Anyone who needs an effective eyeliner for a budget price is probably going to want to look at drugstore liquid eyeliners. These are products that can be bought at your local drugstore or supermarket and are usually under twenty dollars. In other words, they are basically cheap liquid eyeliners that are widely available just about anywhere. These are beauty products that can be bought and thrown into a purse without a thought.
While these products may be inexpensive, it doesn’t mean that they have to be low-quality. In fact, we’ve found ten products that not only have a decent price tag but are also some of the highest-quality products we’ve seen. Some of these inexpensive eyeliners were even superior to some of the expensive name-brand ones that are in specialty boutiques. For your convenience, we’ve gone ahead and listed these high-quality eyeliners below.
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Our Top Picks for the Best Drugstore Liquid Eyeliners
Mia Adora Black Eyeliner
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This product is beginning to become popular, and it’s easy to see why. It has a waterproof and smudge-proof formula that provides up to 12 hours of use and stays where it’s applied. This black eyeliner also has a high pigment level that makes it extremely striking on the eyes, and it dries very quickly.
This product will hold up to both sweat and humidity and allows looks good. This liquid gel eyeliner contains no paraben and is animal cruelty-free, so users can feel confident about using it. This concentrated formula comes in a felt tip pen that’s easy to take just about everywhere.
The Flick Stick Winged Eyeliner Stamp
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With a special 2-in-1 design that has a stamp on one end and a precision eyeliner tip on the other end, this product is versatile enough to be used for just about any makeup application. The formula contained in this pen is smudge-proof and waterproof, so the user can wear it with confidence and not have to worry about developing raccoon eyes as the day wears on.
This eyeliner is easy enough to be used by just about any beginner but is advanced enough to allow an expert user to create the perfect eye effects. Taking all things into consideration, this product is suitable for just about anyone and delivers excellent results.
Docolor Waterproof Eyeliner Pen
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All you have to do is look at the design of this product, and you’ll know a lot of thought has gone into it. First of all, it comes with two different pens, one for the left eyelid and one for the right eyelid. Second, each of these pens has two distinct ends.
One of the ends is for stamping, and the other one is a fine tip that allows the user to create a more precise line. Third of all, this product is designed with a special formulation of Candelilla and Carnauba wax, ingredients that allow it to dry quickly and to hold on for all-day wear. All of this comes together to give the user the tools they need for a great eyeliner job.
New York Color Black Eyeliner
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Formulated to have a deep, strong black color and to be fast-drying, it’s easy to see why the popularity of this eyeliner has been on the rise. It’s a dermatologist-tested product that contains special skin conditioning ingredients in it that keep the area around the user’s eyes from drying out. It also has a precision applicator that allows the user to draw perfect, highly detailed lines. This smudge-resistant formula is ideal for a night out on the town or for use at the office and is designed to give an all-day performance. It’s a great liquid eyeliner for the modern woman.
The Balm Schwing Black Eyeliner
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Anyone who likes their eyeliner to have a nice matte black finish that’s rich and deep may want to try this eyeliner out. It’s designed to provide lines that have depth and won’t smudge or flake after they’ve been applied. This product has a compact design that can easily be thrown into a handbag or purse and can be taken just about anywhere. It’s an eyeliner that’s suitable for all skin types and can provide the wearer with nice sharp eyeliner wings that have a very striking effect. Although it’s not really suitable for long periods of use, it is one of the better-looking black eyeliners available.
Zuzu Luxe Raven Eyeliner
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Although this product is more expensive than competing drugstore liquid eyeliners, it’s probably because it’s crafted with such attention to detail and with so many high-quality ingredients. This product is formulated using Jojoba oil, which not only makes it easier to apply but also works to keep the eye area hydrated. This product is never manufactured with parabens or coal tar derivatives and is not just natural but also gluten-free and cruelty-free, too. It’s an eyeliner that’s manufactured in the United States and is safe for use on all skin types. All of which makes it a very attractive raven black eyeliner.
Prestige Brown/Black Eyeliner
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Designed to last up to 12 hours and to be waterproof, this eyeliner is ideal for anyone who needs eyeliner to stay put during very hectic days. This product has been tested by dermatologists and is gluten-free, free of GMOs, and free of parabens as well. It can easily be used on both the upper and lower lash lines and has a dark brown color that provides a subtle highlight to the user’s eyes. Its ultra-fine fiber tip creates an ultra-fine line that can be used to create very dramatic eye effects. While it may not be the perfect eyeliner, it does do a good job and is well worth its price.
Docolor Black Waterproof Eyeliner Pen
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Handcrafted by professional makeup artists and designed to be completely waterproof, this product is ideal for just about anyone and can be used for just about any occasion. Its pen has a brush that’s only .4mm thick, which creates an ultra-fine line that can be used for high-definition makeup applications. This product is extremely easy-to-use, can be matched up to just about any makeup, and provides flawlessly smooth lines. It’s smudge-proof, lasts all day, and is designed to be hypoallergenic. Whether it’s used simply for touchups or to create dramatic cat eyes, it’s sure to draw attention to the eyes.
Revlon ColorStay Skinny Black Out
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Rated as one of the best long-wear brands, this product is designed to give the user a striking and very intense shade of black in a skinny ultra-fine line. This eyeliner uses a tip that’s only .1mm, which is ultra-fine and delivers a razor-sharp line on the eyes.
This product is designed to last the entire day and do it without fading, smudging, or transferring to the hands. It’s been ophthalmologist tested for safety and is light enough to be worn all day long. This is definitely a blackout eyeliner that delivers crisp results and makes a bold statement. Another positive this eyeliner has going for it is its price. It’s extremely inexpensive and affordable to just about anyone.
