Not to be dramatic, but this Rare Beauty liner is basically my personality at this point. I’ve probably been on the hunt for the best eyeliner for about five or six years, and I may have found my favourite one yet. Anyone who knows me IRL has probably never seen me outside the house without some sort of eyeliner on – whether chunky, slightly mismatched or complete with some shimmer on my inner corner.
Thanks to years of practice and eyeliner trends and hacks, I have become a bit of an eyeliner guru.
I’m not particularly fond of natural, delicate make-up looks. For me, makeup is totally expressive, it’s my time to get creative and make a statement with bold shapes and colours. Not to sound cliche, but I’m not a mainstream girlie. I am totally embracing my alternative style.
The bolder and chunkier the eyeliner, the better 🤩
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Now that winter seems to wrapping up, I will finally finish my hibernation era and actually socialise. But, before I step out into the world, I promised myself that I wouldn’t gatekeep my favourite eyeliner hack any longer. It’s time to spill the tea, dear reader, on a product that has levelled up my makeup game.
Yes – I’m talking about Selena Gomez (hands up if you loved Wizards of Waverley Place) and her venture into the world of make-up. We’ve already been OBSESSED with Rare Beauty’s liquid blusher, but the brand’s Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner needs a little love and attention, IMO. Pen liners for the win.
When I find a product that works for me, it’s a ride-or-die situation. In this case, this Rare Beauty eyeliner is the top dog, completing my various looks with a touch of FIERCE. There’s no going back. Of course, there are a few other brands that are worthy of mention – and are slightly more budget-friendly. I will let you know how I feel about them, too. R.I.P Lottie London’s Star Stamp Liner (miss you babes).
Perfect Strokes is the only liquid liner that’s never betrayed me. We’re in a committed relationship now.
Selena says: “I LOVE a bold winged liner look, and this liner makes it so easy to get it precise.” She gets it (!) Rare Beauty’s Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner is iconique – free from nasties and cruelty-free. What’s not to love? The unusually designed tip makes it a dream to apply eyeliner.
Pros
- Fine, flexible brush tip ensures smooth, controlled strokes
- Waterproof, smudge-proof and stays put all day without fading
- Easy-glide formula delivers even application from any angle
- Vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free and safe for sensitive eyes
Cons
- Takes a little while to master – but it’s soooo worth the practice
- The hairs start to fray after lots of use – but you get your money’s worth (!)
| Suitable for | Suitable for Sensitive Skin/Eyes Safe for Contact Lens Wearers |
| Certifications | Cruelty Free, vegan, paraben free and ophthalmologist Tested |
| Colour | Black |
How do I apply it?
OK – so if you’re used to applying eyeliner and doing it your way, that is completely fine.
However, Rare Beauty recommends following the angle of your low lash bed for the perfect winged liner (facts). It also has a rather clear and concise guide on how to achieve a cat eye with Perfect Strokes, which details bringing the liner in, working on the lash line, and bringing the pen back out to meet the wing.
However, I don’t follow rules or conventions. I can achieve precise lines from any starting point or angle with this Rare Beauty liner. That’s the beauty of this product, it accommodates all methods and styles.
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I usually start with the wings – bold and dramatic – and work my way out from the corner. I then work my way back into the eye from that exact spot to create a wing. For a thick alt feel, I go wide and travel at a wider angle to cover some of my eyelids. Once it meets the top lash line, I use it as a pen and fill in any gaps.
As long as you shake it well (with the cap on), you will have the best pigmentation. This will depend on the angle of the tip and the pressure you apply – more pressure will create thicker, dramatic lines. I’m a fan, tbh.
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My honest thoughts
Ugh – the GLIDE. That’s what helps this pick stand above other liners. I love big, fat, chunky liners – but this tool can help you achieve (and perfect) any eye look you’d like. Rare Beauty has invested money (honey) into this new and improved brush, which makes it a dream to use – super rich, matte and pigmented.
It’s probably the best eyeliner I’ve used over an eyeshadow look, too, effortlessly drifting over my bold blend of shades from KimChi Chic, Morphe and Revolution. The brush thins a little at the end, and it will be your bestie, creating that ultra-thin, defined and neat (!) wing. Your eye game will never be the same.
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What did I love?
Well, I have lots of good things to say about this eyeliner. I feel as if I am the authority on eyeliners since I’ve tested so many now. Its standout feature is the “Perfect Strokes”, thanks to the thin, flexible brush tip – which makes for smooth application, no matter the angle. Your wing game will be on point, I promise. You’re promised precise lines and super-impressive pigmentation. It wows me every time I use it.
Not only that, it lasts a full day, is waterproof and can be taken off with a cleansing balm very easily.
What could be better?
Gosh, it was hard to think of any negatives to this god-send of a liner. What I will say is if you’re used to other liquid liners and new to pen liners in general, the Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Liner will take a little while to master (from pressure applied to the angle of the liner) – but it’s so worth the practice. You will find that the hairs start to fray after lots of use, but you totally get your money’s worth.
Is it worth the splurge?
Yes – though I’ve always said I’d never spend more than £15 on an eyeliner, I am prepared to surrender £20 on this blessing of a product for bold eye looks. You really are paying for the superior product. It’s easy to hold, works from any angle, and the pigmentation alone makes it worth every penny.
It hasn’t failed me yet, and my eye makeup always slays when I use it.
If you can’t swing the extra splurge on this liner, I have some cheaper liner recommendations below…
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How the Rare Beauty eyeliner was tested
Since buying the eyeliner last year, I have solidly used it whenever I fancy putting some slap on. It’s easy to apply, allows so much creativity, and offers the boldest, most defining and aesthetically pleasing wings. I simply have only good things to say about it – as do the customer reviews online.
SHOP: My budget-friendly liner faves
Budget friendly eyeliner
If I’m not using my Rare Beauty liner, I’ve probably whipped this budget alternative out. Kiko Milano has expanded their beauty range recently – with plenty of new products that I’m dying to try (!)
Another one of my faves if I’m in a pinch. I use NYX’s primer, which suits my skin well. You can snag this at pretty much any Boots or Superdrug. It’s such a cheap win – but not the best.
For a bold moment
Trixie CosmeticsTrixie Mattel, of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame, has an uh-mazing make-up line. With her severe, cartoonish look, Trixie gets through a lot of liners – and knows good from bad. I may be dethroned as the eyeliner guru when she is around. Anyway, it stands to reason that her eyeliner is a good choice.
Piper-Ivy Huxley is a Homes and Lifestyle Product Writer for heatworld, specialising in beauty, entertainment and interiors. When she’s not writing features for heatworld she’s probably doom-scrolling through TikTok, watching RuPaul’s Drag Race or spending way too much money on beauty products.
