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8 excellent drugstore liquid eyeliners you can score with your pocket change

Look like a million bucks for as little as $3

By Briar Clark

BEAUTYcrew Beauty Editor / April 24 2024

A good liquid eyeliner needs to tick a lot of boxes.

Does it run when you cry at work? Will it dry out after you’ve used it a few times (or accidentally left the lid off while running out the door)? Will it end up making best friends with your eyelids and smudge halfway through the day? Or worse, will it flake off and leave your face looking like an eyeliner crematorium?

There are so many things to consider when purchasing eyeliner, but one we’ve never really worried about personally is price point. While we love the many exxier options available in the land of liquid eyeliner, much like our favourite drugstore mascaras, drugstore bronzers, and drugstore foundations, you really can’t beat a drugstore liquid eyeliner.

Here are eight of the best liquid eyeliner formulas for when you’re short on cash but still want to look like a boujee b*tch.

Morphe Felt-Tip Liquid Liner

Perfect for creating ultra-pigmented eyeliner looks, this Morphe pick is a no-brainer for nailing pro-level makeup looks in a cinch. The fine-tipped felt pen format allows for detailed application, while the long-wearing, smudge, transfer, fade and waterproof promise makes this liquid eyeliner a no-brainer for long days and nights.

$18 at Morphe

theBalm Schwing Liquid Eyeliner

Ever applied your liquid eyeliner to your lash line and immediately imprinted a matching wing on your eyelid? Yep, same, and we’re not about it TBH. That’s why we love this fast-drying formula from theBalm. Enjoy a smooth matte black finish without worrying about that dreaded smudge factor. A surefire winner for when you’re in a rush.

$19.95 at Adore Beauty

Rimmel Glam Eyes Professional Liquid Eyeliner

As far as fine-tipped liquid eyeliner applicators go, there’s none that have Rimmel Glam Eyes’ paintbrush beat. It’s a must-have for creating micro-liner looks and mini kitten wings for the days when you don’t feel like committing to a bold cat eye. Plus, the fact it’s always half-price at Chemist Warehouse sure doesn’t hurt either.

$5.97 at Chemist Warehouse

Maybelline Hyper Sharp Precision Liquid Eyeliner

Customise your wings with this precision liquid eyeliner, which can turn out fine lines as skinny as 0.01mm or adjusted to provide a slightly thicker 2.00mm line. Waterproof and smudge-proof this overachiever can be worn for up to 24 hours after application. Definitely one to keep on hand for those particularly tricky eyeliner looks that you want to last through the night.

$8.97 at Chemist Warehouse

L'Oréal Paris Flash Cat Eye by Superliner

L’Oréal Paris Flash Cat Eye is our number one pick for liquid eyeliner novices who need a helping hand with creating their wings. Equipped with a detachable eyeliner stencil, this flexible felt tip offering is like a walking eyeliner hack without the hassle of having to mine through a makeup Reddit thread.

was $27.95 now $13.97 at Priceline

e.l.f. Precision Liquid Eyeliner

Forget the fact that this stuff is literally only $3 (hard, we know) and join us in reveling in it’s truly classic formula. Seriously, this fine-lining budget pick is a beast at creating those ultra-matte retro liner looks that make a good cat eye what it is. Channel your inner ‘60s siren and get lining, we say.

$3 at e.l.f. Cosmetics

Revlon ColorStay Micro™ Easy Precision Liquid Liner

Need a liner that dries in a flash but stays put all day? Your makeup bag is basically crying out for the Revlon ColorStay Micro™ Easy Precision Liquid Liner. A waterproof, smudge-proof, and transfer-proof formula with intense one-stroke payoff (hallelujah), it's even equipped with a tapered ergonomic handle to make the application process a breeze.

$21.99 at Chemist Warehouse

Natio Precision Liquid Eyeliner

Who knew you could get a primarily plant-based liquid eyeliner formula for less than a cool $20? Apparently you can, and apparently we’ve been sleeping on Natio’s eyeliner, which has some pretty vocal fans according to online reviews. One satisfied Chemist Warehouse customer said: “Best eyeliner ever. Very precise and I get so many uses from it! This is my go to eyeliner now.” Thanks for the recommendation, looks like we’re expanding our liquid eyeliner collection...

$14.49 at Chemist Warehouse

Need some inspo before you start winging it with your liquid eyeliner? This is some of the best cat eye makeup to inspire all the face painters out there.

Main image credit: @ellefanning

Briar Clark

Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).