Liquid Lines

The one thing in my makeup bag that I can’t quite live without, besides mascara, is liquid eyeliner. Even though I have mastered that steady line after years of practice, the right tool makes all the difference. And after trying what seems like hundreds of versions, I’m so excited to have finally found a nearly perfect one: Eyeko’s Skinny Liquid Eyeliner. I love how easy it is to apply and that it’s highly pigmented and practically smudge proof. Is there a liquid eyeliner that you swear by? Do tell!

(images from Condé Nast UK, Style.com, Fashion Gone Rogue, Pink Pistachio, & Vogue.com

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67 Comments

  1. OK, so I love the look of a cat eye and they way liquid liner goes on. But, I own eyeko’s liquid liner and I have a hard time with it because when it dries (which it does very quickly) and you want to go over the line to make some adjustments if comes off. Maybe I’m doing it wrong?
    I just went to Sephora the other day to get the Stila liquid liner, maybe I will have better luck with that one?
    I do have a feeling that liquid liner is like mascara in that it works differently on everyone. Different people swear by different mascaras.
    I’m still on the search for my perfect liquid eyeliner.

    xo Quinn

    Quinn Cooper Style

    4.18.13
    Reply
  2. Hanna M wrote:

    Quinn; I gave up on liquid eyeliner and turned to gel. It is so much easier to use, I find it easier to apply and it will last all day and look super black. It’s also amazing to touch up if you do need to! Might be worth a try; the Maybelline one is a great drugstore option if you want to try it and don’t want to hit the amazing Bobbi Brown or MAC ones just yet!

    Liquid eyeliner is just my backup for those mornings after if I’m not at home or I’m in a hurry, otherwise I always reach for gel over liquid.
    I also find that they flake quite easily, no matter which brand I’ve tried 🙁

    4.18.13
    Reply
  3. I can’t live without an eye liner either, and I’ve been using the Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura edition but it is now nearing an end. It was a limited collection so now I will give this one a go instead. Thanks for the tip!
    http://shadeofredblog.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  4. Tibs wrote:

    I’m a huge fan of liquid eyeliner! For me the best one have been by a Finnish brand Lumene in dark brown.

    4.18.13
    Reply
  5. Paula wrote:

    Nutrimetics back in the day had a great brush – was a bit thicker and bushier so was easier to draw a good line – I’ve also tried Clinique but I couldn’t recommend it – was watery and didn’t have a strong enough finish.
    Love liquid eyeliner – it’s so striking.

    ♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.
    http://shoe-fiend.blogspot.co.uk/

    4.18.13
    Reply
  6. Paty wrote:

    I loved it!
    I’m posting looks from L.A. and accessories:

    http://www.thegavlaks.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  7. dorylyn wrote:

    aww yeah!

    4.18.13
    Reply
  8. I have to agree about gel liner. It’s just much better for me. I wonder if it depends on different skin types? I don’t know, all I know is that it took forever for me to not shake when applying!

    4.18.13
    Reply
  9. Ambyr wrote:

    It’s like an art project (not very well executed) when I wear liquid liner. I do love the wing off the side of the eye and the drama it creates though. Maybe I can find a good, hard pencil to draw on a similar look.

    xoxo
    http://www.thewrittenrunway.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  10. Diane wrote:

    Like so many other women, I’ve “tried them all”… with varied results. Lately, I’ve been really happy with Lorac Front of the Line Pro liquid liner with felt-tip applicator. You get a lot of control and a nice, clean line. Stays on like crazy and is very vivid and pigmented. Good stuff!!

    4.18.13
    Reply
  11. Rachelle wrote:

    I love the cat eye but i”m terrible at making it.

    xo
    http://pinksole.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  12. kate wrote:

    These pics are making me want to give up on my lipstick kick and go back to eyeliner!

    I swear by MAC penultimate liner. It goes on thick and dark like a sharpie and dries quickly, but it’s easy to fix mistakes and go over the line to thicken it.

