Teary-eyed beauty lovers, rejoice: The best waterproof eyeliners are the long-wearing solutions you need to put an end to unintentionally smudged makeup looks. Because, newsflash, you deserve a liner that can actually withstand the elements without creasing, smearing, or fading—even on oily, sweaty eyelids, or on days when you’re feeling a little more emo than usual. In recent years, waterproof formulas and shade ranges have expanded beyond crumbly matte blacks and now include a wide range of hues, feature skin-loving ingredients, and come in myriad finishes. So whether you’re after the sharpest cat eye of all time or prefer to blend and build bold swipes like nobody’s business, the world is your oyster. Check out our editors’ desert island picks that deserve a spot in your makeup bag—stat.
Our Top Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Why it’s worth it: There’s a reason Stila’s Readers’ Choice Award-winning Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner has remained a staple in our editors’ arsenals—it just works. The super fine-pointed, felt-tip applicator is paired with a quick-drying formula to make this eyeliner endlessly wearable. Depending on how you angle the liner, you can create fine lines or thick, punchy swipes—whatever you need to build out your look. It doesn’t skip, tug, or bleed, and the inky-black (or warm brown, if that’s your thing) pigment doesn’t dissipate throughout the day. What more could we ask? Oh, and it’s a 2024 Best of Beauty winner. But of course it is!
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“I don’t have the steadiest hand, but I’ve found the relatively firm brush of Stila’s liquid liner to be especially forgiving. It never skips or drags on my lid as I’m drawing, and the color truly doesn’t budge once it sets.”
Tester feedback from senior audience development director Lexi Herrick
“I would go to war for this eyeliner…knowing it wouldn’t smudge in battle. I cannot overstate how impressive and high-quality this liquid liner is, and I’ve tested dozens. It will not bleed or smudge and goes on like a breeze, making even the most average makeup user feel like a 2016 beauty influencer applying a pristine cat eye. The pigment is bold, and its consistency is very smooth, making the line perfectly straight, even for eyelids with some creasing. In my book, this is a hall-of-fame champion of liquid eyeliners.”
- Shades: 2
- Who it’s for: anyone who wants a tried-and-true, fan-favorite liquid eyeliner
Best Splurge: Chanel Le Liner de Chanel Liquid Eyeliner
Why it’s worth it: The ultra-fine tip of Chanel’s Le Liner de Chanel Liquid Eyeliner allows for strokes so smooth and crisp that people will think you use a calligraphy pen to apply your makeup. Unlike other pen-shaped options, Chanel’s luxe liner comes in a brush-and-tube design that provides a fresh coat of rich pigment every time you dip the brush in. The latex-based formula hangs around all day, skillfully withstanding whatever liquid comes your way. Sure, it’s splurge-y, but we guarantee it’s worth the dough.
Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
“My days of thick, forgiving winged eyeliner are long behind me, so I’m all about precision and control with my eyeliner formulas these days. Chanel’s Le Liner de Chanel has a fine tip applicator that’s quite stiff compared to others I’ve tried, which I find ideal for keeping my lines tight and clean. The formula is definitely a liquid but not so loose that it’s runny and stressful—I love dragging my fingertip along the outer wing to soften the tip slightly—and this eyeliner has just enough viscosity that I can safely manipulate the wing with my fingers without fear that I’m going to end up with inky fingerprints all over my face. You can do a lot with this eyeliner, which really helps justify the price tag, IMO.”
- Shades: 5
- Who it’s for: anyone who wants a luxurious, no-budge addition to their eye makeup routine
Best Gel: Kosas Soulgazer Eyeliner
Why it’s worth it: The gel-based Kosas Soulgazer goes on ungodly smooth and blends out like a dream, and because of its infusion with hyaluronic acid, it won’t look crusty or dry on your lids. It comes in tried and true hues like black and brown, as well as pigmented pastels like lilac and emerald. Go to town on your line and then refine the tip with the pencil’s included sharpener to make sure every stroke is living its best life. Just make sure you click the cap back on tightly to preserve the creaminess for your next swiping session.
