The 8 Best Liquid Eyeliners for Sharp Cat-Eyes and Graphic Liner Looks

The world of liquid eyeliners can be intimidating. When most of us think of liquid eyeliner, we think of a bold, precise, perfectly manicured cat-eye. But according to the pros, you can employ liquid eyeliner to create a variety of looks from simple to dramatic to graphic.

If you’ve never used a liquid liner or just haven’t found your favorite, it’s all about trial and error. To help you navigate the process, we spent 150 hours researching liquid eyeliners and personally testing 22 of the most popular formulas at home. We also consulted high-profile makeup artists for insight into their favorite formulas and to help solidify our picks. Each liquid eyeliner was evaluated based on different tests that assessed the ease of application, comfort, pigment, and wear. 

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall Liquid Liner: NARS Climax Liquid Eyeliner at Sephora
• Best Budget-Friendly Liquid Liner: NYX Professional Liner at Amazon
• Best Waterproof Liquid Liner: Urban Decay Liquid Eyeliner at Sephora
• Best for a Dramatic Cat-Eye: Pat McGrath Liquid Eyeliner at Sephora
• Best Pigmentation: Tarte Maneater Liquid Eyeliner at tartecosmetics
• Best for Beginners: Stila Stay Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner at Amazon
• Best Splurge: Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Liquid Liner at Sephora
• Best Dip Pot: Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Liner at Amazon

Best Overall Liquid Liner

NARS Climax Liquid Eyeliner

$24 at Sephora $24 at Ulta $24 at Nordstrom

What We Like: It has a marker-like tip, it dries quickly, and it's smudge-resistant.

What We Don't Like: The tip might not be fine enough for subtle looks.

Shades: 1 | Size: 0.014 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

In its bright red packaging, this liquid liner reminds us of a Crayola marker we once used as a kid (but smaller and for your eye). The tip is deceiving: It looks too thick, but the trick is to use a feather-light hand. With just the tiniest bit of pressure, you get that marker-like, perfectly balanced, smooth line with one swipe. Use that same light touch to drag it up for a cat tail. It creates a sharp, whisker-thin flick—no cleanup needed. The formula is so lightweight on your eyelid (also comparable to the thin, quick-dry formula of a Crayola marker). It’s plenty dark enough with one pass, but a second will deepen it.

The staying power also impressed us—it remained perfectly intact for 12 hours. Not only did our cat-eye remain uninterrupted, but there was also zero color fade. Removal was painless. It took just a few swipes of an oil cleanser (and there was very minimal smearing).

Best Budget-Friendly Liquid Liner

NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner

View on Ulta $9 at Amazon $10 at Ulta

What We Like: Affordable, easy to apply with precise tip, dries quickly, and stays on all day.

What We Don't Like: It's not waterproof and smudges after a few hours.

Shades: 2 | Size: 0.03 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This drugstore liner delivers. The precision tip stands out among the rest. It’s sharp and ultra-thin (but not hard and firm). One gentle flick and you’ve got a fully saturated line. You don’t need to layer for color, since it's so pigmented, but might need an extra stroke or two to achieve the desired thickness.

We loved how it felt lightweight and not dry on our eyelids and that it dried almost instantly with no bleeding. Throughout the workday, we forgot we were even wearing anything at all. “I even rubbed at my eye a few times, forgetting it was on,” says one tester. Still, when she glanced in the mirror, her eyeliner look appeared untouched. It was pretty impressive that there was no budging—it was almost tattoo-like. Eight hours later, at bedtime, it still looked intact—just a hint faded at the tail. We took a micellar water-soaked pad and it lifted cleanly after a few firm passes. This budget liner covers all the bases: long-lasting, knife-like sharpness (for a flawless cat-eye), and easy removal.

Best Waterproof Liquid Liner

Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

$25 at Sephora $25 at Nordstromrack.com

What We Like: Waterproof, lasts over 24 hours, and it has a fine tip.

What We Don't Like: Only one shade is available.

Shades: 1 | Size: 0.55 ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes

One tester, who considers herself a “total newbie” to liquid liner, says this eyeliner is “as foolproof as it gets.” With one swipe, the soft, wispy tip lays down a thin, translucent black coat that doesn’t smudge or run. Note, however, that it takes two to three coats to get that blacker-than-black level of pigmentation. But, unlike a lot of other liners, layering on doesn't add any unwanted thickness or crumbling. The ability of this pen to layer on and refine allows beginners to ease their way into a cat-eye, rather than committing to one final swoop. With each stroke, the tip glides on effortlessly without skipping or pulling. It also dries pretty quickly so there’s a slim chance you’ll mess it up. Once it’s on, it’s on.

