Which Liquid Liner Makes The Best Cat Eye?

Guys, have you seen how many eyeliners there are for us to sort through these days? It’s completely overwhelming, but liquid eyeliner reviews can help you narrow down your decision before you spend any cash on a brand new beauty product. Out of all the liners out there, Stila, Benefit, and Kat Von D’s versions are probably the most popular ones sold at higher-end beauty stores — so those are what we’ll be dealing with today.

When it comes to eyeliner, I’ve found that kohls, pencils, and pots just don’t work for the look I’m going for. Kohl and pencils are great for the lower lash line, but smudge everywhere when used on my lids. Pots of creme liner are best for occasions when I have a lot of extra time to spare (read: never). Liquid liner, especially waterproof versions, have been my saving grace when it comes to getting that perfectly crisp cat eye.

Even though I love my liquid liner, it can get expensive if I want a formula that’ll actually stay on my lids all day. These three uber-popular brands range from $19-$24, so they’re certainly worth investigating before you make the splurge. I tested all three below, so you don’t have to worry about pushing your way to the front of the samples line at Sephora.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

Price: $19

Finish: Matte

Staying Power: Definitely needs a primer. I have super oily eyelids and noticed that after wearing it for an extended period of time, one of my "flicks" had vanished.

Pros: The brush, which has actual bristles (rather than a felt tip) that make for a super smooth application at the exact thickness you want. Also, it dries super quickly.

Cons: That super quick dry could also count as a con. If you make a mistake or want to adjust the wings, you'll have to remove it all and start over.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

Price: $20

Finish: Glossy

Staying Power: Lasted the entire day.

Pros: The felt tip won't dry out mid application! Plus, it comes in 15 awesome shades, so you can experiment with more than basic black.

Cons: The formula doesn't blend super well, so, if you look closely, you can see all the short strokes I made to create the cat eye effect.

Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Push-Up Liner

Price: $24

Finish: Matte

Staying Power: Nearly impossible to get rid of. Benefit even makes a special remover to take it off!

Pros: The long lasting formula, of course, as well as the jet black color that only takes a single layer to be totally opaque. Plus, the soft, rubbery Accuflex tip keeps all the product inside the pen when you're not using it, so it won't dry out as quickly as other liners.

Cons: The fancy tip takes some getting used to, so I recommend practicing on your hand before you commit to getting close to your eyeballs. The formula spreads really easily, so once you get used to the new shape of the tip you'll be good to go.

Conclusions

If I was stuck with any of the products, I can't say I would be upset. They all seem to have their strong suits, so make your decision to buy based on what you are looking for in a liquid liner.

After three full days of wearing each liner, however, I have to say that the Benefit Cosmetics push-up gel liner was my favorite. While it did take me a bit longer to perfect my wing and to dodge any fallout, I found that the bold line stayed put throughout the day without smudging or flaking off. You know what they say: Good things come to those who take their time applying their liner.

Images: Krystal D'Souza