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I'll admit, I don't have the most—how do I put it—inspirational eyeliner collection. Sure, I might have a pretty good range of formulas to suit my mood and my vibe (a liquid eyeliner for when I'm feeling fancy, a pencil for when I want a smokey eye, and a gel pot for when I'm bored and have 30 minutes to spare). But as far as the colors? Fifty shades of gray pretty much sums it up. However, lately I've been feeling inspired to make some changes to all my usuals and experiment with ~colored eyeliner~.
Blame it on my excitement for a whole new season of Euphoria makeup, or maybe it's all the 2022 makeup trends, but whatever the reason, I'm suddenly bored with the charcoal and jet-black liners I've worn all my life and eager to try some chartreuses and aquas instead. So, I turned to the pros to give me the low-down on everything colored eyeliner, from what to look for in a product, to how to apply eyeliner, and of course, the products that makeup artists actually use. Keep reading to find the 19 best colored eyeliners of 2022, plus all the pro tips to screenshot.
If you wanna know what the pros use, celebrity makeup artist Brandy Allen lets us in on a little secret: DiorShow On Stage Liners. “The pigmentation is intense yet super easy to use at home,” Allen explains. “I love the versatility in these liners, whether it’s a clean cat eye or art, and there's alsoa nice range of shades for every skin tone.” Take, for instance, this bold green, with super-saturated color that you don't have to keep layering for it to show up.
If you took theold-school shape of a pencil eyeliner but gave it a fresh new lookwith a fun, vibrant shade (like this bright orangey-red), you'd get these colored eyeliner pencils from Morphe.A top pick of celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli, these pencilscome in an impressive selection of48 colors that put your Crayola box to shame. Keep the tip sharp for precise lines,or blend out the creamy formula for a smudged look.
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As if thecomprehensivecolor selection of these colored eyeliners wasn't impressive enough (I've got my eye on this bright aqua teal), you also have your pick from three different formulas (a gel pot, gel pencil, and color eye primer) to create pretty much any look you could ever dream up. Or get all three! For less than 10 dollars! Such a deal. Use the pencil to line the rim of your waterline, the gel to paint graphic lines, and the eye primer to give it extra depthand longer staying power (one of Scibelli's tricks).
4
Best Gold Eyeliner Pencil
Haus Laboratories by Lady Gaga: Eye-Dentify Gel Pencil Eyeliner in Royale
Now 30% Off
“Whether it’s a liquid or pencil, you don’t want an eyeliner that will skip or tug while putting it on,” saysCharlie Riddle, Stila global beauty director. Riddle recommends this smooth-gliding gel pencil from Haus Labs that won't tug or skid overyour eyelid. Between the color selection and quality, this pencil is a clear favorite for good reason.
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5
Best Deep Plum Eyeliner
Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Vivid Amethyst
These babies are Riddle's absolute favorite eyeliners, so go ahead and throw a few different shades in your cart. “It’s the only pencil liner that I feel I have time to work with and can smudge out,” Riddle says. “And when it dries down, it doesn’t move and really stays all day.” Even though the color range leans a little on the traditional side of things, you won't find any boring eyeliners here. Expect shimmers and mattes in shades like this deep plum, which looks like abrown liner at first glance, but turns purple the more you stare at it.
6
Best Lime Green Liner
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Freak
Another longtime staple in Scibelli's kit, these colored pencils are also a personal fave for how smoothly they glide (the name is no joke) and how easy they are to use. Application aside, these pencils also have one of the best shade ranges so you can really get creative with them. “The colors are highly pigmented, and I love the metallic undertones in the formulas that really give a spark to the eyes,” Scibelli says.
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If you thinkdrugstore eyelinerslack the payoffneeded for a colored eyeliner to really pop, think again, friend. Scibelli loves this budget-friendly option that lasts for hours and comes in bold, earthy shades. If your brown smokey eye is looking a little blah, change it up with this rich green instead.
If you like the idea of face and body paint but wantsomething with a more luxurious look and feel (read: less crumbly and flakey), these paint pots by Danessa Myricks are the answer. Whether you want to paint graphic lines or diffuse a wash of color, this smudge-proof andwaterproof eyelinercan be used to do it all—just switch up the brush to get the look you're going for. Allen recommends using a precision Q-tip to clean up the lines, followed by a skin-matching concealer to really sharpen the edges.
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You might love the look of graphic eyes and sharp cut crease lines, but if you don't have the bravery or steady hand to DIY it, Riddle suggests using your colored eyeliner to create other looks. “Try smudging them out along top and bottom lash line for a colorful smokey eye,” Riddle says. “Purples, blues, and greens work great for this.” I can already picture how this bright lilac looks smudged in the inner corners of the eyes, and Ilike what I see.
