The 14 Best Drugstore Eyeliners, Tested and Reviewed

Sometimes you need a liner that can blend out into a sexy smokey eye. Other times you want your liner to stay put for the entirety of the day—this $10 pick does both. The brand claims it has up to 36 hours of wear, and while we wouldn't advise wearing makeup for that long, you can rest assured that this eyeliner won't budge or fade. We're also big fans of the shade range and high color payoff, as well as its sebum-resistant formula, meaning its especially great to work into your waterline.

Formula: Gel pencil

Shades: Nine

What We Love: Glides easily; long-wearing; highly pigmented; waterproof; suitable for the waterline.

What We Don't: Dries quickly; difficult to sharpen.

Review for MC: "As someone with the shakiest hand ever, I feel confident recommending this drugstore pencil to beginners everywhere—it's that easy to use. The gel tip has a ridiculously smooth glide, doesn't tug on the lid, and delivers uniform pigment in just one swipe. I'm personally a fan of buffing out my eyeliner (that way my line doesn't have to be perfect), just make sure you work quickly. It dries down fast and once it sets it's not going anywhere. I love the metallic shades, like bronze glitz, but deep onyx is the way to go if you want a true black." — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor

For those wanting a deep, dark look, eyeliners don't get much darker than L'Oréal's Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner in carbon black. This pencil comes with a built-in smudger and sharpener, so whether you want to achieve a sultry smokey eye or a sharp, graphic shape, this pencil will work for you. It also comes pro-approved by celebrity makeup artist Ashlee Glazer. She says, "The L'Oréal Infallible Never Fail mechanical pencil is pretty great too and super dark, has a soft texture for the waterline with long-wear."

Formula: Pencil

Shades: Four

What We Love: Highly pigmented; long-wearing; comes with built-in sharpener and smudge sponge; glides easily; retractable twist-up design.

What We Don't: Reviewers say the product runs out fast.

Review for MC: "I don't think I've ever applied a softer eyeliner in my life than this L'Oreal eyeliner. Because of its extra-creamy formula, this pencil glided like a dream—no tugging or skipping in the slightest, so much so, that I bet this pick would be great on mature skin and in the waterline. I find jet-black liner too dark for my taste, so I went with the classic brown shade and it was still highly pigmented. My only drawback is that because the formula is so soft, it's easy to wipe off before it sets, so give it some time to dry fully before touching." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor

You don't need to spend a ton of money to get a great eyeliner. Take it from makeup artist Ehlie Luna, who is a fan of this drugstore pick. "Wet n Wild On Edge Longwearing eyeliner is creamy and shockingly good for the price point," she says. "I especially love the On Edge pencil in the shade Wooden You Know.” This cream-based liner is a steal for just $4. It's long-wearing and blends easily so it can work for a variety of eye makeup looks. Plus, there are fun colors like hot pink and icy blue available, too.

Formula: Creamy pencil

Shades: Six

What We Love: Highly pigmented; long-wearing; blendable.

What We Don't: Difficult to sharpen.

Review for MC: "I'll be honest—I was skeptical of this pencil's performance, despite a pro vouching for it. How good could a product be at just $4? Well, I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least. The first thing I noticed upon swiping this pencil along my lids was just how pigmented it was. I only needed one stroke for a rich line to show up. The next thing I noticed was how soft of a formula it has. It applied buttery smooth and my only drawback was that it rubbed off a tad when I curled my eyelashes. However, you can remedy this by waiting for the eyeliner to set for longer or by curling your lashes before you apply." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor

I can go on and on about my love for the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner—and I have. It's the one product I've used consistently since middle school because it's just that good. A single swipe is all you need for rich, deep color and I find it easy to apply (whether I'm going for a thick or thin line) with the tube's long easy-to-hold handle. It also puts the "stay" in Colorstay—my wings stay flawless from the time I apply them in the morning to when I go to remove my makeup at night. All in all, this pick is everything I could want in an eyeliner.

Formula: Liquid

Shades: Two

What We Love: Long-wearing; highly pigmented; easy to apply; smudge-proof; waterproof; ophthalmologist-tested.

What We Don't: Formula may get clumpy over time.

Review for MC: "Of all the makeup products I’ve used throughout the years, Revlon’s ColorStay liquid eyeliner is the only one I’ve never stopped loving. The liner’s formula is more liquidy than most other brands, making application smooth and precise (the applicator tip is firm, yet pointed, creating the perfectly sharp edge to a wing), but it dries quickly so you never have to worry about smudging or creasing. While you may be tempted to go with the waterproof option, this one stays on all day long, can be easily touched up and layered upon, and comes off easily with your standard makeup remover." — Lucia Tonelli, Associate Director of Social Media

Another option for those looking to get into liquid liners: the NYX Epic Wear Long Lasting Liquid Eyeliner. Offered in eight shades that can be used on the face and/or body, this liner has some incredible staying power—NYX says the high-impact colors last up to three days, but we'd recommend not wearing your makeup for that long. Each shade dries down to a matte finish without cracking, fading, or bleeding. "If you have extremely oily lids you’d want a long-lasting or waterproof formula, I love the NYX Epic Wear Liners," says Jaikaran.

Formula: Liquid

Shades: Eight

What We Love: Long-wearing; waterproof; smudge-proof; can be used on face and body; highly pigmented.

What We Don't: Can be difficult to remove.

