9 Best Waterproof Eyeliners That Are Guaranteed to Stay Put

Shades: 2 | Who it's for: anyone who wants a tried-and-true, fan-favorite liquid eyeliner.

Best Splurge: Chanel Le Liner de Chanel Liquid Eyeliner

Why it's worth it: The ultra-fine tip of Chanel’s Le Liner de Chanel Liquid Eyeliner allows for strokes so smooth and crisp that people will think you use a calligraphy pen to apply your makeup. Unlike other pen-shaped options, Chanel’s luxe liner comes in a brush-and-tube design that provides a fresh coat of rich pigment every time you dip the brush in.

Tester feedback: “My days of thick, forgiving winged eyeliner are long behind me, so I'm all about precision and control with my eyeliner formulas these days,” says commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann. “Chanel's Le Liner de Chanel has a fine tip applicator that's quite stiff compared to others I've tried, which I find to be ideal for keeping my lines tight and clean. The formula is definitely a liquid but not so loose that it's runny and stressful—I love dragging my fingertip along the outer wing to slightly soften the tip—and this eyeliner has just enough viscosity that I can safely manipulate the wing with my fingers without fear that I'm going to end up with inky fingerprints all over my face. You can do a lot with this eyeliner which really helps justify the price tag, IMO.”

Shades: 5 | Who it's for: anyone who wants a luxurious, no-budge addition to their eye makeup routine

Best Brown Liner: Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Why it's worth it: If you tend to poke yourself with stiffer eyeliner tips while applying, Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner has a much more forgiving, ultra-soft tip. This Best of Beauty-winning liner’s slender tip was developed with makeup newbies in mind and has just a bit of flexibility for effortless flicks without smearing or smudging. Its inky formula dries down to an opaque, matte finish.

Tester feedback: “I have one monolid and one creased lid (so fun!) so eyeliner smudges pretty easily on the creased lid—but, as long as I let Too Faced's Better Than Sex dry for a few seconds, it stays put for hours on end,” says commerce editor Sarah Han. “The fine, relatively long felt tip makes drawing a sharp wing seamless. Plus, I love that it comes in brown and not just black—Chocolate complements my eye color and is a bit more subtle for an everyday look.”

Shades: 2 | Who it's for: anyone who wants a budge-proof, cat-eye-compatible liquid liner

More waterproof eyeliners we love:

Best Gel Eyeliner: Kulfi Beauty Underlined Kajal Eyeliner

Why it's worth it: Makeup artist Amrita Mehta is a big fan of Kulfi Beauty's Underlined Kajal, a creamy crayon that she says "glides on with ease but will set and stay in place after 30 seconds or so" for a totally smudge-proof and waterproof finish. She loves the versatility of these colorful liners (Tiger Queen, a terracotta, is shown above), which can be used on the upper lid, waterline, as well as for tightlining and "smudging out into an all-over color or smoky eye look," she adds.

Mehta isn't the only fan of this liner—Allure editors love Kulfi Beauty's gel liners so much that they are now two-time Best of Beauty Award winners. "I love wearing these colorful liners for any look, day or night," says associate content manager Hannah Brower. "They're super creamy, pigmented, and long-lasting."

Shades: 5 | Who it's for: anyone who wants vibrant, fun eyeliner shades.

Best for Smokey Eyes: Estée Lauder Double Wear Infinite Eyeliner

Why it's worth it: North Carolina-based makeup artist Kenna Ehman gives Estée Lauder's Double Wear Infinite Eyeliner her approval. "I've used this for years and I love how gentle it is and its smooth application," she says. This retractable gel-based eyeliner has a slender, tapered tip that provides precise application and glides without skipping sharp lines. If smoky eyes are more your thing, you can complete your eyeliner look by smudging out the formula with its soft sponge tip.

Shades: 5 | Who it's for: anyone who wants a skip-free gel liner that glides like butter.

Best Long-Wearing: Wet n Wild Breakup-Proof Liquid Eyeliner

Why it's worth it: With a flexible felt-tipped applicator, even eyeliner amateurs can swish and flick their way to a flawless cat eye. Wet n Wild’s Breakup-Proof Liquid Eyeliner, which claims 16-hour wear time, is so budge-proof, that you'll never have to worry about messing it up during touch-ups—because you'll never have to touch it up, period. Its under-$10 price tag won't put a damper on your wallet, either.

