Besides a mascara, I love using waterproof brush tip liquid eyeliners for accentuating my eyes and making them look bigger. Over the years, I’ve tried a ton of different eyeliners and found that the ones that worked best for me included them being 1) liquid 2) brush tip and 3) waterproof. After years of testing many brands of eyeliners and formulations, liquid eyeliners are what I prefer as they have better pigment and lasting power for me. I like brush tip liquid eyeliners over felt tip liquid eyeliners since it gives more flexibility when I create my winged look and the bristles don’t pull at my skin like felt tips do. I also like that brush tips can be created with a very fine tip as well and can provide me more accuracy than a felt tip does. I’ve also tried many eyeliners that say they’re water resistant, transfer proof or smudge proof, but they still never last as long as waterproof eyeliners do. I have hooded eyes so it’s important to have a waterproof formulation that gives my eyeliner a stronger staying power and so that it won’t transfer to the top of my lids.
However, even when brands say their eyeliners are waterproof, that actually is rarely the case. My eyes get quite watery when it’s windy or if I’m using the viewfinder from my camera when taking photos and it almost instantly makes my eyeliner run, smudge, or eventually disappear at the wing. I’ve had to include using an eyeshadow primer to make sure my waterproof eyeliner lasts as I expect it to. So after testing out almost all the eyeliners at Sephora that fit into the 3 criteria I’ve mentioned above, I found that there are 4 best waterproof brush tip liquid eyeliners that I will have as a permanent part of my makeup collection.
1 – Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner
Why I Like It
The Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Eyeliner has quickly become my favorite waterproof brush tip liquid eyeliner. I am able to wear this eyeliner for the most part without having to use an eyeshadow primer and it will last (when I don’t have my eyes up against a viewfinder). If I know I am going to be out all day or if I really want to make sure my eyeliner stays, I’ll use an eyeshadow primer first if I am wearing it alone with just mascara. I can create precise lines with this pen easily and the pigment is strong enough that I don’t have to go over my line multiple times. It is easy to use and the brush tip isn’t so flexible that it’ll move out of my control.
Price
$19 USD / $25 CAD
Size
0.9 ml
Color/Pigment
Matte black color and has a strong ultra-black pigment.
Brush Tip Details
The brush tip is like a calligraphy pen and has over 1,000 vegan bristles that allow you to create thin or thick lines.
2 – Huda Beauty Quick N Easy Precision Liquid Liner
Why I Like It
The Huda Beauty Quick N Easy Precision Liquid Liner is one of the few eyeliners out there that have such a sharp and precise tip. I used to use the Tarte Cosmetics Rainforest of the Sea So Fine Micro Liner and after they discontinued that, I couldn’t find anything close until Huda Beauty. If you want precision and very fine lines, this one is it. But you can also create thicker lines with more pressure and filling in areas as needed. Not only does this liquid eyeliner allow you to draw perfect lines and allows for great control, it is also waterproof, transfer proof, smudge proof and flake proof.
Price
$19 USD / $25 CAD
Size
1 ml
Color/Pigment
Very black color.
Brush Tip Details
It has a super thin brush tip and is a tiny bit shorter than other eyeliners to allow for more control and precision.
3 – MAC Liquidlast 24-Hour Waterproof Liner
Why I Like It
The MAC Liquidlast 24-Hour Waterproof Liner is really waterproof! Back in the day, this liquid eyeliner used to come in many different colors, but now it only comes in 1 color: black. When I was on vacation with a friend, she wore this eyeliner while swimming and it didn’t even budge. So when I got home, I purchased this waterproof liquid eyeliner for myself in the turquoise color and let me tell you, it was really hard to remove! If you want a waterproof brush tip liquid eyeliner that lasts all day through sweat, tears, water, and literally everything – this is it. It is a rich liquid eyeliner and it might take a little bit of getting used to, but once you do, you can go out feeling extremely confident knowing this liner won’t move. You will definitely want an oil-based makeup remover for this one.
Price
$22 USD / $28 CAD
Size
2.5 ml
Color/Pigment
This eyeliner is not matte but it’s not overly glossy either. I would say this is a pretty natural, but highly pigmented black color.
Brush Tip Details
This brush tip eyeliner has a long applicator and you’ll need to pull it out of the tube to use it. You’ll need to be pretty precise and careful to not touch the wand.
4 – KVD Vegan Beauty Tattoo Liner
Why I Like It
The KVD Vegan Beauty Tattoo Liner used to be my favorite waterproof brush tip liquid eyeliner until I switched to Rare Beauty. The reason for the switch is because the price had gone up $2.50 CAD and the pigment didn’t seem as dark as before and the lasting power wasn’t as good after Kat Von D sold the company and they had rebranded to KVD Vegan Beauty. However, I still include this as one of the best waterproof eyeliners at Sephora since I really like the precise brush tip and using an eyeshadow primer really helps it last longer and fixes that problem. I like the way my eyeliner looks when using this but I hope that they will improve on the pigment and waterproof-ness. I will also use this as a backup eyeliner for when I run out of other ones or when this one is on sale. I also found an eyeliner that’s almost the same as the KVD Vegan Beauty Tattoo Liner and have done a very detailed review on it in this blog post to help you decide which to purchase. I like to have backup options as over the years, many of my favorite items have discontinued and I don’t want to start the search all over again.
Price
$21 USD / $27.50 CAD
Size
0.55 ml
Color/Pigment
The color Trooper is a satin black and has an opaque pigment.
Brush Tip Details
This eyeliner mimics a tattoo needle and has a fine point brush tip and can help you achieve fine or thicker lines. I also find it to have great precision as well.
5 Tips For Your Liquid Eyeliners
- Store your liquid eyeliners upside down to saturate the brush tip and preserve the longevity of the eyeliner.
- Remember to always shake your liquid eyeliner before using it in order to disperse the liquid through the tip and to activate the color pigments.
- Use a light hand or thinner lines and add a little more pressure if you want thicker lines.
- To get the perfect eyeliner look, always practice! I’ve had years and years of practice using my liquid eyeliners and have found the best look for me. Although there are times when mistakes are made and the winged liner need to be extended, you can easily fix it with a wetted Q-Tip or concealer with a brush.
- For extra staying power, apply an eyeshadow primer before applying your liquid eyeliner. This will help it last longer, avoid smudging, and allow for an even bolder look.
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