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  4. 10 Best Eyeliners for Beginners 2024 | UK Makeup Artist Reviewed
  • 10 Best Eyeliners for Beginners 2024 | UK Makeup Artist Reviewed 1
  • 10 Best Eyeliners for Beginners 2024 | UK Makeup Artist Reviewed 2
  • 10 Best Eyeliners for Beginners 2024 | UK Makeup Artist Reviewed 3
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10 Best Eyeliners for Beginners 2024 | UK Makeup Artist Reviewed

For gothic, smudgy-eyed mystery or the winged cat eye of a black-and-white movie star, nothing beats a reliable liner for a lightning-quick makeover. But if you’re a complete beginner, the fear of scribbling blindly on your own eyelids is real. What type of liner will you opt for? A pencil, felt tip pen, gel or liquid liner? 

Luckily, we're here to help! From UK drugstore favourites Maybelline and Rimmel to pro brands like MAC and KVD Vegan Beauty, we've compiled a list of the best beginner buys alongside a foolproof guide to finding your match. Moreover, we have partnered with Makeup Artist Marie Dancer for reviewing and fact-checking the article so that we can deliver the best information to our users.

Last updated 22/03/2024
Marie Dancer
Expert
Makeup Artist
Marie Dancer

As a professional make-up artist of ten years, Marie's job has taken her all over the UK working at top events, on TV shows and making up beautiful brides. For all her clients she loves emphasising their natural beauty by creating a flawless base that still looks like skin.

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Fact-Checked & Approved by Makeup Artist Marie Dancer

Fact-Checked & Approved by Makeup Artist Marie Dancer

As a professional makeup artist of ten years, Marie's job has taken her all over the UK, working at top events, on TV shows and making up beautiful brides. For all of her clients, she loves emphasising their natural beauty by creating a flawless base that still looks like skin.


Find out more about Marie and what are her favourite makeup products are through her Instagram! She even shares some industry tips on makeup application too. And if you're interested in getting your makeup done by Marie, you can contact her via her email found at the top of her page.

How to Choose an Eyeliner for Beginners in the UK

Key Points to Consider
  1. Choose Between A Pencil, Liquid, Felt Tip or Gel Liner 
  2. Consider Whether You Need A Long-Lasting And Waterproof Liner 
  3. For Contact Lens Wearers, Look Out for Ophthalmologist-Tested Eyeliners
1

Choose Between Pencil, Liquid, Felt Tip and Gel Liners Depending on Your Experience Level and Desired Look

Choose Between Pencil, Liquid, Felt Tip and Gel Liners Depending on Your Experience Level and Desired Look

If you’re only just starting out with eyeliner, you’ll probably take a while experimenting to achieve your desired effect. In order to create the subtle or dramatic look you want, it’s best to chose a product you can apply comfortably and easily. Here are some of the most common type of liners: 


  • Pencil Liners: Work well for achieving a simple, neat line along your eyelid, or for smudging a little to give a smoky-eyed look when you’re a complete beginner. The effect will depend on how sharp or blunt your eyeliner pencil is, so consider experimenting with different tips to discover what works (and looks) best for you.

  • Liquid Liners: One of the benefits of this kind of product is its staying power and overall dramatic effect. A liquid liner is best suited to creating clear, dark, sharp lines and flicks, so it’s great for beginners who want a dramatic look. When choosing a liquid liner, consider the nib. A product with a fine-tipped brush will make subtle and elegant results, while an application brush with a hard tip will also help improve your precision. 

  • Felt Tip Liners: For a product that combines the sharp lines and depth of colour afforded by liquid liners with the simplicity of a pencil, try a felt tip style eyeliner. These smart tubes of colour act like a kind of makeup marker pen, providing a luxurious liquid line you can apply just as you would a pencil liner. As well as being weighty and comfortable to hold, the fine tip makes it perfect for drawing a sharp, quick line mistake-free, perfect if you want to create a glamorous cat-eye flick. 

  • Gel Type: A bit like liquid eyeliner, a gel liner is also painted on, so controlling the brush may be a challenge for eyeliner newbies. One benefit of gel liner is that it’s extremely easy to blend, so you don’t need a rigidly straight line. This type of liner will create a smoky effect rather than a sharp, sleek line. 

