Every Type Of Eyeliner, Explained By A Celebrity Makeup Artist 

From gel to cream to pencil and beyond—there are more types of liner out there than you might think. Luckily, celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg recently gave a quick rundown on TikTok to coach us through it. Here are the SparkNotes. 

As Greenberg explains in the video, different liner types can help you achieve various looks. Below, find every kind of product and when you'll want to use it. 

"Gel eyeliner goes on super smooth and is great for dramatic looks," Greenberg says. So if you want a bold, liner-focused look that's a tad softer than a liquid line, then gel is going to be your best bet. These liners generally last longer than pencils and crayons, too. 

"Pencil eyeliner gives more of a natural look," Greenberg says—think of a "no-makeup" makeup finish. However, she adds that pencil tends to smudge, so it's not the best for graphic looks. "For the waterline or a smoky eye, it's perfect and easy," she finishes. 

"Kohl eyeliner is the smudgiest of the smudge," Greenberg says—perfect for a modern-day "indie sleaze" look. It has a silky finish, and it's oilier than other eyeliners, she explains, which is why it's so great to smudge. Plus, she adds that it's perfect for long-lasting wear on the waterline. 

You'll most often see them in one of two forms: Either the tip comes attached to a pen where the ink slowly comes out, or there's a pot filled with liquid ink that you dip the brush into. From there, you also have different brushes. "For example, you might want to use a micro-tip for a detailed wing," she adds. 

"Felt tip eyeliner is similar to a liquid eyeliner, but it's less inky and definitely easier to use for beginners," Greenberg notes. These, like liquid eyeliner, are great for bold and sharp lines. Now, if you're feeling inspired to test out a winged look, this step-by-step tutorial is all you need. 

Greenberg applies cream liner with a brush to have a bit more control over the finished look. She shows a few different brushes in her video, most of which are small, fine-haired liner brushes with a sharp diagonal angle. 

Powder eyeliner is essentially just eye shadow used as a liner. "People love to use this, especially beginners, because it's easy, and it's very natural-looking," Greenberg adds. Plus, it's versatile: You can use any color in an eye shadow palette, throw it on an angled brush, and boom—you have a bold, glitter, or colorful liner right at your fingertips.

That was a lot—so here's a brief guide to determine which kinds of eyeliners are best suited for the look you're after:

To nail your perfect eyeliner look, you have to start with the right product. Be sure to figure out your ideal look and skill level before choosing your next go-to. Or, collect them all in your ride-or-die shade to fill out a versatile makeup collection. If you're ready to add a new one to your lineup, here's a curated list of the best eyeliners in each category—all formulated with clean and natural ingredients.