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Eyeliner can be used to create various looks that can add weight to a vintage style or dress up casual clothes for an evening look. Eyeliner can also be made to look natural and accentuate the qualities that are already there. If you want to draw attention to your eyes and away from other areas, eyeliner is a great way to do that.
There are different colors and brands of pencil eyeliners. There are also various types of eyeliners available. Choosing the best one may seem like a daunting task, but you will find the perfect eyeliner to match your needs in no time with the help of our guide.
Later in the article, we will discuss the things you should consider in order to make a wise purchase. First, you should check out our list of the leading eyeliner pencils in 2024. We are certain you will find a product you love in our selection below!
Reviewing the Top Eyeliner Pencils of 2024 in Detail
e.l.f. Eyeliner — Best Overall
Key Features
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Classic black color
- Beautiful satin finish
- Pencil sharpener in the lid
The e.l.f Satin Eyeliner Pencil creates a highly pigmented and smooth line with a satin finish. In addition, the lid comes with an inbuilt pencil sharpener, making it easy to keep your pencil clean and ready to use at any time.
This eyeliner is both vegan and cruelty-free, so you can look like a goddess and feel like an angel. This product is also free from nasty ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, and ethoxylates. The tip of the pencil is thin, allowing you to create precise lines and intricate details.
Everyone should have a classic black eyeliner in their makeup kit, so why not make this one your high-quality yet affordable gem?
Julep Eyeliner — Runner-Up
Key Features
- Available in several colors
- Gel eyeliner in a pencil
- Smudge and waterproof
- Shimmer eyeliners available
This eyeliner pencil is available in several colors, including black, forest green, and different shades of blue and purple. In addition, this eyeliner is also available with a shimmer effect in various colors. Plus, you can purchase this pencil as a set of two or as an individual item.
With such a large selection, there is an eyeliner to suit every style and mood. The sets include two different colors that allow you to create different looks daily. It is even a waterproof and smudge-proof gel eyeliner that will withstand hot clubs or bad weather.
This product is safe to use on the waterline and can also create a smokey finish.
Rimmel Eyeliner — Contender
Key Features
- It comes as one or in a pack of two eyeliners
- Available in several colors
- Easy application gel eyeliner
- Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers
This gel eyeliner will stay securely in place once it has dried, so you can spend more time looking fabulous and less time fixing your makeup throughout the day. This product has a highly pigmented color for bold and semi-thick lines.
The gel formula slides over your skin with ease and it is tested and approved by ophthalmologists, making it suitable for those with sensitive eyes or contacts. This product is available in black, brown, blue, or nude.
You may buy it as a singular item or in a set of two same-color eyeliners.
NYX Professional Eyeliner — Honorable Mention
Key Features
- Retractable liquid eyeliner
- Smudge-proof and long-lasting
- Available in many colors
- Available in beautiful metallic shades
This retractable eyeliner does not require much maintenance and does not require you to sharpen it. It is as easy as twisting to push the eyeliner up or retracting when finished. Plus, this liquid eyeliner creates precise straight lines thanks to its precision tip.
The liquid is easy to apply across the skin without snagging. Once dry, it is smudge-proof and will survive the warmest of days or nights. This product is not tested on animals. It is available in a wide variety of colors, including shades of blue, green, brown, and black, as well as several metallic shades. Our favorite, though, is golden olive.
L'Oreal Eyeliner — Also Consider
Key Features
- Available in different colors
- Built-in pencil sharpener
- Includes a sponge for smokey eyes
- Lasts up to 16 hours
This eyeliner pencil has a built-in sharpener, so you can create a smaller tip for more precise lines when doing your makeup. In addition, this product has a hard sponge on one end that allows you to create a smokey look.
This pencil is available in different shades of grey, black, navy blue, and brown. This product also works as a tool to define your brows. The eyeliner glides on easily over your skin, allowing you to achieve a variety of looks with minimal effort.
This product is high-quality and will elevate any look you are hoping to achieve.
Buyer's Guide: Finding The Perfect Eyeliner Pencil
Now that you’ve seen our selection of the top eyeliner pencils in 2024, you may want to do some of your own research into eyeliner pencils. To help you learn more about eyeliner pencils and work out what type is best for you, we will discuss the following:
- Things to consider before you purchase an eyeliner pencil
- Other types of eyeliner
- Why you should shop online
- How we chose the best eyeliner pencil
- Eyeliner pencil price range
- Commonly asked questions
From Our Celebrity Expert, Olivia Elgart:
Eyeliner pencils are a beauty essential for a reason. They're easy to use, versatile, and can create a variety of looks—just a few swipes can take your look from day to night in no time! Kim Kardashian has been seen using the Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeliner pencil to create her signature winged liner look. Winged liner is a great way to add definition and drama to the eyes, and Kim is the queen of it. If you're looking to up your eyeliner game, I highly recommend taking a page out of Kim's book and using an eyeliner pencil.
