After Testing, We Found 9 Waterproof Eyeliners That Outlast Tears, Rain, and HIIT Workouts (2025)

TL;DR

Our Top Picks

Formula and Type: Waterproof liquid eyeliner pen | Color Range: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Easy to Remove: No

Stila's Stay All Day formula is one of our favorites. It glides on smoothly, dries quickly, and won't smudge or run, no matter what you do. That's right: You can sweat, cry, and dance your heart out, and it won't budge. The fine felt tip is perfect for precise application, but unlike many other liquid liners, it can also create thicker, more dramatic shapes. It has the distinction of coming in 11 different shades, including a deep blue, vibrant green, and crisp white, to name a few—rare for a liquid formula. We loved how pigmented it was compared to others tested.

Formula and Type: Waterproof crayon eyeliner | Color Range: 4 | Cruelty-Free: No | Easy to Remove: Yes

Eyeliner can be hard to apply, but not this one. It features a crayon that glides on smoothly, so you don’t have to pull at your lid to create a straight line. Once on, it feels weightless, making it a particularly comfortable liner option. One caveat: Even in the black shade, this liner is not 100% opaque, so keep in mind that it will require a second layer to get a bold, jet-black finish.

We loved that this liner truly doesn’t budge when mixed with sweat or splashed with water. Still, it’s workable enough to touch up with micellar water to create even sharper lines. If you prefer a more smudged end look, it also boasts a built-in sponge for blending it out immediately after application. Fast forward to the end of our five-hour wear test, and we were delighted to find that, despite its long-lasting nature, it was easy to fully remove with makeup remover. Fresh out of the shower, there wasn’t a trace of the liner left behind.

Formula and Type: Waterproof liquid eyeliner pen | Color Range: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Easy to Remove: No

You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to add high-quality waterproof eyeliner to your makeup kit—this e.l.f. Eyeliner Pen is proof—it costs under $10 and outperforms many of the other liners tested. We noticed that it's highly pigmented, built to last throughout the day, and comfortable throughout the entire duration of wear. It does take a touch longer to dry than other formulas, but not so long that you risk smudging it onto your upper lids before it sets. It’s not perfect, though; it is somewhat difficult to remove. Rather than coming off entirely in one fell swoop, we found that it took quite a bit more rubbing to remove it completely.

Formula and Type: Waterproof gel pot eyeliner | Color Range: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Easy to Remove: Yes

Many assume that gel pot eyeliners are reserved for professional makeup artists and those with steady hands. While this liner category typically does require a bit more precision, the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner applies so smoothly that even newbies can create a gorgeous lined look. Unlike many gel pot liners, this one won’t clump up on your liner brush (though it’s worth noting the liner doesn’t come with a brush, so you’ll have to purchase your own). It glides on beautifully and dries down quickly, making the application process much more seamless.

Since this liner applies a bit lighter (which lends to its anti-clumping prowess), it’s slightly less pigmented than it seems in the pot. Still, it’s easy to layer, and doing so doesn’t result in a caked-on finish. It also comes off easily—and entirely—with a cleansing balm, a major plus.

Formula and Type: Waterproof liquid eyeliner pen | Color Range: 2 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Easy to Remove: Yes

Liquid eyeliner pens are often the easiest option for creating fluid strokes ending in perfectly sharp wings. With Fenty Beauty’s Flyliner Longwear Liquid Eyeliner, you can do just that. The free-flowing, fast-drying formula ensures an even line of opaque pigment that won’t drip, smudge, or smear during application. And, since it glides on so smoothly, it doesn’t require any pulling or tugging to line your lids evenly.

Once applied, this liner lives up to its name: It doesn’t budge—not when met with a sweaty HIIT class or splashed post-workout. While it feels weightless upon application, after a few hours of wear, it does dry out a bit, but not so much that it cracks or feels uncomfortable. Still, it’s easy to remove when a cleanser is introduced. We tried to remove it in two different ways—with a cleansing balm and a makeup wipe—both fully removing every trace of pigment with ease.

Formula and Type: Waterproof pencil eyeliner | Color Range: 8 shades, 3 finishes | Cruelty-Free: No | Easy to Remove: Yes

Despite being a pencil, this formula is creamy and applies easily without any serious tugging, which is what makes it one of our favorites of the bunch. We also love that the formula is available in various neutral shades, ranging from black and brown to copper and navy. However, it’s worth noting that the pigmentation level depends on the color chosen; where the black shade is opaque in a single swipe, the purple option requires multiple layers for substantial color payoff.

Nevertheless, this remains a comfortable, long-lasting option worth trying. Just remember that (like most eyeliner pencils), it’s easy to remove but can leave a slight trace of color along your lash line, so you might need to follow up your regular makeup remover with an additional swipe of micellar water.

Formula and Type: Waterproof liquid eyeliner pen | Color Range: 2 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Easy to Remove: Yes

Beloved by hundreds of shoppers for its luxe-quality formula, CoverGirl’s Exhibitionist Lash Enhancing Liquid Eyeliner is a fantastic drugstore option for those hoping for sharp, dark lines that last. The inky formula is highly pigmented and dries almost immediately. Once dry, it won’t budge from sweat or blinking. So while you have to move fast, we think the exceptional wear is worth the effort. We loved the felt tip's sharp point, which made it easy to create a straight line, and the tapered tip was ideal for drawing wings.

Formula and Type: Waterproof liquid eyeliner pen | Color Range: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Easy to Remove: Yes

This top-rated liquid eyeliner pen is a dream for creating wings. It delivers opaque color in a single swipe, and thanks to its sharp tip, it makes creating equally as sharp wings a breeze. Something to note: It fades and slightly cracks during sweaty workouts and smears when splashed with water (or simply touched). But considering how easy it is to create even, opaque cat eyes, we’re still big fans—we’ll just be sure to apply eye makeup primer before going in with this liner next time.

Formula and Type: Waterproof eyeliner pencil | Color Range: 34 shades, 2 finishes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Easy to Remove: Yes

Whether Euphoria has you daydreaming about creative eye makeup looks or you’re simply a big fan of color, Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil is a great option. This pick comes in an impressive 34 different shades, including matte and glitter finishes. While the level of pigment opacity varies from color to color, no matter which hue you choose, you can expect a very creamy application (which, admittedly, can make drawing on crisp lines more of a challenge). Luckily, a couple of layers and a touchup with micellar water can easily address both concerns. Speaking of micellar water, this liner stays put through sweat and water (though not with physical touches), but it’s easy to remove with cleansing balm or micellar water.

FAQ

• What should I do if I get a waterproof eyeliner in my eye?

  Anytime you get anything in your eye, you should promptly flush it out with water. If your eye still feels irritated or looks inflamed after doing so, call your physician for directions on the next steps.

• What should I do if I get a waterproof eyeliner on my eyelid?

  So long as it’s an easy-to-remove waterproof eyeliner (like the ones in our top tier), a quick swipe of micellar water will do the trick. Simply dip a cotton swab into micellar water and swipe it across the liner error.

• What cleansers work best for removing waterproof eyeliner?

  Based on our research, we found that makeup-melting cleansing balms and micellar water worked the best for removing waterproof eyeliner. As convenient as makeup wipes may seem, they typically require more rubbing to remove, so they’re best avoided. Whatever cleanser you choose, ensure it’s safe for your eyes.