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Our Top 10 Gel Eyeliners for the Most Precise Application
Choose the middleman of liner formulations.
Out of all makeup artistry, eyeliner techniques are definitely the hardest to master. Between shaky hand syndrome, runny liquid, and trying to make ends even while peeking under squinted lids, finding the right liner is a messy process of trial and error. Gel liners have a reputation for being the best when it comes to intricate design, and we've rounded up our favorites guaranteed to take your makeup artistry to the next level.
Pretty Vulgar The Ink Gel Eyeliner
$24 BUY NOW
Pretty Vulgar's potted gel liner is anything but tawdry, creating highly-pigmented styles with a quick-drying and water-resistant formula. The brand's inkwell-style packaging fascinates us, fusing old-school tools with modern functionalities. The liner itself is equally impressive with safflower seed oil to soften the lash line and vitamin C to condition your lids.
e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner
$3 BUY NOW
Create regal lash lines at a discount retail price with e.l.f.'s gel liner pot and applicator brush. The ideal amount of creamy pigment for everyday wear, you can control just how bold you want to go with a flick of the wrist.
Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner
$25 BUY NOW
Stash Marc Jacobs' gel liner crayon in your school bag or office drawer for the best-kept beauty secret — an artist utensil made exclusively for your eyes. Available in more than 30 longwear shades and three finishes, this push-up liner features a dome tip for fine or bold lines that last up to 12 smudge-free hours.
Maybelline New York Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
$6 BUY NOW
Maybelline's Eye Studio gel liner is our favorite pick for creating intense eye designs, especially the universally-adored wing. The applicator brush was designed specifically with a precision tip for more control. Available in four ultra-pigmented shades, its 24-hour wear offers a flawless finish that'll last all day long.
TonyMoly Backstage Gel Eyeliner
$6 BUY NOW
Our favorite K-beauty skincare brand also dabbles in cosmetics, so naturally this gel pot is one of TonyMoly's most popular makeup picks. Designed with thixotropic gel for smear-free lines guaranteed to last all day long, the liner also doubles as a waterproof eye shadow.
Hourglass 1.5MM Mechanical Gel Eye Liner
$18 BUY NOW
Talk about a throwback to '90s school-day trends! This mechanical pencil from Hourglass will score you an A in eyeliner. Unlike the pointy lead that wouldn't last past a few pages of scribble, this creamy gel liner survives up to 20 uses, guaranteeing the same intensity you would expect from a standard pot liner.
tarte Tarteist Clay Paint Eyeliner
$24 BUY NOW
Definitely one of the cooler liners we've come across thus far, tarte's gel liner is the first on the market to be squeezed through a tube. Curious? Inspired by an artist's palette, apply this creamy liner to the tip of the label's signature bamboo liner brush before stroking evenly onto your lids.
Ulta Gel Eyeliner Pencil
$8 BUY NOW
Ulta does the standard eyeliner pencil better than most brands. Available in 24 shades (ranging from playful neon blue and metallic white to your basic black and browns), it's an ultra-pigmented, creamy formula that glides over lash and water lines without smudging.
MAC Fluidline
$17 BUY NOW
A must-have for eyes decorated by MAC, this gel liner comes in 19 moody shades to play around with. From smoky gray to rustic orange tones, it's almost impossible not to experiment with these silky smooth formulas that glide on almost effortlessly.
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
$26 BUY NOW
Of course we can't forget the Queen of cool cosmetics. Bobbi Brown's gel pot is vital for every liner guru's collection. Also available in 18 alternative shades, it's one of the best on the market, having won multiple awards for its brilliant long wear and intense pigment that — we're convinced — isn't capable of fading.
Julia Horniacek is the former fashion and beauty editor for BestProducts.com. When she's not resisting the “add to cart” button on e-commerce sites or chocolate everything, she's a fitness fanatic you’ll find at the gym, sipping an array of seasonal decaffeinated beverages or documenting her life via Insta pics.
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