.f. calls it water resistant and smudge resistant, not waterproof, and gives no wear time.
What it does well
- The lowest price in this roundup.
- Retractable, with no sharpener needed.
- Marketed for the waterline.
What to know before buying
- Water resistant only.
- No wear-time claim.
Liquid, Pencil or Gel: Which Eyeliner Type to Pick
The type decides the look more than the brand does:
- Felt-tip liquid pens, such as the Stila and L’Oréal, draw like a marker. They are the easiest way to get a crisp wing and the least able to vary line thickness.
- Brush-tip liquid pens, such as the KVD, Rare Beauty and NYX, thicken the line as you press. They reward a steady hand with sharper, more graphic shapes.
- Pencils and gel pencils give a softer line that can be smudged before it sets. The ones marketed for the waterline, including the Charlotte Tilbury, MAC, Make Up For Ever and e.l.f., sit in this group.
- Gel pots, such as the Bobbi Brown and Inglot, need a separate brush but give the most control, and one pot lasts a long time.
If you are new to eyeliner, start with a pencil to learn the shape along the lash line, then move to a felt-tip pen for wings.
Waterproof, Water Resistant and What Wear Claims Mean
Twelve of these liners are sold as waterproof. The Clinique and e.l.f. pencils are only called water resistant, and Maybelline makes no waterproof claim for Hyper Easy on its own site. If you swim, cry at weddings or have watery eyes, those three differences matter more than any hour figure.
Treat the hours themselves as marketing rather than measurement. They come from each brand’s own testing, and only some say how it was done: Charlotte Tilbury tested on 33 people, and Make Up For Ever used an instrumental test on 25 subjects. Several brands, including Stila, KVD and Inglot, give no number at all and simply promise all-day wear.
Is It Safe to Put Eyeliner on the Waterline?
Plenty of people do it, and four brands here actively market their pencils for it, but eye doctors are cautious. The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises applying makeup outside the lash line, away from the eye, so it does not block the oil glands along the eyelid. A small 2015 pilot study in the journal Eye & Contact Lens found that liner particles moved into the tear film more readily when the liner was applied inside the lash line, with contamination peaking five to ten minutes after application.
If you wear contact lenses or have dry eyes, that is a reason to keep liner on the lash line, or to choose a pencil tested for contact lens wearers such as the MAC, Make Up For Ever or Clinique. A few habits also help, whichever liner you use:
- Replace eye makeup every three months, as the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends.
- Never share eyeliner; the FDA advises against swapping eye cosmetics, even with a close friend.
- Stop using eye makeup while you have an eye infection.
- Avoid traditional kohl, kajal or surma sold without an ingredient list. The FDA treats those materials as illegal color additives because they can contain lead, which is a different thing from mainstream pencils that borrow the name.
Which Eyeliner to Buy
For most people the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner is the one to buy. Its felt tip is the easiest way to draw a sharp line, and it is the only liner here whose brand claims waterproof, smudge-proof and transfer-proof wear in those words. If you prefer a pencil, the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On gives you 38 shades and 16 hours of waterproof wear.
Choose the Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl or MAC Colour Excess for the waterline, and the KVD Tattoo Liner for sharp, graphic wings. Pick the Clinique Quickliner or Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes if your eyes are sensitive, the Make Up For Ever Aqua Resist if you sweat through your makeup, and the Bobbi Brown or Inglot gel pots if you want brush control. On a budget, the Maybelline TattooStudio pencil and L’Oréal Haute Precision pen cover most of what the prestige picks do for under $15.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best eyeliner for beginners?
A felt-tip liquid pen or a soft pencil. The Stila Stay All Day and L’Oréal Haute Precision draw like markers, and the Maybelline Hyper Easy has a non-slip grip for unsteady hands. Pencils such as the Clinique Quickliner are the most forgiving, because you can smudge away mistakes before they set.
Which eyeliner lasts the longest?
By the brands’ own claims, the Maybelline TattooStudio pencil, at up to 36 hours, followed by the Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl and L’Oréal Haute Precision at up to 28 hours. These are manufacturer figures, so treat them as a guide rather than a guarantee.
What is the best eyeliner for sensitive eyes?
The Clinique Quickliner for Eyes, which is ophthalmologist and allergy tested, safe for contact lens wearers, and free from fragrance, parabens and phthalates. For a liquid liner, the Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes is ophthalmologist tested and safe for contact lens wearers too.
How do you remove waterproof eyeliner?
With an oil-based or waterproof eye makeup remover. Soak a cotton pad, hold it against the closed eye for a few seconds, then wipe gently rather than rubbing. Stila, Rare Beauty, NYX and Inglot all recommend an oil-based or waterproof remover for their liners.
Can you take eyeliner on a plane?
Yes. Pencils are solids and can go anywhere in your bag. Liquid and gel liners count as liquids, but they hold well under 3.4 ounces, so they go in your quart bag alongside mascara. Our guide to how much liquid you can take on a plane covers the full TSA rules.
How often should you replace eyeliner?
Every three months, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which recommends throwing away eye makeup after that point.
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