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A little bit of liquid eyeliner can go a long way: a thin line on your upper lid accentuates your lashes and gives your eyes a lift — perfect for you-but-better wedding-day makeup. A glamorous cat eye, on the other hand, will make your bachelorette party look.
The catch, of course, is finding a liquid eyeliner you can use without having to arm yourself with plenty of makeup remover and Q-tips. Here, we present editor-tested favorites, because yes, even beauty editors can be liquid-eyeliner challenged.
Best for the Eyeliner Averse: Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner, $24, Sephora
This brand new eyeliner is a godsend for those who just haven't been able to master liquid liner. The slanted, rubber tip gives you an incredibly steady hand and lets you easily control how much product is dispensed onto your eyelid. "It practically hugs your lashes," our tester says. "I can get closer to my lash line with this than any other one I've tried." It hits stores June 27, but if you're as excited about it as we are, you can pre-order it now.
Best Cat Eye: Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner, $19, Sephora
Our resident Lauren Conrad fan girl said this Eyeko eyeliner gave her the perfect wings. The UK-based brand is a favorite of Alexa Chung and Adele — both known for their love of '60s-inspired makeup — so we have to say we weren't totally surprised. "The color is really opaque, so you don't have to layer it," our tester says. "So far it's the only liquid liner I've found that you can use on your waterline, too."
See more: Five Great Waterproof Mascaras for Your Wedding Day
Best Bang for Your Buck: Maybelline New York Eye Studio Master Duo 2-in-1 Glossy Liquid Liner, $7.99, Ulta
This little gem won points for its clever versatility — it has a dual tip that's thick on one edge and thin on the other. "Both sides glide on easily and maintain a really glossy finish even when dry," our tester says. Stash it in your wedding-day beauty bag to go from subtle at the altar to flirty at the reception.
See more: Three Easy Steps to Gorgeous DIY Wedding-Day Eye Makeup
Best for Sensitive Eyes: Hourglass Calligraphy Liquid Eyeliner, $32, Hourglass
There's more to this eyeliner than its super-luxe packaging. It's infused with a myriad of soothing ingredients including chamomile, aloe, and rosemary. "I don't usually wear very much eye makeup because I always seem to get red, itchy eyes by the afternoon," our tester says. "But I think this actually helped them from getting red and irritated!"
Best for Oily Eyelids: Lancôme Artliner 24H Bold Color Precision Eyeliner, $30.50, Lancôme
We can't attest to the 24-hour claim, but we can tell you it stayed put from morning until way past happy hour drinks. "My eyelids are super oily, so I have trouble finding eye makeup that doesn't melt down my face," our tester says. "This gives you just enough time after you've applied it to still erase your mistakes. Once it dries though, it stays put forever."
See more: 10 Wedding-Day Makeup Must-Haves for Under $20
Best Color Offerings: Yves Saint Laurent Eyeliner Baby Doll, $34, Yves Saint Laurent
You know how every beauty brand swears their colored liner is really subtle and then you put it on and you're like, hello blue eyeliner?! YSL's range of metallics seriously accentuate your eye color without looking cheesy. "The brush is small so it gives you a really thin, clean line," our tester says. "I usually wear brown eyeliner because black is too harsh against my fair complexion, but the copper shade was perfect! The shimmer in it brightens my eyes."