Further enhance your eyes by using an eyeshadow palette and volumising mascara 

2

Select Waterproof Liner for a Long-Lasting Look or a Non-waterproof Formula if You Need Some Practice

Select Waterproof Liner for a Long-Lasting Look or a Non-waterproof Formula if You Need Some Practice

If you choose a non-waterproof liner, it will come off nice and easily, letting you make endless mistakes without staining half your face. Additionally, it can be removed without tugging or pulling harshly at your skin. The downside is that once it’s on, it will be more likely to smudge and move around your skin.


Waterproof eyeliner will withstand a morning swim, rainstorms, and even just the moment you absent-mindedly rub your newly-lined peepers. If you want a long-lasting look, this is the best option; just keep some effective makeup remover to hand while you experiment with cat flicks for the first time.


Make removing tough eye makeup easy with an eye makeup remover

3

Look for Ophthalmologist-Tested Eyeliners if You Wear Contact Lenses

Look for Ophthalmologist-Tested Eyeliners if You Wear Contact Lenses

Do you wear contacts? Great news – nowadays, more and more makeup brands are putting their products through tests to make them safe and suitable for contact lens wearers. This is especially relevant for contacts-wearing liner newbies, as your eyes may not be used to these products, particularly if you're applying them directly onto your lash or water line. Look for eyeliners that are ophthalmologist-tested to ensure minimal irritation! 

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10 Best Eyeliners for Beginners in the UK

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Price
Key features
1

Collection

Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Eyeliner

Collection  Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Eyeliner 1

£3.49

Low Mid

Easy-to-Apply Sharp, Dramatic Black Lines That Stay Put for 24 Hours

2

Clinique

Quickliner for Eyes

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes 1

£17.00

High Mid

Create a Classic Smoky Eye in Seconds With a 2-in-1 Smudger Pencil

3

KVD Vegan Beauty

Tattoo Liner Trooper Black

KVD Vegan Beauty  Tattoo Liner Trooper Black 1

£15.20

High Mid

An IIntense Liner With a Pointed Tip, Perfect for Creating Cat Eye Flicks in One Swift Move

4

Barry M

Kohl Pencil Eyeliner

Barry M Kohl Pencil Eyeliner 1

£2.99

Low Mid

Pencil Eyeliner for Straightforward Smoky Eyes With Excellent Staying Power

5

Maybelline

Hyper Easy Brush Tip Liquid Eye Liner

Maybelline  Hyper Easy Brush Tip Liquid Eye Liner 1

£8.99

Mid

A Felt Tip With a Comfy Grip, Sharp-Nibbed Precision and a Flex-Tip Brush

6

Revlon

Colorstay Eyeliner

Revlon   Colorstay Eyeliner 1

£6.99

Mid

Create Sharp And Precise Lines Which Last Up To 16 Hours

7

Stila

Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Stila Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner 1

£12.80

Mid

Fine Tip, Long-Lasting Eyeliner For Expert Precision on Your First Try

8

Bobbi Brown

Long Wear Gel Eyeliner

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner 1

£21.00

High Mid

Award-Winning Gel Liner fo Creating Smudged Looks and Blurred Lines

9

MAC

Liquidlast 24-Hour Waterproof Liner

MAC Liquidlast 24-Hour Waterproof Liner 1

£17.50

High Mid

Sharp, Dramatic Lines With a Fine-Nibbed Bush From a Makeup Powerhouse

10

Rimmel

Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil

Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil 1

£2.99

Low Mid

A Cheap and Cheerful Pencil to Welcome You Into the World of Liner

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Eyeliner

Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Eyeliner 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£3.49
Low Mid
Reference price
£3.49
Low Mid

Easy-to-Apply Sharp, Dramatic Black Lines That Stay Put for 24 Hours

For the ultimate combination of drama and user-friendly simplicity (and affordability), pick Collection’s Extreme Felt Tip Liner. Unfathomably easy to apply, this liner still gives you the crisp, dark line of a liquid which will remain in place for ages – 24 hours, in fact!