Review for MC: "I have the black shade of this eyeliner and boy, does it pack a punch of pigment. I quickly swiped it on and that was all I needed for a dramatic black line. This is a pretty wet formula so it does take a bit longer to dry, but once it does, it does not budge in the slightest. I actually hopped in the shower with my makeup still on and this eyeliner was the only thing that didn't come off, but a cleansing balm did the trick. If I was heading to the beach or a pool, this is the eyeliner I would wear." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor

With my schedule packed to the brim on most days, it can be hard to get in my eight hours of shut-eye. To fake a good night's sleep, I like to use this pencil in my waterline to look instantly awake. I especially love the matte nude shade since it's more subtle than white and doesn't contrast too much against my natural skin tone. It's super creamy too so no tugging or tearing here, which is especially great for the sensitive waterline.

Formula: Gel pencil

Shades: 10

What We Love: Glides easily; waterproof; highly pigmented; smudge-proof.

What We Don't: Difficult to sharpen; tip is prone to breaking off.

Liquid liner is not everyone's forte—we get it, it can get tricky if you don't have a steady hand. But the ultra-fine tip on Maybelline's Eye Studio Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner makes sharp lines a breeze to apply even with the shakiest of hands. At just $9 and with long-wearing abilities, this pick is great for those wanting to dip their toes into liquid liners. Over 20,000 Amazon shoppers gave this pen a 5-star review, plus makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran says this is the drugstore liner she's been using "for years."

Formula: Liquid

Shades: Five

What We Love: Ultra-fine precision tip; long-wearing; waterproof.

What We Don't: Reviewers say this runs with oily eyelids.

If you're no stranger to the beauty world and eyeliners, you've probably heard about Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil—it's one of our favorites! But if that $23 price tag is a bit too steep for you, pro makeup artist Shadi Malek has got you covered. "I find Almay has a similar consistency to Urban Decay and I would say it’s a great dupe," she says. "Its color range isn’t as impressive but I love how the product glides into the eye and that it’s hypoallergenic."

Formula: Gel pencil

Shades: Six

What We Love: Glides easily; hypoallergenic and clean formula; highly pigmented; waterproof; suitable for the waterline.

What We Don't: Difficult to sharpen; reviewers say the product runs out fast.

Not just any eyeliner will do a smokey eye justice. Some are too drying while others don't have enough playtime to adequately blend out. This age-old CoverGirl find, however, is the pencil you need for your sexiest of smoky eyes. The magic is behind its creamy formula and angled smudge sponge tip. You can blend out your strokes with the sponge, and if you want a sharp line, you can use the angled side to create a subtle flick.

Formula: Pencil

Shades: Two

What We Love: Blendable; comes with smudge sponge; glides easily.

What We Don't: Some reviewers not smudging with wear.

A cat-eye may sound like it's only in the realm of pros, but I'm here to assure you that it can be done, especially if you have this liner pen in your arsenal. You don't need years of practice under your belt when you have L'Oreal's Flash Cat Eye eyeliner on hand as it comes with a handy stencil. You simply line the edge of the stencil with the outer corner of your eye, fill it in with the liner, then fill in the rest of your lashline, and voilà, you've got the perfect cat-eye. Reviewers say the formula is extra dark and long-wearing, too.

Formula: Liquid

Shades: One

What We Love: Includes a wing stencil; highly pigmented; easy to apply; waterproof.

What We Don't: Packaging could be improved.

You can't just throw any eyeliner in your waterline and pray for the best—that's a (literal) eye-sore waiting to happen. Instead, Luna says kohl or kajal eyeliners, which typically have a creamier texture than traditional eyeliners, are more suitable for the waterline. One of Luna's favorites that immediately comes to mind for this especially sensitive area is Neutrogena's Smokey Kohl Eyeliner. She says it's "long-wearing, pigmented, and best of all, doesn't irritate my eyes."

Formula: Kohl

Shades: Four

What We Love: Glides easily; long-wearing; waterproof; suitable for the waterline.

What We Don't: Has a thick tip.

There are plenty of benefits to using a pot and brush liner. If you have a shaky hand, a longer brush will work wonders on your application. It will also open the door of possibilities when it comes to graphic shapes. The brush, which comes indented for a more precise angle, allows you to reach sparse areas easily. Aside from the brush, this gel formula from Maybelline applies silky smooth, but it seems like reviewers are most impressed with how dark each shade shows up.

Formula: Gel pot

Shades: Two

What We Love: Includes a brush; waterproof; highly pigmented; long-wearing.

What We Don't: Dries out with use.

It comes as no surprise that Rimmel London has one seriously good eyeliner for just $7—the brand is one of my all-time favorites (not to mention, has been around for decades) at the drugstore. This twist-up pencil has the teeniest of tips so you can get a sharp cat-eye with every application. Even better, it stays sharp thanks to its retractable twist-up design. Formula-wise, this liner does not budge in the slightest once it sets. Whether you wear it to the pool, in the shower, or to a rom-com movie night, this waterproof liner is staying put.

Formula: Gel crayon

Shades: Six

What We Love: Retractable twist-up design; waterproof; highly pigmented; long-wearing.

What We Don't: Tip is prone to breaking off.

Technically you can't find this pick at the drugstore, however, it is well within the range of drugstore prices at $5, so we'd be remiss not to mention it. With this one eyeliner, you can achieve nearly any eye makeup look you can think of from super sharp wings to smudged under eyes. One side is a creamy gel twist-up crayon that won't skip or tug on your eyelids. Meanwhile, the other side is a felt-tip liquid liner for high-intensity color and precise lines.

Formula: Gel crayon and liquid

Shades: One

What We Love: Dual formula for versatility; retractable twist-up design on one side; waterproof; highly pigmented; glides easily.

What We Don't: Some reviewers note the color fades with wear.