Welcome back to Point/Counterpoint—everybody's favorite, intermittent beauty debate column. Let's have the big conversations: if you’re going to use eyeliner, would you rather use a liquid or a pencil? On one side of the aisle is Utibe Mbagwu, ITG’s Social Media Coordinator and lover of all things liquid liner. On the other is Editorial Assistant Ali Oshinsky, who prefers the kind you can sharpen and blend. This is Point/Counterpoint. Fists up, folks. We're about to sling some mud.
Point, Ali: I'll just get right to it. My main qualm with liquid eyeliner is that I don’t know what to do with it other than a cat-eye, and cat-eyes… don’t look good on me. Or rather, I don’t like them on myself. Every makeup artist who’s ever done me up has elongated the shape of my eyes, and then I have to tell them I love it before rushing to the bathroom to wash everything off. When I do makeup on myself, I prefer to emphasize their roundness. It just feels more me. And with liquid liner, I may make it across the spread of my lid but once I get to the end the little felt tip/dip pot/flexi-brush has me backed into an ocular corner, and the only way out is with a flick. I’m a person who packs at least three pairs of shoes on weekend trips because I like options, so you can see why I’m having difficulty with this.
Counterpoint, Utibe: Ali! Before you banish yourself from the extremely chic world of cat eyes, have you watched this iconic video from Michelle Phan? The possibilities of what you can do with liquid liner are limitless, from Glossier ‘baby flick’ to Amy Winehouse wing. I cannot accept that you’ve tried every different type of cat eye and hated them all–have you tried swapping out black for a natural brown? I personally think you’d be into making your face into a neon, minimalist work of line-art. Liquid liners are inspiring—you can express yourself with them. With the right approach, you can make anything, even liquid eyeliners, feel like you. You already know how to do it, too. Liquid liners are versatile. Pencils, not so much.
Point, Utibe: Why not choose the eyeliner that actually gets the job done? And by that I mean, stay put, resist fading, and show up on your eyelids no matter how dry or moisturized they may be. The eyeliner I wear must make my lovely brown eyes instantly brighter, or what’s the point? Liquid eyeliners are always up for the task, plus you won’t need to lug around a mechanical pencil sharpener in your bag like it’s the third grade. Ali, I’m grown!
Counterpoint, Ali: OK, I’m willing to admit that sharpeners are clunky and often explode. Plus, sure, maybe liquid liners have a longwear reputation for a reason. But, what happens when they stay where you don’t want them? What if you apply your wing, and without even thinking, take a good, hard blink. What then? I’ll tell you what: you’ve got a half-moon shape on the wrinkle above your crease for the rest of the afternoon. Liquid liners may stay longer, but I can’t be convinced they wear as well as pencil. They’ve been known to flake, or transfer—I’d take an artful smudge of pigment that just disappears over a 4PM why didn’t anyone tell me I looked like this panic attack in the communal work bathroom. Just sayin’.
Point, Ali: At the end of the day, I’m tired, you’re tired—can’t we just agree on which eyeliner is easiest? It’s pencil, obviously. I would say I have a steady hand, and even I have trouble using liquid liner every now and then. It’s just too messy, too uncontrollable, too...liquidy. Whereas a pencil—old school as it might be, I've got that thing (literally) under my thumb. You don't have to wait for it to set, which is why you can use a pencil in your waterline and not a liquid. (Utibe, have you ever flipped up your top lid and tightlined your upper waterline? Your lashes look instantly thicker, and you don't even need mascara—it’s life-changing.) Plus, beyond staying put where you put it, a pencil is forgiving. So, even if your hands have a little shake to ‘em, you don’t have to get over the double trauma of not being able to perform surgery as a career and not being able to apply eyeliner at 7AM. If the line’s not perfect, pish posh! Who cares! You can’t even tell! And if you can tell, just smudge it out until it looks perfectly imperfect in that cool, soft, slept-in kind of way. You can’t tell me you can get the job done faster with a liquid.
Counterpoint: Utibe: Sure, I’ll admit liquid liners can be drippy. But for every liquid eyeliner that’s too messy, there’s a pencil liner making tugged, semi-opaque dashes across my eyelid. Not even a couple layers of mascara can fix that. Still, I hear what you’re saying about control, and to that I say: It’s all in the mind and, more importantly, the brush. Wobbly hands should stay far away from inkwell and sponge brushes and head straight for liquid liners with a felt or brush tip. The liquid liners that have reached holy grail status for me have a flexible brush and a never-dull tip to hug my lash line and draw the finest flick without headache. Of course, good things don’t come easy, and there is a learning curve. A Scotch Tape or some spare Q-tips make excellent training wheels for the liquid-averse. And then, keep going! Soon you’ll achieve that otherworldly feat of acing your liquid liner application the first time through, and you’ll take over the world. Isn’t that what beauty is all about?
So, who won this time? Let’s continue in the comments.
Photo via ITG
Pencil, gel, liquid…the options are overwhelming. But which eyeliner is your eyeliner?
It can feel like eyeliner product descriptions say the same thing.
Stays all day!
Rich color!
Easy to apply!
How can you tell the difference when they all claim the same things?
How is gel vs. liquid eyeliner? Or liquid vs. pencil eyeliner? Do you have to try them all to find the best fit?
Thankfully, no. We’ll give you the scoop on each eyeliner type so you can decide what matches your lifestyle best.
Here’s a quick overview:
Eyeliner pencil
Eyeliner pencil is like using—you guessed it—a pencil. Fans of the pencil liner love the fast, easy application. It’s also super versatile, allowing you to apply defined or blended lines. Plus, it’s super user-friendly to apply to your waterline.
