Waterproof Eyeliner

The problem I’ve encountered when looking for online reviews of waterproof eyeliners is that we are all different, and what works well for one girl might not work well for others.  I’ve heard rave reviews about some new eyeliner, I go out and buy it, and it’s horrible for me.    So this article (and most of this site) is dedicated to honest reviews, and research done on all the waterproof eyeliners that are out there.

There are so many reviews spread out over so many sites that it can be hard to know which to trust.   My plan is to do all this hard work for you and bring the best results directly to you in an easy to understand fashion, without injecting too much of own personal tastes.  Without further ado, here are the top 5 waterproof eyeliners as voted by thousands of women online.

MAC Fluidline

1. MAC Fluidlines Waterproof Eyeliner

Cost: Around $17.00

MAC Fluidlines seem to be the de-facto standard for waterproof make-up nowadays.  Sure it’s not the cheapest eyeliner out there, but you get what you pay for.   All the reviews I could find on all the make up and womens forums all point to MAC Fluidlines being the very best.  It drys very fast, goes on smoothly and easily, and lasts all day long.

Covergirl Outlast

2. CoverGirl Outlast Smoothwear All Day Eyeliner

Cost: Around $8

Outlast Smoothwear really does live up to it’s name as an all day eyeliner.  In almost every review, the first thing people will note about this covergirl eyeliner is that it really lasts a long time.  It is also not the cheapest waterproof eyeliner on the market, but it makes up for that in not having to re-apply it every day.   A very popular color for SmoothWear is the espresso color, which looks great on blue eyes.

Revlon Colorstay

3. Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner

Cost: $6

Colorstay is a little less expensive, and is a great overall eyeliner when it comes to a bang for the buck.   Many people like this waterproof eyeliner just as much as some of the more expensive ones. The one comment that every seems to be saying about the ColorStay is that it can smudge, and it doesn’t glide on very smoothly (has a crayon like texture).  Also, it doesn’t last quite as long with oily skin types.

Urban Decay Eyeliner

4. Urban Decay 24-7 liner

Cost: Around $18

The new Urban Decay eyeliner has been getting some great reviews, many girls swear by it as the best out there.  The reason it isn’t higher up on the list is because along with those rave reviews there are a few negative reviews out there, so for the cost of this one compared with the possibility of it not working for all women moves this one to number four.   By all means give it a try, because most people really do adore it.   The most popular colors include Rockstar (a darkish purple), Deviant (a deep bluish color), Flipside (green/blue), Mildew (hate the name, but it is a nice shade of dark green),  and Bourbon (deep brown color, like bourbon).

Milan Eye Tech

5. Milan Eye Tech Liquid Eyeliner

Cost: $6

This and the Revlon Colorstay seem to be the best of the inpensive brands on the market.   Many people keep this for their day to day eyeliner, and save the more expensive ones they bought for special occasions.    It’s very easy to use the Eye Tech  eyeliner to get the perfect line, thick or thin.    You can compare this to the Urban Decay eyeliner, just less expensive (with some negative reviews along the way, more than the Urban Decay at least.).   It has a felt tip so you can easily get a very thin line if you desire it.   The only real complaints is that the felt tip can also get a bit crusty, and dry.  Aside from that it is a good drug-store waterproof eyeliner.

Our favorite eyeliner when going for a swim

Maybelline unstoppable eyeliner

The Maybelline does a great job of staying on and looking great while swimming.  I guess they didn’t call it unstoppable for nothing.   A  favorite color for this eyeliner is the Onyx, looks great many hours after applying, even after a long day of swimming at the pool or a beach.

Aside from personal use, I’ve done tests where I apply all the eyeliners I have to my arm and try to scrub them all off.  And just as I suspected, the unstoppable was indeed the last one standing.

The tip is also great for getting that perfect line very easily.   It’s not just great for going swimming though, it’s also a good solid every day eyeliner too.

Worst / Buyer beware

Wet n wild waterproof liquid eyeliner

A commonly recommended waterproof eyeliner that is recommended for swimming is Wet-n-Wild.   Many people are under the false impression that this eyeliner was actually made for the water, this is not the case.  If you’re looking for a waterproof eyeliner for swimming, please to do buy this product, the reviews all over, in particular for swimming, are not very good.

Aside from the water resistance, the applicator is known to be horrible.  It has trouble moving around, and can cause some irritation on your eyes.

