Eyeliner 101

Here are the types of eyeliners. Outlining the products to use for the perfect winged liner, a smudge-y smokey eye, or etc…

This post is about the types of eyeliners. Certain types are more favorable to different people. Then brand to brand certain types are better than other types.

Types

• Cream: Creamy / soft consistency  Plus you need a brush! (Personally I find cream eyeliners tend to smudge on oily skin because of the more emollient ingredients)
• Ex: MAC Creme Liner, YSL Longwear Creme Liner, Becca Ultimate Creme, Laura Mercier Creme Liner
• Gel: Gel base, dry slightly faster than cream Plus you need a brush!
• Ex: MAC Fluidline, Bobbi Brown Gel Liner, Nars Eye Paint, Maybelline Eye Studio, L’Oreal Infallible Gel 
• Liquid: Water-y consistency 
• Felt: Felt tip, (marker-like) goes down in a v shape for precise application, and product is shaped like a marker (shake and apply)
• Ex: Stila Stay All Day, Marc Jacobs Magic Marc'er, Lancome Liner Plume, Nars Eyeliner Stylo, L’Oreal Super Slim
• Brush: Brush/bristles tip, goes down in a v shape for precise application, and product is shaped like a marker (shake and apply)
• Ex: KVD Tattoo Liner, Blinc Ultrathin Liquid Eyeliner Pen, Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting, Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner, K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner 24h, Shu Uemura Calligraph Ink eyeliner
• Pot+Brush: Tip is usually longer than a brush/felt, tip type varies brand to brand, all bristles are same length (no v tip), and you dip the handle in the pot to get the liquid product
• Ex: Lancome Artliner, KVD Autograph Liner, Sephora Long-Lasting Eye Liner, Benefit Magic Ink Liquid Eyeliner, MUFE Aqua Liner, Wet n Wild H2O
• Pencil: Pencils can be hard or creamy, smudge-y or stay in place. It all depends on the item. Pencils are perfect for your waterline / tight line. Pencils are also great for your lower lash line because you can blend them enough (even hard ones) so that you have a nice blended look rather than a stark line like you can get with liquid.
• Wood: Need to be sharpened 
• Ex: Urban Decay 24/7, OCC Colour Pencils, Ardency Inn Mobster, Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Eye Pencil, Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Kajal Liner, J.Cat MOTD Eyeliner, Rimmel ScandalEyes,
• Retractable: Have a twist up
• Ex: Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner, Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon, Sephora Retractable, MUFE Aqua Eyes, Jane Water Resistant Eyeliner, L’Oreal Pencil Perfect Self-Advancing Eyeliner, Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner
• Khol / Kaajal : Khols made of soot and other natural ingredients, unlike pencil made of waxs (as well as pigments, etc). They are very blend-able and smudge-y (great for a messy look). They are intensely rich pigmented. I will give examples but unfortunately it’s not likely these are authentic khol liners.
• Ex: MUFE Kohl Pencil, Sephora Long Lasting Kohl Pencil, Lancome Le Crayon Khol, Guerlain The Original Creamy Khôl Me Kajal Eyeliner, Givenchy Magic Khol Eye Liner Pencil, Stila Kajal Eye Liner
• Powder: There are a few brands that sell specific powders for liner purpose and/or sell something like MUFE Aqua Seal to turn the powder into a “gel”-ish consistency. Of course you can keep it a powder consistency creating soft eyeliner looks.  
• Ex: Laura Mercier Tightline Cake Eye Liner, any eyeshadow

Finishes

• Matte: no shine
• Ex: Bobbi Brown Gel Liner (black)
• Shine-y: slightly reflective, gives a sheen
• Ex: KVD Tattoo Liner 
• Metallic: very reflective, bright shine/sheen, sometimes contains glitter 
• Ex: Stila Sparkle Waterproof Eyeliner
• Glitter: glitter-y with or without a base color
• Ex: NYX Liquid Crystal Liner, Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eye Liner, make your own with something like ABH Brow Genius and eye safe glitter