Best Pencil Eyeliners For All Budgets

This post will tell you all you need to know about eyeliners, their pros and cons, types for different looks and effects, and their approximate cost.

Many people ask me 'What are the best eyeliners?'

My response: It's complicated because some of the low to mid end line companies make some really nice liners and high end eyeliners are also hit and miss (however, this is usually not the case: if you buy a high end liner, it usually will perform the way you expect it to).

LOW to MID END EYELINERS:

Prestige makes excellent 'kohl' liners. They are about $8 apiece and have a soft rubber smudger on the reverse end. Rimmel's 'Spark it Up: Gleaming Eyeliner' is also excellent at $8. NYX's 'Jumbo Eyepencils' are a steal at $5 and if you really want to have a lot of control you can simply use a brush, grab some liner off the top and use it that way. The pencil is incredibly soft so it does give you more options.

If you test a pencil liner and it doesn't run smoothly on the back of your hand and you have to bear down while it catches the skin then don't buy it. Imagine tugging on your sensitive skin around the eye. Ouch!

HIGH END LINERS:

MAC, PUPA MILANO, RED EARTH and other high end cosmetic lines are all good liners. The issue with these liners is the price. Nine times out of ten you'll get a fantastic liner but how much are you willing to spend? If you want a great pro liner at a reasonable cost then try Pupa Milano. They ring in at $17 each and have a nice soft smudger on the reverse end.

The key to a good liner is colour payoff, colour accuracy (black liners that look dark blue) and easy tug-free application on the eye. You don't want to tug the eyeskin. A good pencil easily glides on, easily smudges and applies evenly.

I admit, it takes a lot of experimenting sometimes to get the right liner but it you stick with it you'll definitely find something you love. If you satisfy those criteria, chances are you have a great pencil liner.

So tell me, what's YOUR favourite pencil eyeliner and why?