Eyeliner is my beauty non-negotiable. Obsession or emotional attachment, who knows? For the past 10 years, I've refused to be caught without my signature cat-eye wing. Inspired by the liner greats (read: Amy Winehouse), it’s my signature look. Needless to say, I’ve gone through more eyeliners than you could imagine – so, it takes a lot for one to genuinely impress me.
For years, I stayed loyal to liquid liners. I loved the sharp, defined flick I could create, but then would come the dreaded transfer – black smudges across my lids and, somehow, beneath my eyes. Not quite the look I was going for.
Pencil liners, on the other hand, never quite cut it for me. While more foolproof in application, I always found they faded into oblivion after a few hours. That’s until I tried Wonderskin 1440 Longwear Eyeliner.
Wonderskin 1440 Longwear Eyeliner
If you’re on TikTok, chances are you’ll already be familiar with the brand. Its All-Day Lip Stain became a viral sensation, instantly recognisable for its bright blue formula. While it’s earned plenty of praise for its impressive staying power, I’m here to make the case that the eyeliner deserves just as much attention.
Having landed on my desk this summer, it was immediately put to the test. Between sweaty commutes, long days and my dreaded hayfever, it faced some tough conditions (and my impossibly high expectations).
The verdict? The pencil ticks all my boxes. While some pencil liners can feel dry, tugging at the delicate skin, Wonderskin’s has a buttery formula that glides on with ease along the lash line and, of course, into my signature flick, too.
The colour payoff is just as impressive. Liquid formulas were always my go-to for their intense pigmentation, but Wonderskin scores high here, too. It never applies patchy – just smooth, even colour.
But the real test? Longevity. In all my years as a self-confessed eyeliner connoisseur, until now I’d never found a formula that was truly budge- and smudge-proof. There’s a reason Wonderskin calls it the ‘1440’ liner: the brand claims it lasts for up to 1,440 minutes — that’s 24 hours.
While I’m yet to find an occasion that calls for 24-hour wear, I can say that this liner stays put from the moment I apply it at 7am until I take it off at 9pm, looking just as good at the end of the day as it did when I first put it on. It even withstood the worst of the recent British heatwave. Consider me impressed.
Don’t just take my word for it, though. In the name of investigative journalism, I put tonight’s carefully applied ‘going out’ makeup on the line. I rubbed the eyeliner repeatedly and there wasn’t a smudge or hint of transfer in sight.
With 12 shades to choose from, there’s something for everyone. While classic black will always have a place in my makeup bag, I’ve found myself reaching most often for Kalamata, a rich deep brown.
There are bolder options, too, and they’re surprisingly wearable. Olive and Blueberry (exactly what they sound like) have become my go-to shades whenever I want a subtle pop of colour.
There are also different finishes to choose from. Quite frankly, I didn’t realise what I was missing until I tried the shimmer and metallic shades. Black Truffle gives classic black liner an upgrade, with flecks of silver running through it. It’s now my shortcut for elevating my usual cat-eye for the evening.
Sometimes, it takes 10 years to find your perfect match.