The most important takeaway with this product is its staying power. “One night I forgot to take off my makeup, slept in it, and my cat-eye was just as crisp as it was when I applied it—no joke,” said our tester. That's more than 24 hours of wear time. Even when we went to wash it off, it didn't bleed upon contact with the water. It took a few vigorous rubs of remover to get it gone. (P.S. There was zero smudging upon removal.)

Best for a Dramatic Cat-Eye

Pat McGrath Labs Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner

$36 at Sephora $35 at Ulta View on Patmcgrath.com

What We Like: Chiseled precision tip, vegan, lasts without smudging, rich pigmentation.

What We Don't Like: It takes a long time to dry.

Shades: 1 | Size: 0.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Celeb makeup artist Pat McGrath knows what's up. We give her namesake liner top marks for ease of use, fine tip, and inky pigment. The formula is wet but not runny and has a thin, velvety texture. The pigment is super-opaque—blacker than black—so you only need to apply one layer. The color is incredibly easy to control; cat-eyes and dramatic looks are what this formula was born to do. Just ask Taylor Swift, it's the liner she's used to create her signature cat-eyes. Since it is so rich, dry time is a little longer (around seven seconds), but you’re still saving time since we truly consider this to be a one-swipe wonder.

Full disclosure: We prepped the look with an eyeshadow primer, but we’re happy to report the color did last all day without fading. Hands down, we’d go with McGrath’s creation for any big makeup moment. It also sits well over glittery eye shadow and doesn't bleed one bit. Removal was a little messy, but with a dose of baby oil, we were able to get it all off.

Best Pigmentation

Tarte Maneater Liquid Eyeliner

$24 at Tartecosmetics.com

What We Like: Gives great pigment and color payoff, clean application.

What We Don't Like: Can dry out, brush dulls.

Shades: 1 | Size: 0.03 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The color payoff here is legit. With even the lightest touch, Maneater delivers a solid black pigment upon contact. The color comes out shiny, looking and feeling wet, and you’ll naturally want to do a few sweeps to even out the thickness. It does smooth out like butter. It takes three to four seconds to dry, so just take a beat between swipes (to ensure that it doesn't get too heavy and start to bleed). It creates a sharp line with almost no effort or pressure. We give credit to the sturdy bristle tip. Unlike felt tips, which tend to be too hard or too soft, this one was just right. We were able to get an accurate line that didn’t wiggle or catch as we dragged. It made creating a cat-eye a breeze.

“I was able to draw an outline of my wing, color it in, and then draw the line across my lid to connect without any mess or having to go back to clean it up,” one tester says. She wore hers all day—even on a run. “It’s almost like it didn't want to come off,” she added. When it came time to wash it off a few hours later, she applied a thin layer of cleansing balm and it melted right off.

Best for Beginners

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

$24 at Amazon $12 at Sephora $24 at Ulta

What We Like: Precise tip, highly pigmented, smudge-free, available in seven shades.

What We Don't Like: Can dry out too fast, can flake if reapplied.

Shades: 7 | Size: 0.02 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This one wins in terms of glideability. It has a thin marker-like tip that moves with incredible accuracy. If you’re new to the game or have a shaky, untrained hand, it’s very possible to avoid any bumps or skips with this liner. Depending on your pressure, you can achieve a thin line or a thicker, more vamped-up look.

The texture is unique and easy to work with. It has a watercolor-paint-like quality. It’s wet and dark but with a tinge of sheerness. Pro tip: Always give a shake to the rollerball, and each time it deposits a consistent flow of ink. We particularly enjoyed doing a cat-eye tail as the final step. It was achieved in one quick flick of the wrist, thanks again to that precision tip. We also love that it's available in seven shades and it doesn't smudge.

Best Splurge

Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Liquid Liner

$36 at Sephora $36 at Ulta $36 at Nordstrom

What We Like: High-impact color with little to no pressure, doesn’t budge, comfortable glide.

What We Don’t Like: Dries slowly, tip is very firm.

Shades: 1 | Size: 0.009 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: No

With one foul sweep, you’re able to achieve a dark, end-game quality pigment while using this luxe liquid liner. The tip is sharp, but we got the smoothest line by laying on its side and dragging gently. The pigmentation deepens with every coat, but just one application will suffice. The ultra-black finish had us sold, but let it be known: The ink bleeds immediately upon application if you press too hard. (We learned that the hard way.) It’s not runny, just wet, which works in your favor, particularly if you’re one to layer your eyeliner over heavy eyeshadow looks.

