4 Australian makeup artists on their holy grail liquid liners

Foxeye or cateye, here are the best of the best in liners.

The quest for the perfect liquid liner is a tale as old as time. From Cleopatra to Marilyn, to Diana to Adele, liner is a staple in the makeup bags of many, but why is it so hard to get it right?

Finding the perfect tip and ink can be quite the long and exxy process, so we saved you some time and cash and asked four professionals for their holiest of picks.

Georgia Gaillard, freelance makeup artist
Name of product: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
RRP: $40.00
Where to get it: Bobbi Brown
What’s it like and what makes it great: Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner is highly pigmented, has a fluid-like texture, is 12 hours long-lasting and sweatproof. It also comes in a range of different colours. I really love Espresso Ink.

Get it here.

Raffaella Tomaiuolo, freelance makeup artist
Name of product: Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen
RRP: $41.00
Where to get it: Sephora
What’s it like and what makes it great: [It’s] suitable for the most sensitive eyes as it is allergy-tested and fragrance-free. It is also incredibly easy to use thanks to its super sharp and soft tip, from the thinnest lines to the thicker and winged lines. It dries extremely quickly and it is not smudgy. Really worth the price! A nice alternative to liquid and gel liners.

Get it here.

Chris Arai, freelance makeup artist
Name of product: Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen
RRP: $89
Where to get it: Myer
What’s it like and what makes it great: Dual-ended liquid eyeliner creating classic sleek lines to dramatic wingtips.

Get it here.

Rob Povey, freelance makeup artist
Name of product: MAC Fluidline in ‘Blacktrack’
RRP: $35.00
Where to get it: MAC Cosmetics
What’s it like and what makes it great: THE tried-and-tested long-wear gel liner that’s actually so much easier to manipulate and apply than traditional liquid liner (once you get used to using an angle or point brush). Ensure enough playtime to clean up mistakes and sharpen edges before it dries down to a waterproof finish. Doubles as a bulletproof smokey eye base/primer for shadows when buffed out.
Pro tip: Layer Stila’s Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner ($35.00 at Mecca) on top to intensify it [from a] matte black gel to a patent leather glossy carbon and strengthen your wear time.

Get it here.