Small but mighty, the best eyeliners can completely transform your face. From a small, clean flick for a polished look to a seamlessly blended smokey eye to add extra volume, this make-up staple can make a world of difference.
Whether it’s from a luxury or budget brand, the price tag is no indication of quality. When it comes to choosing your formula, kohl is a classic choice, creating easily smudgeable lines or a softly diffused effect. Liquid liners, in comparison, offer perfect precision to allow you to experiment with thin and thick flicks with little mess and impressive staying power.
That said, there’s an increasing number of formulas now available, and it can feel like there are a million of the same black and brown pencils to pick from. In a bid to cut through a saturated shopping category, I’ve put a decade of experience in the beauty industry to use, narrowing it down to the top nine.
However, the key to mastering eyeliner is practice. No feline flick goes well on the first try, so if you’re keen to try new styles or improve your skills, it will take time. My top tip is to steady a shaky hand by resting it on a flat surface and starting with small strokes.
How I tested
- Value for money: Over the course of eight weeks, I tried various brands and formulas from affordable and high-end brands in my daily make-up routine
- Application: My testing criteria covered ease of application, taking note of the precise tips for liquid formulas and blend-ability for softer pencils.
- Shade range: I also considered the shade range, to see if there were options to experiment with colour, as well as tonal shades
- Staying power: Most importantly, I closely examined the staying power of all before making my verdict
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
I’m a beauty editor and seasoned product tester, reviewing everything from cleansing balms to toners. But when it comes to eyeliners, I’ve had one in my make-up bag for longer than I can remember. Working my way through some absolutely brilliant ones (those listed here) as well as some terrible options, I appreciate when they’re easy to apply and don’t smudge. But, as someone who buys beauty products myself, I know the importance of catering to a wide variety of price points. I also enlisted the help of senior shopping writer Daisy Lester, who has been creating a cat eye look for more than a decade – and has tried dozens of eyeliners on the market.
The best eyeliners for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Victoria Beckham Beauty satin kajal liner longwear waterproof eyeliner: £32, Selfridges.com
- Best budget buy – E.l.f. intense ink eyeliner blackest black: £5.95, Amazon.co.uk
- Best liquid eyeliner – Rare Beauty perfect strokes matte liquid liner: £20, Sephora.co.uk
- Best pencil eyeliner – Jones Road the best pencil: £24, Jonesroadbeauty.com
- Best gel eyeliner – Ilia Beauty clean line gel liner: £28, Spacenk.com
- Best kohl – L’Oreal Paris superliner le khol eyeliner: £5.99, Boots.com
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Victoria Beckham Beauty satin kajal liner longwear waterproof eyeliner
Best: Eyeliner overall
Number of shades : 19
Why we love it
- Silky soft
- Easy to apply
- Dual-ended
- Variety of colours
Take note
- Expensive
I wish I didn’t love this as much as I did. A £30 price tag is very high for a kajal pencil, but it’s truly worth it if you wear eyeliner regularly. Its creamy, silky smooth texture has a velvety finish that doesn’t budge, but when first applied is easy to smudge into a softly diffused line. On my fair skin, I loved the shade cinnamon – a warm, shimmery brown, but there’s a beautiful shade range to pick from, spanning colours such as fig purple, olive green, mink, gold and more, including your classic black and brown, in matte, shimmer and sparkle jewel tones. If you love colour, there’s a decent selection too, including a pastel matte mint green and a brilliant white. The glossy black packaging is super chic too, and dual-ended with a blending brush that allows for easy smudging.
Buy now £32.00, Victoriabeckhambeauty.com
E.l.f. intense ink eyeliner blackest black
Best: Budget eyeliner
Number of shades : One – black
Why we love it
- Affordable
- Fast-drying
Take note
- Less pigment than others we tried
This is a great affordable option if you love a statement wing. It’s a chunky felt tip liner with a quick-dry formula in a universally flattering black. Costing little more than £5, it feels like a small commitment for daily eyeliner-wearing users, so when it runs out, it won’t cost you a fortune. The felt tip doesn’t feather or split, so it maintains its ability to glide on a smooth line. It does have a sheerer colour payoff, so I would recommend applying a couple of layers if you want an opaque finish.
