The 15 Best Kohl Eyeliners for a Smoldering Smoky Eye

Best Overall

Charlotte Tilbury Eyeliner Pencil

$36 at Amazon $29 at Sephora View on Ulta

Type: Liquid-like kohl pencil | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you ask us, Charlotte Tilbury makes the all-time best kohl eyeliner. This long-lasting formula combines the silky application of a liquid liner with the sultry, smudgy texture of kohl. You can create more distinct strokes or blend them with a brush for a smokier look. According to the brand, crushed pearl powder is great for supporting natural collagen production to hydrate your skin and smooth the surface of the eyelid. This makes it easy to achieve an impeccable, clean line (if that's what you're going for). We also love that the waterproof formula lasts up to 14 hours.

Best Budget

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Liner Pencil

$4 at Amazon $4 at Walmart $5 at Walgreens

Type: Gel kajal pencil | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: No

We tried this wallet-friendly option from Rimmel firsthand and can tell you it rivals (if not outperforms) many of its much pricier counterparts. The waterproof formula didn't run or smear throughout the day, and we were impressed with how efficiently it stayed in the waterline. Plus, the gel glides along the skin without ever pulling or tugging—our biggest eyeliner pet peeve. We do wish the sparkle shade had more oomph, though.

Best Drugstore

Milani Eyeliner Pencil in Blackest Black

$8 at Target $10 at Ulta $8 at Walmart

Type: Retractable kohl pencil | Shades: Black | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When it comes to drugstore makeup, Miliani is a brand you can count on. This Italian-made kohl pencil glides effortlessly over the eyelid, leaving a precise line in its wake. Then, if you want to go smoky, you smudge out the intense black pigment. We also like that the mechanical-style pencil never needs sharpening.

Best Premium

Westman Atelier Eye Love You Eyeliner

$34 at Sephora $34 at Nordstrom $34 at Modaoperandi.com

Type: Kajal pencil | Shades: 2 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you're open to paying a premium for a high-end formula, Westman Atelier won't disappoint. This velvety-soft kajal liner deposits an intense matte pigment onto your eyelids, promising never to skip or drag. You can keep the tip sharp for a cleaner line or rounded for a smoldered effect. We just wish it came in more colors.

Best Black

Pat McGrath Labs Legendary Wear Velvet Kohl Eyeliner

$29 at Revolve View on Patmcgrath.com View on Fwrd.com

Type: Cream kohl | Shades: Black | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For those looking for a traditional black option, we highly recommend Pat McGrath. This no-nonsense eyeliner flaunts a cream formula with a velvety texture that can be smudged into an instant smoky eye or drawn into clean strokes across the eyelids or waterlines. Working with such intense pigment may take some practice, but we appreciate that it comes with a detachable sharpener.

Best Color Options

Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa

$30 at Victoriabeckhambeauty.com View on Bergdorfgoodman.com $32 at Neiman Marcus

Type: Cream kajal pencil | Shades: 18 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This pick is on the pricier side, but it's worth every penny, in our opinion. The formula is supremely creamy and never tugs or skips when applied. It's also waterproof and won't smear throughout the day. Perhaps best of all, it comes in 18 brilliant shades ranging from classic matte black to jewel tones and varying shades of brown.

Best Self-Sharpening

Smashbox Always Sharp Kôhl Eyeliner Pencil

$24 at Amazon $27 at Sephora $27 at Target

Type: Retractable kohl pencil | Shades: 5 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Don't want to worry about sharpening an inherently soft pencil tip? Smashbox's Always Sharp Kohl Liner might be the way to go. The hyper-pigmented formula has a self-sharpener that ensures a precise tip every time you apply it. Just a heads up, as a long-wear, waterproof makeup product, it can take a little extra effort to remove.

Best for Smoky Eye

Dior Diorshow On Stage Crayon

$33 at Sephora View on Ulta $33 at Nordstrom

Type: Cream kohl pencil | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: No

Dior's take on kohl eyeliner is this thick-tipped, crayon-style pencil. Boasting intense color, a creamy, buildable texture, and a clever built-in smudger tool, it's the ideal option for creating a smoky eye. You can't go wrong with black, but we also love the smoldering look in many of the other hues, like deep blue, plum, and emerald green.

