I used to wear eyeliner all the time—almost five days a week. That was before I lived in Austin, Texas. There, the summer heat is oppressive. (I'm talking upward of 110ºF in early May.) Suddenly, my old standby eyeliners were failing me. I'd apply them in the early morning only to see smudging, running, fading, and feathering a few hours later. I decided no eyeliner was better than messy-looking eyeliner, so I pretty much quit it cold turkey.
Now, I live in the Midwest, and even though it's slightly cooler here compared to Texas, I'm still experiencing a hot, humid summer. Despite this, I'm officially sick of going eyeliner-less, so I decided to open up my arsenal of waterproof formulas and put them to the ultimate test. I swam in the Great Lakes. I sunbathed for hours on the sand. I even sweated through long jogs and heavy workouts in the gym. My goal was to find out which eyeliners were worthy of the coveted "waterproof" title. Ahead, see the 11 winning formulas that worked for me.
For proof, here I am at the beach wearing Lancôme Le Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner on my waterline.
Best Overall: Lancôme Le Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner
Lancôme's Le Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner comes with an attached smudging tool, so it's perfect for sultry or smoky eye makeup looks that *actually* stay put. I wore the classic black shade to the beach. Although, I want to try this dark-brown shade, called Chocolate next. I stayed on the beach for six hours. I went underwater twice. And, let me tell you, there was no budging at all. I was so beyond impressed that it immediately earned my top spot.
Customer review: "I have tried so many different eyeliners and mascaras, and somehow midday, I ALWAYS had to wipe my under eyes because the make-up had smudged. That was before I found this Lancome eyeliner. It is BEAUTIFUL, LONGLASTING, SMUDGEPROOF. My eyes are still shining hours and hours later. If you are someone who struggles with the same issue, this eyeliner is one of my top two for preventing this irritating issue. I usually wear black, but I got this in chocolate to try the new trend with brown eyes, and I have to say I am loving the brown look for something new. I would love to see this in black eventually as well. I love how easy it is to apply to the top lashline; it's truly foolproof for beginners and experts alike."
Product details:
-Waterproof
-Eight shades
-Matte finish
Best Affordable: ColourPop BFF Crème Gel Liner
Even though each one of these eyeliners is only $8, they stay on all damn day. Seriously—I went for a very sweaty run while wearing this, and when I got back, there was virtually zero smudging, fading, or feathering. Success. Did I mention there are no less than 25 shades to choose from?
Customer review: "Literally obsessed with this product. I want more in different colors. Stays on all day/night never having to retouch."
Product details:
-Waterproof
-25 shades
-Matte, shimmer, and metallic finishes
Best Liquid Formula: One/Size Point Made Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Pen
I'm familiar with One/Size's setting spray, which lasts all day long and reportedly Beyoncé uses (yes, really!). Its longevity gave me high expectations for the brand's waterproof eyeliner pen, and I must say those expectations were met—nay, exceeded. This stayed put on my oily, hooded eyelids from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Plus, the superfine brush tip helped me create subtle and precise shapes.
Customer review: "I love this eyeliner. It is pigmented, goes on smoothly, and is long-lasting."
Product details:
-Waterproof
-Three shades
-Matte finish
8 More Editor-Approved Waterproof Eyeliners
I've been a fan of Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner for years. Undergoing this experiment proved that it's still one of the best waterproof eyeliners on the market. I wore the shade Surfside on a hot summer day, during which I sweated and swam, and it didn't budge off my upper eyelids.
Aside from the impressive staying power, each one of these liners is smooth, creamy, and highly pigmented. Plus, I think the Satin Kajal Liners have the BEST shade range of any others on the market. (There, I said it.) From turquoise blue to shimmering cinnamon, every single shade is on point.
Customer review: "This is one of the best pencil liners I have ever used. Glides on smoothly and stays all day. The colour is fabulous. I almost lost it to my daughter when she tried it!"
Product details:
-Waterproof
-18 shades
-Matte and shimmer finishes
This waterproof eyeliner is new to me, but it's quickly becoming one of my favorite ones. Sure, it's budge-proof, but what I really love about this one is how creamy the formula feels. It doesn't drag or pull across the skin thanks to smoothing aloe and vitamin E.
Customer review: "Best long wear eyeliner I’ve ever purchased. I have deep set eyes and I am a contact lenses wearer, I have had zero issues with this eyeliner, it stays put all day. I will always repurchase."
