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Considering you spend a good part of your life tailoring your make-up to your personal preferences, it can be difficult to wade through all the products to find the ideal one. Personally, I always had difficulty finding the perfect eyeliner. With so many options from pencils to pots to liquid, I could never decide which was right for my particular style. Nothing would frustrate me more than finally perfecting that sleek cat-eye only to have it smudge two hours later. On the other hand, using a dry pencil eyeliner that roughly drags across my lids is no fun either! Enter gel liner. Gel liner is basically the hybrid brainchild of liquid and pencil liners because it offers the best of both worlds. Gel liner gives you the bold sharpness of a liquid liner without the mess and the build-ability of a pencil liner. If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional powder, liquid or pencil liners, try one of these gel liners that glides on smoothly and sticks around until dinner time. Your eyes will thank you!
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ($27)
This is one of the best gel liner pots that’s been around in the beauty business. It offers up to 12 hours of sweat–and-humidity resistant wear so you don’t have to stress about constantly reapplying. It comes in natural rich colors from “Black Ink” to “Graphite Shimmer Ink” to provide the most bold color to make your eye color pop. It also dries with a flexible finish that doesn’t flake or fade.
Eyeko Sport Waterproof Eyeliner ($20)
Athletic women, rejoice! We found an amazing gel liner that you can wear to that morning yoga class without leaving with raccoon eyes. This gel liner stays put in the most extreme conditions (hello rain!), features a built-in sharpener and has a coconut oil formula for exceptionally smooth application.
This smooth gel liner gives a foolproof way to achieve that perfect precise line without compromising a soft and silky finish. If you’re a huge fan of a smokey eye, this gel liner is definitely a necessity. Once you apply, you can use your best gel liner brush to slightly smudge the color on your lash line for a lived in look.
Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon ($25)
This gorgeous gel liner gives you the most options of any liner out there. Not only does it come in 33 (yes, 33!) pigmented color options, but it also comes in a satin, shimmer or matte finish. This gel eyeliner gives you the same effect as a gel pot but with the ease of a glide on pencil. The super malleable formula offers thick precise lines OR an instant easy smokey eye if you decide to smudge it up.
Maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise Skinny Eyeliner ($6.89)
This is one of the best drugstore gel eyeliner pencils. The micro-tip liner helps guide you to that extra perfect line for a barely there eyeliner look. If you go over your lash line more than once, it gives the illusion of fuller lashes. While the hot pink pencil may be tiny, we find that it’s the perfect size for toting around for touch-ups during the day.
Pat McGrath Labs Permagel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil $25
Pat McGrath is one of the most renowned makeup artists in the world that specializes in bold looks (hello, infamous glitter lips!). It’s no surprise that her much anticipated namesake make-up line is a smash hit among customers. Her pigmented gel eyeliner is no exception. The gel liner, which comes in an array of finishes and colors, is super smooth and glides on easily with light pressure. Hint: Prime your eyes beforehand and be sure to set with a powder for a flawless finish.
Revlon ColorStay Crème Gel Eyeliner ($5.19)
This gel liner is the epitome of small but mighty. Even though the pot is small in size, this gel eyeliner really packs a punch. Not only does it have a silky rich formula in easy to use packaging, but it also provides waterproof coverage for 24-hours. The brush-in-pot gives you an effortless one stroke application once you get familiar with the brush.
The Stila Smudge Pots are the best gel liners at Sephora based on customer ratings. The glass jar and lid is airtight to lock moisture in to keep the gel soft and pliable for every use. We also love that this is a gel liner AND shadow in one. Just apply with your favorite gel liner brush and blend for a pigmented eyeshadow.
Once you've got you're favorite gel eyeliner in your cart, check out one of these cheap natural drugstore mascaras to complete your make-up look.
