The 10 Best Waterproof Eyeliners of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Final Verdict

While we dubbed the Benefit Cosmetics BADgal BANG! 24-Hour Waterproof Eyeliner the Best Overall of the 19 liners we tested, it was just about tied with the two runners-up. Benefit’s option is our top pick for a crayon liner, while Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner took the crown for waterproof gel pot eyeliners (and gel eyeliners in general) and Fenty Beauty’s Flyliner Longwear Liquid Eyeliner reigned supreme in the waterproof liquid eyeliner category. All three offer beautiful pigment, seamless application, long-lasting wear, and easy removal, making them the clear winners in our book.

How We Tested Waterproof Liners

The author of this piece, Byrdie contributor Rebecca Norris, spent four weeks researching waterproof eyeliners and sorting through reviews to determine the most popular options the market has to offer. Once she selected the top 19 for review, each eyeliner was assigned two testers who spent five hours putting its formula to the test. In total, the testers spent a combined 190 hours evaluating these products, taking into account everything from packaging and size to the ingredients, opacity, wear, and ease of removal.

Each waterproof eyeliner was rated on a scale of one through five for comfort, pigment, water resistance, overall wear, and removal. At the end of the testing period, Norris evaluated the responses to determine the winners and detailed the pros and cons of each based on the testers’ experiences. All testing was conducted in the homes of the testers.

Other Options We Tested

Maybelline Hyper Easy Waterproof Liquid Liner

Although this popular waterproof eyeliner stayed mostly intact after a workout and when splashed with water, it took notably longer to dry, which made the application process a bit more stressful. What’s more, it’s not cruelty-free and it’s particularly difficult to remove (it required cleansing balm and four micellar-soaked cotton rounds to fully dissolve). 

Pat McGrath Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner

Considering the price, you'd think that this waterproof liquid eyeliner would be the holy grail. Sadly, we didn't find that to be the case. While it delivered perfectly opaque pigment in a single swipe, it's not Byrdie Clean (it contains BHT) and it's notably difficult to remove. Additionally, we found that it cracked a bit during sweaty workouts, though it stayed mostly intact otherwise.

UOMA Beauty Afro.Dis.Iac Liquid Eyeliner

As much as we wanted to love this popular jet-black liquid eyeliner pen, it simply didn’t meet our expectations. Yes, it was pigmented; however, it dried so fast that it made touching up the edges nearly impossible. And when we applied additional layers in an attempt to perfect our cat eyes, we found that it made the overall look and feel of the liner look a bit uneven, despite how smoothly it initially applies. 

Sephora Collection Ultimate Gel Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil

Although sweat and water didn’t directly cause this creamy, comfortable waterproof eyeliner to smudge, friction from blinking did. We noticed that although it held up somewhat well throughout the day, it did budge—contrary to its description. What’s more, while it didn’t seem incredibly difficult to remove (it came off with little rubbing and cleansing balm and micellar water), it left embedded pigment all along the base of the lash line. In fact, when one tester thought she removed it all, she woke up with smudged raccoon eyes from the residual liner. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Gel Eye Liner Pencil

A drugstore cult-favorite, we were hoping for a high-quality, long-lasting gel eyeliner but were met with a creamy kajal-inspired product that fades with wear. Thanks to its creamy nature, it’s super pigmented, making any lined look appear that much more dramatic—but not necessarily in the best way. With even the slightest pressure, it was impossible to trace a fine line with this smudge-friendly liner. That said, once applied and dried, one tester did find that it didn’t smear or drip during sweaty workouts. Still, it’s not our top tier.

NYX Epic Ink Vegan Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

This affordable liquid eyeliner holds up pretty well throughout the day and offers decently strong pigmentation in one coat. That said, for a fully opaque finish, a second swipe is necessary. What we didn’t love about this liner was its inconsistency. At times it would deliver too much ink; at others, it’d seem nearly dried out—neither of which are ideal for creating a fluid lid line.

