Sharp Eyeliner Looks Are In, and We're Using These 16 Liquid Eyeliners to Create Them

I'm kicking things of with my favorite luxury eyeliner by Dior. In addition to being waterproof, it uses an ultra-flexible tip that creates sleek, precise lines and allows you to adjust the thickness based on the pressure applied. It also comes in a versatile palette of hues in matte, satin, and pearly finishes.

Customer Review: "Love this eyeliner. It goes on smoothly and I can easily control the thickness of the line. The main reason I love it is because it stays put—even after a long 10-hour day. Other liners would bleed, crack, and wear off—not this one."

Pro: Formula ensures up to 24 hours of wear

Con: None

An eyeliner offering instant and long-lasting pigment that goes on smooth without tugging on the skin and stays put when in contact with liquid? Sign me up. Physicians Formula's gel-like eyeliner pencil glides onto the skin with ease and allows time to smudge, shape, and correct before it sets, making this the best pick for beginners.

Customer Review: "I love a brown liquid liner to define my lash line without looking as bold as black and this is the one!! The tip is so fine and doesn’t get dry as you’re using it. You can go over the same line without it crumbling; it does smudge or budge but it’s still easy to remove at the end of the day."

Pro: Applies smoothly and lasts all day

Con: Limited shade range

I recently rediscovered all that Kiko Cosmetics' line has to offer, and I'm loving what I've found so far. Its Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner, for example, is offered in 18 shades over three finishes (shimmer, matte, and glitter) for your perfect color match.

Customer Review: "This stuff is amazing! I've been using it for years now and it never lets me down. I suffer from greasy skin and find other eyeliners end up bleeding at some point in the day, but this always stays put, even in the rain. Easy to remove too with a good eye makeup remover. I swear by it."

Pro: Gentle water- and polymer-based formula

Con: Reapplication needed for all-day wear 

You haven't experienced a true black eyeliner until you get your hands on this one by Stila. Its easily-glide, quick-dry formula stays in place with no smudging or running, going on smooth with an eye-catching and long-lasting pigmented finish. I've been using this gem for years and don't think I'll be giving it up anytime soon.

Customer Review: "Okay, so I have tried so many liquid eye liners. I’ve been using this for a while now and it’s the very best and my favorite. The tip is firmer than other eyeliners which helps with control. But still flexible enough to get the look you want. It doesn’t run and doesn’t itch my sensitive eyes. I won’t buy any other eyeliner from now on."

Pro: Precise application made easy with felt tip

Con: Not ideal for oily lids

Need a quick and easy way to brighten your eyes on a time crunch? Use a creamy, white liquid eyeliner like this one from Make Up For Ever in the color Matte Snow to bring some light to the eyes without breaking a sweat or worrying about its longevity.

Customer Review: "The Make Up Forever aqua resist eyeliner is a great waterproof eyeliner. I The liquid eyeliner in white helped my deep set eyes pop! It stayed on all day even sweating through exercise class! I felt the thin brush made application easy and it dries quickly. Will purchase in future in additional shades!"

Pro: Dries to a long-wearing finish

Con: Tip can be challenging to control

You can trust this rich black liner by MAC Cosmetics goes on effortlessly to create defined eye makeup looks with a single swipe of its brush. Its long-lasting formula is transfer-resistant and waterproof so you can go all day without worrying about reapplication.

Customer Review: "I've tried it all… the felt pens, the pans of thick paste-like liner, the brush applied liner and the one by MAC is hands down the best. Just swipe the excess off the brush and swipe. Dries quickly, stays on all day and comes off with face wash. This is my new, easy liquid liner!"

Pro: Stays put all day without bleeding

Con: Challenging removal

Don't let its small size fool you; this one packs a punch. The Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner delivers elegant precision for the ultimate eye look using a waterproof formulation that lasts for up to 24 hours without smudging, budging, or feathering. Keep it in your bag for on-the-go makeup moments.

Customer Review: "I love the precision of the pen tip and how bold the black color remains once it has dried on the skin. I have brown skin and some liners dry dull on my skin tone, but this one manages to make a statement with one easy stroke of the pen."