“I use this eyeliner in a sort of unconventional way: I smudge it on my lower lash line and take an eye shadow brush to buff it out and create a smoky effect. Then, using my almond-shaped acrylics, I wing it out. There’s no worry of smudging—even if I cry, it lasts.”
- Shades: 10
- Who it’s for: people who want to experiment with color
Best Pencil: Sisley Paris Phyto-Khol Star Waterproof Liner
Why it’s worth it: Sisley’s Phyto-Kohl Star Waterproof Liner is a smooth, super-pigmented formula that delivers precise lines in a more beginner-friendly pencil format. (That also makes it an excellent pick for waterlines.) It’s formulated with skin-loving ingredients, too, with a dose of rosehip oil, bisabolol, and vitamin E acetate in each swipe, which help with the blendability and overall comfort of wear. The pen automatically retracts via a click up or down, providing a handy fail-safe for packing in your luggage. Each hue is subtly sparkly (even the black) for a low-key touch of glam we greatly appreciate. It comes in a couple of matte options, too, but we’re fans of the delicate glitter.
Tester feedback from Herrick:
“This is an excellent liquid eyeliner, with a fine but firm felt tip that allows for precise application and control. It’s virtually smudge-proof, which is excellent for a chronic eye-rubber like myself who needs an eyeliner that cements to my skin for the full day.”
- Shades: 14
- Who it’s for: people who want a subtle sparkle and skin-loving ingredients
Best for Beginners: Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Why it’s worth it: If you tend to poke yourself with stiffer eyeliner tips while applying, Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner has a much more forgiving, ultra-soft tip. This Best of Beauty-winning liner’s slender tip was developed with makeup newbies in mind and has just a bit of flexibility for effortless flicks without smearing or smudging. Its inky formula dries down to an opaque, matte finish.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“I have one monolid and one creased lid (so fun!), so eyeliner smudges pretty easily on the creased lid—but, as long as I let Too Faced’s Better Than Sex dry for a few seconds, it stays put for hours on end. The fine, relatively long felt tip makes drawing a sharp wing seamless. Plus, I love that it comes in brown and not just black—Chocolate complements my eye color and is a bit more subtle for an everyday look.”
Shades: 2
Who it’s for: anyone who wants a budge-proof, cat-eye-compatible liquid liner
Best Colorful: Kulfi Beauty Underlined Kajal Eyeliner
Why it’s worth it: Makeup artist Amrita Mehta is a big fan of Kulfi Beauty’s Underlined Kajal, a creamy crayon that she says “glides on with ease but will set and stay in place after 30 seconds or so” for a totally smudge-proof and waterproof finish. She loves the versatility of these colorful liners (Tiger Queen, a terracotta, is shown above), which can be used on the upper lid and waterline, as well as for tightlining and “smudging out into an all-over color or smoky eye look,” she adds.
Mehta isn’t the only fan of this liner—Allure editors love Kulfi Beauty’s gel liners so much that they are now two-time Best of Beauty Award winners. “I love wearing these colorful liners for any look, day or night,” says associate content manager Hannah Brower. “They’re super creamy, pigmented, and long-lasting.”
Tester feedback from former commerce writer Jen Hussein
“Just a few quick strokes are all I need to define my eyes with Kulfi’s pigmented eyeliner (no wonder it’s an Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning formula). A quick tip: For a longer-lasting, budge-proof look, I wipe my waterline with a Q-tip, then swipe on this liner, and finally use a black eye shadow powder as a tinted setting powder of sorts. It never fails to keep smudging at bay.”
- Shades: 5
- Who it’s for: anyone who wants vibrant, fun eyeliner shades.
Best for Waterline: Urban Decay 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil
Why it’s worth it: Urban Decay’s 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil was formulated to stay put on the waterline, so you know it’ll hold—even in the stickiest, sweatiest scenarios. And it does, thanks to its creamy and quick-drying formula. This ultra-black gel liner creates a demi-matte finish that accentuates the eyes, no matter how much (or how little) you decide to swipe on. You have a few seconds to manipulate your line (if you’re going for a smudged rock-n-roll look) before it sets and stays put.
