Softer than a pencil, less stressful than a liquid, gel eyeliners provide a happy middle ground for makeup novices and professionals alike. Gel eyeliners tend to be greasier than their pencil and liquid cousins — that’s what makes them so easy to work with — but the best gel eyeliners won’t smear or fade after they set, nor will they flake off when they’re dry. So your meticulously crafted cat-eye getting smudged beyond recognition is one less thing for you to stress about.
That said, if you have oily or hooded lids — or if you’re just very concerned about the health and wellbeing of that cat-eye — it’s a good idea to use an eye primer first, which will keep the gel from transferring to your upper eyelid. Even better: Apply a line with a waterproof eye pencil first, then trace over it with your gel liner of choice. That first line of defense will protect that softer formula from oil, tears, sweat, rain, or anything else that threatens to mess up your work.
Ahead, you'll find five of the best gel eyeliners you can get on Amazon, whether you're looking for a pencil, a pot, or something with a bit of shimmer. Scroll on to shop them now.
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