Guerlain Eye Liner

The reliable option in the eyeliner market is this little Guerlain bottle which, as well as being refined and practical, offers a top-quality product. Its extra-fine brush allows for a delicate, precise line; the shades are intense, staying power is excellent and, contrary to what you might think, one bottle lasts a good while, even with daily use.

An intense liquid eyeliner.
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It isn't cheap — available in several shades — but it's an investment you won't regret, according to the converts.

Black liquid liner bottle with extra-fine brush on a pale marble shelf
The slim bottle and its extra-fine brush for a millimetre-perfect line

Shiseido Khol Crème Relief

A kohl eyeliner in a cream texture, in a little pot sold with its brush. As with many Shiseido products, the quality is there: cream texture soft yet deep in colour and with very good staying power. The product applies easily, even for beginners, and lets you vary your make-up — thicker or thinner, a fine line or a smoky eye, it's up to you.

One or two tries to get the hang of it, especially if you're used to liquid liner, and you're away: easy to apply, it doesn't run, it's easy to control how much you use and this little pot lasts a good while.

Small open pot of black cream kohl with its brush, on a bright bathroom counter
The little pot of cream kohl and its brush, easy even for beginners

Chanel Professional Eyeliner Duo

Chanel offers an eyeliner in compact form: a small case containing two shades, one black, the other a slightly shimmering charcoal, to vary your make-up however you like.

A duo of black and shimmering eyeliners.
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Inside, two interlocking brushes for easier handling, with a foam tip for smudging and a brush tip for a fine line.

What we like: the cream textures of these liners, which are surprisingly easy to apply, and the two tips that let you create a smoky eye with minimal effort or apply your liner in the most basic way. Note that the brush should be dampened before use for ultra-precise application and a line that lasts.

The catch is the price: it's the most expensive case in our selection.

Open compact case with two cream liner shades and two interlocking brushes
The duo case: a deep black, a shimmering charcoal, two tips

Clarins Eyeliner Express

A basic, effective eyeliner from Clarins with this pen with a brush tip. Fluid texture, intense colours, fine brush and easy to use, good staying power: this is the eyeliner that gets straight to the point and convinces.

A precise felt-tip eyeliner.
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Available in black and brown, and practical.

Black eyeliner pen with brush tip near a small mirror on pale linen
The brush-tip pen, black or brown, ready in one stroke

MAC Fluidline Eye-liner Gel

What do we like? Almost everything! The cream texture is very pleasant and easy to apply, and the colours are intense and very varied: several shades for bespoke make-up, whether classic or colourful.

A long-wear gel eyeliner that also shapes brows.
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We like this little compact pot and the effects the brush allows: fine or thick line, kohl or liner, however you like it. Excellent staying power and a product that lasts: it's a MAC product, professional through and through.

A small downside is the glass pot, so mind you don't drop it, and we'd add that it isn't always easy to find, since MAC stores aren't exactly on every high street. That said, you can buy it from the brand's online store, although you then miss out on the sales assistant's advice and a clear sense of the shades.

Glass gel eyeliner pot, lid open, with a fine brush on a dark counter
The glass gel pot: long-wear and a precise brush

A good eyeliner is something of a Holy Grail for lovers of a doe-eyed look. The fact is that smoky make-up — a lid heavy with kohl, mascara and deep-toned shadows — always has its devotees. That said, a pretty eyeliner flick on a lid lightly powdered with a neutral shade is also a timeless look: feminine and elegant without being showy.

Yes, eyeliner is beautiful, whether paired with a touch of mascara or worn with more sophisticated make-up, but you still need to know how to apply it. That's where the quality of the liner comes in: let's be honest, you have to get the knack even with the Rolls-Royce of eyeliners, but a good-quality eyeliner is already 50% of the job done!

The game-changing technique: rest your elbow on the table to steady your hand, stretch the eyelid with your fingertip, start from the middle outwards before coming back to the inner corner — the inner corner last, always. And pick up only a little product: better to go over it twice than overload in one go.

Budget

Expect to pay around £18 to £40 for a branded eyeliner in the UK, depending on the format and brand. Based on typical prices, the Clarins pen remains the most accessible option, the MAC gel pot plays in the same league, while the bottles and cases from Guerlain or Chanel push the price up. The price also depends on the number of shades and the brushes included. You'll find them in beauty halls, brand boutiques or online.