“Don’t get me wrong: I love my Asian eyes (elementary school bullies, calling you out!), but I’m never opposed to an eye-opening effect. I’ve been known to apply glitter liner underneath my lower lash lines, but hadn’t experimented with my waterline until I tried Urban Decay’s 24/7 waterline pencil. I like popping on Faux Doe, a shimmery light beige (above), or Hemp Milk (classic matte white) for subtle, cute definition. I’m wearing the Waterline Eyeliner in Tootsie as a regular liner, but perhaps I’ll use that to try a more dramatic tightlining look next.”
- Shades: 1
- Who it’s for: anyone who needs a smudge-free liner for tightlining their waterline.
More waterproof eyeliners to consider
- If a long-wearing liner is a must, Wet n Wild’s Breakup-Proof Liquid Eyeliner is your new best friend. With 16-hour wear time, this stuff is so budge-proof that you’ll never have to worry about messing it up during touch-ups—because you’ll never have to touch it up, period. Its under-$10 price tag won’t weigh on your wallet, either.
- For a drugstore diamond that won’t quit, L’Oréal Paris Infallible Flash Cat Eye Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is endgame. It’s so easy to use and impressed our editors so much that it took home a Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award back in 2019. Instead of hoping and praying that you’ll end up with a clean, even flick while freehanding, this pick also comes with a removable cat-eye wing stencil to make the process totally foolproof.
- So your priority is creating crisp lines with an inky, jet-black liquid liner? Reach for Shiseido’s ArchLiner Ink, a pen that makes the whole process a lot less scary. Its innovative tip is micro-fine and even angled to ensure you can reach every little corner with total precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does waterproof eyeliner differ from regular eyeliner?
Waterproof eyeliners have all the defining benefits of your usual liner—tag-teamed with long-lasting, smudge-proof abilities. Like most waterproof makeup products, these liners are designed to be more resistant to smearing caused by tears and sweat, according to cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos. “They often contain ingredients polymers that adhere strongly to lids and create a water-resistant film,” she previously told Allure. Due to their intensive staying power, rinsing off won’t remove these liners entirely. “Using a bi-phase or oil-based eye makeup remover helps reduce pulling or tugging at the delicate eye area to remove,” Dobos says. “Isohexadecane and silicones work to dissolve the tenacious polymer films.”
How should I apply eyeliner?
Feel free to apply your eyeliner however you’d like, but for a professional-level approach, there are proper techniques to follow depending on what type of eyeliner you use. When it comes to classic eyeliner pencils, Houston-based makeup artist Rose Siard recommends doing the following for a smokey, sultry effect: “As soon as you draw your line, start smudging,” she says. “I work one eye at a time so I have more blending time.”
As for liquid eyeliner, we have an entire guide for figuring out how to create the perfect cat eye with one, but here’s the tea for each eye shape, according to Lavonne Wood, a bi-coastal makeup artist:
Round eyes: If your irises are completely visible when your eyes are open and resting naturally, then you likely have round eyes. “Start from the outside, drawing at a downward angle toward the eye’s outer corner,” she advises for this eye shape. “Apply the liner inwards, stopping at the center of your lid where your pupil is when you’re looking straight ahead.”
Monolids: Monolids are characterized by minimal eye creases or the lack of an eye crease. Creating the thinnest line possible is best for this shape, Lavonne says. “Place the tip of the eyeliner on the lash line at the pupil and draw to the outer corner. Then, start from the inner corner and draw it to meet the middle point.”
Almond eyes: If your eyes are more oval than circular and have sharp outer and inner corners, you’ve got almond-shaped eyes. Lavonne recommends that you take advantage of your extra lid space. “Draw your eyeliner from the inner corner all the way across the lash line, then flick it out, stopping at the point where your crease starts.”
Hooded eyes: Do your creases seem to disappear when you open your eyes? That means you’ve got hooded eyes. “To make sure the liner doesn’t disappear under your lid, create the outer wing flick where your eyelid hood starts,” Lavonne advises. “Work your way inward, applying your liner in thin strokes.”
Meet the Experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about several factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best waterproof eyeliners, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
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