Best Jumbo

Byredo Crayon Kajal Pencil

$32 at Nordstrom View on Byredo.com $28 at Bloomingdales

Type: Kajal stick | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We're also big fans of this, well…big eyeliner stick. A nod to Byredo founder Ben Gorham's Indian heritage, this kohl is meant to create bold looks, whether in thick strokes over the lash lines or smudged onto the lids. When the tip is sharpened (with the included sharpener—thanks!), we can get an even more precise line or carefully work it into the waterlines.

Best Waterproof

Kulfi Underlined Kajal Eyeliner

$20 at Sephora View on Kulfibeauty.com

Type: Retractable kajal pencil | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Sure, you want your kohl liner to look smudgy, but you also want to be able to control the smudges and not have them happen on their own accord. Enter this option, a favorite of celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg. "It's waterproof and doesn't move, even staying on the waterline nicely," she says. The only thing that can derail this formula is moisturizer, so be sure to skip the eye area when you're applying skincare products.

Best Longwear

Stila Stay All Day Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner

$22 at Amazon $22 at Sephora $22 at Target

Type: Retractable cream kohl pencil | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

"This is another fabulous formula that glides on and literally stays in place all day," Greenberg tells Byrdie. The waterproof cream promises to hold up for at least 12 hours. But what we appreciate most is that this kohl works just as well as an eyeshadow as it does a liner. Simply buff over the eyelids with your fingertips or a brush for a little more coverage. What's more, the twist-up tip means it's always sharp.

Best for Contact Lens Wearers

MAC Eye Kohl Eyeliner

$24 at Ulta $24 at Nordstrom View on Maccosmetics.com

Type: Kohl pencil | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

MAC's kohl eyeliner is made with contact lens wearers in mind. The ophthalmologist-tested formula is free of a bunch of potentially irritating stuff you probably don't want in your eyes, like triclosan, sulfates, and oxybenzone. We like that it's safe to use all over, including in the waterlines, and still has rich pigment. It's not transfer-resistant, though, so keep that in mind if you're looking for long-wear makeup.

Best for Beginners

Jillian Dempsey Kohl Eyeliner

$20 at Amazon $20 at Credo Beauty $20 at Revolve

Type: Kohl pencil | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you love the kohl look but have yet to try your hand at the makeup technique, this liner is your new best friend. The dual-ended pencil features a pointed tip on one side that deposits just the right amount of pigment and a built-in smudger on the other, great for buffing out the color. We found the formula soft and silky and love how easy it is to create a "perfectly imperfect" look. Our one complaint is that it's prone to fading and needs reapplication throughout the day to keep the pigment intense—but this can also make it a good option for those just starting out.

Best Classic Kohl

Lash Star Kohl Eyeliner Pencil

$25 at Bluemercury.com View on Lashstarbeauty.com $25 at Neiman Marcus

Type: Kohl pencil | Shades: Black | Cruelty-Free: Yes

In the market for a classic kohl liner for bold, smoky-eye looks? This one's for you. Lash Star Pure Pigment isn't messing around—it only comes in one shade (black, of course) and delivers a rich color payoff with intense pigment wherever you apply it. We like that the creamy consistency glides on effortlessly without dragging or tugging and leaves you with a powdery matte finish.

Best Pigment

Laura Geller Kajal Longwear Eyeliner

$16 at Amazon $24 at Target View on Laurageller.com

Type: Retractable kajal stick | Shades: 15 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We're also fond of Laura Geller's Kajal Eyeliner. It comes in 15 stunning shades, including smoky grays and blacks, slightly shimmery neutrals, and nudes to complement various skin tones and eye colors. The super-pigmented formula shows up in a single stroke, while the thicker tip makes for smooth, steady lines. You can use this product as eyeliner, shadow, or something in between.