Buy now £6.00, Amazon.co.uk
Rare Beauty perfect strokes matte liquid liner
Best: Liquid eyeliner
Number of shades : One – black
Why we love it
- Ultra-fine tip
- Long-wearing matte finish
Take note
- On the pricier side
If you love a sleek feline flick, this is my go-to. While it’s made up of 800 vegan bristles, it’s so fine that it creates the thinnest of lines but can be easily layered for a thicker, more statement eyeliner look or kept clean and simple. It’s chunkier than your typical eyeliner but has a matte packaging finish which helps keep it in place when applying – a small but significant design choice. It has a matte finish and a waterproof formula that does not budge all day, yet doesn’t need scrubbing to remove. If it’s within your budget, it’s well worth your money.
Buy now £22.07, Amazon.co.uk
Wonderskin 1440 longwear eyeliner
Best: Eyeliner for hooded eyes
Number of shades : 12
Why we love it
- Blends beautifully
- Very compact
Take note
- Less staying power on oily lids
This buttery soft eyeliner is an underrated gem from Wonderskin, the brand best known for its lip stains (which I also adore). I tried the shade gold mocha, a bronzy brown with a subtle shimmer that flattered my blue eyes. But, there is a decent range of other colours too, whether you’re looking for jewel-toned greens and purples or muted tones like slate and black truffle (a silvery black).
It’s as waterproof and smudge-proof, and, should you want a smudged look, you have a 30-second window before it dries down, even on hooded eyes. It’s impressively pigmented too, with a colour payoff that accurately reflects the colour of the pencil.
Buy now £16.00, Amazon.co.uk
Jones Road the best pencil
Best: Pencil eyeliner
Number of shades : Black, brown, onyx, ivy, violet and navy
Why we love it
- Slimline
- Opaque colour payoff
- Longwearing
Take note
- Expensive
If you like a crisp eyeliner that works as well on your waterline as it does on your lids, without the practice required by liquid formulas, this is the eyeliner for you.
It does everything you need, whether it’s a simple graphic line, smokey eye on top of eye shadows or softly blended out with your fingers on a bare lid. Despite the creamy texture, it sharpens well and doesn’t flake away in a sharpener. If you find black too harsh, I’d recommend trying out the shade navy, which is a beautiful midnight blue.
Buy now £22.00, Jonesroadbeauty.com
Ilia Beauty clean line gel liner
Best: Gel eyeliner
Number of shades : Black or brown
Why we love it
- Built-in sharpener
- Water-resistant
Take note
- Smudges a little on our waterline
A gel liner has a softer finish than a liquid liner but often delivers better colour intensity and pigment than a traditional pencil. This one from Ilia is fuss-free and gets the job done, with great colour payoff – I tried the shade duck, a chocolate brown – but it also comes in black.
It’s water resistant, and I found it didn’t crease throughout the day on my oily eyelids. I also loved that it has a built-in sharpener on the end, which saves you scrambling to find a sharpener when it loses its sharpness – an ingenious touch I wish I saw more often.
Buy now £28.00, Spacenk.com
Valentino colorgraph dual-end gel eyeliner
Best: Eyeliner for a colourful look
Number of shades : Black, brown, green, purple, blue, pink and coral
Why we love it
- Great shade range
- Dual-ended with built-in brush
Take note
- Expensive
This is another gel eyeliner that deserves a spot here for a multitude of reasons. I tried the purple shade, which is a great alternative if you want to dip your toes into a more colourful option instead of basic black, but don’t want to end up wearing neon. While some dual-ended liners (typically with a brush on one end) can be a bit naff, I actually found on this eyeliner it came in handy to perfect a smokey wing. Despite my oily eyelids, it didn’t transfer at all throughout six hours of wear and maintained its rich pigment the entire time.
