Courtesy of subjects Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story It’s kind of amazing how the tiniest differences between the eyeliners in your makeup kit can completely alter not only your application experience but also your finished look. If you’ve ever attempted to fill in your waterline with a felt-tip liquid liner, you get it. Or maybe you don’t get it—and that’s okay, too. Eyeliner can be a wildly confusing category that leaves many of us too intimidated to try certain formulas or not make the most of the ones we regularly use.
Once you understand what each eyeliner format does best, it becomes less about perfect technique (though that doesn’t hurt) and more about choosing the right one for the look you want to create. To help break the eyeliner code, we turned to makeup artists who use all of these formulas professionally, so you can figure out how the different types fit into your personal makeup style, your skill level, and your comfort zone.
We’re getting to the bottom of the most malleable type of pencil, the longest-wearing way to tightline, the easiest way to achieve precise graphic looks , and more. Here’s exactly what every type of eyeliner does best and how to use them like a pro.
Robin before applying eyeliner Courtesy of subject Robin holding Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil after application Courtesy of subject What it is Raise your hand if traditional pencil eyeliner was your gateway into the world of eye makeup. I’m typing this sentence with one hand because I’m raising the other. It’s one of the most beginner-friendly formats because it offers control without demanding strict precision, which is why so many people keep using it decades beyond their earliest eyeliner attempts.
“A traditional pencil is usually a little firmer and more forgiving, which makes it great for beginners or anyone who wants soft definition without committing to a super-sharp line,” says Rose Siard , a Houston-based makeup artist, founder of Rose & Ben Beauty , and the Allure Readers’ Choice Award winner for favorite beauty creator. She favors the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil because "it’s pigmented, blendable, and works really well when you want control without harshness."
Compared with softer formulas like kohl or gel (stay tuned for those), traditional pencils are firmer with a little more tug (a good one doesn’t have too much, though), which allows you to build intensity instead of instantly plopping on a bold stripe. Christian Briceno , a makeup artist based in Los Angeles, explains that this grip is exactly what makes them useful professionally: “I like that resistance because it lets me apply the definition gradually rather than deposit a heavy line all at once.”
Unlike liquid formulas, which have a more high-impact finish, traditional pencils tend to look more blended. Even a deep black pencil can feel softer and more natural because the pigment doesn’t sit as sharply on top of the skin.
Traditional pencil eyeliner is quite the multitasker. It’s ideal for everyday lash line definition, subtly filling gaps between lashes, softly extending the outer corner, or creating the first layer of a smoky eye —if you act fast. “While it is smudge-capable, you just need to be a bit quicker to do so, as it will dry down to lock into place,” says Steve Kassajikian , makeup artist and director of global artistry at Urban Decay .
Siard likes using these pencils to “lightly map out a wing” before committing to a stronger…