After going into the water, you can expect it to smudge quite a bit, but not necessarily be removed completely.  You’ll need to use make up remover to get it off.   With that out of the way, we’ll move on to some of the better products.

As of 2011 a number of new eyeliners have been released, and quite a few of the ones that have been around for years are still very much alive and kicking.

Top Overall Eyeliner

The top overall eyeliner for 2011 is the MAC Fluidline.  This has been a top eyeliner for a number of years now, but it is still the go to best eyeliner that everyone seems to go back to time and time again.   With it’s great color, easy application, and ability to stay looking great all day long make MAC Fluidline the top pick for waterproof eyeliner in the year 2011.

Most water proof award

The best eyeliner for 2011 at being the most water resistant is Dior Waterproof Eyeliner (crayon type).    This Dior eyeliner lasts far longer than all of the others in wash tests.   It is very easy to use the tip to align with your eyes to get it looking just the way you want.    It has a soft consistency, and has a great color intensity.  It does have the tendency to smudge just a bit, but it is a solid overall eyeliner.

Another great plus with the Dior, is that you don’t have to sharpen it as much as some similar eyeliners.    It has a soft consistency which is surprising since usually that goes hand and hand with it not being quite as waterproof.

Best Bargain

It will come as no surprise that the Elf Waterproof Eyeliner comes in as the best bargain.  At only one dollar it is really hard to beat it’s price.  We all know it’s not the very best out there, but that’s hard to expect for only a buck.

Since it is so cheap, the Elf Pen eyeliner is perfect for those who are just starting out using eyeliner.   It’s easy to apply, but just don’t expect it to live up to the same standards as the MAC or the Dior (obviously).

Honorable Mention Award

Laura Mercier's Eyeliner isn't as popular as some as the bigger brands, but those who try it love it.

Laura Mercier’s cake eyeliners get the honorable mention award.  Not everyone is a fan of Mercier’s eyeliner, it’s not all that cheap, and it doesn’t stand up quite as well as the MAC.   However, those who use it, swear by it, which is usually a good sign.  It comes in at around $22, so it’s even more expensive than the above Fluidline.

However, if you’re already spending around that amount on your eyeliner, why not give Laura Mercier cake eyeliner a shot, you may just become one of the staunch believers.

This is a review about two different types of eyeliner, Maybelline Line Works and the Elf waterproof eyeliner pen.

The Elf eyeliner is a low cost alternative to maybelline, but it is not without it's flaws.

The key difference between the two, is price.  Although the Maybelline is by no means an extremely expensive eyeliner, the Elf is known as a cheap option.   That’s not to say that many people out there don’t stand by elf as being a solid waterproof eyeliner choice.

The Elf Eyeliner

Sometimes known as the college student’s eyeliner.   It’s very cheap (as low as $1), but gets the job done when you’re just looking for a quick touch up before going to class, or forgot your preferred eyeliner at home and need to stop at the pharmacy to pick up one on the way to work.

No one really compares it to the higher priced eyeliners like MAC, but in the real world it was never meant to compete with the higher up brands.  Some common complaints include the fact that the black color isn’t really all that ‘black’, it’s actually more of a dark shade of gray.  Also it has a tendency to dry out quickly.   So if you forget to close the lid on it, you can expect to be throwing it in the garbage very soon there after.

Some of the positives include the fact that it is actually a very good waterproof eyeliner, and that it can last all day without flaking.  it also comes with a thin tip making it easy to apply it just the way you want.   And of course the fact that it is only a dollar!

Maybelline Waterproof Eyeliner

A great eyeliner for everyday use, good quality, and not too expensive.

This is a very common, go-to eyeliner for most women.  It’s not the highest end, but it does a great job for everyday wear.    Not everyone can afford MAC eyeliner every day of the week, and not everyone is looking to use the cheapest one every day either, so Maybelline finds a place somewhere in between that works for most people.

The black color is not the darkest of blacks which is a common complaint.    One of the places where the Elf product seems to beat the Maybelline is in the flaking department.  Many people claim that the Maybelline is prone to flaking after wearing it for extended periods of time.

If you’re new to using eyeliners however, this is a great one to start with.   The tip of it is hard making it easy to apply without making any mistakes.

It costs around $6, and is available at most grocery stores and pharmacies across the country.    Sure you could buy six Elf eyeliners for the price of one of these, but I’d say it’s worth the extra cost.