What to look for in a liquid eyeliner

Need to buy a new liquid eyeliner? Discover four things to look for to ensure you choose the perfect product for your needs.

Liquid eyeliner is one of the most classic eyeliner types. It doesn’t matter what kind of look you are into, if you’ve applied makeup the chances are that you’ve at least tried to apply liquid eyeliner at some point, whether or not it became your eyeliner of choice.

However, if you’re trying to build a makeup cabinet full of makeup that you’ll actually use, it’s critical that you have a liquid eyeliner you love. Before you run out with your Ulta coupon and buy the first one you see, here are a few pointers for buying a great liquid eyeliner.

1) A great applicator

The applicator is going to be one of the biggest reasons you might purchase one liquid eyeliner over another.

The right applicator can make your liquid eyeliner glide on smoothly, creating the perfect cat eye even if you’re not well-skilled in the world of makeup, while the wrong applicator can make it so that you’re generally fighting against the makeup itself. Do some research and choose whichever applicator works for your skill level and personal needs.

2) Complete coverage

No one wants to do the perfect eyeliner flick, only to discover that the eyeliner mixture wasn’t opaque enough and you have to try and go over it again.

Most high-quality liquid eyeliners on the market today are very opaque, without too much in the way of see-through issues, but especially if you’re branching out past black eyeliners, you might want to check for coverage.

3) Long-lasting wear

Eyeliner is notorious for wearing away fairly quickly. This is partially because the eye area goes through a lot of movement during the day, and that means it can sometimes wear away partway through your eight-hour shift.

If you don’t like that, it’s a good idea to look for liquid eyeliners that directly advertise themselves as being long-lasting or to try waterproof eyeliners. Long-wear eyeliner ensures a great look that lasts all day.

4) Colors that you like

Black is the most common eyeliner color, and many people like the black eyeliner look. However, this certainly doesn’t mean that black is the only eyeliner color you can have in your makeup cabinet.

Over the last few years, more and more companies have been making high-quality eyeliners that really pack a punch in every color, from white to yellow to blue and red. If you’re someone who really loves color, find a brand that provides these eyeliners in your favorite colors.

Take your time and find the right liquid eyeliner for you

A liquid eyeliner is one of the most important tools in your makeup bag, but if you’re brand-new to liquid eyeliner, it can feel difficult to look at the hundreds of formulations and decide which one works best for your needs.

With these four considerations in mind, you can quickly narrow down your options and choose an eyeliner that you actually love.