Eyeliner is a product that many of us dream of mastering someday. It's tricky and challenging to achieve a really sharp line that is also the right thickness. We've all probably ended up in the "panda stage" at some point, if you know what I mean. But thankfully, there are certain eyeliners that are easier to apply than others. In this post, we compare and discuss which is the best eyeliner for everyone, especially beginners.
Gel Eyeliner
What is Gel Eyeliner?
Gel Eyeliner is a compact gel that comes packaged in a small jar. It often comes with a small brush, but of course, you can use brushes that don't come with it. Gel Eyeliner is a type of eyeliner that gives you good control when applying it, and its durability is usually very good. However, it takes a lot of practice to reach a level where you can achieve a really crisp and sharp line, so it might not be a beginner's favorite.
How to use Gel Eyeliner?
As mentioned, Gel Eyeliner comes in a small jar, usually with an accompanying brush. We strongly recommend applying your Gel Eyeliner with an angled brush. It's easiest to control and best for achieving the sharpest possible line. We recommend warming it a bit on the back of your hand to make it creamier and easier to work with. Then just apply and practice!
Advantages of Gel Eyeliner
- Long-lasting – One of the biggest advantages of Gel Eyeliner is its durability. It lasts long once applied, and the product itself is very long-lasting.
- Relatively easy to control – Unlike Pencil Eyeliner and some Liquid Eyeliners, you have relatively good control over a Gel Eyeliner. It's not the easiest eyeliner to apply, but it's not the hardest either.
Disadvantages of Gel Eyeliner
- Dries easily – While Gel Eyeliner has long-lasting properties, it's a very sensitive product. You must be careful to close the jar properly, or it's completely ruined.
- Requires practice – Once you've mastered it, Gel Eyeliner is incredibly easy to perfect, but it requires practice. It's a reliable product, but for a beginner's untrained hands, it can be a challenge.
Liquid Eyeliner
What is Liquid Eyeliner?
Liquid Eyeliner can come in a variety of forms, but there are two that are particularly common. One form comes in a package that resembles mascara, but instead of a mascara brush, it has a thin eyeliner brush. The other form, which is our favorite, looks like a felt-tip pen. Both variants are filled with a liquid black eyeliner that can be waterproof or not. Thanks to its design, you can easily achieve really sharp lines, unlike the other types of eyeliners we discuss in this post.
How to use Liquid Eyeliner?
The first variant, which resembles mascara, works much like mascara. You dip the brush into the tube and then apply your eyeliner. The second variant is much simpler as you just open the cap and then draw on the eyelid as if it were a pen. Super convenient!
Advantages of Liquid Eyeliner
- Perfect for beginners – The first variant can be a challenge for beginners, but we love the second variant! An eyeliner shaped like a felt-tip pen is the perfect product for beginners who want to achieve a really nice and sharp look.
- Sharp lines – Liquid Eyeliner, unlike the others in this post, is the type of eyeliner that will give you really sharp lines. The thin tip and pigmented color will make you the queen of eyeliners!
Disadvantages of Liquid Eyeliner
- Easy to make mistakes – It can be very tricky for those using the first type of eyeliner. The long brush and unruly tip can make it difficult to get the eyeliner exactly where you want it. Once the product touches your eyelid, it can be hard to remove. However, this is rarely a problem with eyeliners shaped like felt-tip pens.
Pencil Eyeliner
What is Pencil Eyeliner?
Pencil Eyeliner is exactly what it sounds like; it looks like a pencil. In the US, many of us know Pencil Eyeliner as Kajal. It's a product that lacks precision but is easy to smudge to achieve a smoky look.
How to use Pencil Eyeliner?
Pencil Eyeliner is used just like a pencil; you draw where you want the product. As mentioned, it's very difficult to achieve precision with Pencil Eyeliner. Therefore, we recommend using it for either very natural looks or very dramatic ones. You can just draw a super-thin line along the lash line for a natural look, or you can draw a thick line around the eyes that you then smudge and soften to achieve a dramatic smoky eye.
Advantages of Pencil Eyeliner
- Versatile – As previously mentioned, you can create looks that are very natural or super dramatic. It's always good to have a versatile product in your makeup bag!
Disadvantages of Pencil Eyeliner
- Difficult to maintain – Pencil Eyeliner may be versatile, but it's also difficult to maintain. Unlike the other products in this post, you need to sharpen the pencil regularly. Some pencils are of better quality than others, and those of lower quality can break easily during sharpening, a frustrating way to waste your product.
- Lacks precision – A sharp Cat Eye is just not possible with Pencil Eyeliner. The product is too creamy, and the tip is too blunt to achieve the really sharp lines that a Cat Eye requires.
Summary
Finally, we want to say that there's an eyeliner for everyone, but our recommendation is a Liquid Eyeliner in the form of a felt-tip pen. They are the most beginner-friendly but also provide incredible precision for the true eyeliner pro!