I once dunked my head in a bowl of water to test waterproof makeup. True story. And you know what I learned? This eyeliner is worth having to find abrush to apply it with. Thesmall gel pot was by far one of my favorite liners for how deep the color is, how well it stays put, and how long it'll last you. You only need the tiniest bit, and one swipe is seriously all it takes to get the coverage you want.Try the Lunar Beauty LBE-6 Eye Brush (Mikayla Nogueira previously told Cosmo the brand’s a fave for brushes) to smudge out the liner for a smokey eye look.
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Best Retractable Red Eyeliner
Fenty Beauty Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner in Cherry Punk
If having a choice of finish is as important to you as choice of color, you need to skip on over to Sephora and see the beauty of these metallic, matte, shimmer, and glitter coloredeyeliners in person. Riddle loves a retractable pencil, and if you're someone who can't be bothered to sharpen your pencils, you'll want to find one that twists up and down and has a micro tip that alwaysstays nice and precise, like this one.
12
Best Yellow Eye Color
KVD Beauty Super Pomade Vegan Eyeliner, Shadow & Brow Pigment in Daffodil
I think it's safe to assume that someone who loves experimenting with colored eyeliner would also love a product that allows them to experiment with the placementof said eyeliner, too. Thislil pot of gold was also made to be used as eyeshadow and even brow pigment because the color payoff is *that* good. Turn to these liners if you've got a unique color in mind and want a super-opaque finish.
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13
Best Copper Double-Sided Eyeliner
Charlotte Tilbury Eye Color Magic Eyeliner Pencil Duo in Copper Charge
Just tip-toeing into the colored eyeliner trend? I hear you, I see you, and I give you this dual-sided pencil. Use the matte end for a subtle yet still noticeable hint of color and flip it around to use the shiny metallic sidewhenever you want to punch it up a bit but still keep it in the same color fam.
14
Best White Liquid Eyeliner
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Snow
Okay, white eyeliner seems like one of those things only makeup artists or ~iNfLuEnCeRs~ can pull off, but you, too, can get a zillion compliments if you just give it a try. The trick to making this work? After making your white cat eye—you’ll probs need three coats—underline the whole thing with an ultra-thin stripe of black liner. Trust: It makes the whole thing look crisp, not Casper-y.
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I’m officially expanding my definition of neutral to include this navy eyeliner. Even though the formula is completely opaque (Colourpop’s liners are legit phenomenal for that), it doesn’t read as obvious or bright once you line it on. You could have a full conversation with someone and only after staring at it for a while would they be able to notice the blue hue, which is a win for anyone who’s scared of the bright-liner trend.
16
Best Turquoise Eyeliner
Sephora Collection 12 Hour Contour Pencil Eyeliner in 50 Peacock Blue
This teal eyeliner is pretty much the epitome of summer. It’s bright, it’s shimmery in a subtle iridescent way, and it’s hella long-lasting. Like, its 12-hour claim is no joke. I traced my upper lash line with this gel formula (it only took one layer, mind you—the color payoff is that good), went to the beach, sweat my insides out, got tipsy, napped, woke up, and took a freakin’ selfie because my liner still somehow looked good.
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17
Best Pink Eyeliner Pencil
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in 900 All Over Magenta
The shades of these top-rated pencilslookexactlythe same on your lids as they do on the labels, and the long-wear formula means it really does stick without sliding or flaking until you wash it off. You've got enough color options to wear a different shade every day of the month, but we're big fans of this unique magenta shade that's the perfect blend of purple and pink and not one you'll find from many other brands.
18
Best Blue Gel Eyeliner
IT Cosmetics Superhero No-Tug Sharpenable Gel Eyeliner in Bold Blue
Now 30% Off
If you’re still a little freaked to try a colored eyeliner, especially if your work dress code is a bit more, um, formal, try this blue eyeliner. It's a tad brighter than navy and definitely doesn't read as basic black, but is still subtle enough for everyday wear.Even if you’re not ready for a bright-pink cat eye,you’ll still feel kinda cool for wearing a color at all—like a little makeup secret.
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If you're not the type to carry a huge makeup bag full of different eyeshadows, eyeliners, and makeup brushes, you'll want to get this all-in-one colored eyeliner instead. The slanted tip makes it ideal for drawing sharp angles, but you can also flip it around and use the handy paddle brush to blend the liner for a smokier finish and the soft, diffused look of eyeshadow.
Brooke Shunatona
Brooke Shunatona is a contributing writer for Cosmopolitan.com.
Chloe Metzger
Deputy Beauty Director
Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing the editorial content and growth strategy of the hair, makeup, and skin space on digital, while also obsessively writing about the best hair products for every hair type (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare routines that really, truly work (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life). She brings nearly a decade of writing and editing expertise, and her work has appeared in Allure, Health, Fitness, Marie Claire, StyleCaster, and Parents. She also has an unhealthy adoration for Tom Hanks and would like to please meet him one day, if you could arrange that. Thanks.