Whether you’re braving a humid day, shedding a tear, or just hoping your eye makeup look stays put all day (and night), the best waterproof eyeliner is your ultimate ride or die. It gives you the freedom to create bold or subtle looks that actually last.
Not to mention waterproof liners come in a variety of formats—felt-tip pens, ultrathin brush tips, gel pencils, or creams—to create any number of eyeliner looks, whether it’s tightlining your lash line, crafting a smoky eye, or nailing a feline flick. Ahead, we spoke with experts to find out their favorites, sharing a few of our tried-and-tested picks as well.
Vogue’s Favorite Waterproof Eyeliners
In This Story
Best Overall: Chanel Le Liner de Chanel Liquid Eyeliner
- Why We Love It: Chanel’s liquid liner makes undetectable tightlining or swiping on a slinky cat eye incredibly easy thanks to an ultrafine and flexible tip applicator. Plus, the latex-based formula won’t smudge (or flake). “As someone who likes precise lines or barely-there winged liner, Chanel’s pick is my ultimate favorite,” says Vogue’s beauty shopping writer Conçetta Ciarlo. “I just do one swipe from the outer corner of my eye for subtle definition. It’s like doing your eyeliner with a fine-tipped pen that never transfers on my hooded eyes.”
- Key Ingredients: Copolymers, glycerin, dimethicone
- Shades: 4
- Type: Liquid
Best Drugstore: Maybelline Tattoo Studio Automatic Gel Pencil
Maybelline
Tattoo Studio Automatic Gel Pencil
- Why We Love It: If you’re in the market for a high-performing eyeliner at a budget-friendly price, it’s hard to beat Maybelline’s waterproof gel eyeliner pencil. With a supersmooth glide-on gel formula, this pencil from the drugstore mainstay boasts up to 36 hours of wear. Consider it a go-to for smoked-out liner rather than precision-thin application.
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, microcrystalline wax
- Shades: 16
- Type: Gel
