27 Eyeliners That Won't Smear — No Matter What

Eyeliner can be the saving grace of the time-strapped. A quick swipe and you've got a statement makeup look that takes no time to create. But liner is also notoriously finicky — who hasn't accidentally wiped their eye only to smudge that practiced flick? Suddenly, your perfectly defined gaze is looking more raccoon than ravishing.

Fortunately, there is a fix for this problem: long-wear liner. These stay-put pens, pots, and pencils grab tight to your lid and hold on for dear life. They're so good, you might find your only issue is how the hell to get them off. (Hint: We love a good cleansing oil for this particular task.)

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Ahead, the eyeliners you can trust to stay in place — no matter what you throw at them.

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A 2-in-1 product is music to a beauty enthusiast's ears, especially when it allows you to easily change up your look. This long-wear liner has a precise tip on one end for when you want a clean line, and a smudger tip on the other side for when you're ready to transform into a smoky look.
Milk Makeup Long Wear Gel Eyeliner$22.00 Buy
This formula lasts for 24 hours, which is amazing, but it's the felt-tip brush that won our hearts. Read: It's very precise.
Dior Diorshow On Stage Liquid Eyeliner$30.50 Buy
Don't let the intense pigment of this liner scare you away. It packs on color but stays right in place with its waterproof and sweat-resistant formula.
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner$27.00 Buy
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Fenty Beauty global makeup artist Hector Espinal told us that this new liner is one of his favorite products from the brand. Why? He praises its long-lasting formula: "I feel like I can do anything with it and it won't budge."
Fenty Beauty By Rihanna FLYLINER$20.00 Buy
At under-$3 this felt-tip black liner is as good as the pricier stuff. It's long-wearing, jet-black, and never skips or drags on our lids.
Jordana Fabuliner Liquid Eye Liner$2.89 Buy
This liner manages to cling to our eyelids for hours and comes in four neutral hues.
NARS Eyeliner Stylo$28.00 Buy
Behold: A liquid liner we can't stop talking about. The opaque pigment really lasts, plus it's easy to control and has the chicest packaging.
Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner$22.00 $17.60 Buy
Marc Jacobs Beauty has managed to fuse the precision of a gel and the ease of a pencil into one user-friendly product that doesn't budge once it sets. That's a long way of saying it's great for those of us who don't moonlight as makeup artists.
Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner$25.00 Buy
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There's nothing outdated about using gel eyeliner in a pot. The formula is smooth enough that even the most shaky-handed amateurs can draw a perfect cat-eye. Plus, the product lasts for months.
Chanel CALLIGRAPHIE DE CHANEL Longwear Intense Cream Eyeliner$35.00 Buy
If the innovative wand isn't cool enough for you, the slick liner will seal the deal. With one of the smallest brush tips we've ever used, this liquid formula is crazy precise and dries almost instantly. The unique, bendable wand makes for tight control and easy application — even for liner amateurs.
Lancôme GRANDIÔSE Bendable Liquid Eyeliner$32.00 Buy
Sure, the formula is trustworthy and stands up against sweat, but it's the wide variety of colors that hold our interest. From baby blue to olive green, this set has you prepared for any occasion or mood.
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner$22.00 Buy
This one will last through an hour-long gym sesh, dip in the pool, and even a light showering of rain. (We tested.)
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil$21.00 Buy
This formula promises the intense, concentrated color of a liquid liner, plus the silky finish of a gel, all with the convenience of a pencil. It’s a tall order, but it delivers — and, yes, it lasts all day.
Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen Gunmetal $12.00 Buy
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Pair this with the fan-favorite Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara. It's long-lasting and adds just enough drama to your look.
Tarte lights, camera, lashes liquid eyeliner$20.00 Buy
Photo: Courtesy of Maybelline.
Makeup artists, editors, and bloggers alike have raved about this drugstore gel eyeliner for years. Once slicked onto the lids (just use the A+ brush that comes with it) the formula allows for some time to blend before it dries — and once it does, it's not going anywhere.
Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner$9.99 Buy
This tried-and-true liquid eyeliner has a super-fine tip, making it ideal for tracing on a cat-eye. Plus, the long-wearing formula doesn't get flaky, even if you head out straight after work. (And stay out well past midnight.)
L'Oréal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner$9.99 Buy
Photo: Via Nordstrom.
For those of you looking for a long-wearing, no-tug liquid liner, this one will be right up your alley. It also has a high-satin, rich-girl finish we're mad about.
Chantecaille Le Stylo Ultra Slim Liquid Eyeliner$34.00 Buy
Although we can't say we've worn this eyeliner-eyeshadow hybrid for 24 hours straight, we have counted on it to get us through two conferences calls, three appetizers, and um, a few aperitifs. We're happy to report the color held up the whole time.
Too Faced Bulletproof 24 Hour Eyeliner$17.05 Buy
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Take this option for a spin if drawing on the perfect cat-eye still intimidates you. The applicator has a flex tip for easy control and the pigment is water-resistant.
Almay Liquid Eyeliner$7.99 Buy
Make Up For Ever's Aqua XL line is famous for its waterproof formulas, so you can bet these brand-new liquid liners are going to be bold, in-your-face, and budge-proof for hours — even when you work up a major sweat.
Sephora Aqua XL Ink Eye Liner$24.00 Buy
You never know what you can find when you're browsing your favorite clothing retailer's site. Exhibit A: This liquid eyeliner. Our test for long-lasting wear involved a stellar cat-eye and even faux freckles. To much surprise, every last ink mark lasted through sweat and rain.
& Other Stories Eye Marker$15.00 Buy
Sir John's tip for applying these ultra-pigmented babies? Draw a tiny dot at the side of your eye, then slowly wing out to create the shape. "If it's after dark, [or] after a couple of glasses of rosé, no one's paying attention to how level they are," he says.
L'Oreal Paris Paints Eyeliner$9.99 Buy
Unlike our favorite pencil liners from the '00s, this option doesn't turn the whites of our eyes red or smudge every time we blink.
Natasha Denona Eye Liner Pencil$18.00 Buy
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The Cadillac of liquid liners, this formula’s staying power is so intense that it’s almost scary — in the best way. If you’re looking for a liquid eyeliner that will not budge (save for an oil cleanser to take it off at the end of the day), this one’s for you.
Lorac Front of the Line PRO Liquid Eyeliner$23.00 Buy
The easiest, creamiest, longest-wearing pencil you’ll ever use, it makes inferior liners feel like chalk by comparison.
Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner$21.00 Buy
Since legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath is behind this liner, you can bet on its long-wear stamina. If it can last on Bella Hadid's eyes down at hot runway, it will definitely stay on your lids through an eight-hour work day.
Pat McGrath Permagel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil$25.00 Buy
The pen's curved tip can be angled wherever you need it be. No more jagged lines!
Maybelline Curvitude Liner$7.99 Buy
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