Buy now £27.02, Sephora.co.uk
L’Oreal Paris superliner le khol eyeliner
Best: Kohl eyeliner
Number of shades : Black, brown and grey
Why we love it
- Very affordable
Take note
- Needs a couple layers for intense colour payoff
If you aren’t keen on a dramatic eyeliner look, this L’Oreal pencil is perfect for applying to your tight line (the inner part of your eyelid). Simply pull your eyelid upwards and gently smudge the pencil along the lash line to give the illusion of fuller eyes, and a speedy application without worrying about watery eyes ruining your make-up. I found it to be the perfect blend of soft and forgiving, so you can easily smudge it for a softer look and gently wipe it away if you apply too much.
Buy now £5.99, Boots.com
Jones Road gel liner
Best: Eyeliner for brush application
Number of shades: Black, brown, navy violet
Why we love it
- Versatile for multiple different looks
- Stays all day
- Seriously pigmented
By Daisy Lester
Jones Road has reinvented a cult classic with its latest launch, which is a fresh take on Bobbi Brown’s iconic long-wear gel liner. First launched in 2004, Bobbi Brown’s original formula gained fame for its smudge-proof, long-lasting finish and is even said to have been worn by Kate Middleton on her wedding day. Now, this updated version brings the same versatility with a richer, more opaque pigment. Available in four shades, including classic black, brown, navy, and violet, this eyeliner is designed for both beginners and seasoned pros alike.
The gel formula glides on smoothly, offering a sharp line that can be softened for a smoky effect. Its precise brush applicator (sold separately) ensures flawless application, especially when attempting a sleek cat eye. Though the brush is an additional purchase, the stunning, long-lasting results are worth the investment. Perfect for those who love a bold, defined look that stays all day.
Buy now £30.00, Libertylondon.com
Rimmel wonder’ink liquid eyeliner
Best: Eyeliner with a precise tip
Number of shades: Five
Why we love it
- Precise applicator
- Long-lasting colour
- Affordable
By Daisy Lester
For just £6, Rimmel’s liquid eyeliner is a steal and easily rivals formulas I’ve tried from more premium brands. Despite nearly daily use, I only have to rebuy it every four months or so. The pen-style product sits comfortably in the hand, while the nifty felt-tip applicator means I can create precise and smooth lines, with minimal effort. More often than not, I’ll get a perfect wing on the first attempt, in less than 10 seconds.
Whether you’re creating a soft flick or bolder wing for the evening, the pointed tip gives you extra versatility. The liner dries quickly for a matte finish that has impressive staying power throughout the day. Though described as waterproof, the liner does fade when swimming or in the shower – but the ease of application means topping up is no trouble.
Buy now £7.99, Boots.com
Benefit roller liner
Best: Eyeliner for creating a sleek cat eye
Number of shades : Black, brown
Why we love it
- Precise tip
- Long-lasting
- Easy to apply
By Daisy Lester
I’ve worn winged eyeliner most days for more than a decade, and Benefit’s roller liner is one of the best in my rotation. The silky, soft formula dries almost instantly into a sleek, matte finish and the precise, pointed tip leaves little room for error, whether you’re after a dramatic wing or classic cat eye.
While cheaper formulas can get you the same look initially, they tend to smudge or completely fade throughout the day. Benefit’s roller liner, however, stays put, with my signature cat eye still looking just as defined in the evening. For a softer look, it also comes in brown.
Buy now £18.00, Boots.com
Which are the best eyeliners?
Despite its price tag, I couldn’t fault the Victoria Beckham Beauty satin kajal liner longwear waterproof eyeliner. It has a huge array of colours and formats, from jewel-toned and shimmers to matte, and is silky smooth with a velvet finish that doesn’t budge once applied, yet is creamy enough to smudge into a more subtle smokey wing.
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