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Whether you’re braving a humid day, shedding a tear, or just hoping your eye makeup look stays put all day (and night), the best waterproof eyeliner is your ultimate ride or die. It gives you the freedom to create bold or subtle looks that actually last.
Not to mention waterproof liners come in a variety of formats—felt-tip pens, ultrathin brush tips, gel pencils, or creams—to create any number of eyeliner looks, whether it’s tightlining your lash line, crafting a smoky eye, or nailing a feline flick. Ahead, we spoke with experts to find out their favorites, sharing a few of our tried-and-tested picks as well.
Vogue’s Favorite Waterproof Eyeliners
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Best Overall: Chanel Le Liner de Chanel Liquid Eyeliner
- Why We Love It: Chanel’s liquid liner makes undetectable tightlining or swiping on a slinky cat eye incredibly easy thanks to an ultrafine and flexible tip applicator. Plus, the latex-based formula won’t smudge (or flake). “As someone who likes precise lines or barely-there winged liner, Chanel’s pick is my ultimate favorite,” says Vogue’s beauty shopping writer Conçetta Ciarlo. “I just do one swipe from the outer corner of my eye for subtle definition. It’s like doing your eyeliner with a fine-tipped pen that never transfers on my hooded eyes.”
- Key Ingredients: Copolymers, glycerin, dimethicone
- Shades: 4
- Type: Liquid
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ultrafine brush makes precision application uncomplicated | A splurge |
| Latex-based formula ensures long-lasting, flake-free results |
Best Drugstore: Maybelline Tattoo Studio Automatic Gel Pencil
- Why We Love It: If you’re in the market for a high-performing eyeliner at a budget-friendly price, it’s hard to beat Maybelline’s waterproof gel eyeliner pencil. With a supersmooth glide-on gel formula, this pencil from the drugstore mainstay boasts up to 36 hours of wear. Consider it a go-to for smoked-out liner rather than precision-thin application.
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, microcrystalline wax
- Shades: 16
- Type: Gel
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Long-wearing drugstore gel pencil | Not for precise application |
| Affordable price point |
Best Shade Range: Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner
- Why We Love It: Victoria Beckham Beauty’s eyeliner is a bestseller for the brand, and it’s easy to see why. For starters, it’s waterproof and formulated with clean ingredients. There are 19 shades to choose from, including classic neutrals and fun colors. Plus, there are not only matte finishes but also metallic and jewel-toned options.
- Key Ingredients: Chamomilla recutita, vitamin E, panthenol, mineral-based silica pearl
- Shades: 19
- Type: Kajal
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Wide range of shades and finishes | Shimmer shades are more prone to smudging |
| Clean, long-lasting formula | Some report that only the VB Beauty sharpener works well for these pencils |
| Creamy, snag-proof application |
Best for Blending: Pat McGrath Labs PermaGel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil
- Why We Love It: Spotted in Gabbriette’s Vogue France Beauty Secrets video, Dame Pat McGrath’s long-wearing gel formula is a go-to for the edgy It girl, who called it “the best black eyeliner on the planet.” This gel eye pencil is the secret behind her iconic grungy, smudged-out eye makeup. The creamy formula blends flawlessly, making it ideal for a smoky eye or any other similarly undone look.
- Key Ingredients: Mica, isododecane, synthetic wax, carnauba wax
- Shades: 2
- Type: Gel
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Smooth, snag-free application | Limited shades |
| High color payoff |
Best Liquid: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
- Why We Love It: With an impressive 31,000 glowing reviews on Amazon, this jet black waterproof eyeliner pen has been winning over cat-eye enthusiasts since its 2009 launch. Its precision felt-tip pen allows for effortless application, enabling you to create both bold and subtle winged eyeliner looks with ease. Plus, Vogue’s associate commerce producer Fred Sahai only has eyes for this eyeliner. “This is the only eyeliner I’ve used for years, and it never budges,” says Sahai.
- Key Ingredients: Acrylates copolymer, dimethicone
- Shades: 10
- Type: Liquid
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Flake-free, long-wearing formula | Can something be too waterproof? Some find this pick difficult to remove. |
| Ensures precision application |
Best Long Wearing: Lancôme Le Stylo
- Why We Love It: Twist, line, and go—Lancôme’s eyeliner won’t snag, smudge, or streak on your eyes. The water-resistant formula glides on smoothly for fail-proof tightlining—happy tears incoming!
- Key Ingredients: Synthetic wax, mica, silica, carnauba wax
- Shades: 10
- Type: Gel
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Snag-free formula | Some find this formula drying. |
Best for Sensitive Eyes: Clinique High Impact Gel Tech Eyeliner
- Why We Love It: Clinique is always a safe bet for those with sensitive eyes. Its gel eyeliner—which is water-resistant and fragrance-free—provides pigment-rich color for up to 12 hours of wear on your waterline and up to 24 hours of wear on your lids. Even better, the formula is ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested.
- Key Ingredients: Candelilla-wax extract, synthetic wax, carnauba wax, synthetic beeswax
- Shades: 8
- Type: Gel
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested formula | Some don’t prefer the non-matte finish. |
| Quick-setting formula |
Everything You Need to Know
How to Pick a Waterproof Eyeliner
Gel, khol, kajal, and liquid—there’s a plethora of waterproof eyeliner options to choose from, whether you’re a makeup beginner or aficionado. Pro makeup artist Kasey Spickard’s go-to for long-wearing eye looks is a waterproof gel pencil, especially when used on the waterline. “What makes them great is that they’re soft enough to glide onto the waterline but the formulas are typically more long wearing,” Spickard previously told Vogue. “I prefer waterproof gel liners to traditional pencils, because I find them to be more comfortable on application.”
Pro makeup artist El DeBratto agrees, adding they prefer gel-based eyeliners for their smooth glide-on application in such a delicate eye space. “Once this gel eyeliner is set, it is much less prone to budging or smearing throughout the day,” they tell Vogue.
Opting for a more smoked-out, edgy look? In that case, Spickard recommends kohl pencils as the perfect choice. Prefer a sharp, winged liner? Liquid liners are a no-brainer.
How to Remove Waterproof Eyeliner
To remove eyeliner, “use an oil-based eye-makeup remover and place a cotton pad on the lashes,” pro makeup artist Valeria Ferreira previously told Vogue. Leave the cotton pad in place for a few seconds to allow the eyeliner to soften, then gently wipe it off with gentle swipes.
Meet the Experts
- El DeBratto is a nonbinary New York–based editorial makeup artist whose clients include Coco Rocha, Flower Beauty, Kristin Ess, and Glamour magazine.
- Valeria Ferreira is a London-based global makeup artist whose clients include Camila Morrone, Kaia Gerber, and Lily James.
- Kasey Spickard is a professional makeup artist and Maybelline ambassador based in New York with more than a decade of experience. Spickard has worked with clients such as Jenna Lyons, Kamie Crawford, and Brynn Whitfield.
