Eye-Catching Eyeliners

What links Audrey Hepburn, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Cleopatra and Dita Von Teese? Liquid eyeliner. Of course, trends come and go, but a winged flick is perennially stylish. The best liquid eyeliners give you a plethora of options: it can be simply chic, incredibly glamorous or even insouciant and rock’n’roll, depending on the placement. A small flick is elegant, a thicker line can suggest more of a decadent look, while a bold, chunky line packs grungy cool. You can even get graphic and go for an avant-garde look, winging the line all the way out or sketching shapes to your heart’s content.

It’s often joked in the beauty industry that liquid eyeliner can smell your fear, and there is an element of truth to that. Notoriously difficult to apply, the intense pigment and wetness of liquid eyeliner can make it intimidating. Happily, formulas and applicators have moved along so much in recent years that the best liquid eyeliners mean it's not nearly as insurmountable a task as it was before. There’s also a wide range of options to choose from, so if you can’t get along with gel, simply switch to a felt tip. In years gone by, gel liners may have been thick and clumpy, but now, they’re smooth, creamy and effortless to sketch with, while pen applicators have firmer nibs to allow for greater control. If you prefer the classic ink well and brush option, you’ll be pleased to learn that all of the below eyeliners dry speedily to avoid it transferring onto your eyelids or brow bone.

Rimmel

 

A true hero product and a make-up bag staple for many, Rimmel's Exaggerate Eye Liner has an almost fool proof applicator tip which offers optimum control for minimal mistakes.

 

Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Liner. £4.50 

 

 

Bobbi Brown

 

An industry favourite, Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner has a budge-proof formula and inky black finish. Use the finest brush you can find for perfect precision.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner. £19.50

 

Christian Dior

 

Dior's Diorshow Art Pen has a fine tip to get right in between the lashes, plus its buildable colour makes it great for a more subtle daytime look. One of the best liquid eyeliners for beginners.

 

Dior Diorshow Art Pen. £27.50

 

 

Benefit

 

One of the most budge-proof formulas out there, the fully opaque coverage of Benefit Roller Liner means that you’re ready to go after just one swoop of the brush.

 

Benefit Roller Liner, £18.50

 

 

 

Stila

 

A true cult classic, you'll find this handy pen rolling around in many a make-up artist's kit. The super-smooth tip helps you glide across your lash line with zero tugging or pulling for a neat flick.

 

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner, £12.33

 

 

 

Maybelline

 

Quick to dry but still bold in colour, this liquid liner combines the rich pigment of a ink well with the ease of a felt tip. It's purse-friendly, too.

 

Maybelline Express Eye Liner, £5.10

 

 

 

Tom Ford

 

Two liners for the price of one, really. The dual-ended pen has a thicker side for a more graphic finish, or a finer side to help you get the line snug against your lashes. Genius.

 

Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen, £46