Dolly Wink Koji Dark Brown Eyeliner
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This eyeliner is designed by Tsubasa Masuwaka, a Japanese model known for making her eyes look large. This formula is designed to be smudge-free, to dry quickly, and to be resistant to not only the oil from the user’s skin but also from sweat beads and tears, too.
This product is only made with high-quality ingredients, so women can rest assured that this product is good for their skin and can easily be removed with lukewarm water. And it has a subtle brown color that complements the eyes. Anyone who’s looking to create that big-eye baby doll look may want to check out this eyeliner and see if it’s something they would enjoy using.
How to Apply Drugstore Liquid Eyeliner
Some women are intimidated by liquid eyeliners, and there’s a good reason for it. This product requires a little more of a steady hand than conventional liners, and this can really amplify mistakes. However, it doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience to apply this product to your eyelids. We’ve put together a little guide that will help you get the most out of your favorite eyeliner.
Step 1: Choose Your Liquid Eyeliner
Since you’re reading this article, we’re going to assume that you’ve gone ahead and decided to use liquid eyeliner. However, even with that decision made, you still have to choose between one of the two main styles that liquid liners come in: a dip brush or a felt-tip pen. There’s no right or wrong choice here because it’s entirely up to you.
Dip-brush applicators are very much like nail polish. When you want to use the product, you have to dip the brush in the eyeliner and then apply it. Felt-tip applicators, on the other hand, are more like markers, and the product is fed up through them. Which application method you choose is entirely up to you.
Step 2: Get Your Eyelids Ready
If you’re starting out for the day, then you are probably going to want to prepare your eyelids. This may involve using makeup remover or another astringent to make sure that you have a clean base to start on. The next step is to put on an eyelid primer to ensure that your eyeshadow and your eyeliner will stick to your lid the entire day. When that’s done, you can then apply your favorite eyeshadow. Now you’re ready to apply eyeliner.
Step 3: Use the Proper Technique
Okay, we understand that it’s not always possible to use proper technique when applying eyeliner. We understand that sometimes life happens. However, whenever you can, you should use good form to ensure that your makeup application works out well for you. You should have a stable surface to put your elbow on to steady your hand, and you should also have a handheld mirror available. A handheld mirror gives you the option of looking at your eyes from different angles. It’s really helpful to look down into a handheld mirror to get a good eyeliner application on your eyelids.
Step 4: Start With Guideline Dots or Dashes
Most women simply draw on their eyeliner and don’t think twice about it. And this can work out well with someone who has plenty of practice putting on eyeliner and has a steady hand. But that doesn’t describe everyone, so some people try to just draw on the eyeliner and end up with a wavy application or end up coming up just short on the end of the tail.
This can be avoided, however, by simply drawing some dots or dashes on your eyelid where you want to apply the eyeliner. It’s easier to connect dots in a straight line than it is to draw a straight line without guideline dots. Just make sure that you evenly space them out when you draw them.
Step 5: Draw a Line Through the Guideline Dots or Dashes
Okay, now it’s time to make your line. It’s easy to mess up this part of the application process, so make sure you have a steady hand and use the proper technique. Don’t attempt to cross through all of the dots or dashes in one stroke. Instead, connect one dot to its neighbor as you move across the eyelid. Applying eyeliner in this method will enable you to create lines on each eye that are perfectly equal.
Step 6: Make Sure Your Line is Smooth
Using your handheld mirror, examine your eyeliner and make sure that it is one smooth line. If it isn’t, and there are breaks between the dots, then draw a line along the edge to make sure it’s smoothed out. During this step, you should also make sure that there isn’t any space between your lashes and your eyeliner. If there is space, then fix it before continuing.
Step 7: Adding an Eyeliner Tail
Makeup experts usually agree that you should add some sort of tail to your eyeliner. That’s because it makes your lash line look fuller and larger. Some women like to add a sweeping tail for a traditional cat-eye look, and some women prefer to add a shorter tail. If you prefer the latter, then you can simply make a small extending line and swoop it upward.
If you’re going for a long tail, however, then you are probably going to want to make a small dot where you want the end of the tail to terminate and then draw a line from the end of your eyeliner to this dot. It’s as simple as that.
Step 8: Finishing Up
Okay, now that you’ve perfected your eyeliner, it’s time to finish your face. During this step, you are going to want to apply mascara and take a good hard look at your makeup. If you’ve made any errors applying your makeup, use makeup remover and a Q-tip to correct them. Congratulations, you’ve just completed your makeup.
Drugstore Liquid Eyeliner Tips
Now that you’ve got the basic technique for applying not just bargain eyeliner but any eyeliner available, we want to give you a few extra tips to help you out. So let’s not waste time; here are a few additional tips to help you get the most out of your eyeliner application.
- Don’t pull the skin on the side of your face. I’ve seen too many women use their fingers to pull their skin taut to apply eyeliner. This never helps and can result in an uneven application. Apply the eyeliner without pulling the skin for the best results.
- Concealer can be used to fix smudges. If you accidentally make a mistake and don’t have time to fix it, you can cover it with concealer. This is also a good technique for fixing smudges. Clear lip gloss is also fairly effective at fixing smudges if you don’t have concealer available.
- Eyeliner colors each have different visual effects. Black eyeliner looks bold, brown eyeliner has more of a subtle look to it, and gray eyeliner makes the eyes seem softer. Try out different color eyeliners to get the effect you want for different events or social situations.