The Color Eyeliner That Makes You Forget Black Eyeliner
Makeup is very personal. For some, a little mascara can turn an ordinary day into a special occasion. For others (say, quite a few Allure editors), stash of fun eyeliner is such an integral part of their mental health that they don't feel complete without a little bold pigment on their eyes. Eye makeup preferences vary from person to person, but listen to us as we try to convince you to ditch black eyeliner and try colored eyeliner for a change.
Colors never go out of style, so you can upgrade your everyday neutral eyeliner with bright pigments, or use your creativity to experiment with more sophisticated looks. Makeup artists provided plenty of eye makeup inspiration during Spring/Summer 2023 New York Fashion Week. On the Puppets and Puppets, Marrisa Wilson and Laquan Smith shows, sleek lines, fuzzy halos and bold paint in smoky cat eyes adorned the eyes and cheeks of models.
That said, creating artistic masterpieces, like the stunning pieces at Fashion Week, requires the right liquid eyeliner formula, whether it's an inky liquid, a smooth pencil, or a silky gel. A must-have for opaque pigments that don't streak, along with long lasting color throughout the day, and an easy-to-use applicator that makes the product easy to dispense. "The most important thing is the pigment, [the eyeliner] glides easily onto the skin," explains New York City-based makeup artist Delina Medhin. "You don't want to put too much pressure on your eyes."
Of course, we're your online beauty supply store for all the best formulas and eye-catching shades in pencil, liquid and gel options. We've polled some of our favorite makeup artists and our own editors to bring you the best colored eyeliners for all your needs to stand out from the crowd. The only flaw with Mills' Florence What's My Line Eyeliner is that it's only five shades, but boy, does she make those five shades count. Two of these shades are classic black and dark brown, but the other three shades will help you fix the color. Wrap (pictured above) is a creamy bright purple that matches Millie Bobby Brown's makeup collection and T-shape. These liners are poppy and fun, easy to apply (thanks to the tube's easy-grip component), and last up to 12 hours — so it's no surprise that it managed to win the Best of Beauty 2022 award.
Mac Color Excess Gel Pencil is so vibrant you'll think you're applying a water-soluble topcoat. But no, just a high-quality eyeliner. These high-definition shades are completely opaque, won't tug or smudge, and stay on the lids and lash line for up to 24 hours. It also sat happily on the waterline for up to 12 hours, so no yellow or turquoise tears were seen.
When it comes to colorful eye makeup, Halsey's About-Face was an instant hit when it launched in early 2021, and it hasn't stopped posting hits since. The brand's matte liquid eyeliner, which won a Best of Beauty award in 2021, applies flawlessly as a liquid eyeliner, but the About-Face Line Artist Gel Eyeliner is really designed for the task. These 2022 Best of Beauty winners continue to be bold and look the same all day long, with color choices so advanced and curated that you can pick one completely at random and start crafting editorial looks with no problem.
