The 14 best liquid eyeliners for achieving a perfectly sharp cat eye

• Here are the best liquid eyeliners in 2023:
• Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner
• Benefit Cosmetics Roller Liner Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• Lancôme Grandiôse Bendable Liquid Liner
• KVD Beauty Tattoo Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• Charlotte Tilbury Feline Flick
• Milani Eye Tech Liquid Eye Liner
• Revlon ColorStay Skinny Liquid Liner
• Pixi Beauty Lash Line Ink
• Clé de Peau Beauté Intensifying Liquid Eyeliner
• Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner
• Pat McGrath Labs Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner
• ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Point Made Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Pen
• Clinique High Impact Easy Liquid Eyeliner
• Naked Poppy Clean Liquid Eyeliner

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Liquid eyeliner can certainly be intimidating, which is the major reason why most makeup novices shy away from it. Fortunately, not all liquid eyeliners are as scary as they're made out to be. 

In fact, liquid eyeliners have advanced by leaps and bounds over the past few years. Gone are the days of flimsy paintbrush-like applicators and runny pigments. Now, most liners come with thin and/or marker-like tips that make it much easier to create clean, crisp lines. Plus, the formulations are much sturdier, meaning no runny black tears à la Lauren Conrad on The Hills. 

However, there are a few tricks you want to keep in mind when it comes to working with liquids. The most important? Don't try to make one clean line in one swipe. Spoiler alert: it's pretty much impossible. Instead, apply your line in short strokes and go slowly. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Another tip: If you're creating a cat-eye with liquid eyeliner, apply to each eye in tandem, not one at a time. In other words, draw the flick on each eye to make sure they're even before filling out each line. That way, it's easier to fix should you mess up. (We've been there!)

All this being said, these tips are totally worthless if you don't have the right liner in your tool kit (ehr, makeup bag). Keep scrolling for our full list of liquid liner recommendations, including some professional picks. 

Here are the best liquid eyeliners in 2023:

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner

With its long-wearing waterproof formula, the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner lives up to its name. Meanwhile, the sturdy, marker-like applicator is stiff enough to offer you maximum control but flexible enough to deliver a swoop of pigment with just the slightest bit of pressure. Not only does this liquid eyeliner set in seconds, but the strong hold — you guessed it — stays all day.

Benefit Cosmetics Roller Liner Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

"I love the precision and control of this pen [as well as] the sturdy tip," celebrity makeup artist Carl Ray tells Insider of Benefit Cosmetics' Roller Liner Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. The fine-tip felt pen is ideal for creating thin wings, graphic lines, and bold cat-eyes. Additionally, the inky pigment dries down to a matte finish and offers a 24-hour wear time sans smudging, flaking, fading, or bleeding. 

Lancôme Grandiôse Bendable Liquid Liner

Eyeliners — especially liquid ones — can be tricky to apply, even after years of practice. However, Lancôme Grandiôse Bendable Liquid Liner can help. That's because the innovative applicator can be bent to fit the contour of your eye, making application a breeze. Put simply, the tiny bend allows you to keep your wrist straight as you draw your lines, saving you time and effort in the long run. 

KVD Beauty Tattoo Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

The KVD Beauty Tattoo Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is famous for its serious staying power. Its waterproof formula is designed to last throughout the day (and even night!) without flaking, smudging, or bleeding. The rigid, fine-tip felt applicator makes it easy to draw delicate strokes, thick wings, and anything in between.

Charlotte Tilbury Feline Flick

The Charlotte Tilbury Feline Flick features a special calligraphy brush that's slightly more flexible than most other liner tips, meaning you'll be able to achieve smoother, thinner strokes. It's worth noting that the tip was created specifically for cat-eyes, making a "feline flick" that much easier to achieve. However, it's not just the tip that makes this liquid eyeliner a winner: It also has an ergonomic rubber handle to fit comfortably between your fingers, offering more control upon application.   

Milani Eye Tech Liquid Eye Liner

Milani Eye Tech Liquid Eye Liner checks off most of the boxes of a luxury liner at a much more wallet-friendly price point. Like the Charlotte Tilbury liquid eyeliner, this one has an ergonomic rubber handle that sits comfortably in your hand, allowing for greater ease of use for newbies and pros alike. Its tip hits the sweet spot between tapered and sturdy, while its formula is incredibly waterproof.

Revlon ColorStay Skinny Liquid Liner

As its name suggests, the Revlon ColorStay Skinny Liquid Liner is ideal for creating ultra-thin lines. That's because it features a tiny .1 millimeter brush tip that can get oh-so-close to your lashline. The formula stays put for up to 10 hours without smudging or fading. The under-$10 price tag is an added bonus.

Pixi Beauty Lash Line Ink

For a flawless, naturally defined lash line in no time, swipe on some Pixi Beauty Lash Line Ink. The rich, inky pigment glides on smoothly and easily, while the fine-tip pen is amazingly user-friendly. The water-resistant formula is also infused with castor oil. 

Clé de Peau Beauté Intensifying Liquid Eyeliner

Think of Clé de Peau Beauté's Intensifying Liquid Eyeliner as two products in one. The dual-ended liner has two different-sized brushes (one thin, one thick), which, according to Marlena Orlowska, a makeup artist at Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa in New York, is especially helpful when it comes to precise application. The fast-drying formula, which is smudge- and crease-free, is also enriched with hyaluronic acid to lock in hydration.

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez has taken the beauty world by storm with its collection of fan-favorite products (we're looking at you, Soft Pinch Liquid Blush). The brand's Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner is no exception with its 1,000-bristle brush tip, sleek matte finish, and smooth-gliding, smudge-resistant, and streak-free formula (which also contains castor oil!).

Pat McGrath Labs Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner

Celebrity makeup artist and GUIDE Beauty founder Terri Bryant calls Pat McGrath Labs' Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner her "go-to liquid liner." She especially loves the felt tip, which is "just the right length to catch the angle without losing precision." Per Bryant, the formula is especially noteworthy since it delivers "just the right amount of intense, inky pigment."

ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Point Made Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Pen

Celebrity makeup artist Beck Wainner tells Insider that ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Point Made Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Pen is her "absolute favorite" liquid eyeliner. "Not only is it super pigmented, but the tip is so fine and great for getting a precise line in small areas." The user-friendly liner — which glides on super smooth — is designed to last for 24 hours, so there's no need to keep reapplying. 

Clinique High Impact Easy Liquid Eyeliner

Clinique dubs its High Impact Easy Liquid Eyeliner as "mistake-proof," and, frankly, it's easy to see why. What's more, the tapered brush tip makes drawing defined lines of any size an almost-effortless feat. The castor oil-spiked formula offers up to 24 hours of smudge-resistant wear. Plus, it's been ophthalmologist-tested as safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers alike. 

Naked Poppy Clean Liquid Eyeliner

Naked Poppy's Clean Liquid Eyeliner offers a budge-proof formula that's infused with cornflower water, which is known for its ability to soothe tired eyes. Meanwhile, makeup artist Jenny Patinkin especially loves the applicator. Per the pro, "The brush on this liner is great and gives a really smooth application."  

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