Things to Consider Before Making an Eyeliner Pencil Purchase
Before you purchase an eyeliner pencil, you should consider the following factors and features.
What style do you want to achieve?
Consider what style you want to achieve and what features your eyeliner pencil will need to possess in order to achieve them. You may want to look up some of the following eyeliner styles:
- Cat-eye
- Bold
- Casual
- Pin-up
- Egyptian
- Double
- Dramatic
- Fishtail
- Arabian
Color
Most people choose an eyeliner that is similar to their eyelash color and choose either brown or black. However, if you want to play around with color and bring out a certain color in your eyes, many other colors are available, such as blue, green, or purple.
Metallic shades
You may want a metallic shade to make your eyes stand out. Metallic shades come in regular bronze, gold, and silver, but you can also find metallic versions of most other colors, too.
Sharpen
Traditional eyeliner pencils are sharpened; this allows you to play around with the point on the pencil. Sharpen it to a small point to create a small, precise line. Alternatively, let it get blunt for thicker lines and a more smokey look.
Twist
Twist pencils let you twist the bottom of the pencil to push up the liner when you need it. This type of pencil means you do not need a pencil sharpener. The end of the pencil is more uniform than a pencil you sharpen, and the material used often feels softer.
Water-resistant
A water-resistant eyeliner will let you draw along your tear line without it running when your eyes water. You can also wear it in the winter during wet weather, knowing it will remain in place.
Transfer resistant
People touch their faces a lot, and we touch our eyes a lot more without thinking about our actions. Look for an eyeliner that will survive your absent-minded face touching.
Thick point
Look for a thick point on your eyeliner for a smudged smokey-looking eyeliner. This type of eyeliner pencil is great to use as an eyeshadow. Similarly, try a thick point eyeliner for an effortless dramatic look if you’re going for a bolder look.
Microfine point
Microfine points are eyeliners that have a tiny point. This is great for precision lines and uses on the bottom lid of the lash line. If you do not want a dramatic look but prefer something more subtle, this type of eyeliner pencil might be the best one.
Gel formula pencil
If you want a liquid in a pencil formula, go with a gel formula pencil. It will look like a pencil when it dries but gets between the lashes well, which is great for creating the illusion of having no liner but natural-looking thick lashes.
Alternatives to an eyeliner pencil
There are various other types of eyeliners you may prefer over eyeliner pencil. Some of these eyeliners may be better suited to a particular look you have in mind. However, we believe everyone should have a standard eyeliner pencil as a staple in their makeup set.
Eyeliner liquid
Eyeliner liquids are great for a cat eye and smooth and sharp look. However, it is unforgiving of mistakes and is more difficult to use than a pencil eyeliner.
Gel/cream liners
Cream eyeliners are a little thicker than gel eyeliners. They usually come in a pot (well) and are great for making smooth straight lines. However, this type of eyeliner requires you to purchase a separate eyeliner brush.
Cake liners
Cake liners are effectively a type of body paint that you use around your eyes. They come in a pot, and you apply them with a brush. When they dry, they become matte. They create colorful and dramatic looks and are often used to replace a standard eyeliner. However, some people will use a cake liner in conjunction with a more traditional liner.
Customer reviews
Before you purchase an eyeliner pencil, read the product’s description. Customer reviews give a good insight into the quality of a product and will make you aware of any common faults the product might possess.
Why Buy Online?
There are a few reasons why buying online is more beneficial than buying in a physical store.
Saves time
Buying online means you can purchase from the comfort of your own home, saving you time traveling to the shop and back home again. Buying online also allows you to view more products in a shorter amount of time compared to visiting a physical store.
Less effort
Buying online means you don’t need to leave your comfortable chair or converse with another soul. This is perfect for the kind of days where you want to do some retail therapy but don’t feel like socializing. You don’t even need to go pick up the item, as it will be delivered straight to your home.
More variety
Shopping online gives you access to products all over the world and, therefore, a lot more variety. Search engines make it easier to find specific features you want in your eyeliner, too. Looking for a sparkly pink eyeliner? We are confident the internet will have it.
How We Decided on the Top Eyeliner Pencils
To choose a premium eyeliner pencil, there are several factors and features we considered. We considered how versatile the pencil was in terms of how many styles of eyeliner can be achieved easily. Second, we considered if the product had multiple colors available, and we rated the durability of the product. Finally, we chose eyeliner pencils that we believed were a good bang for your buck and had positive feedback from customers.
Eyeliner Pencil Price Range
An eyeliner pencil can cost from as little as $3 to as much as $90. The price will mostly depend on the brand of the product