Shades: 1 | Who it's for: anyone who wants an affordable, high-quality liquid eyeliner.

Best for Waterline: Urban Decay 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil

Why it's worth it: Urban Decay's 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil was formulated to stay put on the waterline, so you know it'll hold—neven in the hottest, sweatiest scenarios. And it does, thanks to its creamy and quick-drying formula. This ultra-black gel liner creates a demi-matte finish that accentuates the eyes, no matter how much (or how little) you decide to swipe on.

Shades: 1 | Who it's for: anyone who needs a smudge-free liner for tightlining their waterline.

Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Paris Infallible Flash Cat Eye Liquid Eyeliner

Why it's worth it: L'Oréal Paris Infallible Flash Cat Eye Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is so easy to use and impressed our editors so much that it garnered a Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award back in 2019. Instead of hoping and praying that you'll end up with a clean, even flick while freehanding, this drugstore darling comes with a removable cat-eye wing stencil to make the process totally foolproof. Even if you don’t use its attached tool, you can still expect flawless lines, thanks to its pitch-black color and firm felt tip. After you've perfected the shape of your wing, go in with the super-fine tip to build up the pigment's intensity—and then you're golden.

Shades: 2 | Who it's for: anyone who wants a goof-proof cat eye.

Thinnest Applicator: Shiseido ArchLiner Ink

Why it's worth it: Creating crisp lines with an inky, jet-black liquid liner feels a little intimidating, but Shiseido's ArchLiner Ink makes the process much easier. Its innovative tip is micro-fine and angled to ensure you can reach every little corner with total precision. The liner's pigment also earns praise for its midnight-black intensity and 24-hour wear. To create a flawless cat eye in seconds, simply press this liner's tip on the outer corner of your eye, et voilà.

Shades: 1 | Who it's for: anyone who wants an easy-to-use, beginner-friendly liquid eyeliner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Waterproof eyeliners have all the eye-defining benefits of your usual liner—tag-teamed with long-lasting, smudge-proof abilities. Like most waterproof makeup products, these liners are designed to be more resistant to smearing caused by tears and sweat, according to cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos. “They often contain ingredients polymers that adhere strongly to lashes and create a water-resistant film," she previously told Allure. Due to their intensive staying power, rinsing off won’t remove these liners fully. “Using a bi-phase or oil-based eye makeup remover helps reduce pulling or tugging at the delicate eye area to remove,” Dobos says. “Isohexadecane and silicones work to dissolve the tenacious polymer films.”

Feel free to apply your eyeliner however you’d like, but for a professional-level approach, there are proper techniques to follow depending on what type of eyeliner you use. When it comes to classic eyeliner pencils, Houston-based makeup artist Rose Siard recommends doing the following for a smokey, sultry effect: "As soon as you draw your line, start smudging," she says. "I work one eye at a time so I have more blending time."

As for liquid eyeliner, we have an entire guide for figuring out how to create the perfect cat eye with one, but here’s the tea for each eye shape, according to Lavonne Wood, a bi-coastal makeup artist:

Round eyes: If your irises are completely visible when your eyes are open and resting naturally, then you likely have round eyes. "Start from the outside, drawing at a downward angle toward the eye's outer corner," she advises for this eye shape. "Apply the liner inwards, stopping at the center of your lid where your pupil is when you're looking straight ahead."

Monolids: Monolids are characterized by minimal eye creases or the lack of an eye crease. Creating the thinnest line possible is best for this shape, Lavonne says. "Place the tip of the eyeliner on the lash line at the pupil and draw to the outer corner. Then, start from the inner corner and draw it to meet the middle point."

Almond eyes: If your eyes are more ovular than circular and have sharp outer and inner corners, you've got almond-shaped eyes. Lavonne recommends that you take advantage of your extra lid space. "Draw your eyeliner from the inner corner all the way across the lash line, then flick it out, stopping at the point where your crease starts."

Hooded eyes: Do your creases seem to disappear when you open your eyes? That means you've got hooded eyes. "To make sure the liner doesn't disappear under your lid, create the outer wing flick where your eyelid hood starts," Lavonne advises. "Work your way inward, applying your liner in thin strokes."

• Amrita Mehta, a bi-coastal makeup artist
• Kenna Ehman, a North Carolina-based makeup artist
• Rose Siard, a Houston-based makeup artist
• Lavonne Wood, a bi-coastal makeup artist

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about several factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?