Haven’t you heard? Gel eyeliner is making a comeback! No, you don’t have to be afraid. We’re not talking about Avril Lavigne-esque eye makeup (though we can see this coming back as we delve deeper into nostalgic makeup trends). We’re interested in the resurgence of gel eyeliner in our eyes’ water lines and how it takes inspiration from all of the eyeliner looks from the last few decades. We’ve seen the “rockstar girlfriend” makeup looks trending in the makeup community, and this trend is definitely taking inspiration from that.
Gel eyeliner is being used in a multitude of ways, but we’re seeing an uptick in the classic liner method: Using the product to tight line your eye’s waterline. Though it might seem crazy that we’re going back to the 1990s and 2000s tried-and-true makeup style, some of your favorite influencers have been sporting the look online and they couldn’t look more gorgeous. Gel liner looks good on anyone and everyone, whether you want to tight line your eyes for a sultry look or utilize the smooth liners for your sharper-than-a-knife cat eye wing.
Either way, we’ve gathered some of our favorite gel liners, some trending right now and others we’re keeping our eye on, so you can have the best of the best products to choose from as you’re navigating this new (and likely here to stay) makeup trend. Don’t worry — we’ve split up our gel liner favorites from boujee to budget to cater to all of your beauty needs.
Have you ever purchased a pricey liquid liner and it dried out in exactly two weeks? Or, maybe, you realized your liquid liner cannot be used for anything other than drawing on a sharp cat eye? If your answer is yes, this is your sign to stop wasting your money.
Gel eyeliners not only hold up exceptionally well for months in your makeup bag, but can be used for tightlining, smokey eye looks, and winged cat liner, too. Liquid liner often dries too quickly after days of non-use and on our faces when we’re trying (for the fifth time) to get our liner just right. Gel liners require little to no makeup skills because they glide smoothly and can be cleaned up with some micellar water and a trusty Q-tip.
With gel products, the user error is almost nonexistent. You can get that smudged smokey eye or a crisp, clean, black tightline using just one product. And, because we all love a product that can do it all, we know you’re looking for something that can do everything you need it to without breaking the bank on multiple products. The idea of tightlining so close to our eyeballs can be a bit daunting, but with gel liners, you’re truly applying little to no pressure in the sensitive areas you’re trying to avoid when you’re doing your makeup. Our favorites, which happen to be trending right now, are definitely the Kosas and Ilia liners — which happen to be products that won’t send you spiraling before payday. Check out our editors' picks below.
These liners are offered in a multitude of different chic colors so you can use your imagination when you use your face as a canvas. Paint your way through the colors of the rainbow with different finishes ranging from metallic, to matte, to shimmery. BTW — some of these eyeliners are waterproof. You're welcome!
If you're looking to shell out a few extra bills on high quality products like Valentino and Tom Ford, we've got you covered. Valentino and Tom Ford's gel eyeliners are some of the top-rated gel liners on Sephora's website with an average five star review. Check them out below.
