Liquid eyeliner is a glamorous and versatile asset to your makeup collection. But it’s infamous for smudging and transferring if not given enough time to dry. So, with that in mind, what’s the best way to dry eyeliner fast?
It’s a good idea to close your eyes for at least 30 seconds after applying liquid eyeliner. This will help prevent smudging and the transfer of the product.
Other great ways to dry eyeliner fast and prevent creasing are using eye primer and/or a setting spray.
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How Long Does It Normally Take For Eyeliner To Dry?
It depends on the brand, but as a general rule, it will take at least 30 seconds for liquid eyeliner to dry.
If you tend to get eyeliner in your crease after applying, close your eyes for at least 30 seconds after applying eyeliner. This will stop the eyeliner from transferring.
5 Best Eyeliners That Dry Quickly
1. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner
This award-winning eyeliner is highly pigmented and smudge resistant. The superfine, flexible brush tip will glide across your lash line for a fluid application. It is waterproof and lasts all day. And what’s more, it’s also vegan and cruelty-free.
In addition, the brush tip will not fray, unlike many traditional felt tip liners.
2. NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Epic Ink Liner, Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
This waterproof liquid eyeliner is the perfect tool for creating a fast-drying, long-lasting look.
The color is intense black while the tip is ultra-fine, precise, and easy to use. There’s no need to worry about drag with this liner as it’s extremely fluid when drawing lines.
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3. L’Oreal Paris Makeup Infallible Flash Cat Eye Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
This is an excellent choice for beginners because of its precision felt-tip applicator and its removable stencil that helps you draw precise wings.
Not only that but the pigment is super black, dries fast, and will last all day and night.
4. e.l.f. Cosmetics Liquid Eyeliner
If you prefer a brush and pot-style liquid liner, this is a great choice. This eyeliner has a buildable formula and a super-fine brush so it’s easy to create the precise look you want.
The pigment glides easily onto the eyelid and can be used to create natural or dramatic eye looks. And most importantly: it’s fast-drying and doesn’t smudge.
5. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
This bestselling eyeliner does as the name suggests. The waterproof formula is long-lasting and the fine tip allows for precise application to create a range of eye-catching looks.
It can be used for creating everything from thin and precise, to bolder, thicker lines.
How To Dry Eyeliner Fast
- It’s a good idea to start with an eye primer. This will help to hold the liner in place and will stop your eyelids from becoming greasy and transferring color.
- Next, draw on your eyeliner. If your hand is shaky, you may find it helpful to prop your elbow on a counter or other surface while you apply. Gently hold your lid taught and apply as close to the lash line as possible.
- Close your eyes for at least 30 seconds to allow the eyeliner to dry and stop it from transferring to your crease.
- Finish your makeup.
- You may find it helpful to finish with a setting spray. Apply the spray in an ‘X’ motion across your face, keeping the bottle six to eight inches away from your face. Keep your eyes closed and wait for your face to dry. Opening your eyes right away may cause creasing.
How To Revive A Dry Eyeliner
Liquid eyeliner can be infamous for drying out fast.
However, if this has happened to you, you don’t need to throw away your eyeliner just yet. Try one of the following tips to breathe new life into your dry eyeliner.
Give It A Shake
First things first, can you hear a little ball-bearing in your pen when you shake it? This is for mixing the eyeliner and is more common in those with brush tips than those with felt tips.
If you haven’t been doing so already, give your eyeliner a good shake before applying. This should help the product flow from the tip more easily.
Run It On The Back Of Your Hand
Try running the product on the back of your hand to get it flowing again.
Don’t press too hard if it’s a felt-tipped eyeliner. Instead, you might find it better to run it over a paper towel dampened with warm water.
Avoid dipping the tip under a running faucet because this will oversaturate the tip with water.
This will make your liner too watery and, if it’s a waterproof formula, it won’t be any longer.
Suspend In Hot Water
Ideally, you should store your eyeliner tip-side down at room temperature. If not, the formula may get gloopy inside the pen and not flow easily from the tip.
To rectify this, let your eyeliner pen sit tip-down in a cup of hot water for a few minutes (make sure the cap is firmly on).
Then remove it from the water, give it a good shake and run the pen over the back of your hand.
Hopefully, the ink should be flowing freely again. If not, you can repeat this a few times until you get the results you desire.
Mix In Eye Drops
For gel or cream eyeliners that come in a small pot, mixing in eyedrops can be a great fix for an eyeliner that has dried out.
Simply add a few eye drops to the formula. If the gel has dried rock hard, use a safety pin to crack the surface before adding the drops.
This will help the drops distribute through the entire product. Next, use the pin to mix up the formula until it has an even consistency again.
Re-Hydrate The Ink Rod
As a last-ditch attempt with an eyeliner pen, you can actually remove the entire ink rod and dip it in water to rehydrate it.
Open the back of the pen – usually, it should twist off, or you could use tweezers to pry it open.
Using tweezers (so you don’t get ink all over your fingers), remove the ink rod from the pen, and dip it in warm water for a few seconds.
Up to half a minute should be enough as you do not want the pen to become too watery.
Take the ink rod out of the water and blot with a paper towel. Then put it back into the pen and seal up the end again.
It may help to store the pen tip-side down for a bit to let the water distribute evenly.
For extra hydration, add a few drops of glycerin to the water dip. This will help prolong the life of the liner and give the formula a bit more “plumpness”.