Product details:
-Waterproof
-Six shades
-Matte and shimmer finishes
Lancôme's waterproof liquid eyeliner is just as good as its waterproof pencil eyeliner. It stays put despite heat and humidity, and the formula is so luxuriously smooth and pigmented. I have a special place in my heart for the marine blue shade Aegean Blue.
Customer review: "This eyeliner went on so smoothly and easy. It has a nice almost cream texture to it. The packaging is really nice and have a great design. It also lives up to the waterproof element."
Product details:
-Waterproof
-Four shades
-Matte and glossy finishes
There are two things that make this waterproof eyeliner so special. First, it stays creamy and blendable for a while before it dries down. That means you can shape and blend to your heart's content. (This makes it a great option for beginners.) Second, it has a built-in sharpener. This might sound like a silly detail, but I can't tell you how many times I've had to hunt for a sharpener before using an eyeliner only to forgo it altogether.
Customer review: "I have been on the hunt for a longwearing eyeliner for quite some time. I have spent way too much money on products that did not do what they were supposed to (high-end and drugstore). When I ordered this, I did not have high hopes. However, it is amazing!!! This eyeliner will wear all day in hot weather without budging at all. It has not smeared or faded whatsoever. I highly recommend this! I will be stocking up because I never want to run out!"
Product details:
-Waterproof
-Three shades
-Matte finish
If you want to do away with the "clean-girl" aesthetic and embrace more colorful makeup looks, I can't recommend About-Face enough. The brand has some of the brightest and most experimental colors on the market. Oh, and get this, they *actually* stay put. Take this waterproof eyeliner for example. I can apply this to my waterline and my oily lids, and it will last all day long.
Customer review: "I've tried just about every liner out there, and by far, this has the best staying power I have ever seen. Day 1 of wearing it, I had it on for 14 hours. Between working, running errands, cleaning my house, cooking, laundry, and taking care of my little ones, it didn't budge at all. I have super oily skin, and I have never had a liner stay on this long without smudging. This is definitely my new go-to."
Product details:
-Waterproof
-13 shades
-Matte finish
A pure and utter classic. What can I say about this waterproof eyeliner that hasn't already been said? The budge-proof formula is legit, the texture is rich and inky, and the tiny brush allows for precise placement. I can't say anything negative about this iconic product.
Customer review: "This has been my go-to eyeliner for years! I'm finally reviewing because of I just had a crazy experience that demonstrates how good this product is. Last week I went to the Pacific Ocean for the first time in my life. I was apart of a kayaking tour and it was a particularly rough day in the ocean. When trying to go back to shore, a large wave hit my kayak and I fell out, sunk underwater with the kayak skimming over my head. I was continuously knocked over by waves until I finally made it to land. When I checked my reflection later, my eyeliner was STILL perfect. I was thoroughly beaten up by the ocean but still, my eyeliner stayed on point."
Product details:
-Waterproof
-11 shades
-Satin finish
Yet another iconic product that I'd be remiss to ignore, this waterproof eyeliner has been my go-to since high school. It's my tried-and-true, foolproof product recommendation, especially for applying to the waterline. With 32 shades offered in matte, satin, shimmer, glitter, and metallic finishes, it was basically the original "fun eyeliner" product.
Customer review: "I love this eyeliner, i was waiting years to try it because its so expensive but it’s so worth it! Nothing else stays in my inner corner. I live in south Texas so the heat is hard with black eyeliner."
Product details:
-Waterproof
-32 shades
-Matte, satin, shimmer, glitter, and metallic finishes.
If I had to choose my favorite drugstore eyeliner of all time, it would have to be this budget-friendly Nyx one. I definitely think it's comparable with other, much more expensive eyeliners on this list. I wore it while running on a treadmill in a 75-degree room, and even though I was extremely sweaty, it barely budged at all.
Customer review: "I have been on the hunt for a long-wearing eyeliner for quite some time. I have spent way too much money on products that did not do what they were supposed to (high-end and drugstore). When I ordered this, I did not have high hopes. However, it is amazing!!! This eyeliner will wear all day in hot weather without budging at all. It has not smeared or faded whatsoever. I highly recommend this! I will be stocking up because I never want to run out!"
Product details:
-Waterproof
-Six shades
-Matte finish
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