    4.18.13
    Reply
  13. brooke wrote:

    i love sephora brand liquid liner. it comes in so many fun colors, has a felt tip, and is pretty easy to use. i’m sticking with that one for at least awhile!

    http://www.insparisian.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  14. Heather P. wrote:

    Kinda makes me want to practice at this a little more. I always loved the look of liquid eyeliner – it’s a little bit edgy, and shows that you took some serious care to look the way you do. 🙂

    4.18.13
    Reply
  15. Sarah wrote:

    Maybelline Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner was my eyeliner for YEARS until they discontinued it. I’m currently on my 2nd Almay Liquid Liner, and that’s done pretty well for me. I don’t like brush tips… I prefer the flexible felt tip. I usually have to trace over my line once, but that’s a whole lot better than some others I’ve tried!

    4.18.13
    Reply
  16. S wrote:

    Number 1,4 and 5-wow!!!

    style-squared.blogspot.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  17. beautiful make up

    DIY on my blog… http://www.thestelstyle.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  18. I’ve been all about the cat-eye recently. Love it!

    xoxo
    Juliette Laura
    http://juliettelaura.blogspot.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  19. Loooooooove my liquid eyeliner. If I wear anything at all it is always this…and lipstick 😉

    xx Ashleigh
    http://www.ashflynn.blogspot.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  20. Rose wrote:

    While liquid eyeliner looks great, I have found gel eyeliner to be the most effective and easiest to apply.

    4.18.13
    Reply
  21. Meg wrote:

    I lovehow the liner reallymakes the eyes pop!
    I will need to practice having a steady hand to apply liquid liner so it actually stays on my eyelids. 🙂

    http://happinessiscreating.com/

    4.18.13
    Reply
  22. I looked for years for the perfect eyeliner (I never leave home without it) and finally found “Love Me” paint pen eyeliner by Smashbox. I can’t tell you how much I love this stuff! So easy to apply, stays put, and after using it for 2 months now, it shoes no signs of drying out.

    4.18.13
    Reply
  23. Kate wrote:

    Liquid liner is my fav. And funnily enough, I’ve found the easiest liner to apply is Sephora brand…amazing wand!

    Kate

    http://www.thrillofthechaise.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  24. Navie wrote:

    my absolute favorite: Lise Watier eyeliner!

    4.18.13
    Reply
  25. Erica wrote:

    Loving all the suggestions – keep them coming! Funny how you always think you found the perfect product until the next best thing comes along. Will definitely check out all of your recommendations! xx

    4.18.13
    Reply
  26. I absolutely adore wearing liquid eyeliner, and it’s taken me years to find one that doesnt smudge onto your top eyelids, crack, or simply wear away. I cannot live without MAC Liquid Last eyeliner. It’s absolutely perfect and stays on day and night (Even whilst surfing!) I’ve a list of a few makeup bag must haves on my blog, check them out!
    Amz

    4.18.13
    Reply
  27. Victoria wrote:

    Mac’s Liquid Last in Point Black – haven’t lived without it for the last 7 years. It’s passed the surfing test!

    4.18.13
    Reply
  28. Flo wrote:

    Lancome Art Liner has been my favorite for years and years!

    4.18.13
    Reply
  29. Jamie wrote:

    Asian girl with monolids here, so pretty much every pencil smudges and liquid is not my friend. For me, it’s all about the gel eyeliner! My current favorite is…Wet n’ Wild! Their gel eyeliner is the poo, and it’s approximately $4.00. I use it every day.

    4.18.13
    Reply
  30. Denisa wrote:

    That looks so nice and I like that trend. Have a nice day

    http://www.fashiondenis.com/

    4.18.13
    Reply
  31. TJ Lubrano wrote:

    I adore the cat eyeliner!! I usually go for a slightly dramatic one, but I need to practice drawing a thin line haha. I used a variety and I love the felt tip as it’s similar to a brush and therefore easier to get used to drawing on my lids (I’m an illustrator). The tip from the Sephora one is perfect, but it kinda stains the lid, so I don’t use it everyday. Maybelline’s Masterpiece is very lovely and pigmented. Yves Rocher has one with a felt tip similar to Maybelline only a tad less pigmented, but that’s okay for a softer line. It is build-able though. Gosh Cosmetics Eye Pen liner is good if you want to have a think line from the start and it’s smudge proof and stays on for a long time. I also have a few pots of Maybelinne gel liners, but very often I’m lazy to clean the brush, so I don’t often use it. Doesn’t mean it’s not good though! The product is lovely and very build-able.

