We Tested Gel Eyeliners—These 10 Are Long-Lasting and Smudge-Proof (2025)

Our Top Picks

Why We Love It: You may know Valentino for its shoes, bags, and perfumes, but it’s time to get familiar with the luxury makeup brand. The saturated pigmentation and wear of this gel eyeliner’s formula are unmatched. The dual-ended design combines your classic pencil tip with a soft blending eyeshadow brush to create sharp eyeliner points or blend into a smoky look. Plus, thanks to its waterproof, smudge-resistant formula, you can enjoy all-day wear without getting panda eyes.

Who’s It For: This gel eyeliner lasts 24 hours, which is plenty long enough to get you through a full day at the office, on to happy hour, and beyond. We love the versatility of the dual-ended design, and best of all, it comes off easily with your standard makeup remover.

Type: Pencil | Number of Shades: 6

Claire, tester: “I loved the pigment of this product. It is such a great brown color and the hint of glitter is just enough to make it feel special versus just a standard day-to-day product.”

Why We Love It: This wallet-friendly liner ladders up to its high-end counterparts—and here’s why. The long-lasting gel formula glides on like a dream. InStyle tester Erickka raved that it felt velvety and creamy, which makes it easy to work with. You can truly create so many looks with the accompanying applicator brush. Plus, we love how the formula gives you a few moments to work with it before it sets if you want to smudge or smoke it out.

Who’s It For: While our tester didn’t wear the eyeliner for 24 hours, it claims to have stayed put for an entire workday without smudging or transferring. Although it doesn’t come in a kaleidoscope of colors like other options, the brown and black pigments are mainstays in our makeup arsenal.

Type: Pot | Number of Shades: 2

Erickka, tester: “Compared to other products, I have found that this gel eyeliner has a lovely softness that can be used alone or over eyeshadow.”

Why We Love It:Ilia formulates its eyeliner without parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, coal tar, and low concentrations of fragrance, all of which may irritate your eyes. According to celebrity makeup artist Courtney Hart, the formula is magical as it works in whatever makeup style you want. For instance, if you prefer to sketch a simple, skinny line along your lashes, the mechanical gel pencil has the utmost precision to achieve that.

Who’s It For: For a clean formula, this liner proves its versatility in crafting sultry and classic looks. If you want a thick winged eyeliner, this liner is easy to build for that effect. It’s water-resistant so that it can hold up fine in high temperatures.

Type: Mechanical pencil | Number of Shades: 2

Claudia WIllen, associated editor: “This eyeliner went onto my eyelid very smoothly thanks to its creamy texture. I found it really easy to get a solid line without any bumps, and the tip seemed reasonably durable. It definitely worked best on bare skin, but it went on fairly well over eyeshadow and didn't cause any issues.”

Why We Love It: Hart says this creamy liner is a go-to for her professional kit and a must-have for eyeliner newbies. “Pot formulas are easier to use than pencil because they allow you to use more precision,” she says. Don’t let your eyes deceive you; this petite pot has a hefty product amount and possibilities. We suggest applying it with a small angled brush to get the most spot-on application. Plus, it’s available in an impressive range of shades, so you can get as creative as you’d like.

Who’s It For: The high color payoff, one-swipe coverage, and water-resistant long wear are just more reasons to add this gel liner to your list. Our tester just wishes that the formula didn’t tend to separate in the pot over time.

Type: Pot | Number of Shades: 24

Erickka, tester: “The gel liner went on quite smoothly. The texture of this gel is wet and malleable, so it has a creamy feel and can be easy to work with. You can create different looks with the correct applicator brush, such as sharp cat eyes or smudged looks. It may not be ideal for tightlining as it takes a few seconds to dry.”

Why We Love It: Finding an eyeliner that’ll stay put on waterlines is no easy feat. Luckily, we found the perfect one for precisely that. This pencil eyeliner delivers super-pigmented color in just one swipe for over 24 hours of wear on the lids or 12 hours of wear on the lash lines. The fine point tip is ideal for adding a sharp line to your lash line that looks barely detectable but makes all the difference.

Who’s It For: The eyeliner pencil was so smooth that our tester didn’t even feel it, which is precisely what you want when applying a liner close to your lid. Thanks to the soft formula, which doesn’t require hard pressing or tugging on the eye area upon application, you can get complete coverage in just one slide.

Type: Mechanical pencil | Number of Shades: 15

Alexa, tester: “The eyeliner was so smooth, I couldn't even feel it and I did use a pencil. The tip was a fine point since it was the first time using the product, but felt pretty durable when applied. The texture was very smooth and creamy. I did not feel it gets stuck at all on any textured areas of my skin or waterline.”

