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Whether you’re after a smoky, French-girl smudge or an ultra-precise cat-eye, the best eyeliner of 2023 is a pencil that can ably draw out your vision, and open your eyes to new looks, too. (As it turns out, a smoky-berry eye brings sultriness to any skin tone.) With so many options to ogle — from shades that awaken tired eyes to standbys for minimalist makeup—the hunt for the best eyeliner can be overwhelming. Trust us, we know first hand. To help you in your search, we’ve tapped celebrity makeup artists and rifled through our own beauty bags to curate an edit of the formulas we simply can’t live without.
Our Top Picks
- Best All-Around: Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner, $34
- Best Creamy Pigment: Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner, $30
- Best Stay-All-Day: Make Up For Ever Aqua Resist Color Pencil Eyeliner, $24
- Best Cult-Favorite: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil, $25
- Best TikTok Viral: Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner, $21
- Best Clean: Jillian Dempsey Natural Khôl Eyeliner, $20
- Best Liquid: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner, $24
- Best Pot: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner, $34
Best All-Around: Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner
- Why We Love It: Think of Chanel’s waterproof liner as a luxe staple worthy of your makeup bag, whether you’re a makeup pro or novice.
- More to Know: Featuring a detachable sharpener and retractable tip, the formula is not only resistant to smudging but water, humidity, and oil too.
Best for Everyday: Charlotte Tilbury Rock ’N Kohl Eyeliner Pencil
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- Why We Love It: In a smoky-berry hue that works with every skintone, the creamy matte pencil blends like a dream—it can be used along the waterline, too.
- More to Know: “Purples, pinks, burgundies, and cranberries bring out the green tones in hazel eyes,” L.A.-based makeup artist Beau Nelson has told Vogue.
Best for Smudged Liner: Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner
- Why We Love It: “I love the creaminess of these eyeliners,” says celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles of the Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner. “Many long-wear liners drag or skip because the formula is volatile and sets almost instantly when you apply it. These are simply wonderful to use.”
- More to Know: Stiles adds: “These can be drawn on like a liquid liner and smudged out with plenty of play time before they set.”
Best Liquid: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
- Why We Love It: Few eyeliners have stood the test of time quite like Stila’s All Day formula. It’s designed to stay in place without smudging, feathering, or running.
- More to Know: This eyeliner is known to easily etch everything from pencil-thin wings to bold, statement-making eye looks.
Best Ultra-Fine Tip: KVD Beauty Tattoo Eyeliner
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- Why We Love It: With an ultra-fine, lash-hugging tip, this vegan formula makes it easy to achieve the perfect cat eye with a single stroke.
- More to Know: In addition to that Audrey-Hepburn wing, the pencil can be used for temporary body art or even faux freckles. It comes in intense black and chocolatey brown.
Best Clean: Jillian Dempsey Natural Khôl Eyeliner
- Why We Love It: It’s beloved among industry pros. For example, “My favorite black eyeliner is Jillian Dempsey’s,” notes New York–based makeup artist Romy Soleimani who has worked with everyone from Natalie Portman to Jessica Chastain.
- More to Know: Soleimani suggests applying the “very rich and super black” formula directly in the waterline and “to the inside of your top lid” for an eye-opening and smoky look.
Best Kohl: MAC Cosmetics Eye Kohl
- Why We Love It: For color liners, Delina Medhin, who has done makeup for Issa Rae, goes with MAC. “It has a good range of kohl liners that are easily blendable and pigmented,” she notes.
- More to Know: The ophthalmologist-tested line comes in unexpected shades, including plum and a light mint green.
Best TikTok Viral: Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner
- Why We Love It: Of all the Rare Beauty products that have gone viral on TikTok, the matte liquid liner is our favorite for imparting a precise, ultra-black line.
- More to Know: This liner is smudge-proof and easy to maneuver.
Best Sheen-Finish: Chanel Calligraphie de Chanel Longwear Intense Cream Eyeliner
- Why We Love It: “I love the Calligraphie de Chanel Longwear Intense Cream Eyeliner,” says pro makeup artist Kirin Bhatty. “Its gel formula goes on super smooth and doesn’t settle into any dry spots.”
- More to Know: The formula is waterproof and smudge-proof.
Best Cult-Favorite: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil
- Why We Love It: A cult-favorite eyeliner for a good reason—it’s perfect for long-wear.
- More to Know: The waterproof formula, which counts actor Madelyn Cline as a fan, glides on smoothly no matter which vibrant shade you choose.