One evening for date night, our tester applied this eyeliner on top of bold eyeshadows, and it was just as dark and prominent as it was when she used it on her bare lid. Once it’s dry, it stays put. After a six-hour evening, the wing was a little faded but still respectably sharp. Removal is a little messy: It comes off easy enough, but the micellar water re-wet the pigment and made a bit of a mess. We had to go in with new cotton swabs to get it all gone. Still, we’ll take it since the color is unmatched. Bonus points for the packaging. It’s encased in a rose-gold metallic pen—almost too pretty to use.

Best Dip Pot

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Liner

$18 at Amazon $18 at Sephora $18 at Ulta

What We Like: Highly pigmented, matte finish, glides on easily, true black color

What We Don’t Like: Takes a long time to dry, can be messy

Shades: 1 | Size: 0.08 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

First off, this one’s a dip pot, which is unique from other options on this list. The formula is runny and inky; it’s not ideal for beginners. Since the pigment is so intense and bleeds black, it’s all about how you maneuver the wand. The most important tip: You have to steady your hand with your pinky against your cheek to get that even stroke. The less pressure, the better—you’ll still get a solid line on the first pass. 

While we wish the tip was sharper to allow for more precision, it's a great option for people who prefer this type of formula and method of application. It does leave a lasting vivid pigment for hours, which is ideal for creating big makeup moments. One tester wore it for five hours to an event and the shade didn’t falter at all. However, if you touch and rub at it, it does smudge. Removal is more timely than most. It smears around quite a bit, so be sure to have lots of oil-based remover and cotton pads handy.

What to Look for in a Liquid Eyeliner

• Texture: When it comes to choosing a liquid eyeliner, the pros suggest first looking at the texture. “Pigmented, and a little creamy,” pro makeup artist Lottie reveals of her top qualifications. That’s because a cream formula dries less quickly, so it’s easier to go back in and adjust. Alternatively, LA-based makeup artist Amber Dreadon says, “I love a super black wet liner with a medium-dry [time] so that I can get more flow to my lines.” A wet liner may seem more advanced but know that you’ll get the crispest cat-eye with this formula.
• Applicator: Next, you’ll want to consider the applicator, which varies from product to product. The two most common materials are built-in bristles and a felt tip. Either can come with a firm tip or a soft tip construction. Both can be great for achieving a multitude of looks, so choosing between the two is more of a personal preference. “I love a pointed brush or firm felt tip,” says Lottie. The firmer the tip, the more precise the line (just note it’s more challenging to keep it bump-free). Dreadon, on the other hand, says, “I always prefer a longer soft tip, either a bristle or felt.” These soft, flexible trips tend to be better for beginners because they are easier to control and make smooth and seamless lines with less effort.
• Pigmentation: The point of liquid liners is to create a bolder look than you would with a pencil liner. That’s why color payoff is another factor to consider. A lot of formulas are wet and thin and made to be layered so that you can build intensity. Other formulas are deep, inky, and more vibrant, so you might only need one or two swipes. If you’re new, you'll be less likely to mess up buildable formulas, since you can correct as you go. Either way, you’ll want your final look to be richly pigmented to make your look pop. 
  

Why Trust Byrdie 

Taylor Jean Stephan has been a beauty writer for over a decade. Her work has appeared in Women’s Wear Daily, Cosmopolitan, Elle, E! News, and more. She’s constantly testing products—everything from new launches to tried and true cult classics. You’d be hard-pressed to find liquid eyeliner formulations that she hasn’t tried. Lucky for you, she used that firsthand knowledge to offer expert input on the category. Rather than being based on brand preference alone, each liquid eyeliner was rated on a standardized scale to conclude the best liquid eyeliners.

She also consulted with experts to learn more about what to keep in mind when shopping for liquid eyeliner. Those experts included:

• Amber Dreadon, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist who has been in the industry for 20 years. Her work has appeared on red carpets and in print and has also been seen at New York, Milan, and London Fashion Weeks, working with designers such as Chloe, Proenza Schouler, Kenzo, Victoria Beckham, Rick Owens, and Marni.
• Kirin Bhatty, a makeup artist in Los Angeles. You can find her work in numerous fashion editorials and on many red carpets, and her celebrity clientele includes Tessa Thompson, Freida Pinto, and Kaya Scodelario.
• Lottie, a bi-coastal makeup artist who’s worked with a variety of brands for editorial and red carpet moments. Her client list includes Rihanna, Drew Barrymore, Halsey, Christina Ricci, Alexandra Daddario, and more.