    SInce I can draw the cat eye more easily, I do want to try out more high end brands and see which ones I like!

    Loved this post!

    4.18.13
    Reply
  32. i.s. wrote:

    i’m also such a fan of liquid liner! i wear it almost everyday xx
    http://www.vicariousLA.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  33. Rochelle wrote:

    I am totally on the gel liner bandwagon! I am always on the lookout for the ultimate gel liner but as I am on a budget right now I use one from Rimmel London and it works just great. I am also a great fan of the cat-eye. I found a tutorial a while ago where the girl uses scotch tape to make a template so you don’t even need to be able to draw a straight line 😉 Go to YouTube and check out “How to be a girl: Magic Cat Eyes with scotch tape”

    4.18.13
    Reply
  34. Monique wrote:

    Omg I always have such a hard time getting .liquid liner to work well on me, but I’m definitely going to try again now!

    4.18.13
    Reply
  35. Jen wrote:

    Maybelline waterproof Ultra Liner, in brown-black. I have used it for 20 years. It’s better than any other kind I’ve tried.

    4.18.13
    Reply
  36. Gen wrote:

    I really love this look!

    raspberry-notes.blogspot.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  37. Alyx wrote:

    Love a cat eye! MEOW

    alyxtheprincess.blogspot.com

    4.18.13
    Reply
  38. Eileen wrote:

    …..but does anyone do the research to find what ingredients are used in these? Many eyeliners contain PROPYLENE GLYCOL, TRIETHANOLAMINE, OLEYL ALCOHOL, MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, STEARIC ACID, XANTHUM GUM, GLYCERYL STEARATE, HECTORITE, CELLULOSE, ACRYLATES/ C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, ISOPROPYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN, ISOBUTYLPARABEN, etc.

    Wiki one ingredient, and see what it does to your body….

    4.18.13
    Reply
  39. I love this look. So chic and effortless. I use a gel-liner and an angled brush and it just recently came to my attention how to make cat-eyes instead of “St. Bernard-eyes” *haha*

    4.18.13
    Reply
  40. Julia wrote:

    I use cream as I don’t have a steady enough hand for liquid. I use a primer so that it won’t smudge, and cream allows you more time before it sets. I also use a powder/ finishing spray and it doesn’t budge all day.

    4.18.13
    Reply
  41. Mun wrote:

    I am still on the hunt for a liquid eyeliner that doesn’t smudge after a few hours… Out of all that I’ve tried, Mac gel eyeliner is probably the most smudge-proof of all… the only downfall is that the brush needs to be washed after each use!

    4.19.13
    Reply
  42. Ann wrote:

    I find myself choosing the liquid eyeliner if I am in a hurry and I have to choose between mascara or eyeliner. After rouge (so I don’t look like a dead person when I walk out the door), it is my favorite kind of makeup. I swear by the Danish brand Nilens Jord (poetic name, roughly translated into The soil of the Nile), which is completely without parabens and perfumes, so my eyes don’t get irritated. Also, it keeps its color and is easy to apply. I can highly recommend it 🙂

    4.19.13
    Reply
  43. Shelley wrote:

    I have yet to find a liquid liner that doesn’t leave me looking like a raccoon at the end of the day. I’ll have to try this!
    https://www.etsy.com/shop/EarthChildArt?ref=si_shop

    4.19.13
    Reply
  44. Lauren wrote:

    I love liquid eyeliner, it’s so versatile and sexy. I have a steady hand so can manage it ok
    Lauren
    livinginaboxx

    4.19.13
    Reply
  45. Great post! Can we follow each other on Bloglovin? Please search for me at http://www.beallara.com/blogs/news

    4.19.13
    Reply
  46. ally23 wrote:

    Eyeliner is my staple and after many years of trying many brands both luxury and budget, I have remained loyal to Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner but NOT the black one, it must be the Black Brown (Brun Noir). For some reason the other colors aren’t any good and don’t last as long. Eyeliner is one of those things that when you master a particular brand with a particular Brush, it is very hard to change!

