Presenting: The Best Eyeliner Pencils Worth Your $$ (2024)

Into clean, green makeup? Then you'll love this eyeliner pencil from Jones Road. The high-performing formula is made without questionable ingredients (like parabens or synthetic fragrance) and delivers high-impact color that can be worn sharp or smudged.

THE REVIEW: "This can be applied in a line or smudged with your fingers or brush for a blended look," says one review. "I love the smooth consistency of it—another fabulous Jones Road product!"

Hop on the Euphoria makeup bandwagon with this shade-shifting eyeliner pencil (it comes in 10 stunning shades) from makeup artist Danessa Myrick's beauty line. The metallic chrome pigments transform colors in different lighting to create a cool, eye-catching effect. Plus the formula is water-resistant and super creamy too.

THE REVIEW: "This eyeliner looks amazing in sunlight," says one tester. "It glides on very smoothly and the tip is fine enough to make really sharp, precise lines."

If a smokey eye is your signature makeup look, then this dual-ended eyeliner pencil is about to your new BFF. The creamy gel formula sets to a matte finish and can be easily smudged out using the built-in brush. For a two second smokey eye, trace the pencil tip above your lash line and then blend up and out using the brush.

THE REVIEW: "This liner is so pigmented and creamy," reads a review. "It glides right on without a problem and it blends beautifully!"

Made with a microfine pencil tip, this ultra-precise eyeliner makes it super easy to create sharp, crisp lines—even if you're an eyeliner novice. It gives you max control over your eye look and the creamy, no-skip texture effortless glides across your lids and lash lines—a total win-win.

THE REVIEW: "This is a great, highly-pigmented eyeliner that draws nice fine lines—it's a good choice for those who don't want heavy eyeliner," reads one review.

Peek inside any beauty editor's makeup bag and I guarantee you find one (or more) of these eyeliner pencils from Urban Decay. The award-winning, 5-star rated formula checks all the right boxes when it comes to the perfect pencil liner: it goes on super smooth, coats lids in intense, highly-pigmented color, and stays in place for hours and hours.

THE REVIEW: "I don't use any other brand of liner than Urban decay—the colors are beautifully pigmented and blend so nice too," says a tester. "An oldie but a goodie! I cannot do may makeup without this," writes another tester.

You know all those high-impact eye art looks you keep seeing on Insta? A super-pigmented eyeliner pencil, like this one from Araceli Beauty, is how you successfully DIY the look at home. It has a creamy texture and the bold, transfer-proof pigments delivers optimal color payoff. (P.S.it comes in 11 shades, from classic matte black to shimmery olive.)

THE REVIEW: "This is the third time I have ordered this product because I love it so much! It's easy to apply and stays on all day."

Treating yourself to a new eyeliner pencil doesn't need to eat into your budget, and this option from drugstore makeup brand L'Oreal Paris is proof. This long-wearing formula costs less than $10 and has more than 7000 5-star reviews on Amazon, so you know it's a good one. I'm personally loving this bright purple shade, but it comes in a ton of neutral colors as well.

THE REVIEW: "I've tried just about every eyeliner sold in drugstores and until now, they have have either disappeared after a short time or have relocated under my eyes," says a tester. "This one works—it goes on easily and STAYS on where you put it until you take it off with makeup remover."

Leave it to legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath to create a gel eyeliner pencil that legit feels like butter. The silky-smooth formula is infused with silicones so the pencil tip can seamlessly glide across your lids and lash lines without any tugging or skipping. Oh, and it comes with a complementary sharpener too!

THE REVIEW: "The formula is creamy, easy to blend, and long wearing too," reads one review. "I can wear it on my upper and/or bottom lash lines with no issues—plus it has great color payoff and doesn’t tug on the skin when applied too."

Trust me when I tell you that this long-wearing eyeliner pencil DOES. NOT. BUDGE. Once you swipe it on, the pigments set to a water and transfer-resistant matte finish that stay put for up to 24 hours. It's a must for all your summer pool parties and beach outings.

THE REVIEW: "Finally, a product that actually does what it claims. It is so easy to apply and really does last all day. The best I have used."

Not only can you use this versatile pencil to line your eyes, you can use it to define your lips, shape your brows, and highlight and contour your favorite features depending on the shade you use. It comes in 39 different colors, from warm neutrals to vibrant jewel-tones, that are designed to be worn alone or layered together to create an array of full-face makeup looks.

THE REVIEW: "I use this on my eyes and lips anytime I want to do a stylish look I use this," says a tester. "It's great for every day or you can use one of the bright colors and be very expressive."

Specially formulated for those with sensitive eyes, this eyeliner pencil is as gentle as they come. It's made with all-natural ingredients, like jojoba oil and coconut oil, to soothe and condition your eye area while defining and lining your eyes.

THE REVIEW: "I love this clean eyeliner," says a review. "It has smooth application and doesn't irritate my eyes like other brands of eye pencil products tend to do."

This convenient duo from Tarte has all your eyeliner needs covered. On is a long-wearing gel eyeliner pencil that can be used for defining your eyes and waterline, and on the other is a high-performing liquid eyeliner that's perf for creating wings and flicks.

THE REVIEW: "I have this eyeliner in black and brown," says a tester, adding "I've been using for over 5 years and keep coming back to it—hands down the best on the market."

Consider your eyeliner pencil's texture

Gels, creams, kohls, kajals...eyeliner pencils come in a variety of textures and formats, and each one has its own purpose. Gel and cream eyeliner pencils with super-fine tips are ideal for drawing precise lines and defining your waterline. Kohls and kajals? They're great for smudging out to create a lived-in look or a smokey eye.

When in doubt, opt for a water-resistant formula

IDK about you, but my worst worst nightmare is runny eyeliner, which is why I always choose a formula that's labeled "water-resistant" or "water-proof". It's a guaranteed way to make sure your eyeliner stays in place if you have oily eyelids or if you're wearing your liner to the beach or pool.