Best Black Eyeliners of 2025
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Eyeliners are a makeup essential for many people, and black is a classic shade that never goes out of style. A good eyeliner can help define and enhance the eyes, making them appear more striking and alluring. Whether you prefer a liquid, gel, or pencil formula, there are many high-quality black eyeliners available on the market that can help you achieve your desired look. From a subtle thin line to a bold and dramatic cat-eye, a black eyeliner is a versatile tool that can add depth and dimension to any makeup look.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
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9.8
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9.7
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9.5
Top 10 Black Eyeliners
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Exaggerate Eye Definer, Intense Black
The Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Definer offers a striking look with its super-rich colour pigments, ensuring your eyes stand out. Its ultra-creamy texture makes application a breeze, allowing you to achieve the perfect line effortlessly. With a retractable automatic tip, storage is simple and mess-free. You can even use it on your waterline for those bold, dramatic lines that enhance your eyes. Plus, its waterproof, transfer-proof, and smudge-proof formula ensures long-lasting wear throughout your day.
e.l.f. Intense H20 Proof Eyeliner Pen
The e.l.f. Eyeliner Pen is designed for easy application, allowing you to create both thin and thick lines with its intense colour. Its quick-dry, smudge-proof formula enhances your lash line, ensuring long-lasting wear throughout the day. You can effortlessly draw from the inner to the outer corner of your eyes, keeping close to the lash line for precision. For a complete eye look, pair it with waterproof mascara and smudge-proof eyeshadow to ensure your makeup stays flawless.
Maybelline Hyper Precise All Day Liner in Matte Black
The Maybelline Hyper Precise Liner offers an exclusive felt tip that never dries and ensures a smooth application, so you can create flawless lines effortlessly. The ultra-thin 0.4mm brush allows you to achieve even and precise lines, enhancing your eye makeup. With advanced ink technology, the liner's pigments remain super-saturated for lasting intensity, giving you confidence in your look throughout the day. Additionally, it is safe for sensitive eyes, making it a great choice for anyone concerned about irritation.
Rimmel London Exaggerate Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, Black
The Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner is perfect for achieving dramatic eye looks with its intense, highly pigmented formula. You can create smooth, precise lines thanks to its maximum control applicator, making it suitable for both subtle and bold styles. Its long-lasting formula ensures your eyeliner remains smudge-proof and run-proof for up to 16 hours, giving you confidence throughout the day or night. Plus, with a smooth glide-on application, you can enjoy a flawless finish every time, enhancing your beauty routine effortlessly.
Rimmel Wonder'Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
The Rimmel Wonder'Ink Eyeliner offers highly pigmented colour that lasts up to 24 hours, ensuring your eye makeup remains vibrant throughout the day. Its waterproof formula means you won't have to worry about smudging, even in wet conditions. This eyeliner is also resistant to sweat and rubbing, making it ideal for busy days or nights out. With a precise and flexible flock-tip applicator, you can create quick and easy lines, allowing you to achieve your desired look with minimal effort.
e.l.f. Expert Liquid Liner, Jet Black
The e.l.f. Liquid Liner offers a rich, jet black colour that ensures a long-lasting defined look for your eyes. Its smudge-proof formula allows you to create easy and precise definitions, whether you prefer a natural or dramatic effect. You can position the fine tip brush close to your lash roots, making application simple and fluid. Additionally, this eyeliner is compact and travel-friendly, so you can easily carry it wherever you go.
Collection Cosmetics Fast Stroke Eyeliner, Quick Drying
The Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner offers easy application with its felt tip nib, allowing you to create precise and fierce flicks effortlessly. You won’t have to wait long for your eyeliner to dry, thanks to its quick-drying formula, which helps prevent smudging throughout the day. The ultra-black pigment ensures that your looks are bold and striking, whether for day or night. Plus, being vegan-friendly makes it a great choice for conscious consumers.
Maybelline Master Ink Matte Black Eyeliner 12g
The Maybelline Master Ink Eyeliner offers a user-friendly experience with its dip-in flexible-tip brush, making it easy for you to create precise lines. The formula contains black carbon pigments, ensuring deep black intensity that enhances your eye makeup. You can enjoy worry-free wear, as this eyeliner is both smudge-proof and waterproof, allowing you to look your best all day. With its long-wear formula, you can trust that your eyeliner will stay put, giving you confidence throughout your busy schedule.
Rimmel Glam'Eyes Professional Liquid Eye Liner in Black
The Rimmel Glam'Eyes Eyeliner offers a sleek and professional finish to your eye makeup. This liquid eyeliner, in a classic black shade, allows you to create precise lines effortlessly, enhancing your eye shape and making your eyes stand out. With its easy application, you can achieve a variety of looks, from subtle to dramatic, depending on your mood. The one-count packaging is convenient for everyday use, ensuring you have a reliable eyeliner at hand whenever you need it.
e.l.f. No Budge Retractable Eyeliner, Black
The e.l.f. No Budge Eyeliner is a versatile, waterproof retractable eyeliner that meets all your makeup needs. Its creamy, ultra-pigmented formula provides impressive staying power, ensuring your look lasts throughout the day. You can apply it along your lash line, waterline, or all over your lid for a striking effect. If you prefer a smoky look, simply smudge it immediately, or wait 30 seconds for a budge-proof finish. This product is perfect for anyone seeking long-lasting, intense eye makeup.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What black eyeliner is good?
Best Overall: Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner. A classic, waterproof pencil liner from Chanel is our best overall pick for black eyeliner. The liner auto-sharpens so you always have a fresh tip, it's super smooth to apply, and it leaves behind a rich dark black that resists smudging.
2. What does black eyeliner do for your eyes?
Black eyeliner can define the shape of your eye as it attracts attention. Since your upper lashes define the upper lash line whether you use an eyeliner or not, kohl on the waterline completes the shape. It closes up your eye to a great extent and makes it appear smaller.
3. What is black eyeliner called?
Kohl (Arabic: كُحْل, romanized: kuḥl), kajal or kajol is an ancient eye cosmetic, traditionally made by grinding stibnite (Sb2S3) for use similar to that of charcoal in mascara.
4. Is it okay to put black eyeliner in eyes?
Sood-Mendiratta advises against keeping eye products for longer than about three months. “If the mascara or eyeliner is old, this increases the chances that bacteria or fungus have contaminated it. If any of this gets introduced directly into your eye, you could end up with a serious eye infection,” she says.
During our black eyeliner research, we found 306 black eyeliner products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 401,782 customer reviews through our big data system to write the black eyeliners list. We found that most customers choose black eyeliners with an average price of £5.11.
The black eyeliners are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of black eyeliners, including Rimmel, e.l.f., Maybelline, Collection.
Charlotte Powell is a dermatologist and a licensed cosmetologist from Westminster, London. However, she was first a cosmetologist from London Beauty Training School. According to Charlotte, she needed better insight into the human skin, hence the dermatology degree. Long before she acquired her degree, she wrote and edited articles, eBooks, and editorials for companies and websites. Charlotte combines her skill and knowledge in providing DIY Beauty tips amongst other fashion related topics.