    4.19.13
    Reply
  47. Juicy wrote:

    Eyeliner can always make a woman beatiful!
    With a natural lips color for the day or with beatiful red lips for the night!
    We also love the effect with pink lipstick!
    Giu&Si

    4.19.13
    Reply
  48. manorama wrote:

    try indian eyeliner… secret weapon!

    4.19.13
    Reply
  49. serene wrote:

    Who is the model for image eyeliner6? Really curious

    4.19.13
    Reply
  50. I really wish I could do that…

    4.19.13
    Reply
  51. Laura wrote:

    I’m addicted to eyeliners !
    New post up: http://www.thestilettoholic.com/
    Love from Paris

    4.20.13
    Reply
  52. k4rla wrote:

    i always love your beauty inspo.

    4.20.13
    Reply
  53. Jenn wrote:

    Anyone else use Kohl? I love the look of liquid but always had mismatched eyes and could never get it right. I switched to kohl because its a soft pencil and still gives me the velvety look of liquid without the hassle. I can sharpen it fine for a thin line and go it like it’s a crayon and get that thicker cat eye.

    4.20.13
    Reply
  54. I swear by Japanese brands lately. My current favorite would be liquid liner by Kiss Me Heroine Make. Even their mascara works like magic. Being Asian, people would expect that I’m wearing fake lashes but it’s all in the mascara and liner.

    4.25.13
    Reply
  55. Mackenzie wrote:

    The best liquid liner that I’ve found is the Wet n Wild H20 Proof Liquid Liner. The brush is so-so but the formula lasts all day; I usually use the brush from the Wet n Wild Mega Liner for the best results.

    4.26.13
    Reply
  56. Sarit wrote:

    My best eyeliner is the black mac gel it gives me the best results but I also love their long lasting liquid black. I like how the brush (in the long lasting one) is thick enough to draw a medium weight black line but if you wipe it first you get a really great thin line. 🙂

    5.19.13
    Reply
  57. Vicki wrote:

    I too love liquid liner and have been wearing it for years! I used to use MAC cake liner until it finally cracked and fell out of the case. I hate gel liners, they get hard quickly and the line isn’t as clean as I like it to be. I am happy to have found Laura Mercier’s Tightline Cake Liner. the pigment is excellent and it comes in several colors!

    7.15.13
    Reply
  58. I’ve noticed I have an easier time applying liquid eyeliner when it’s in a pen-like form. I switched over to gel liner for almost a year and a half, but didn’t like dealing with brushes fraying, product drying out, etc. Liquid eyeliner all the way!

    9.7.13
    Reply
  59. Judy wrote:

    Sounds unbelievable but I’ve had very good luck with Wet-N-Wild Liquid eyeliner. Very cheap – not more than $2.99 and I’ve gotten it on sale at Rite Aid for as low as $1.49. I especially like the cobalt blue and emerald green (both slightly metallic). I haven’t mastered the “cat-eye” extended eyelining but I can tell you I get nothing but complements all the time. This liner can be found in any chain drugstore – Rite-Aid, Walgreens, CVS, etc. or whoever sells Wet-N-Wild makeup. It’s cheap but doesn’t appear so. It is best if applied several times between drying or it will look “thin and watery”.

    12.21.13
    Reply
  60. oh God..Can’t wait to apply all of them
    http://tinygoldengirl.com/

    6.30.14
    Reply
  61. Jasmin wrote:

    Lovely eyes with marvelous eye makeup! Here I bought my latest eyeliner at an unbelievable price. I’m sure you can’t wait to go for it http://www.trend-labs.com/i/B009DDGHFC 😉

    10.1.14
    Reply
  62. A7laa wrote:

    I Love this eyeliner , It’s amazing

    2.1.15
    Reply
  63. Do you have a favorite Youtube guru for liquid eyeliner? I always manage to get one eye perfect, and the other ruins the whole look!
    http://www.mascaramartinismoneyandmen.com

    5.27.15
    Reply
  64. tina wrote:

    Using a liquid eyeliner or brush with gel application have been the most successful for clean, bold lines! Love these looks
    http://www.mingleandmansome.com

    7.13.15
    Reply