Gel eyeliner is the most versatile of all eyeliner times. Want the precision of a liquid eyeliner without all the fuss? A pot of gel liner will get the job done. Looking for an easy application like a pencil liner but want something that gives you more freedom to create any eye makeup look you please? A gel eyeliner pencil is exactly what you need. Whatever you want to create on your eyelids and waterline, there's a gel eyeliner out there for you. Below, we've rounded up the 15 best gel eyeliners of all time. Read on to discover the best one of you!
1. Best Smudge-Proof Gel Eyeliner: BOBBI BROWN COSMETICS Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
Many eyeliners claim they're smudge-proof, but this one puts all the others to shame. There is nothing that can get this eyeliner to budge, nothing. Well, except for maybe some makeup remover. Waterproof, sweat-proof, and humidity-resistant, beauty lovers everywhere sing the praises of this BOBBI BROWN product. Available in five highly-pigmented black and brown hues, you have the ability to create a sweet, subtle wing or a dramatic cat eye with this liner.
2. Best Long-Lasting Gel Eyeliner: MAYBELLINE Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
Want a liner that will take you from day to night and even night to day, depending on what you get up to? This is the best gel eyeliner for exactly that. An entire 24 hours is how long this oil-free gel eyeliner can last on your lids. Yes, you read that right, 24 hours. That’s some serious staying power. Even better, it's dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested for sensitive eyes and those with allergies. The experts agree, this long-wearing gel formula really takes the cake.
3. Best Multitasking Gel Eyeliner: MAC COSMETICS Pro Longwear Fluidline Gel Eyeliner
We don't know about you, but we're big fans of makeup products that do more than one thing. While this pot of gel eyeliner offers the precise line you look for in a liquid eyeliner with a softer, ultra-smooth finish, it does a little bit more. Not only can you use this waterproof formula on your lash line, it can even be used to fill in your brows. It's not just a gel eyeliner, but also a brow gel. Both your brows and eyeliner will be smudge-resistant.
4. Best Gel Eyeliner and Eyeshadow Combo: STILA COSMETICS Smudge Pot
Speaking of products that do it all, we'd be remiss not to mention this eyeliner and eyeshadow from STILA COSMETICS. An oil-free liner, this pot of gold can be used to create intense and precise eye looks using the applicator, or you can smudge it all over your lids for more complete coverage. Whichever way you choose to use it, your eyes will look so good, people will start believing you're a makeup artist. Don't worry, we won't tell them your secret.
5. Most Pigmented Gel Eyeliner: MARC JACOBS BEAUTY Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner
With over 20 shades to choose from, this eyeliner pencil offers intense color and powerful pigment you're not likely to find anywhere else. You won't find this crayon-gel eyeliner formula either, as it's exclusive to MARC JACOBS BEAUTY. The malleable liner glides on smoothly and the water-resistant formula keeps it on your lash line all day long. On top of that, it even comes in with a built-in sharpener so you'll never have to worry about it going dull ever again.
6. Best Drugstore Gel Eyeliner: NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Tres Jolie Gel Pencil Liner
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP products have been a staple in our makeup bag for as long as we can remember. Their gel eyeliner pencil is one of the many products that has withstood the test of time. It works just as well as the higher-priced liners out there for a fraction of the cost. The vegan twist-up formula offers the same intense payoff and precision as a gel eyeliner pot but offers easier application for those who aren't as comfortable using a brush.
7. Best Gel Eyeliner for Easy Application: RIMMEL LONDON Scandaleyes Waterproof Gel Eyeliner
Gel eyeliner can often be difficult to apply, especially for those who have just started using the product. Though this liner requires a brush for application, it's one of the easiest to use. The professional brush offers complete control and the gel formula glides on easily leaving you with a precise line nearly every single time. The waterproof eyeliner is a great option for beginners who want to practice their technique without spending a ton of money on a more expensive formula.
8. Most Blendable Gel Eyeliner Formula: SMASHBOX COSMETICS Always On Gel Eyeliner
Want a formula that's blendable enough to create an endless array of eye makeup looks? Opt for this gel eyeliner pencil. The waterproof and cruelty-free formula stays blendable for a few seconds once initially applied, giving you plenty of time to design the look of your dreams. Have fun with it. Once your look is set, the weightless liner will last up to 24 hours. So no, it's not going anywhere.
9. Best Dual-Ended Eyeliner: TARTE Double Take Eyeliner
Can't decide between a gel and liquid eyeliner? With this dual-ended eyeliner, you don't have to choose one or the other, you can use both. The gel and liquid liners are both waterproof and vegan and deposit even, saturated color with each swipe. Amazonian clay is the star of the gel eyeliner, which is a safe natural ingredient that'll give you the perfect tightline on your waterline. Boasting 12-hour long wear, each liner is ophthalmologist and dermatologist-tested.
10. Best Clean Gel Eyeliner: HOURGLASS COSMETICS 1.5MM Mechanical Gel Eyeliner
On the clean beauty trend? This eyeliner is calling your name. Formulated without phthalates, sulfates, talc, mineral oil, gluten, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes, nanoparticles, and triclosan, this mechanical gel eyeliner is as clean as they come. It's also incredibly thin, one of the thinnest eyeliners out there. If you're looking for a liner that makes tightlining a breeze, you've found it. With a single stroke, you can create dramatic definition that resists any smudging.
11. Best Liquid Eyeliner: REVLON ColorStay Crème Gel Eyeliner
Yes, this is a gel eyeliner. Yes, it's also a liquid eyeliner. The creamy formula glides on like a liquid and dries like a gel. You can create a dramatic smokey eye one day and a subtle cat eye the next. Versatility is this gel liner's middle name. The waterproof formula lasts 24 hours as well, so you don't need to worry about it budging or smudging once you wear it out.
12. Best Anti-Aging Gel Eyeliner: IT COSMETICS Superhero No-Tug Waterproof Anti-Aging Gel Eyeliner
Your eyes are not deceiving you, you did in fact read that correctly. This IT COSMETICS eyeliner boasts an anti-aging formula developed with the help of leading plastic surgeons. Hydrolyzed collagen, silk proteins, and vitamins C and E are the key ingredients that will provide you with younger looking lids with each use. Even the most delicate eyelids will love the smoothness of this formula. No tugging here!
13. Best Matte Gel Eyeliner: MELT COSMETICS Ultra Matte Gel Liner
This gel eyeliner offers an ultra matte finish that can't be beat. Though it sets matte, it glides on incredibly creamy and is super blendable. You'll have the freedom to create sharp lines or an all-over blackout, depending on your preferences of course.
14. Best Shimmer Gel Eyeliner: KYLIE COSMETICS Shimmery Gel Eyeliner Pencil
For a gel eyeliner with an extra bit of sparkle, we recommend this shimmery gel eyeliner pencil from KYLIE COSMETICS. The ultra-creamy texture glides on smoothly and lasts for up to 12 hours on your lash line. No one can dull this shine, not even when you accidentally rub your eye forgetting you've just done your eye makeup.
15. Best Kohl Gel Eyeliner: HAUS LABORATORIES Eye-Dentify Gel Pencil Eyeliner
Kohl eyeliner often offers a smoother, creamier texture than a regular eyeliner pencil. This kohl gel formula is no different. Gliding on in a single swipe, the no-slip formula lasts all day and all night. The 20 vibrant shades are available in shimmer, matte, and metallic finishes, so you have plenty of options to play with.
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