Discovering a good liquid eyeliner is like finding a needle in a haystack — it seems impossible, but it can definitely be done. The key is to test a variety of options in order to figure out what's most important to you. There are a few things we look for when we dub an eyeliner purchase-worthy: the opaqueness, the color, the staying power, and the quality of the applicator you apply it with. If we're satisfied with all four of these attributes, it's a true gem. Let's be real: nobody likes a smudged, faded cat eye. If you need some guidance on what to try, we rounded up the highest-rated options from our favorite stores like Ulta, Sephora, Nordstrom, and Walgreens. Find out why these options will leave makeup mavens beyond pleased.
Product: Wet n Wild MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliner ($3)
Customer Review: "For me, pen-tip applicators and pots with angle brushes don't give me the razor-sharp line I'm looking for. Only MegaLiner provides me with that smooth edge. The formula itself is smooth and matte. All it takes is one coat to get a pleasing inky black effect."
Product: Stila "Stay All Day" Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner ($22)
Customer Review: "I cannot overstate just how much I love this eyeliner . . . I usually buy drugstore makeup since I don't wear makeup very often, but I make an exception for this eyeliner because it is so dang good! I wear contacts so I am particularly picky about any eye makeup product that flakes or smudges off since it is such a pain. This eyeliner stays on all day and all night through sweaty dances, at shows, and even through early a.m. swim practice. This is the holy grail of eyeliner!"
Product: Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eyeliner ($9)
Customer Review: "This product lasted through a day of work, drinks afterward, and a long, hot 'hang' with my ex. Did NOT move. Ten out of 10 would use again and again and again."
Product: Lancome Artliner Precision Point Liquid Eyeliner ($31)
Customer Review: "The tip is easy to use and it makes me feel like I have great control over my eyeliner. I tend to rock a slight cat eye most days and I love using this eyeliner to pull it off. The black is perfect, and it drys quickly."
Product: Kat Von D Tattoo Liner ($20)
Customer Review: "Kat Von D eyeliner changed my makeup game for the better. I started buying this product a few years ago and I've [never] stopped buying it. The felt tip is the perfect size and the application process is fairly fool-proof. I have oily lids and have never had a problem with this product staying on."
Product: BH Cosmetics Liquid Eyeliner ($4)
Customer Review: "I'm a makeup artist. I have been looking for a liquid liner for myself for so long but they all bleed or fade. So much money spent when a $4 option was right here and amazing! Applies easy, thin or thick. I wing my liner and have no issues! No bleeding."
Product: Marc Jacobs Beauty Magic Marc'er Liquid Eyeliner ($30)
Customer Review: "I use the Magic Marc'er to line the top of my lashes and make a wing. It gives such a precise line and you are able to make a thicker line as you drag it along your eyelid. It reminds me of the best Japanese calligraphy pens: precise, pigmented, and controlled. Love! The packaging is so sleek too. Reminds me of a stylus."
Product: Eyeko 'Black Magic' Liquid Eyeliner ($22)
Customer Review: "I'm an avid winged eyeliner girl and I've tried countless products on the market. I've always come back to this one — now I keep two just in case one runs out! It's the perfect black, glides on smoothly; the tip is not stiff but also not floppy; I can do the perfect wing with it or the thinnest line across my eyes; and it doesn't fade and is waterproof but washes off so effortlessly at the end of the day. The best part is that it promotes lash growth!"
Product: Dolce & Gabbana Intense Liquid Eyeliner ($38)
Customer Review: "I tried Dolce & Gabbana Intense Liquid Eyeliner after reading a review. It is fantastic. It dries quickly and stays on until I take it off at the end of the day. Baby oil is all I need to take it off effortlessly. I have watery eyes in the outer corners and other liners always start coming off and running. This does not. It is easy to apply and really stays put."
Product: Este Lauder Double Wear Zero-Smudge Liquid Eyeliner ($26)
Customer Review: "It goes on easily, and once it's on, it stays put. All day. Not a smudge or smear ever, but washes off easily at night. You can line your eyes with a thin line or go for a more dramatic look because of the point. My favorite makeup product."