Why We Love It: Enhance your gaze in a single stroke with One/Size’s creamy, pigment-soaked liner, available in two classic matte shades. Great for the waterline and lash line, this effortless liner is equivalent to having a professional makeup artist apply it. Our tester adored how easy it is to layer it over eyeshadow for unique eye looks and fast touch-ups.

Who’s It For: If it’s all-day wear you’re looking for, then it’s all-day wear you’ll get with this pencil. Our tester found that it stayed on her waterline longer than other eyeliners, and by the end of the day, it didn’t crack, flake, or wear off.

Type: Pencil | Number of Shades: 2

Megan, tester: “This eyeliner glided onto my eyelids like butter. It was so creamy and durable. The texture was super easy to work with. I could get pretty precise wings and even lines along my eyelids. Tightlining was super easy, and it was easy to smudge/smoke out if that was my desired look.”

Why We Love It: Ms. Selena Gomez, if you see this, thank you! Smudges are old news thanks to this waterproof gel liner with a built-in sharpener for max precision every time. The formula glides on smooth with impressive pigment, delivering bold, crisp lines without tugging or pulling. And the best part? It’s totally budge-proof, so your eye makeup stays on point all day (and night) long. Just ensure that you only twist up the amount of product you need because the pencil doesn’t retract.

Who’s It For: This waterproof liner is suitable for sensitive eyes and perfect for people who want a bold look. However, the pigment is vivid and consistent, so it may not be your liner if you want something more subtle or buildable. Also, since it is waterproof, removing it may take a little extra time (and require a makeup remover).

Type: Mechanical pencil | Number of Shades: 3

Claudia Willen, associate editor: “It's definitely a bold eyeliner, so I wouldn't use it for a natural look (and that's in a brown shade, so I can't image black). That said, it went on really evenly and was great for creating one even line across my top lid. It also went perfectly over my eyeshadows, so that was a relief since it's a mess to remove and then reapply.”

Why We Love It: We’ve all probably experienced eyeliner smearing, and it’s certainly not fun to deal with. This gel formula is the ultimate game changer because it’s creamy, pigmented, and totally smudge-proof. This eyeliner stays locked on your eyelids for 12 hours. The soft formula glides effortlessly in over 20 impressive shades for sharp, defined lines that don’t fade or budge throughout the day.

Who’s It For: This liner unleashes your inner makeup artist with a single stroke. It is available in various vibrant shades, including matte, shimmer, and glitter finishes. If anyone’s liner lets them down halfway through the day, this one is the real deal regarding long-lasting wear.

Type: Pencil | Number of Shades: 21

Ciara, tester: “The eyeliner does a great job resisting smudging. I had no problems with the color transferring after application or budging. The eyeliner feels very light on my eyelids. It did not transfer to any other parts of my eyelid or to my under-eye area for long. Over time, the eyeliner does not wear off easily and does not crack or flake or fade.”

Why We Love It: Gerstein says precision is key when choosing an eyeliner for mature lids. People with mature eyelids typically have more fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area, so gel eyeliners with smaller tips, like this Tarte one, work best. This liner’s potent pigments glide on smoothly without tugging or settling into fine lines.

Who’s It For: If you’re looking for a liner that works as hard as you do and complements your skin’s needs, consider this your new go-to. The velvety liner is ideal for delicate lids because the application process is smooth and gentle on the skin.

Type: Mechanical pencil | Number of Shades: 1

Cathy, tester: “I think this eyeliner has changed my perspective on eyeliners. The gel eyeliner glides very smoothly in comparison to the eyeliner pencils that I normally use. The texture was creamy and easy to work with. I use eyeliner daily on my waterline and this eyeliner lasted all day without budging.”

Why We Love It: If you have oily lids, this eyeliner will become your new best friend. Available in three rich pigments that won’t slip or fade, whether you’re creating a sharp cat eye or cooking up a sultry look. The Tom Ford eyeliner never let our tester down, no matter how oily her lids got.

Who’s It For: This luxe liner is all about staying power. It glides on effortlessly and locks into place for hours without budging. Gerstein still recommends priming your lids with eyeshadow primer for the best results. “If you tend to have oily lids, avoid eye creams and prime your eyelids, then apply powder shadow and liner last,” she instructs.

Type: Pencil | Number of Shades: 3

Marissa, tester: “The eyeliner is exceptional at resisting smudging, regardless of where it is used. It does not transfer onto other parts of the eyelid or under-eye area during wear. It performs very well over time; it does not crack, flake, crease, or wear off easily on my lids, which tend to be oily.”