'Cry-proof', 'man-proof' eyeliner tricks from women who know their stuff

Izabella Zaydenberg
·Deputy Editor, Commerce

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Welcome to Hook’d! Every Wednesday, we bring you insights, tips, and deals in fashion, tech, home, and more, via a rotating roster of in-the-know hosts. This week’s episode features Yahoo’s TV style correspondent Chassie Post, on-air personality and Youtuber Kennedy Johnson, Yahoo! Entertainment’s ‘Last Night Now’ host (and sneaker addict) Kylie Mar, and TV host and beauty expert Sandra Vergara.

The topic? Eyeliner.

Which is the best delivery system (pencil, liquid, pot)? How do you achieve the perfect smudge? How do you not smudge when you want a clean line? How do you accomplish the elusive smoky eye? And how do you not misplace your sharpener? This conversation is enlightening, and helps you sort through your makeup bag with a new sense of purpose.

Below, Sandra, Chassie, Kennedy, and Kylie share their favorite liners, formulas, and techniques—offering awesome, relatable advice to help you pick the perfect liner for you.

Bobbi Brown Gel Ink Pot

It's waterproof, crease-proof, and versatile. (Photo: Bobbi Brown)
It's waterproof, crease-proof, and versatile. (Photo: Bobbi Brown)

Sandra’s favorite liner doesn’t look like a liner at all: “My favorite is this Bobbi Brown Gel Ink Pot,” she explains, which you apply with a brush. “It comes in, like, eight colors.”

Sandra is not alone in her enthusiasm. Word has it that Kate Middleton used this very same liner on the day she married Prince William (yup, it’s that good!). Not only is it waterproof, but according to Sandra,“it’s everything-proof: crying-proof, man-proof, friend-proof!”

Don’t be intimidated by the gel formula — it’s easier than it looks!

“It looks like it may be complicated, but it’s not,” Sandra explained. “For the cat eye, I’ll use black, because I want the boldness.” She says application is easier than it looks: “Lift the eyebrow. Then go as close as possible in the lashline.”

Shop it: Bobbi Brown Gel Ink Pot, $24 (was $27), amazon.com

Sephora Collection 12hr Colorful Contour Eyeliner

This buttery liner is shockingly affordable. (Photo: Sephora)
This buttery liner is shockingly affordable. (Photo: Sephora)

Kylie prefers a more traditional liner — a thin, creamy pencil.

“I’ve tried the pot eyeliners,” Kylie explains. “I don’t have as steady a hand when I’m using a brush, which is why I like this Sephora eyeliner. It’s like gel, but it’s a crayon,” she says. “It doesn’t get dried up, and it doesn’t get stuck when you’re trying to draw that line. It’s very smooth.”

In demonstrating, Kylie made her case: One swipe was all she needed for a totally opaque line.

The Sephora Collection 12hr Colorful Contour Eyeliner comes in more than 20 (!) shades, several of which are on sale right now.

Shop it: Sephora Collection 12hr Colorful Contour Eyeliner, from $2 to $10, sephora.com

L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner

This pencil is great for both bold wings and smudgy looks. (Photo: Amazon)
This pencil is great for both bold wings and smudgy looks. (Photo: Amazon)

Chassie, a fan of the smoky eye, is also a pencil girl: “This L’Oréal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner has got a fat tip—it’s like a crayon. It’s perfect for smudging.” Chassie applies it in dots on her lower lashline, then smudges outward.

This L’Oreal liner comes with its own sharpener, which is great; it’s not a standard size pencil and wouldn’t work with a classic eye-pencil sharpener.

Shop it: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner, $8, amazon.com

TheBalm Schwing Liquid Eyeliner

This pen gives a precise line (or dot, if that's your thing). (Photo: The Balm)
This pen gives a precise line (or dot, if that's your thing). (Photo: The Balm)

As for Kennedy? She doesn’t use eyeliner at all—at least not on her eyes. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have one in her makeup bag: “I use [liquid] liner to fill in beauty marks,” Kennedy says. And not just that— Kennedy transforms skin imperfections with eyeliner too.

“If you have a blemish on your face,” she says, as she applies a tiny dot to her chin, “now you have a new beauty mark!”

How do you make sure the black liner doesn’t look too harsh? Let it dry, Kennedy says, and if it’s too intense, powder it, then blot. “Doesn’t that just change the game?” It sure does!

Shop it: TheBalm Schwing Liquid Eyeliner, $17, amazon.com

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