It’s not so dramatically-black that you’ll have nightmares removing it, but once it’s on you can rest in the knowledge it’ll stay where it’s meant to. The extra-fine tip makes it easy to apply neat flicks nice and quickly, perfect for dragging along your entire lash line or adding a statement flick at each end. 
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No.2

CliniqueQuickliner for Eyes

Reference price
£17.00
High Mid

Create a Classic Smoky Eye in Seconds With a 2-in-1 Smudger Pencil

When you’re just starting out with eyeliners, you’ll probably want to keep your products to a minimum. Clinque's clever 2-in-1 liner and smudger pencil lets you draw a clear line on your eyelids and gently blur it – should you so wish – by using the other end.

This easy-to-use pencil is also self-sharpening and retractable, and ophthalmologist tested to be kind to sensitive eyes. Quick to remove if you’re prone to mistakes, great for disguising less-than perfect lines with some glamorous smudging, tough enough to stay put and available in 9 shades – what’s not to love?
No.3

KVD Vegan Beauty Tattoo Liner Trooper Black

Tattoo Liner Trooper Black 1
Source:boots.com
Tattoo Liner Trooper Black 2
Source:boots.com
Reference price
£15.20
High Mid
Reference price
£15.20
High Mid

An IIntense Liner With a Pointed Tip, Perfect for Creating Cat Eye Flicks in One Swift Move

Though some beginners may consider a liner with the word 'tattoo' in it to be throwing them in at the deep end, fear not. KVD's legendary liner is intense, but it can be layered, so you can slowly build up your look without overdoing it.  

Another plus point for beginners is that the pointed tip is ultra-fine, enabling you to create a clean cat eye (or any other shape you desire) in just one swift flick. This vegan-friendly formula is highly pigmented, waterproof and smudge-proof, staying put through snow, sweat and sneezes!
No.4

Barry MKohl Pencil Eyeliner

Kohl Pencil Eyeliner 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£2.99
Low Mid

Pencil Eyeliner for Straightforward Smoky Eyes With Excellent Staying Power

Another liner you can take home for tuppence, Barry M’s simple kohl pencil is dead easy to apply and quick to remove, though once it’s in place it has better staying power than many other pencil eyeliners. It can create sharp lines but also smudges nicely if that’s your desired effect.

Never tested on animals, Barry M’s products are great value and good quality, and this particular liner sharpens up smoothly so will last a little longer than softer, smudgier eye pencils where the nib breaks more easily. It's also available in both muted tones and a couple of fun ones if you want to get creative. 
No.5

Maybelline Hyper Easy Brush Tip Liquid Eye Liner

Hyper Easy Brush Tip Liquid Eye Liner 1
Source:boots.com
Reference price
£8.99
Mid
Reference price
£8.99
Mid

A Felt Tip With a Comfy Grip, Sharp-Nibbed Precision and a Flex-Tip Brush

Maybelline's newest liner on the block isn't just easy, it's hyper easy. Thanks to the super-sharp nib, there’s no reason it can’t be the first liner you try. The flex-tip brush and hexagonal grip means you’ll be able to draw a meticulous line stress-free and get extra close to your lashes too.

Unlike many drugstore-value brands, it's ophthalmologist-tested, too. With a combination of 24-hour smudge-proof wear, a rich, intense pigment, and an easy-to-manoeuvre felt-tip shape, this might be the beginning of a beautiful love affair with eyeliner.
No.6

Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner

Reference price
£6.99
Mid

Create Sharp And Precise Lines Which Last Up To 16 Hours

If you are wanting your liner to stay put both day and night, then this is the one for you. Revlon's colorstay Eyeliner has a silky and waterproof formula which lasts up to 16 hours! Conveniently, it includes a built-in sharpener which will help to create those sharp and dramatic lines! 

As well as classic black, there's a solid variety of other colours to choose from including brown, charcoal and sapphire. Since it is smudge-proof, it is perfect for the everyday! Yet, some have noted how the tip of the pencil does break quite easily.
No.7

StilaStay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Reference price
£12.80
Mid

Fine Tip, Long-Lasting Eyeliner For Expert Precision on Your First Try

Stila's ever-popular Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner has a beautifully fine tip so that it won’t get snagged on your eyelid as you run it across your skin. The colour this liner produces is a deep, opaque black, so you’ll be able to create a neat line in one simple swoop. 