Pro: Features a transfer- and waterproof formula

Con: Quick-drying formula with fallout

Epic is right! Nyx's Professional Makeup's aptly named eyeliner creates long-wearing precise lines using a flexible brush that gives its user complete control over the finished look with a satin, smooth finish. Its fuss-free, smudge-proof formula is resistant to sweat, humidity, precipitation, and tears.

Customer Review: "It basically fits all of the requirements I would want in my perfect eyeliner. It's affordable, extremely black, opaque, easy to use, waterproof, stays on for a long time, and the tip is quite thin so you can get wings as sharp as a sword. I also usually have to use makeup remover and concealer to clean up my lines, but I barely need to do any maintenance with this. My cat eyes have been turning out so clean and beautiful."

Pro: Offers crisp, buildable lines for precise application

Con: Susceptible to bleeding over time

Over the last five years, I've sworn by Fenty's foundation, contour sticks, and lip glosses. Right now, I'm all about its liquid eyeliner. Here's the scoop: The Flyliner Longwear Liquid Eyeliner offers crisp, hyper-saturated color using a long-wearing, water-resistant formula and an innovative flex tip.

Customer Review: "I am not really good with liquid eyeliner, so I am not sure why I bought this but when I got home and used it... it worked. It was easy to use and the liner stays filled with the makeup that it applies nicely from all angles that you could hold the pen. It doesn't dry out and the completed look is very vivid. This is a new favorite for me!"

Pro: Features a flexible tip for quick and easy application

Con: Not transfer-proof without setting powder

Looking for big product payoff without a big budget? We've got your back. Almay's Conditioning Liquid Eyeliner is crafted with an ultrafine tip for precise lines without tugging on the skin. Its formula is even enriched with a lash-conditioning complex to nourish and hydrate the lashes with every application.

Customer Review: "This is the first time trying this product and I’m very happy. I used it on the waterline of my eyes and it never smudged, even when it was on for more than 10 hours. I was afraid it would smudge after a few hours like other products I’ve used before, but it never did. Definitely would buy this again. It also glides on easily when applied."

Pro: Smudge-proof, long-lasting formula

Con: None

Speaking of innovative eyeliners, have you met Maybelline's best-selling Hyper Easy Liquid Pen? With intense color that lasts for up to 24 hours with no smudging or fading, this liquid eyeliner can be used to create everything from sleek wings to eye-catching, bold designs with a flick of the wrist.

Customer review: "This is my new favorite liquid eyeliner... I've tried so many brands (many higher-end) but this one is by far the easiest to use and the best. It doesn't tug or skip when used properly and resists running when my eyes water. My eyelids are slightly 'crepey' and have fine lines and slight wrinkles which tend to mess me up when using liquid eyeliner on my top lid, but this one actually works well for me."

Pro: Ophthalmologist-tested, suitable for sensitive eyes

Con: Challenging to control tip position during application

Ilia's clean, carbon-black-free, liquid formula offers precise definition with all-day, smudge-free wear without causing any discomfort to the eyes. It's also extremely water-resistant and buildable, offering the ability to go as bold or as natural-looking with your eyeliner as your heart desires.

Customer review: "This is a good clean eyeliner, did not irritate my eyes (other eyeliners do). The color is solid and easy to apply in cat eye style with the thin felt tip. Make sure your eyelid is dry and not oily before applying, that helps it stay longer through the day."

Pro: Uses a clean, carbon-black-free formula

Con: Fades with all-day wear

This award-winning, waterproof liquid eyeliner delivers bold pigment with a precise brush tip that hugs the lash line for smooth application. Long-wearing and smudge-proof, KVD Beauty's Tattoo Liner is a must-have for workouts. It's never budged during one of my lengthy, sweat-inducing Pilates classes.

Customer review: "The title says it all! This weekend I went to the lake & decided to test just how waterproof this product really is. I was not disappointed! After many hours in the sun, being splashed while tubing, and jumping in the water multiple times, my eyeliner stayed perfect."

Pro: Does not pull the skin during application

Con: Moderate flaking with five-plus-hour wear