It's true—liquid eyeliner can either be your best friend or worst nightmare. So who wants to spend a ton of money on something you don't even know will work? This is why we've made it our business to put every single drugstore offering to the test, separating the scratchy, leaky, smudgy formulas from the unicorns that deliver the smooth, rich, precise, and stays-put-all-day slashes of your dreams.
1
Boots No7 Stay Precise Felt Tip Eye Liner
If you like to lay your cat eye on thick, this felt tip pen makes an exaggerated wing easy to navigate with its just-slim-enough brush.
Boots No7 Stay Precise Felt Tip Eye Liner, $8.99; ulta.com.
2
Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eyeliner
What we love most about this inky, yet gentle formula is its flexible tip applicator. For an easy look, use the tip for a light application. For a bolder line, angle the brush for a more pronounced sweep.
Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eyeliner, $8.99; ulta.com.
3
Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner
While its claim of 24 hours without smearing or smudging is a slight exaggeration—we have yet to find a liner that can live up to that—you will still be impressed with this waterproof formula's high-impact, long-lasting power.
Milani Infinite Liquid Eye Liner, $7; milanicosmetics.com.
4
L'Oreal Paris Lineur Intense Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner
The most intense shade of black in the game, this clump-resistant carbon black liquid comes complete with a super-tiny, tapered liquid brush tip that glides on like a dream.
L'Oreal Paris Lineur Intense Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner,$9.99; ulta.com.
5
Flower Beauty On Your Mark Liquid Eyeliner
If you're in the market for razor-thin lines that won't melt or smear, this is the felt-tip pen for you. It's that simple.
Flower Beauty On Your Mark Liquid Eyeliner, $5.17; walmart.com.
6
Maybelline Line Stiletto Ultimate Precision Liquid Eyeliner
If you have sensitive eyes, this rich, ophthalmologist-tested liquid offering is easy on the gaze, as well as a cinch to take off at the end of the day.
Maybelline Line Stiletto Ultimate Precision Liquid Eyeliner, $7.99; ulta.com.
7
Almay Liquid Eyeliner
This inkwell-style applicator ensures fresh color every time while the flex tip makes drawing on precise cat-eye wings a cinch.
Almay Liquid Eyeliner, $7.99; ulta.com.
