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. They give you the freedom to create bold or subtle looks that actually last.
Not to mention, waterproof liners come in plenty of formats—felt tip pens, ultra thin brush tips, gel pencils or creams—to create any number of eyeliner looks, be it tightlining your lash line, crafting a smokey 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 Eyeliner
Best Liquid
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
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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 ultra-fine and flexible tip applicator. Plus, the latex-baed formula won’t smudge (or flake). “As someone who likes precise lines, or barely-there winged liner, Chanel’s pick is my ultimate favorite—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,” says Vogue’s beauty shopping writer Conçetta Ciarlo.
- Key Ingredients: Copolymers, glycerin, dimethicone
- Shades: Four
- Type: Liquid
Best Drugstore: Maybelline Tattoo Studio Automatic Gel Pencil
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 super smooth glide on gel formula, this pencil by 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