I'm Shocked By How Luxurious the 8 Best Drugstore Eyeliners Feel—And How Long They Last

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 I wouldn't advise wearing makeup for that long, you can rest assured that this eyeliner won't budge or fade. I'm also a big fan of the shade range, high color payoff, and its sebum-resistant formula, meaning it's especially great for your waterline.

Formula: Gel pencil

Shades: Nine

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

What I Don't: Dries too 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 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 eye look, it doesn't get better 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 always make your application easier. It also comes pro-approved by celebrity makeup artist Ashlee Glazer. She says, "The L'Oréal Infallible Never Fail mechanical pencil is pretty great and super dark; it has a soft texture for the waterline with long-wear."

Formula: Pencil

Shades: Four

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

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

Review for MC: "I don't think I've ever applied a softer eyeliner than this L'Oreal eyeliner. Because of its extra-creamy formula, this pencil glides 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 I Love: Highly pigmented; long-wearing; blendable.

What I 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. 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. My only cause for pause: it rubbed off a tad when I curled my eyelashes." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor

I can go on and on about my love for the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner. It's the one product I've used consistently since middle school because it's just that good. A single swipe is all I 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. 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 I Love: Long-wearing; highly pigmented; easy to apply; smudge-proof; waterproof; ophthalmologist-tested.

What I 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 the application smooth and precise (the applicator tip is firm yet pointed, creating the perfectly sharp edge to a wing), but it dries quickly, so I 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 gorgeous shades, 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 color dries 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 I Love: Long-wearing; waterproof; smudge-proof; can be used on face and body; highly pigmented.

What I 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 takes a bit longer to dry, but then it does not go anywhere. I actually hopped in the shower with my makeup still on, and this eyeliner was the only thing that didn't come off. 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 I Love: Glides easily; waterproof; highly pigmented; smudge-proof.

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

Review: "This eyeliner is amazing! I've used so many eyeliners including a $20 pencil one from MAC and none of them are as amazing as this one.It lasts at least 6 hours without budging. The formula is very creamy and easy to apply. I would recommend putting a setting powder underneath your eye and then wiping it off before applying to the bottom lid. After applying I usually have to blink a few times since it makes my eyes water a little." — Ulta

Every eyeliner isn't built to do a smokey eye justice. Some are too drying, while others don't have enough playtime to blend out adequately. This age-old CoverGirl find, however, is the pencil you need for your sexiest of smoky eyes. The creamy formula and angled smudge sponge tip make blending a magical experience. You can smudge 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 I Love: Blendable; comes with smudge sponge; glides easily.

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

Review: "This is a nice everyday eyeliner pencil. It applies smoothly without tagging . The pigmentation is good and the color goes on evenly and make natural look.Works well even for sensitive eyes like mine!" — Ulta

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. Her favorite? Neutrogena's Smokey Kohl Eyeliner, which she says is "long-wearing, pigmented, and best of all, doesn't irritate my eyes."

Formula: Kohl

Shades: Four

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

What I Don't: Has a thick tip.

Review: "This eyeliner is perfection. I was astonished by its staying power. It did not flake or smudge even after a long and busy day, and it did not bother my sensitive eyes. The product itself is the perfect consistency, not too hard that it will break, but able to glide on smoothly without being messy like some liquid liners. The black is intense and remains that way until you are ready to take it off. I like the style of the pen; it is thicker than many similar liners, which makes it easier to handle. I highly recommend."