The colour is extremely long-lasting, meaning even if you’re not used to wearing eyeliner, your makeup will stay put without fuss or smudges. That said, this liner does dry quickly, making it harder to remove. If you feel like mixing it up, try the alloy grey or dark brown shades. 
No.8

Bobbi BrownLong Wear Gel Eyeliner

Reference price
£21.00
High Mid

Award-Winning Gel Liner fo Creating Smudged Looks and Blurred Lines

As a complete eyeliner novice, the fear of attempting a flawless line can be off-putting. This is where gel liners come in. For some of us, the light grip we hold a brush with can actually feel less pressured than clasping a pencil in our fists. If you fit into this category, Bobbi Brown's award-winning eyeliner could be just the ticket.

It’s extremely easy to smudge, meaning you can deliberately blur the line you draw and create a mysterious, smoky eye on your first go! One catch with this product is that you’ll need to buy a separate brush to apply it, meaning it’s certainly not the most bargainous liner on our list.
No.9

MACLiquidlast 24-Hour Waterproof Liner

Liquidlast 24-Hour Waterproof Liner 1
Source:boots.com
Reference price
£17.50
High Mid
Reference price
£17.50
High Mid

Sharp, Dramatic Lines With a Fine-Nibbed Bush From a Makeup Powerhouse

With a fine-nibbed brush for dipping, this luxe liquid eyeliner allows you to create a true, pitch black line, and affords you extreme precision when first starting out. It's also waterproof and ophthalmologist tested.

It’s a bit of an investment for a beginner, but what better brand to start your eyeliner adventure with than MAC cosmetics? The quality of the brush and liner liquid mean this product glides on seamlessly and will last up to 24 hours thanks to the all-important glycerides added to its formula. Pro tip: Practice neat lines on the back of your hand first.
No.10

RimmelSoft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil

Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£2.99
Low Mid

A Cheap and Cheerful Pencil to Welcome You Into the World of Liner

This product is great for complete beginners, as you hold it exactly like a colouring pencil and get easy, dramatic results. The nib contains a mixture of waxes, oil and glycerides, so it'll glide smoothly over your eyelid and can be sharpened up to a fine point or left to soften for a smudgy effect.

At such a great price and with several shades to choose from, you can experiment with new makeup looks for less than the price of a coffee! The only downsides are that once you start using it regularly, you’ll be surprised how quickly it disappears as you sharpen it. Likewise, the staying power isn’t great, so expect to be reapplying it throughout the day.

How to Apply Eyeliner: A Handy Trick for the Perfect Cat Eye Flick

How to Apply Eyeliner: A Handy Trick for the Perfect Cat Eye Flick
There are all kinds of theories on how to achieve the ultimate winged eyeliner, as popularised by movie starlets of the 1940s, and of course, said to have been the staple make-up look of the much-mythologised Cleopatra, queen of Egypt.

While you can find a myriad of tips online for creating a flawless cat-eye flick, we have one tip which should make your first ever attempt as easy as pie. Before putting on any other make-up, use a felt tip liquid liner to draw a tiny dot next to your eyelid, wherever you want your cat flick to finish. 


Next, carefully draw a line along the top of your lid, bringing the line up to meet the dot – don’t worry if it’s a bit clumsy at this point. Now neatly fold a makeup wipe and use it to swipe your wobbly line into a sharp feline flick. Finally, apply any other eye makeup or touch up with concealer or foundation, and voila! A purr-fect cat eye technique just right for complete beginners!

Written and researched by Annie Hopkins

Top 5 Eyeliners for Beginners

No. 1: Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Eyeliner

No. 2: CliniqueQuickliner for Eyes

No. 3: KVD Vegan Beauty Tattoo Liner Trooper Black

No. 4: Barry MKohl Pencil Eyeliner

No. 5: Maybelline Hyper Easy Brush Tip Liquid Eye Liner

View Full Ranking
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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