Best Pot: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
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- Why We Love It: When celebrity makeup artist Miriam Nichterlein gave Vogue the scoop on flawlessly etching double-winged eyeliner, she shared her recommendation for this Bobbi Brown formula.
- More to Know: Expect dramatic pigments and fade-resistant wear that can be smoked out or applied with precision.
Best for Fun Colors: Fenty Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner
- Why We Love It: These liners offer: “a great opportunity to play up your eyes with color and playful design,” says makeup artist Marcelo Gutierrez, who works with such stars as Troye Sivan
- More to Know: Fenty Longwear eye pencils are known for their bright pigment and creamy texture.
Best Smudge-Proof: Huda Beauty Creamy Kohl Longwear Eye Pencil
- Why We Love It: Huda Beauty’s 2023 drop, its kohl liner, quickly left a lasting impression. As the name suggests, its creamy texture means it applies like a dream and smudges seamlessly to your liking.
- More to Know: The formula has graced the runway, creating the bold cat eyes at the LaQuan Smith fall 2023 show.
Best for Tight Lines: Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel
- Why We Love It: Patrick Ta, the pro behind some of Adriana Lima’s and Bella Hadid’s best looks, points to Inglot’s gel formula as his top pick. “To ensure the perfect wing, trace out the shape of the liner with an angled brush and shadow, then go over it with the gel liner,” he says.
- More to Know: Be forewarned: “Taking off gel liner can be a mess.”
Best Precise: Pat McGrath Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner
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- Why We Love It: Erika La’Pearl, Cardi B’s makeup artist, says longevity is her highest priority when it comes to eye makeup. As a result, her go-to is Pat McGrath Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner.
- More to Know: “Pat McGrath’s felt tip makes it easy to create sharp lines and designs and will last all day,” says La’Pearl.
Best Rich Pigment: Haus Labs Eye-Dentify Gel Eyeliner
- Why We Love It: Denika Bedrossian, the artist behind some of Hailey Bieber’s, Jenna Dewan’s, and Sarah Hyland’s makeup looks, reaches for Lady Gaga’s Haus Labs liner as the perfect gel formula because “it is very pigmented and doesn’t move.”
- More to Know: The no-slip formula allows for ultra-precise application
Best Dual-Ended: Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen Liquid Eyeliner Duo
- Why We Love It: “The Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen Liquid Eyeliner Duo is my absolute favorite,” notes pro makeup artist Janice Daoud, whose work can be seen on such celebs as Miley Cyrus. “I especially love that it has two tip ends, which are great for not only creating the perfect winged liner, but the shorter side allows you to do more detailed/calligraphy work.”
- More to Know: Daoud adds: “It also doesn’t move or budge throughout the day and has the blackest ink you’ll ever see.”
Best Gel Liner: One/Size Point Made 24-Hour Gel Eyeliner Pencil
- Why We Love It: The One/Size Point Made 24-Hour Gel Eyeliner Pencil is a favorite of Miyake’s, who has done makeup for Kourtney Kardashian, Kelly Rowland, and La La Anthony, among others. “It’s the perfect black or brown eyeliner pencil that stays all day,” she says.
- More to Know: Though it has a silky texture that approximates liquid liner, it’s easy to smudge for a smoky, lived-in look.
Meet The Experts
- Denika Bedrossian is a celebrity makeup artist behind some of Hailey Bieber’s, Jenna Dewan’s, and Sarah Hyland’s most infamous looks.
- Kirin Bhatty is a pro makeup artist who often works with Ayo Edebiri, Sandra Oh, and Laura Harrier.
- Liz Castellanos is a professional makeup artist who has worked with Vanessa Lachey, Olivia Culpo, and Morgan Stewart McGraw.
- Janice Daoud is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist whose clients include Miley Cyrus, Ellie Goulding, and Quannah Chasinghorse.
- Marcelo Gutierrez is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Paloma Elsesser, Dua Lipa, and Bella Hadid.
- Erika La’Pearl is a celebrity makeup artist known for her work with Cardi B.
- Delina Medhin is a pro makeup artist, content creator, and educator.
- Wendi Miyake is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist and men’s groomer whose clients include Kim Kardashian, Kelly Rowland, and Madonna.
- Miriam Nichterlein is a pro makeup artist who has worked with Maude Apatow and Troye Sivan.
- Romy Soleimani is a New York City-based makeup artist who often works with Tracee Ellis Ross, Natalie Portman, and Jessica Chastain.
- Fiona Stiles is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Lily Collins, Alia Bhatt, and Gabrielle Union.
- Patrick Ta is the founder of Patrick Ta Beauty and a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Gigi Hadid, Candice Swanepoel, and Sydney Sweeney.