A best eyeliner pencil is glamour you can fit in your pocket. For gothic, smudgy-eyed mystery or the winged cat eye of a black-and-white movie star, nothing beats a reliable liner for a lightning-quick makeover. But if you’re a complete beginner, the fear of scribbling blindly on your own eyelids is real. Will you opt for a pencil, felt tip pen, gel or liquid liner? Does it need to be waterproof or suitable for sensitive eyes?
Luckily, we’re here to help! From drugstore favourites Maybelline and Rimmel to pro brands like MAC and KVD Vegan Beauty, we’ve compiled a list of the best beginner buys alongside a foolproof guide to finding your match. If eyeliner is as unfathomable to you as hieroglyphics, this article will help transform you into this year’s answer to Cleopatra.
The best eyeliner pencil in UK 2021
1. Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Gel Eye Liner Pencil
2. Chantecaille Luster Glide Silk Infused Eye Liner
Define the eyelashes with a Chantecaille Luster Glide Silk Infused Eye Liner and create a part of the makeup routine that will make the eyes stand out. The silk infused formula of the pencil offers a texture that mimics a liquid liner, ensuring it goes onto the eye smoothly and results in an impressive depth of colour that remains in place for as long as it is needed.
With little effort, the Chantecaille Luster Glide Silk Infused Eye Liner can highlight the eyes with a bold look or a subtle one. It is versatile enough to be able to create a dramatic line along the lashes or be blended to create a rich eyeshadow. Gently smooth along the lash line and, if desired, blend with a finger or brush.
3. Rimmel Exaggerate Auto Eye Definer
Completely waterproof, this is the one you need in your swimming bag. Once applied, the formula has a quick setting time to either blend out for a smokey look or a long-lasting fine line depending on your desired look. Perfect for creating a smouldering, sexy eye look, this eye liner delivers an intense finish. So whether you’re working, shopping, on a special occasion, or out with the girls give your eyes, the London look. To highlight your eyes draw bold lines in just one single stroke. Exaggerate Waterproof Eyeliner Definer, is the perfect main stay of your eye wear collection or would be warmly received as a gift if you were looking to share your enjoyment of Rimmel London with others.
4. Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Fine-Point Eye Pen
5. Barry M Kohl Pencil
Another liner you can take home for tuppence, Barry M’s simple kohl pencil is dead easy to apply and quick to remove, though once it’s in place it has better staying power than many other pencil eyeliners. It can create sharp lines but also smudges nicely if that’s your desired effect.
Never tested on animals, Barry M’s products are great value and good quality, and this particular liner sharpens up smoothly so will last a little longer than softer, smudgier eye pencils where the nib breaks more easily. It’s also available in both muted tones and a couple of fun ones if you want to get creative.
6. Lovoir WingLiner Eyeliner Stamp
Not everyone has been blessed with a steady hand and a knack for adding perfect feline flicks to their eyes, and for those who struggle there is finally an answer. The Lovoir WingLiner Eyeliner Stamp comes in the form of two pens with double ends – one for normal eyeliner application and the other for perfect flicks every time. It may seem strange at first, but those who’ve spent many a frustrating morning wiping off failed attempts, it could be the miracle you’ve been waiting for. Smudgeproof, so no mess.
7. Jane Iredale Eye Pencil
Jane Iredale Eye Pencil Crayon boasts a vegan, cruelty-free formula that uses natural mineral pigments to create colour that stays put. This natural formula contains conditioning oils and waxes such as Jojoba Seed Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, and Mango Seed Oil to create a soft texture that avoids pulling the delicate eye area. Highly pigmented and long-wearing, this pencil can be applied subtly or built up for a dramatic effect. This pencil eyeliner comes in basic shades to suit any pair of peepers. An amazing natural option for anyone looking for a pencil eyeliner free of harmful dyes.
8. L’Oreal Cosmetics L’Oreal Paris Flash Winged Eyeliner
Say goodbye to winged liner fails with NEW L’Oréal Paris Superliner Flash Cat liquid eyeliner, for intense black lines that last up to 24 hours. Now you can design your perfect lines with ease – thanks to the no-fail wing applicator that ensures your lines are always sharp and perfectly winged. Highly pigmented, waterproof formula that stays all day, without fading or smudging. Ultra-flexible felt tip brush for an easy, smooth-glide application. For a line you can just swipe on (thanks to the load of pigment in this pick) that won’t budge if you get caught in the rain, sweat a bit, or shed a few tears, this waterproof liquid liner is for you.
9. M.A.C Liquidlast Liner Point Black
MAC Point Black Liquidlast Liner ($21.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep black with neutral undertones and a matte finish. The liquid eyeliner has a smooth, fluid consistency that wasn’t quite as wet as other shades in the range, which made it slightly easier to control and helped it dry down faster. We noticed that this shade clung to the skin, though, and felt a little like shrink-wrap on my skin, which wasn’t something we experienced with other shades. It was still going strong after 14 hours of wear.
The formula is supposed to have “unprecedented 24-hour wear” that’s “water-resistant” with “intensely rich” coverage. Once it sets, the eyeliner stays on and on and on without flaking, smudging, or fading. The issue is getting them to apply without bleeding, feathering, and gathering in any fine lines on the skin as several shades had very long dry-down times. Some shades applied more fluidly with richer coverage in a single layer while others were more watery.
10. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
How to choose the best eyeliner pencil
Choosing the best eyeliner for you is as important as getting one. Different eyeliners do have their different effect on the overall appearance of the eye. You can count on the following tips to help you get the best eyeliner for your eyes easily:
Smudging: Make sure you go for eyeliners that will not smudge so easily. You won’t want your eyes to be messed up unexpectedly right in the middle of a party, or a meeting, or an occasion.
Skin Type: You need to know your skin type before choosing any eyeliner. If you are having an oily skin type then you should avoid using liquid eyeliners only. You can apply the liquid eyeliner along with some powder eyeliners to absorb so of the grease that will ooze out of your skin but using the pencil eyeliner and powder eyeliner will be best for you. Others with normal skin type or dry skin type may use any kind of eyeliners they may choose to.
The Occasion: Choose your eyeliner based on the occasion. Pencil eyeliners are best for casual outings. The liquid eyeliners would do for formal events.
Summary
Deciding to try a new makeup look is always exciting, but eyeliner can feel daunting since it’s hard to hide mistakes. Whether you’re looking for a liner you can experiment with worry-free or one that will have heads turning, we hope our list has inspired you to shop for a new addition to your makeup bag. Any liner on this list will help make your eyes a vision!
