Best Blue Eyeliners of 2026

A liquid liner is the right tool when the line itself is the look, and Maybelline's Cobalt Blue is the most vivid blue in this group. The pen has a fine, flexible tip and a no-slip grip, so you can start thin at the inner corner and press a little harder for a thicker wing. We found it easiest to build the shape in short strokes rather than one long sweep; the color is saturated enough that a second pass is rarely needed. That combination of a true cobalt and a controlled tip is why it earns the liquid slot.

The formula is listed as waterproof with up to 30 hours of wear, and the pen format makes it the fastest way to get a symmetrical wing. The cap clicks shut with a satisfying snap, which matters because a loose cap lets the tip dry out. We keep the line on the upper lid for the sharpest result, and the cobalt is bright enough that a little goes a long way. For a subtle blue, this is more color than you need.

Navy is the blue that behaves most like a neutral, and Revlon's 213 is the one we keep for days when bright cobalt feels like too much. It is a true pencil, not a gel or a liquid, with a built-in sharpener in the base and a small smudger at the other end. The color is deep enough to read as blue up close but close to black in low light, which is exactly what makes it useful for a conservative office look or a first step into blue liner.

The formula is listed as waterproof and transfer-proof with up to 24 hours of wear, and the pencil glides on without much tugging. We like the built-in sharpener because it keeps the point fine for a thin line, and the smudger is handy for softening the outer corner. The texture is on the dry side, though, and it can drag if your lids are not primed. Warm the tip on the back of your hand first, or apply a tiny bit of eye cream before you start.

What earns it a place is the combination of a wearable navy and a genuinely long-wearing pencil. It is not the most comfortable formula here, but the built-in sharpener keeps it useful to the last inch. If you want a blue that looks polished and stays put through a workday, this is the one we hand over; if you want a creamy glide, the L'Oreal pencil is the easier ride.

The L'Oreal Infallible pencil is the one we reach for when we want a mechanical liner that feels creamier than most drugstore pencils. The tip is soft, the built-in sharpener keeps a point on it, and the other end has a smudge tip for softening the line. In Navy, the color is dark and rich rather than bright, so it reads as a blue-black on the lid and a softer navy at the edges.

That creamy texture is the reason it earns a runner-up spot. It glides over the lash line without pulling, and it is forgiving on hooded or textured lids where a harder pencil can skip. The listed wear is up to 16 hours, which is shorter than the other long-wear pencils here, and the formula can transfer on very oily lids. We keep it on the upper lash line and set it with a matching shadow when we need it to last through a long day.

Blue eyeliner is one of those categories where a low price often buys a chalky, faint line, so e.l.f.'s No Budge in Navy is a pleasant exception. The retractable pencil is creamy enough to draw a clean line in one pass, and the navy is deep and wearable rather than bright. It also has a waterproof claim, which is more than you can say for some budget pencils. That combination is why it is our budget pick.

It twists up, goes on without a sharpener, and works on the waterline as well as the lash line. The color is strong enough for a defined line, but it stays creamy long enough to smudge with a fingertip if you want a softer edge. It is also easy to remove at the end of the day, which is not always true of waterproof pencils.

The texture is not perfectly consistent from pencil to pencil, and some tips feel softer than others, but the color payoff is there. If you want a blue liner for everyday experiments without committing to a premium pencil, this is the one we suggest. It is also the pick we hand to someone who is not sure blue will become a regular habit.

Deep Ocean is the shade we choose when we want blue without a flat, painted-on line. It is a twist-up pencil with a fine tip, a built-in smudger, and a sharpener in the base, and the color is a deep blue with a little softness rather than a hard cobalt. On the lash line it reads as a rich navy; smudged out, it looks more like a shadow with a blue cast.

The pencil glides on smoothly and the fine tip is good for a thin line close to the lashes. The built-in smudger is the feature we use most, because it lets you soften the edge before the formula sets. The listed formula is waterproof and highly pigmented, and the color builds without much pressure. It stays best on the upper lid, where the smudger can soften the edge without the line traveling.

The tip is soft, so twist up only a little at a time; too much pressure and it can crumble. That softness is also why the line blends so easily, so it is a trade-off rather than a dealbreaker. For a defined but not harsh blue eye, this is the Rimmel pencil we keep coming back to. It is especially good if you like a smudged lower lash line and do not want to reach for a separate brush.

What keeps it in the runner-up group is the balance of definition and blendability. It is not the longest-wearing or the most precise pencil here, but the Deep Ocean shade is more forgiving than a bright cobalt and the smudger does real work. If you want a blue that looks like a soft shadow, start here; if you need a line that survives tears, choose the Revlon.

CoverGirl's Perfect Point Plus is for the person who wants one pencil, no sharpener, and a blue that does not announce itself. The tip self-sharpens as you twist, and the other end has a soft smudging tip for blending. Midnight Blue is a dark, muted navy that looks almost black in low light, so it is a gentle way to add blue without a full color statement.

The pencil glides on smoothly and the tip stays fine enough for a thin line along the lashes. We like that there is no separate sharpener to lose, and the smudging tip is handy for a soft outer corner. The formula is not the longest-wearing here; on oily lids it can fade or smudge by the end of the day, and it needs a primer or a matching shadow to stay sharp.

What makes it worth considering is the simplicity. It is a good pencil for a makeup bag, a travel kit, or a first blue liner, because there is nothing to sharpen and the shade is easy to wear. The trade-off is staying power: this is not the pencil we choose for a long event or a watery-eye day. If you want a low-effort navy for everyday, it earns its place; if you need serious wear, the Revlon or Maybelline gel pencil is the better call.

Sapphire Bling is a deep blue with enough richness to pass for navy in low light, which is exactly why we like it for a subtle blue line. It is a retractable pencil with a creamy formula and a fine tip, and the color is intense enough that one pass gives a defined line. The shade is less bright than a cobalt and less gray than a navy, so it sits in the middle of the blue range.

The creamy texture is the reason to choose it. It glides on without tugging, and it stays workable for a few seconds, so you can smudge the edge with a finger or a small brush. The retractable format is convenient for a makeup bag, and there is no sharpener to carry.

The wear is mixed. It stays best on the upper lash line and softens faster on the waterline, where it can smudge at the outer corner. A primer helps, and keeping the tip short makes the line more controlled. It is not the most reliable pencil here, but the Sapphire Bling shade is one of the richer deep blues in the group.

What earns it a place is the color and the creamy application, not the hardware. If you want a deep blue that can be smudged into a soft edge, it is a good choice. The Maybelline automatic gel pencil is the safer pick if you want the same convenience with fewer durability worries.