Pencil is perfect if you’re not confident with the less predictable consistency of liquid liner or gel. Compared to its alternatives, pencil liner isn’t as strong when it comes to definition or boldness. It’s a great fit if you enjoy subtle lines and color.
Gel eyeliner
Gel eyeliner gives you high control of your design. Fans of the gel liner rave about the glide-on precision they have when applying it. Thin lines, thick lines, ultra-sharp tips…gel is the weapon of choice when it comes to chiseled lines and designs.
With a gel liner, your precision can totally depend on the brush you use. The more precise the brush, the better application you’ll get. It’s also easy to clean up and shape with a cotton swab as you go.
Liquid liner
Liquid eyeliner is like using a quill or ink pen. Fans of the liquid liner enjoy the formula’s fine lines and flicks. The precision you get from liquid eyeliner gives you extremely clean, sharp lines and points.
Is liquid eyeliner easier than pencil? Well, it can give you incredible customization—if you’re willing to practice. The runniness of the formula takes some practice to master. As liners go, it’s the least forgiving. It can be messy to apply and take a while to dry. Thankfully, liquid liner comes in different applicator options. Eyeliner pens, micro brushes, and felt tips are a few of the common ones.
Want the easiest option to use? The one that will give you the best cat eye? The one you don’t have to replace so often?
To compare liquid eyeliner vs. pen vs. gel, think about what’s important for your makeup routine and lifestyle.
1. What eyeliner is most
user-friendly?
Want something easy? Don’t want to take up unnecessary time in your makeup routine? Then stick with the pencil eyeliner. The ergonomic tool mirrors the writing utensils we use every day, making it great for beginners (or anyone who doesn’t want to waste time).
Squeamish about accidentally getting eyeliner in your eye? With a pencil, there's no risk of running, like liquid ink eyeliner.
If you want to step up your eyeliner skill (but still don’t want to screw around with the messiness of liquid liner), try gel eyeliner. Plus, a cotton swab and makeup remover work perfectly as an eraser to clean up your eyeliner as you go.
2. What’s the best
ultra-thineyeliner?
If you enjoy razor-thin, barely-there eyeliner, opt for a liquid eyeliner. While there’s a learning curve to mastering the runniness of the formula, practice will give you unmatched precision.
A gel liner with a precision brush will also give you extra-fine lines. Whether you use a liquid liner or a gel liner, the control of your eyeliner thickness will depend on your applicator.
3. What eyeliner has the
richest pigment?
Is bold your goal? Want your black liner to be as inky as you can get? For the richest pigment, opt for a liquid liner or gel liner.
A liquid liner will give you intense line contrast, which gives the color more oomph. Gel eyeliner will give you super-rich pigment, whether it’s smudged or defined.
4. What’s the most
customizableeyeliner?
Like to get creative? Or are you a cat-eye fanatic? Try a gel liner if design control is your priority. It will give you the most flexibility with different line thicknesses. That’s why it’s a fan favorite for users that love unique tips and flicks. And like we mentioned before, a cotton swab with eye makeup remover will easily let you fix up mistakes.
If you’re up for the challenge, liquid eyeliner in the form of a fine-tipped pen can also give you a ton of range.
5. What eyeliner
doesn’t have to be replaced often?
Don’t want to worry about having your liner dry out or expire quickly? Then pencil eyeliner is the way to go. The shelf life of gel or liquid eyeliner is around 2 to 3 months. But with an eyeliner pencil, you can use it for 1 to 2 years. Or until it runs out!
You also won’t have to worry about accidentally forgetting it, then finding it dried up on your bathroom counter or melted in a hot car. The solid formula withstands air, heat, and time better than its liquid or gel counterparts.
6. What eyeliner is best for
lining your waterline & tightlining?
Enjoy definition all around your eye? Use a pencil or gel, skip the liquid liner.
The harsh definition of liquid liner can look cheap. It also turns back to liquid when moisture from your eye gets on it. Liquid liner used on your waterline or around the inner corner of your eye tends to end up as a goopy black mess.
A pencil will give you a definition without looking harsh. Plus, since it’s a solid piece, the formula can’t fall into your eye, making the application WAY less risky.
A gel can also be a great fit for its application control. After all, there’s no cosmetic that gets you closer to touching your eyeball! A gel can also be gently smudged for a smokey or blended look. You may even prefer a combo of pencil and gel if you want to round out the ease of the pencil with the customizability of gel.
With any specific product, make sure that it’s safe for your waterline. While pencils and gels are typically safe for waterline usage, it entirely depends on the formula.
7. What eyeliner
stays on your face all day?
We all want our liner to stick with it all day long. But what’s the longest-wearing eyeliner formula? It’s going to depend on how well your lids and eyeliner play together.
If your lids have lots of folds, a pencil or gel may be a better bet than liquid. If you deal with sweaty or oily lids, a gel may help you out best. With any eyeliner, using a primer will help give you that all-day staying power.
Which will you love more? Liquid eyeliner, pencil, or gel?
Eyeliner is gorgeous around your eyes—but is your eyeliner as gorgeous-looking on your vanity? Pretty Vulgar eyeliners have been gracing makeup collections with their top-notch performance and iconic packaging.
Enjoy the tiny inkwell gel liner of
The Ink
paired with the buttery-smooth application of
The Wingmaster
brush.
Add a vintage-inspired fountain pen to your makeup bag with the
On Point
liquid eyeliner pen.
Or keep it simple and stay golden with the
Writing On The Wall
eyeliner pencil.
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