Too Faced Killer Liner Total Control 36-Hour Waterproof Eyeliner

This waterproof crayon eyeliner glides on smoothly thanks to its creamy formula. While it does deliver pigment, the amount depends on the shade you choose, with the lighter shades applying notably sheerer. The formula stays put once on and doesn’t require dry time or touch-ups, a plus, but it’s quite difficult to remove fully. The color seeps into your lash line, requiring multiple cleanses and some rubbing to fully dissolve. Moreover, since it’s not a classic pencil (it’s encased in a harder shell), it’s difficult to sharpen to create crisper lines. 

Makeup Forever Aqua Resist Color Pencil

This pencil eyeliner, which comes in 10 neutral colors, made us swoon with the level of pigment it delivers and the fact that it doesn’t move when met with sweat or water. Unfortunately, if it was touched even slightly, it’d smear like mad. What’s more, we don’t see these pencils lasting long in a kit, as the tip almost entirely flattens from lining a single lid.

Wet N Wild H20 Proof Liquid Liner

If it weren’t for how difficult this liquid eyeliner was to remove, it likely would have made our top tier. It’s very pigmented and stays put during wear—even when sweat is in the mix. However, it’s a very wet formula that takes a bit longer to dry, and in the process, it tends to feather out slightly. But that’s not what turned us off entirely from the product—it was how difficult it is to remove. It didn’t budge with a cleansing balm or micellar water. After trying both methods, our tester pulled out Almay Biodegradable Longwear & Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Pads, which finally did the trick. At that point, her lids looked flushed from all the rubbing. 

MAC Pro Longwear Fluidline Eye Liner and Brow Gel

This gel pot eyeliner is beloved by makeup artists and beauty lovers for its versatile use and five-shade range; however, we couldn’t get past how messy it is to apply. Since it’s so, so creamy, it quickly gets caked onto your angled liner brush (even with hardly any pressure), making it far too easy to over-apply it. Thankfully, it is easy to touch up with micellar water, but it’s too long of a process to be considered a great daily option. Plus, it doesn’t come with an angled brush, so you’ll have to buy one if you don’t already have one.

What to Look For in a Waterproof Eyeliner

The Type of Formula

Waterproof eyeliners come in a variety of formulas, including pencils, crayons, liquid pens, liquid pots, and gel pots. While the type you choose depends on your personal preference and skill, generally speaking, makeup artists say that pencils and crayons are the easiest to apply and touch up, while liquid pens and pots require a bit more skill.

That’s why makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes recommends creating a winged eyeliner look by first sketching out the shape with a pencil. “The general trick is, hold the pencil in line with your nose and the corner of your eye, and then angle it toward the eyebrow,” she says. “So [from] the tail of your brow, to the corner of your eye, to the corner of your nose, that is the direction in which your eyeliner should go.”

How Long It Takes to Dry

In short, the longer it takes for your waterproof eyeliner to dry, the more of a chance you have to accidentally mess it up. That’s why we specifically took note of the formulas that dried the fastest, as they’re ultimately the easiest to apply with the littlest amount of stress.

The Finish

In addition to wanting a quick-drying formula, makeup artist Tony Tulve recommends looking for a waterproof eyeliner with a nearly-matte to fully-matte finish. “This allows for a smoother application either as a liner or a quick shadow in a split,” he says. That’s not to say that glitter and metallic liners don’t have a place, but rather that they’re best reserved for special occasions when you have a bit more time to pay toward their application.

Ease of Removal

The skin surrounding the eyes is the most sensitive and prone to premature aging on the entire body. Plus, our eyes are how we see; the less aggressive physical contact we can have with them, the better. That way, there’s less of a chance of repeatedly pulling and creating wrinkles and less of a chance of getting something in your eye that could cause discomfort or irritation. 

Why Trust Byrdie

Rebecca Norris has been a contributing beauty writer for Byrdie for over three years and has been working within the beauty field for over eight years. She’s in the know on all the latest and greatest eyeliner formulas and used her knowledge to hand-select the top options the market has to offer across a variety of formulas and finishes, which she then tested first-hand to provide expert input on the category. Rather than being based on brand preference alone, each eyeliner was rated on a standardized scale to conclude the best waterproof eyeliners.