Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner (Zappos, $20)
For years, I have avoided liquid liner like the plague. Why? Because in 1998, a makeup artist at a pageant used liquid liner to make me look like Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra. It took days, and a chisel, to remove the liner, not to mention how weird it looked on a 16-year-old girl.
Since 2005, I’ve been using Bobby Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner ($21) and applying it with a thin angle brush. It’s easy to apply and I love the look. The only trouble is, I never use all of the liner before it dries out, and that just feels wasteful to me.
I explained my dilemma to a woman at the Nordstrom makeup counter, and she recommended Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner. Her exact words were, “If you can draw with a marker, you can use this product.” And she was right.
The product is mush easier to use than I expected, though it does take one or two uses before you get the hang of it. And this product is especially good for those women who like a really thin line of eyeliner. I, however, prefer something a bit thicker, so I need to layer it on, which takes a bit of skill.
While I like the product, the reason that I have kept using it is simply this: It takes less time to apply. With the Bobbi Brown, getting the perfect line took 2-3 minutes. With the Stila marker, it takes 1 minute or less.
Also, I love that it doesn’t flake or run. With the Bobbi Brown, sometimes, after an 18-hour day it would start to flake or rub onto my lower lids. This no bueno. But the Stila doesn’t rub off or flake off even after a long day.
As for removal, it’s not as tough as I thought it would be. My regular makeup wipes get most of it, and what they leave behind is easily removed with soap and water.
So if you’re looking for an easy to apply, long-wearing liquid liner, this is the product for you. It has turned me into a liquid liner convert, and that is something that I never thought I would be.
I am also a devotee of this product. It's so easy to apply, even on my Asian eyes, and never smudges – not even in the height of summer humidity.
Another good choice is the Smashbox version of this eyeliner, although I did experience a bit of smudging.
Hi, Belle — Just wondering; do you use this on your upper or lower eyes? And if lower, do you use it on the inner part of the eye (not sure of the correct term), or actually UNDER your eye? I'm asking because I use liner under my eyes (on the inner part), and I have had the HARDEST time finding one that stays all day. Best I've found is the MAC waterproof twist up liner, and I'm just meh about it. Would love to try this if you think there's some benefit to using it under the eye as well as above. Alternatively, do you have any suggestions for a good liner under the eye?
Renee-I never line or put mascara on my lower lashes, as I read once that it can actually enhance the appearance of dark circles. But this line is so thin, I bet it would work well, and stay all day.
For a cheaper version I love my Maybelline Line Stiletto Liquid Eyeliner in waterproof – it does make a slightly thicker line, but I like that, and it stays on all day.
Renee- the stila smudge pots are hands down the best thing i've used on my inner eye (fyi its called a waterline). sounds counter intuitive because they are called “smudge pots” but once they set, they do not budge.
i really need to get on the eye liner boat. this may be the product to do it with.
Wet and Wild liquid liner in black is awesome. Super cheap and the blackest black I've ever found. I apply it and then fix it up with an angle brush.
Almay also makes a similar product that I've been using for a few weeks and love for the same reasons you mentioned, Belle. It's called the Liquid Eyeliner Pen, it comes in black, black-brown and brown, and it's only $7.49.
LOVE this eyeliner! A lot of people were recommending me the NARS version, but I thought it was mediocre for the price point. This has not disappointed and the line is incredible fine and consistent. I highly recommend as well.
thanks for the feedback! i'll try them both.
Belle, if you want to save your gel liners after they get dry, close it securely, put it in a ziplock bag and submerge it in hot water for 10-15 minutes. I've done this with my MAC blacktrack and my Smashbox one as well and it's worked for both. Also, Renee for my waterline I love the urban decay 24-7. comes in a variety of colors and it stays all day…i'm always hesitant to use gel liner there since it irritates my eyes and would NEVER use liquid on my waterline after having my MAC superslick bleed into my eye and cause a lot of irritation and hassle.