When it comes to makeup, eyeliner is probably the product I use the most. I can easily skip foundation, blush or lipstick but I almost never leave home without contouring my eyes. I just think it makes them pop out better and adds a bit of intensity to my look with very little effort.
Over the years, I’ve been putting lots of products to the test to find an eyeliner that doesn’t smudge, lasts all day and does not irritate the eyes. If you are looking for a good eyeliner and haven’t found one yet, here are my top three picks really worth checking out.
MAKE UP FOREVER AQUA BLACK WATERPROOF CREAM EYESHADOW
This is by far one of the best gel eyeliners I’ve used and my favourite of all. It has a creamy, long lasting formula and can be used all over the lid as a base for smoky eye or as an eyeliner, applied with a thin, angled brush. The texture is thick but it goes on smoothly, dries fast, doesn’t fade throughout the wear and it stays put even for ten hours. It is also waterproof.
What I love most about this product is that it doesn’t dry in the pot as quickly as other gel eyeliners and the texture does not change much over time. It might shrink a bit a few months after opening but it still stays creamy and easy to spread for up to one year.
The colour is highly pigmented, it’s a very deep black that looks gorgeous and enhances the eyes incredibly nice. If you prefer an intense eyeliner, this is just perfect!
BOBBI BROWN LONG-WEAR GEL EYELINER – BLACK INK
This gel is a bit less pigmented than Makeup Forever Aqua Black and I think it looks great for day wear because it defines the eyes in a more natural way. The colour is a softer black and the finish is matte which means you can easily wear it to work or in professional settings.
The texture is creamy and slightly powdery, it glides very easily on the lids, it dries fast and stays put for around six hours without smudging. Then the colour does fade a bit but if you set it with a powdered eyeshadow or you use a primer, it can last longer without any touch ups throughout the day.
MAC ENGRAVED POWERPOINT EYE PENCIL
To be honest, I haven’t yet found the perfect kohl liner, still I consider Mac Engraved to be one of the best I’ve tried. I use it mostly on the waterline and under the lower lashes as it’s easier to apply than a gel liner and requires less precision.
I love it because it’s creamy enough to glide on smoothly, it’s smudge proof, non transferring and it’s intensely pigmented. It doesn’t stay put quite all day, it needs some retouches after a few hours but still has a very good staying power especially if set with a bit of eyeshadow.
The only thing I don’t like is that if I don’t use it regularly, the point tends to dry out so I need to sharpen it quite often to remove the outer coat just to make it softer and more easy to apply. Apart from that, this is a great kohl liner that is very long lasting and has never irritated my eyes. It is just a bit difficult to remove, you’ll definitely need a bi-phasic eye makeup remover to take it off completely.
Tips for getting a perfect eye line
- Apply a thin kohl pencil line across the eyelids as a guide and then apply the gel eyeliner over the top
- Start apply the gel from the middle of the lid. This is a great trick that will save you time and help you create a more precise line
- Avoid pulling up the lid when you draw the line, this can make it look uneven. Instead, lift you chin up and try looking down so that your eyes are half closed and then apply the liner in short strokes with a thin, angled brush.
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